Washington, D.C. Attractions
Dupont Circle: With its funky shops and trendy restaurants and bars, Dupont Circle is one of the hippest neighborhoods in Washington. Its cosmopolitan air draws a vibrant crowd. Once a neighborhood of old money and the nouveau riche, Dupont Circle today is home to artists, intellectuals and young professionals. The neighborhood's turn-of-the-century mansions and brownstones, formerly home to prominent families, today house art museums, restaurants, embassies and fun shops. Dupont Circle is also home to the Phillips Collection, one of the city's foremost art museums with paintings by Renoir, Degas and Cézanne.
Farragut Square: Farragut is the epicenter of corporate Washington, D.C. The square though is filled with an upbeat ambience where picnickers can enjoy the sounds of street musicians in summer. On Thursdays in the summer months, the Square hosts free jazz at lunchtime. A statue of Civil War Admiral David Farragut stands in the middle of the square, spyglass in hand. Farragut coined the phrase "Full speed ahead!" during the 1864 Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: This monument is not only a memorial to the nation's 32nd president, but also to the people of his time. The monument stretches along the Tidal Basin with four outdoor gallery rooms and is connected by granite passageways. Each room exhibits aspects of Franklin D. Roosevelt's terms in office. The second room, for example, depicts the Great Depression with statues waiting in a bread line. Another room contains a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt, the only memorial to honor a First Lady. The monument also features waterfalls and pools.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass purchased this 21-room home, making him the first African-American to buy a home in an area then restricted to whites. Known as Cedar Hill, the home became the nation's first Black National Historic Site. The original furnishings are in large part the ones Douglass himself owned. They include the 1200-volume library of this self-taught man. Also on display are gifts given to Douglass by such contemporaries as Mary Todd Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Georgetown: This historic neighborhood is lined with trendy boutiques and fine restaurants. The abundant nightlife at Georgetown draws both locals and visitors. Just wander down busy M Street and Wisconsin Avenue and explore the eclectic shops, or stop in for a pint at one of the numerous pubs overflowing with college kids. After you get your fill of the hoopla, stroll off the main strip onto the tree-shaded streets filled with Georgian and Victorian townhouses that are home to many politicians and celebrities. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park lies below M Street.
Library of Congress: Originally intended as a small reference library, the Library of Congress now contains the largest collection of books in the world, with 100 million items, including a Gutenberg Bible, first drafts of the Declaration of Independence and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. The splendor of the magnificent Main Reading Room is worth the visit, but you should also browse the many excellent collections and exhibits in the library's three buildings. Its collections are available for research to adults 18 and older.
Lincoln Memorial: Located at the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is a principal landmark of the city. It offers magnificent views of the city from several vantage points. Daniel Chester French's 19-foot (5.7-meter) statue of Lincoln seated and deep in thought, along with the carved text of the Gettysburg Address, provides a glimpse into a weighty period of American history. The 36 Doric columns represent the number of states in the union at the time of Lincoln's death. Go at night for much lighter crowds.
Pavilion at the Old Post Office: The Pavilion at the Old Post Office was built in 1899 and served as the main post office for the country. Saved from demolition, it was renovated and reopened in 1983. Today, it provides a little of everything, office space for the National Arts and Humanities Endowments, shops and restaurants. Under the building's enormous atrium, visitors may browse, play a round of miniature golf and enjoy free concerts at noon. Do not miss a ride up the clock tower for one of the most spectacular views of the city.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Designed by John Russell Pope, this Roman-style monument to Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, is elegant and simple. Jefferson's 19-foot statue stands within, surrounded by some of his most inspirational writings. This is a perfect after-dinner destination. At night, the view of the Washington Monument across the tidal basin is one of the most attractive in Washington, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
U.S. Capitol Building: The legislative branches of the U.S. government, the Senate and the House of Representatives, meet in the Capitol Building. Public tours form on the east side of the Capitol and include visits to the Rotunda and other chambers. Visitors can also view the Senate and the House from the galleries when Congress is in session. Plan to have lunch at the Senate Refectory, a cafeteria where, by law, bean soup is always on the menu. Visitors can enter the U.S. Capitol Building through the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and enjoy several historical exhibits.
United States National Arboretum: Best known for its vast collection of azaleas, (Washington's favorite porch-flower), this 444-acre (180-hectare) garden park has much else to offer. Fountains, pools and open space separate a series of focused gardens at United States National Arboretum. The National Bonsai Collection, a gift from Japan, is a fascinating exhibit of tiny trees. Other notable sections are the aquatic garden (filled with lotuses of many varieties) and the National Herb Garden.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: When it was unveiled in 1982, nothing but controversy met the design of Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War or remain missing in action. Maya Ying Lin may have been no more than a 21-year-old graduate student when she won the design contest for this memorial, but her work is now etched in the memories of countless visitors who have walked along this black granite wall filled with names.
Washington National Cathedral: A frequent site of nationally significant memorial services, the National Cathedral is open to worshipers of all denominations. Under construction for most of the 20th century and completed and consecrated in 1990, this Gothic cathedral is the sixth largest in the world. Flying buttresses, gargoyles, crypts, a 98-foot (30-meter) vaulted ceiling and many intimate chapels contribute to this architectural masterpiece. The grounds invite exploration with curving walkways, well-kept hedges and spacious lawns from which to view the city.
The White House: This house has served as residence, office, reception site, and world embassy for every U.S. president since John Adams. The White House is the only private residence of a head of state that has opened its doors to the public for tours, free of charge. It was Thomas Jefferson who started this practice, which is stopped only during wartime.
