Spotlight: Washington DC - The Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Spotlight: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a government agency within the National Department of the Treasury. Its main purpose is to print Federal Reserve Notes - more commonly known as the almighty dollar. However, it also produces Treasury securities, military commissions and award certificates, official invitations and admission cards, various forms of official government ID, and special security documents for a variety of government agencies. For many years, the BEP produced U.S. passports and until 2005 was the sole manufacturer of U.S. stamps. The BEP has two production facilities (the other is in Fort Worth, TX), neither of which produce any coins.

Who's on $1, What's on $2, etc.

     The BEP was created in 1862 to help fund the Civil War by printing paper money instead of coins so that the metal could be used in the military effort. The paper notes were essentially IOUs called Demand Notes. These notes were originally printed by a private firm which sent the printed sheets to the Treasury Department where clerks signed the notes, and cut them by hand. These currency notes experienced a major overhaul in 1929 when the BEP standardized note design and size, making the notes smaller and harder to counterfeit.

We went in 2012, for the 150th anniversary of the BEP

Location: The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is located at 301 14th Street right next to the Tidal Basin.

Cost: free (ironically)

Time: The free tour is 40 minutes, and runs every 15 minutes from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. from Sept. - March. Evening tours (until 6:00 pm) begin in late March and run through late August. Plan on spending another 30 minutes exploring the Visitor Center (open from 8:30-7:00 daily).

Description: The tour teaches you everything you wanted to know about how they print money, precautions they take to avoid counterfeiting, etc. The highlight of course is walking by the production room as millions of dollars are being printed on the other side of the glass. It also includes an interesting introductory film.
     One of the more fascinating things at the BEP Visitor Center is a giant ruler that measures your height in money. For example, using $100 bills, I am approximately $1,700,900 tall. There are also other fun exhibits, like $1,000,000 in $10 bills, a giant $100 bill (about 6 feet long), and examples of all the different federal bills printed over the past 150+ years. They also have plenty of currency products for sale.

1 million dollars in $10 bills

Rachel's height in $100 bills

Several Federal Reserve notes issued over the past 150 years

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Although admission is free, you need to reserve a spot on the tour ahead of time between March and August. The Ticket Booth, located at Raoul Wallenburg place (formerly 15th St., SW) opens at 8:00 am daily and stays open until all the tickets for the day are gone. The tour entrance is on 14th St. SW.
- The Bureau is closed for all federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Years.
- Older worn out bills can be redeemed at the Bureau for newer currency at face value only.

Nearby: U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Tidal Basin Paddle Boats, National Mall, Washington Monument