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Attractions |
| Home : United States Destinations : Washington, D.C. : Sights/Activities : Attractions |
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Arlington National Cemetery |
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Almost a quarter of a million national figures, veterans and their dependents are buried at the nation's most famous cemetery. If you'd like a guided tour of the cemetery, you can purchase a Tourmobile ticket at the Visitor Center. Detailed maps are also available for those who want to walk through the grounds. Some of the most visited sites include the Tomb of the Unknowns, the grave of John F. Kennedy, the Women in Military Service Memorial and the Robert E. Lee Memorial. Just across from the cemetery is the United States Marine Corps War Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial. Admission: Free. |
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Federal Bureau of Investigation |
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Downtown
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Tours of the FBI begin with a video presentation and include visits to the DNA lab, the Material Analysis Unit, the Firearms Unit and the Forfeiture and Seizure Exhibit. You can also get a close look at photographs of the FBI's 10 Most Wanted before the tour ends with a display of firearm skill by a special agent. Tours are free and reservations are highly recommended. Admission: Free. |
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Ford's Theatre and Lincoln Museum |
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Downtown
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Ford's Theatre was the setting of the April 14, 1865 assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth shot the president as he was watching the play Our American Cousin. The theater was closed, only to reopen over 100 years later. The Lincoln Museum is in the basement, where visitors can see Booth's Derringer pistol and his diary. Self-guided tours of the theater are permitted when no production is in session. Admission: Free. |
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial |
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The Mall
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| This beautiful memorial is quite different from its neighboring presidential monuments. Architect Lawrence Halprin created a landscaped monument consisting of four outdoor rooms. Waterfalls, granite walls, statuary and thousands of plants and shrubs grace the monument, which was dedicated in 1997. |
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Jefferson Memorial |
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This tribute to the author of the Declaration of Independence was completed in 1943. Architect John Russell Pope used the Roman Pantheon as inspiration, the same source that Jefferson used in designing his home at Monticello. The statue of Jefferson was carved by Rudolph Evans, and it's flanked by inscriptions of some of Jefferson's writings. Admission: Free. |
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Library of Congress |
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Capitol Hill
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First funded in 1800, the libary suffered a major setback when it was burned down by the British in 1814. Thomas Jefferson then sold his private collection to the library, and collecting resumed. The ornate Jefferson Building was built in 1897 and houses the Main Reading Room, the Great Hall and the Court of Neptune. The John Adams Building houses science, technology and business collections while the Madison Building is home to film showings, performances and temporary exhibitions. There are some 532 miles of shelves stretching through these buildings; if you want to come browse the books, get a user pass from the G-22 room in the Jefferson Building. Admission: Free. |
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Lincoln Memorial |
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The Mall
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The beautiful and moving monument designed by Henry Bacon was dedicated in 1922. Bacon modeled his design after the Greek Parthenon and built the monument with marble, granite and limestone taken from several different states. The 36 Doric columns represent the 36 states in the Union when Lincoln died. Perhaps the most impressive part is the memorial chamber, with Daniel Chester French's famous statue of a seated and contemplative Lincoln placed against walls inscribed with his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural Address. Admission: Free. |
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National Archives |
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The Mall
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The Exhibition Hall at the National Archives houses the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 1297 version of the Magna Carta. The Archives are also an important research center; the institution categorizes billions of documents every year as it archives the life of the nation. Anyone over the age of 16 can come peruse the papers here. Research hours are different than the Exhibition Hall hours, so call for an appointment. Admission: Free. |
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National Geographic Society's Explorer Hall |
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Downtown
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The National Geographic magazine was first published in 1888, and the Society has funded various international exploratory efforts ever since. The Explorers Hall has an interactive exhibit called Geographica, an orbital flight simulation called Earth Station One and Admiral Robert E. Peary's dogsled, among other fascinating things. Admission: Free. |
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National Zoological Park |
