Washington DC Travel Guide
Europeans first arrived along the Potomac River in the 16th
century and the area quickly became prosperous; tobacco brought
vast wealth to the gentleman planters, and the abundance of slaves
gave them ample time for leisure. After the revolutionary war
Congress had to decide on the location of a new 'Federal Town'. The
10 square miles (26 sq km) between Maryland and Virginia, which is
now the District of Columbia, was finally selected for its
strategic location between North and South.French architect, Pierre L'Enfant, was chosen to plan the town,
and as he pegged out streets 150 feet (46m) wide, and one grand
avenue 400 feet (122m) wide and a mile long, the local landowners
thought he'd gone mad - he was throwing away valuable land that
could be used for farming! It was to take 50 years before
Washington, DC (District of Columbia) took on the air and
appearance of a capital city.Today, Washington, DC with its low-profile skyline is a city of
green parks and open spaces, grand buildings, historic landmarks,
marbled monuments and impressive museums, with character-filled
neighbourhoods that support a thriving cultural scene.This thriving cosmopolitan city is an international hub of power
and diplomacy, commanding the political centre stage for the
world's most powerful nation, and representing all the democratic
ideals that the country takes pride in. Washington, DC was one of
the targets of the terrorist attack on the USA on 11 September
2001, when a hijacked plane crashed into the Pentagon, the heart of
national and international security. Since then security has
remained high around Washington's key monuments and police checks
at top city attractions have lent a sober air to this pleasant
city.After politics, tourism is the capital's main industry. The city
plays host to millions of people annually who come to explore
famous sights such as the domed US Capitol, the stately White
House, Lincoln Memorial and the soaring Washington Monument. The
most well-known sights are located along the National Mall, a green
park stretching from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial on the
Potomac River, and include several memorials to great US presidents
of the past, as well as the outstanding museums of the Smithsonian
Institute. Almost all major attractions are free.Besides political sights, Washington is also a city of
interesting neighbourhoods, each with its own character and
culture. The most celebrated of these is historic Georgetown, with
elegant colonial houses, boutiques, fancy restaurants, and a lively
nightlife. One of the most colourful neighbourhoods is the bohemian
district of Adams-Morgan with an assortment of funky shops and
ethnic stores, while the arty suburb of Dupont Circle is an
affluent business and residential area, with excellent restaurants,
art galleries and shops that makes up the centre of DC's gay
community.
Washington DC Travel Guide
Money:
Time:
GMT -5 (GMT -4 from March to November).
Electricity:
Language:
Health:
Tipping:
Safety:
Customs:
Business:
Duty Free:
Washington DC Travel Guide
|
|
Description:
Extending for over two miles (3km) from the US Capitol to the
Potomac River, the tree-lined grassy strip known as the National
Mall is the central hub of tourist activity in the city, containing
many of Washington DC's most famous attractions. It is home to the
tapering Washington Monument; the Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson
Memorials; the Capitol building; the White House; the museums of
the Smithsonian Institution; and the National Gallery of Art. The
Mall is at the heart of the city's social life, the site for many
celebrations and festivals throughout the year, and used by scores
of joggers, picnickers, food vendors and strollers daily. It is
also a popular site for rallies and protests ranging from a few
dozen to a few million people. The Tidal Basin, a beautiful lake
famous for its spring show of blossoming Japanese cherry trees,
lies to the south.
Address:
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 426 6841 (Visitor information)
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/nama
|
|
|
Description:
The heart of American government is also Washington DC's most
prominent landmark, the US Capitol, sited on the top of Capitol
Hill, with its giant white dome visible from all over the city. It
is one of the city's top tourist attractions, as well as the most
recognised symbol of democracy, and contains the Senate and the
House of Representatives, as well as the Supreme Court and the
Library of Congress, the largest library in the world. Under the
magnificent dome, US governmental policy is shaped and the law of
the land is practiced. The interior is richly embellished, with
hundreds of statues filling Statuary Hall in honour of important
people in the country's history, while paintings and murals
decorate the hallways and walls of the Rotunda, depicting 400 years
of American history. The enormous circular hall capped by the
180-foot (55m) high dome is the hub of the Capitol, with a symbolic
fresco masterpiece at its centre. The Rotunda links the north and
south wings, the two halves of the Capitol that contain the Senate
and House of Representatives respectively, and flags flying over
either wing indicate which part of Congress is in session.
