A lot has changed at 1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW recently. Last week, the luxurious Waldorf Astoria hotel officially opened in the historic Old Post Office, taking over for what formerly the Trump International Hotel. This week, the Old Post Office Tower and its related exhibit have reopened after being closed for the majority of the pandemic.

The clock tower quietly reopened on Monday with little fanfare, no line, and some of the best views in the city. The historic Old Post Office — the third tallest building in D.C. — is owned by the federal government and run by the General Services Administration (GSA), but the clock tower has always been under the purview of the National Park Service (NPS); hence, why there are friendly park rangers greeting guests throughout the tower. The Waldorf Astoria is attached to the tower, and its interior can be seen on the elevator ride up to the 270-foot observation deck.

The entrance, just off 12th Street NW, across from the Federal Triangle Metro stop, is a bit easy to miss:

No tickets are required to enter, nor have they ever been. Multiple rangers told DCist that when Washington Monument tickets sell out, NPS will often direct visitors to the Old Post Office, where admission is free and the views of the city are arguably clearer.

Inside, a long hallway exhibit explains the history of the building and D.C.’s layout, more generally. The exhibit showcases interesting pieces like a vault door used in the original post office and displays of the original design, along with plaques explaining the many failed plans to demolish the building.

Interestingly, while the Trump name has been removed from elsewhere in the building, the GSA has not yet removed references to the Trump hotel within the exhibit:

An elevator takes visitors up to the ninth floor, where a park ranger explains the history of the building’s 10 change-ringing bells, a gift from the Ditchley Foundation of Great Britain to Congress as a Bicentennial gift in 1976. The bells were cast by the same foundry that made the Liberty Bell and the bells at Westminster Abbey, according to a ranger on site. A volunteer group called the Washington Ringing Society rings the bells on all federal holidays and at the opening and closing of Congressional sessions.

A second elevator leads to the observation deck, with a 360-degree view of the D.C. area:

Visitors might even get lucky and spot some wildlife: according to a park ranger in the clock tower, a Peregrine falcon can sometimes be seen circling the Old Post Office tower.

The clock tower and museum open seven days a week at 9 a.m. with the last ride up to the tower happening at 4 p.m. No tickets required.  The tower is closed one day a month for routine maintenance, which are right now scheduled for July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 1, Oct. 4, Nov. 1 and Dec. 1.