Everyone needs some local tips for the nation's capitol! Here is our take.
THE CLASSICS
The Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the White House are Washington’s most prominent public sights, but there are plenty more within walking distance of one another on the National Mall. Here’s a quick guide to seeing some D.C. favorites.
WASHINGTON MONUMENT Finished in 1884, the 555-foot marble obelisk is named for the nation’s first President. The Washington Monument is open daily except July 4 and December 25, from 9am to 5pm (10pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day!). Tickets are required to visit the interior. Keep an eye out for where the marble changes color, due to a 25-year construction hiatus because of the Civil War.
LINCOLN MEMORIAL Modeled after a Greek temple, the Lincoln Memorial was designed by architect Henry Bacon and finished in 1922. Sculptor Daniel Chester French worked on the 19-foot-tall statue of Lincoln that sits inside. The memorial has been the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL One of the most visually striking monuments, the Jefferson Memorial’s design was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and is similar to the rotunda at the University of Virginia that Jefferson himself designed. A 19-foot bronze statue of Jefferson by Rudulph Evans stands inside, and Jefferson’s writings, including the Declaration of Independence, are carved into the walls.
FDR MEMORIAL
Spread over more than 7 acres, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial traces 12 years of the history of the United States through a sequence of four outdoor rooms, one for each of FDR's terms of office. Sculptures depict the 32nd president alongside his dog, a breadline scene of the Great Depression, the famous fireside chats, and an inscription bearing FDR’s most famous words: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” A bronze statue of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt standing before the United Nations emblem honors her dedication to the UN. It is the only presidential memorial to depict a First Lady.
VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL The memorial wall has a bold, eye-catching simplicity—it consists of the names of 58,272 servicemen who were killed or went missing during the Vietnam War, carved into walls of dark granite. It was created in 1982 by architect Maya Lin.
KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIAL This memorial was dedicated in 1995 by President Clinton, and includes 19 statues of soldiers, each more than seven feet tall. The statues are reflected in a 164-foot wall of black granite, which bears the images of soldiers in uniform. The memorial is especially evocative at night.
WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL Open since 2004, the World War II Memorial sits at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, across from the Lincoln Memorial. Circular in shape, it consists of 56 granite pillars, each inscribed with the name of a US state or territory and the District of Columbia.
MLK JR. MEMORIAL This monument was dedicated to the clergyman and civil rights activist in 2011. The official address, 1964 Independence Avenue, S.W., commemorates the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law. King’s likeness, carved into one of three giant rocks, evokes the famous line from his “I Have a Dream” speech: “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY Across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C., is a United States military cemetery in Arlington. These 624 acres serve as the resting place for those who died in the nation's conflicts beginning with the American Civil War. One of its most famous memorials includes the Tomb of the Unknowns, which has been guarded by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regime continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, since July 2, 1937.
SUPREME COURT Built in the Neoclassical style, the Supreme Court was finished in 1935. When the court is in session (the first Monday in October through late April), visitors are welcome to attend the oral arguments, which are 30-minute presentations by each side's attorneys, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session with justices. Sadly, they don’t offer tours of the “Highest Court in the Land” – the fifth floor Supreme Court basketball court and gym.
U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING The Capitol is home to the U.S. Congress and its two legislative bodies, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. The Visitor Center, located below the East Plaza of the Capitol, is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The House and Senate galleries are open to visitors with an arranged pass.
THE WHITE HOUSE Serving as the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. Tours are free, but advanced reservations are required. Contact your local representatives in Congress to request a tour well in advance of your visit.
EVERYTHING SMITHSONIAN
Collectively called the Smithsonian Institution, the world-renowned museum and research complex consists of 15 separate museums and the National Zoo in Washington, DC. From the origins of man at the Natural History Museum to the future of space travel at the Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian features a wide variety of attractions.
THE SMITHSONIAN CASTLE (1000 Jefferson Drive SW) Also known as the Institution Building, this is a good place to start tours of the museums. The Smithsonian Information Center is located here, along with maps and schedules of events.
NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM (Independence Avenue & 6th Street SW) The most popular museum in the world by attendance numbers, the National Air and Space Museum houses 23 galleries that trace the history of flight. Look for the 1903 Wright Flyer, Spirit of St. Louis, SpaceShipOne, Apollo 11 command module and the Hubble Space Telescope. This impressive museum displays the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world as well as smaller items like instruments, memorabilia, and clothing. Learn about the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight. IMAX films are offered several times a day.
NATIONAL ZOO (3001 Connecticut Avenue NW)
The National Zoo is a part of the Smithsonian Institution with more than 435 different species of animals. Open year round, the world-class property offers the opportunity to view and learn about favorites including giant pandas, elephants, tigers, cheetahs, sea lions and many more.
AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM (14th Street & Constitution Avenue NW)
A treasure trove of American history, with more than 3 million artifacts of American history and culture, visitors learn about the nation's history from the War of Independence to the present day. The museum is home to pop-culture items like Dorothy’s ruby slippers and the original Muppets to artifacts from the United States’ most heart-wrenching historical eras, such as uniforms from the Civil War and the Greensboro Lunch Counter.
AMERICAN INDIAN MUSEUM (4th Street & Jefferson Drive SW) One of the largest and most diverse collections of Native art and artifacts in the world, this museum showcases Native American objects from ancient pre-Columbian civilizations through the 21st century. Multimedia presentations, live performances and hands-on demonstrations will bring the Native American people’s history and culture to life.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE (1400 Constitution Ave NW)
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Timed passes are required to enter at some times, so check in advance.
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY & AMERICAN ART MUSEUM (8th & F Streets NW) This restored historic building in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown Washington, DC, houses two museums in one building. The National Portrait Gallery presents six permanent exhibitions of nearly 20,000 works ranges from paintings and sculpture to photographs and drawings. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the home of the largest collection of American art in the world including more than 41,000 artworks, spanning over three centuries.
HIRSHHORN MUSEUM & SCULPTURE GARDEN (Independence Avenue & 7th Street SW) The modern and contemporary art exhibits include arts of traditional historical themes and collections addressing emotion, abstraction, politics, process, religion, and economics.
MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW) Famous for exhibitions on earliest human origins, development of world cultures, ancient and modern mammals, as well as all types of animals, this museum is sure to be a family favorite.
THE FOOD
Here are a few of our favorites!
Americana brunch, lunch and dinner. Everybody can find something that they like. We visit the one on 8th Street NE but they do have other locations around the city. Try the homemade pop-tarts!
Something for everyone here. Great bar and dining rooms. Try the sushi which is half off at happy hour! This is close to the White House.
A DC Classic that you will enjoy. Right beside the White House and kind of a tourist trap!
This is our new fav spot near us on Capitol Hill. Yummy Mexican food. Recommend the guacamole. Cannot recommend this one enough.
Tastes from Northern Italy. Down in the Navy Yard with beautiful views of the water.
Another DC staple. Catch VP Harris or another famous politician here. Delightful French food! Get a reservation, if you can!
Italian-influenced American restaurant. Off the beaten path but worth the journey!
Modern Indian Cuisine that you will absolutely love. You should add this place to your list.
The key takeaway here is plan ahead and contact your Congressperson to help you navigate the places that you need a tour or cannot get access without help. You must go see the Library of Congress and the U.S. Botanic Garden. You have to walk up the steps at the Lincoln Memorial. Consider Eastern Market or Union Market on the weekend. And finally, pay your respects at Arlington or one of the other war memorials.
Enjoy this wonderful city!
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