Address:
Capitol Hill
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 224 3121 (general information), (202) 225 6827
(tour information)
Email:
Website:
www.visitthecapitol.gov
|
|
|
Description:
The White House has been the private residence and
administrative headquarters of every President of the United States
since 1800. Today an American flag flies over the house whenever
the president is in residence. Situated at the edge of the National
Mall, the palatial building has undergone numerous alterations over
the years, which have included refurnishing and expansion, the
addition of the first toilets by Jefferson, and electricity added
during Harrison's presidency, as well as personal inclusions by
each of its presidential occupants. The White House was adapted to
the needs of Franklin D. Roosevelt who suffered polio and a
swimming pool was installed; Jacqueline Kennedy developed the
famous Rose Garden; Clinton added a jogging track, hot tub and
humidor; and the most recent addition is the vegetable garden
planted by Barack and Michelle Obama. Tours visit several rooms on
the Ground and State Floors, including the Oval Office, the State
Dining Room with seating for 140 dinner or luncheon guests, and the
Gold and White East Room that is the publicised scene of
presidential receptions and other social events. The top two floors
are private. The custom that allows free public tours of the
president's private home is only stopped during wartime. The
visitor centre provides interesting historical information about
the residence and its occupants.
Address:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 208 1631 (White House Visitor Center), or (202)
456 7041 (for up to date, 24-hr tour information)
Email:
Website:
www.whitehouse.gov
|
|
|
Description:
In recognition of his leadership in the fight for American
independence, George Washington earned the title 'Father of the
Nation', and was the first president of the United States. The
Washington Monument was built in memory of this great leader. As
the tallest structure in the city, situated at the western end of
the Mall, the gleaming white obelisk offers 360-degree panoramic
vistas with some of the most familiar sights in the world in view,
including the White House, US Capitol, Smithsonian museums and the
Lincoln Memorial. Constructed out of loose granite blocks without
the use of cement to hold them together, the monument is the
tallest freestanding masonry structure in the world, a 555-foot
(169m) marble obelisk that stood uncompleted for 37 years. A change
in the colour of stone is visible about halfway up and marks the
two building phases. In 1888 a steam elevator transported visitors
to the top, a 20-minute ride that was restricted, for safety
reasons, to men only. Women could walk up the 897 stairs. Today
climbing the steps is prohibited, but a free 70-second elevator
conveys visitors to the gallery that provides unparalleled views of
Washington, DC and across the Potomac River.
Address:
15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 426 6841 (park information), or to book advance
tickets (877) 444 6777
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/wamo
|
|
|
Description:
The grandiose Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to the 16th US
president who preserved the Union during the Civil War and ended
slavery. It also serves as a Civil War memorial, symbolising the
ideas of Freedom and American Democracy. The use of classical
architecture, modelled on a Greek temple, is to remind people of
the ancient Greeks who were the first modern culture to have a
democratic government. In the centre of the memorial, surrounded by
36 white columns representing the 36 states in Lincoln's Union, is
a huge marble statue of Abraham Lincoln who, seated, stares out
over the Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument and
Capitol Hill. Carved in the walls of the memorial chamber around
the statue are inscriptions of two of his most famous speeches, the
Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address, and above each
is a painted symbolic mural. The memorial is the site of numerous
demonstrations committed to justice, most notably the Civil Rights
March in 1963 when Martin Luther King delivered his classic 'I Have
a Dream' speech. A bookshop and museum, detailing a photographic
history of famous events that occurred on the steps, are
nearby.
Address:
23rd Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 426 6841 (park information)
Email:
Website:
www.nps.gov/linc
|
|
|
Description:
Officially named the J Edgar Hoover FBI Building after its
notorious long-time director, the ugly concrete structure is
headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Public tours
have been suspended indefinitely, but were once the most popular
attraction in Washington, DC. Guided tours took visitors through
the Material Analysis Unit and crime laboratories where
fingerprinting, DNA and ballistics testing takes place; past
displays of thousands of confiscated weapons, and illegal items
seized during narcotics operations; exhibits on crime fighting
techniques and counterintelligence operations; as well as other
presentations on terrorism, agent training, some famous cases, and
photographs of the FBI's 'Ten Most Wanted List'. Those in search of
espionage history, however, should go to the nearby International
Spy Museum.