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The National Zoo is spread over 163 acres and houses about 500 different species of animals. Its most famous resident is the giant panda Hsing-Hsing, while other inhabitants include lions, tigers, bears, sea lions, tapirs and many more. The park itself is open longer hours than the animal enclosures, which are located along Olmsted Walk and the Valley Trail. If you call a few weeks in advance, you can arrange a free guided tour. Admission: Free. |
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Rock Creek Park |
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| This vast city park has hiking, biking and running trails, campsites and a fascinating Nature Center. Picnics, playgrounds, tennis courts, a golf course and an outdoor amphitheater make this spot a place for everyone. There are weekend planetarium shows for children at the Nature Center. If you want to reserve picnic areas, call (202) 673-7646. |
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Supreme Court |
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Capitol Hill
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To see the country's highest judiciary body in operation, you can try to see a case being argued (call 212/479-3211) or line up for seats when the judges release their opinions. If the Court isn't in session, come and walk through the halls or listen to a free lecture. Admission: Free. |
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The Capitol |
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The Mall
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Visitors who want a guided tour of the Capitol can call (212) 224-4910 to make a reservationo for the free tour. This should be done well in advance. You can also wait in line, but be prepared to wait. After 6pm, the House and Senate are open to visitors without passes, which can be obtained through writing one's Senator or Representative. Admission: Free. |
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Union Station |
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Capitol Hill
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Since few Americans have even ridden a long distance train, they seldom consider them. In other countries, people are accustomed to taking the train to almost any destination. As a result, many of the stations – particularly those in major cities – are social centers in their own right. Union Station in Washington has some of those same qualities. This is not your typical plain American station. It is bright, airy and architecturally pleasing, with shops of every nature, restaurants and bars, and a simply awesome central concourse. At the center of the latter a café offers open-air dining on its upper level. This is a delightful place to head on a Sunday morning. Grab a newspaper on the way and catch up on current events over coffee. You can even leave your car back home and come here by train – a far more romantic prospect.
Information based on the guidebook Romantic Weekends in Virginia, Maryland & Washington, DC. To find out more or to order the book direct from the publisher at 20% discount, click here. |
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United States National Arboretum |
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Capitol Hill
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This is a must-see for garden and plant lovers. The arboretum contains 440 acres' worth of plant species. Come to see the National Herb Garden, the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, the Franklin Tree and the American Frienship Garden. The park is never crowded, making it a wonderful place to relax. Admission: Free. |
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial |
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The Mall
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The two long polished black granite walls inscribed with the names of 58,156 fallen citizens is one of the city's most moving sights. Families search out the locations of the names of their loved ones in the memorial's directory, and some make rubbings of the names with paper. Maya Lin designed the monument at a 125-degree angle, so that it points toward the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. More recent additions to the memorial include a sculpture of three soldiers and a Vietnam Veterans Women's Memorial. Admission: Free. |
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Washington Monument |
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The Mall
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The monument to President George Washington was opened to the public in 1888 and has become one of the city's most prominent landmarks. Robert Mills' obelisk design won the commission to build the monument, and the cornerstone was laid in 1848. The monument is 555 feet high and visitors can take an elevator to the top. Views now are obscured by the blue coverings obscuring the ongoing restoration, but the experience is still magnificent. Admission: Free. |
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Washington National Cathedral |
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The world's 6th-largest cathedral is Episcopal but houses services for all denominations. The English Gothic structure houses some interesting innovations, such as a stained-glass rendering of Apollo 11. The cathedral includes a small-scale Children's Chapel, the Holy Spirit Chapel with paintings by American artist N.C. Wyeth, the gorgeous West Rose Window and beautiful landscaped grounds. If you walk outside of the cathedral, take time to look at the Herb Cottage and the Woodland Path. Admission: Free. |
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White House |
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Capitol Hill
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The White House is a popular item on anyone's itinerary, and unless requested in advance by writing your Senator or Congressperson, tickets are obtained by lining up early that same day at the Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue. Get there before 7am to ensure your ticket--4 per person are available. The morning tours take you through various parts of James Hoban's structure, including the Green Room, the State Dining Room and the Gold-and-White East Room. Admission: Free. |
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