Address:
935 Pennsylvania Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 324 3447
Email:
Website:
www.fbi.gov
|
|
|
Description:
Washington's newest museum, the International Spy Museum,
features the largest collection of publicly displayed international
espionage artefacts in the world. It is the result of years of
planning and advice by former officials of the CIA, FBI and the
KGB, as well as some of the nation's top experts in intelligence.
It aims to educate the public about espionage and its vital role
and impact on historic and current events. Interactive exhibits
cover the history of spying, famous spies, spying during the World
Wars with an exhibit on unheeded intelligence that warned of the
Pearl Harbour attack, sophisticated espionage techniques of the
Cold War, and the latest spy trends and challenges of 21st century
espionage. There is also a section dealing with high-tech gadgets
such as bugs, tiny cameras and ingenious disguise techniques, with
interactive stations exploring surveillance, disguises, code
breaking, threat analysis and more. Operation Spy is an interactive
experience in which visitors get to be a spy; hands-on activities
include safe-cracking and conducting polygraph tests, experiences
which are combined with special effects and live action. The museum
complex includes a restaurant, spy-theme cafe and shop.
Address:
800 F Street
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 393 7798
Email:
Website:
www.spymuseum.org
|
|
|
Description:
One of the world's finest research centres, the Smithsonian
Institution incorporates 19 excellent museums and galleries and a
zoo spread over Washington, DC, New York, Virginia and Panama. Most
of the museums are however located in Washington, DC. The centre
was the idea of British scientist James Smithson who stipulated in
his will that lacking heirs his entire fortune would go the United
States 'to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian
Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of
knowledge among men'. The Institute's original home was in the red
brick building known as The Castle that stands on the Mall. The
need to accommodate facilities for scientific research as well as
housing all the scientific and art collections amassed resulted in
the construction of more buildings along the Mall. Today the Castle
houses the Smithsonian Information Center, which provides an
overview of all the museums and the zoo. The museums contain
collections of historical importance on almost every subject.
Museums include the National Air and Space Museum packed with
full-size space and aircraft, including the Wright brothers' plane;
the Natural History Museum with the Hope Diamond and the world's
largest stuffed blue whale; and the American History Museum
displaying the original Kermit the Frog. Other museums include the
Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art, the African Art Museum,
the American Indian Museum, the Arts and Industries Building
hosting changing exhibitions, the Hirshborn collection of modern
art, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Postal Museum.
The Smithsonian Museums are a fantastic attraction for families in
Washington DC, and a wallet-friendly one as admission is free.
Address:
Smithsonian Castle Visitor Center, 1000 Jefferson
Drive
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 633 1000
Email:
Website:
www.si.edu
|
|
|
Description:
Two buildings, the West and East Wings, make up the visually
stunning National Gallery of Art that is the most popular art
museum in North America. Together they house one of the world's
leading collections of Western paintings, graphics and sculptures
from the Middle Ages to the 20th century, and walking from the West
Wing to the East provides a near chronological display of European
art. The West Wing, the original building, is a marble
architectural work of art with a domed rotunda over a fountain that
houses most of the permanent collection. More than 100 galleries
display modern and contemporary art with masterpieces by famous
artists arranged by nationality, and include what is considered to
be the finest Renaissance collection outside of Italy, as well as
an outstanding Impressionist collection. The gallery's newer
addition is the ultramodern East Wing, composed of two glass-walled
triangles, and is devoted to 20th century paintings and sculptures.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is a large park
outside the museum, which features a huge central fountain with
several of the museum's permanent collection of sculptures on
display.
Address:
National Mall, Constitution Avenue
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 737 4215
Email:
Website:
www.nga.gov
|
|
|
Description:
One of the city's best museums, but also the most disturbing, is
the US Holocaust Memorial Museum that hauntingly commemorates the
discrimination and murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis between
1933 and 1945. The permanent exhibition is divided into three
floors, starting with the Nazi occupation of Poland, the Holocaust,
and finally the after-effects of the war and liberation of the
camps, with a moving film in which Holocaust survivors recount
their personal experiences. The Hall of Remembrance is a quiet
meditative place with dozens of burning candles lit in memory of
the victims. Exhibits vividly convey the scale and nature of the
horrors of the Holocaust using films, voice recordings, personal
belongings of Jewish victims, photographs and Nazi propaganda. The
permanent exhibition's graphic content is extremely disturbing and
is not recommended for children under 11 years of age. A different
section of the museum contains an exhibit designed for children,
called 'Daniel's Story: Remember the Children'.
Address:
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place
Postcode:
Telephone:
(202) 488 0400; and (800) 400 9373 (Advance
Tickets)
Email:
Website:
www.ushmm.org
|
|
|
Description:
On April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated
while watching a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC.
His killer, an actor named John Wilkes Booth who sympathised with
the Confederates in the ongoing Civil War, then jumped to the stage
and shouted "
Sic simper tyrannis" (Thus to all tyrants) before fleeing
the theatre. The US Government bought the theatre and prohibited it
from use as an amusement venue. It was used for various storage and
clerical purposes until it was restored and reopened for
performances in 1968. Today, Ford's Theatre is both an active
performance venue and historical site, and the Ford's Theatre
Museum contains artefacts related to the assassination, including
the Derringer pistol Booth used. Across from the theatre is the
Petersen House, which is where President Lincoln finally died early
the next morning.
Address:
10th Street NW
Postcode:
20004
Telephone:
(202) 426-6924
Email:
onstage@fordstheatre.org
Website:
www.fordstheatre.org
|
|
|
Description:
While looking at papers may sound dull compared to Washington
DC's exciting museums, the National Archives is one of the most
popular attractions, housing priceless documents from US history,
including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the
Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation, and even the 1297
version of the Magna Carta. All these documents are displayed to
the public in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, along with
other collections of photography and historical memorabilia.
Address:
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Postcode:
20408
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.archives.gov/nae/visit/
|
|
|
Description:
One of the largest cathedrals in the US, the Washington National
Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul, is a magnificent Neogothic structure standing 301 feet
(91m) tall. The interior of the cathedral is just as grand, with
the long, narrow sanctuary framed by buttresses, chancels,
transepts and beautiful stained glass windows. The most famous of
these is the Space Window, which contains a piece of moon rock
brought back by Neil Armstrong from the Apollo 11 mission. The
cathedral was finished in 1972, making it very young compared to
most cathedrals of its stature. It is the final resting place of
noted figures such as Helen Keller, President Woodrow Wilson and
his wife, and Admiral George Dewey.
Address:
3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Postcode:
20016
Telephone:
(202) 537-6200
Email:
webcomments@cathedral.org
Website:
www.nationalcathedral.org
|
|
|
Description:
One of the most prestigious performing arts centres in the US,
the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is also its
busiest, hosting roughly 2,000 performances each year for an
audience totalling nearly two million people in its eight separate
performance halls. It is home to the National Symphony Orchestra,
and has commissioned over 200 new works in various disciplines. The
centre was first conceived by Eleanor Roosevelt as a way to employ
actors during World War II, and opened in 1971 with the premiere of
Leonard Bernstein's
Mass. Each year five artists or groups are awarded the
Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime contribution to American culture
and the performing arts in a gala ceremony televised
nationally.
Address:
2700 F Street NW
Postcode:
20566
Telephone:
(202) 416-8340
Email:
Website:
www.kennedy-center.org
|
|
|
Description:
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the
National Zoo, is a great attraction for families on holiday in
Washington DC. As part of the Smithsonian Institution, the zoo has
no entry fee and offers visitors the chance to explore 163 acres of
habitats containing more than 2,000 animals. The star attractions
of the zoo are definitely Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, two giant pandas
on loan from the Chinese government. Other popular exhibits include
the Great Ape House, Elephant Trails, Lion/Tiger Hill, Cheetah
Conservation Station, and Seals and Sea Lions Exhibit. The National
Zoo was the home of the original Smokey Bear, who was a symbol of
forest fire prevention and lived at the zoo from 1950 to 1976.
Address:
Rock Creek Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW
Postcode:
20008
Telephone:
(202) 633-4800
Email:
Website:
nationalzoo.si.edu
|
|
|
Description:
Mount Vernon is the colonial estate of George Washington. Though
located in Virginia, the estate is an easy drive from Washington DC
and one of its most popular attractions. The plantation has been
restored to look just as it did during Washington's era. Consisting
of 500 acres situated on the Potomac River, the gardens, mansion,
and other buildings are open to the public, and costumed employees
demonstrate life in the 18th century. In 2007, Mount Vernon was
given permission to reopen Washington's distillery, which now
produces its own whiskey, available only at the Mount Vernon Gift
Shop. The estate offers tours of the mansion and grounds,
sightseeing cruises on the Potomac River, and special tours showing
scenes from the movie National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets.
Address:
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon,
Virginia
Postcode:
22309
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
www.mountvernon.org
|