All the sights of Washington proudly demonstrate the greatness, importance, and solemnity of American life. They are not just related to history or modern achievements. It is important that iconic places mean something to the country and its inhabitants. And, although much of what to see in Washington looks somewhat pompous and revealing, the city deserves world-class fame.
What to see in Washington first of all
The pleasant fact is that the main city museums are free to visit. Let’s list the main attractions of Washington briefly and tell you about the most interesting of them.
1. The White House
The southern facade of the White House, the official residence of the President of the United States in Washington
To the question “What to see in Washington in 1 day?” The first answer will be, of course, the White House. All the national power and the strength of presidential power is concentrated in this symbol of American statehood. The use of white in the building has several explanations, and during the tour you can hear interesting facts. The routes for tourists involve an inspection of the premises on 2 floors, excursions are held during the Tuesday-Saturday period.
Official website: https://www.whitehouse.gov
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2. The Capitol
The U.S. Congress Building on Capitol Hill in Washington
A snow-white building with the same name stands on Capitol Hill. All the guides in Washington put it in the first place among the visited, telling tourists a difficult and interesting history of construction. The first stone was laid by George Washington, and at all stages of the construction of the building there were difficulties of varying complexity. Today, the Capitol stands proudly on a hill, and tourists from special galleries can see how the Senate and Congress are meeting. You can also get into the world-famous Rotunda, where a collection of sculptures and paintings is located.
Official website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov
3. National Alley
View of the National Mall from the U.S. Capitol Building
It is called an alley, rather nominally. In fact, it is a large park area with fountains, museums and monuments that are national treasures. An interesting fact: although the memorials on the alley honor the memory of the dead, the usual American way of life reigns around them.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
4. Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is a granite obelisk made of white marble on the National Mall
A trip to Washington cannot do without visiting the monument to the venerable president. It stands proudly at a height of 169 m, with a mirrored duck pond sparkling in front of it. An internal elevator goes up to the observation deck. Before the Eiffel Tower was built, this obelisk was the tallest on the planet.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
5. The Lincoln Memorial
A statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting on a chair inside the memorial
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1856 shocked the American public so much that immediately after the tragic event it was decided to perpetuate his memory. The memorial is a revered landmark of Washington and is built in the form of a large temple, supported by 36 columns. The style of construction, by the way, makes it look like the ancient Greek Parthenon. Inside, a seated statue of Lincoln stands at a height of more than 5 meters, fastened with pieces of marble.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
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6. Jefferson Memorial
Jefferson Memorial on the shore of the artificial lake Tidal Basin in West Park
The memorial is made in the form of a beautiful building in the neoclassical style. Inside there is a statue of Thomas Jefferson with a height of 6 m. At first it was made of plaster, after the war it was cast from metal. Quotes from the 3rd President of the United States can be seen on the walls of the rotunda inside. Due to its somewhat remote location, not every tourist gets here, and in vain: the memorial is worthy of attention.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
7. The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the largest office building in the shape of a regular pentagon
Many excursions in Washington lead to this pentagon-shaped structure. The Pentagon is one of the largest office buildings in the world. The headquarters of the United States Department of Defense is located on five floors. Despite the vast area of the institution, you can walk to any point of it in 7 minutes thanks to the ingeniously thought-out layout.
8. The U.S. Supreme Court Building
The western facade of the U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington
The symbol of American justice, which we see in many films, inspires awe with its monumentality. A large number of sculptures are collected in the halls. The building looks squat, but this impression is deceptive. Inside there is a well-thought-out infrastructure, including exhibition halls, cafes, shops, an underground garage, and a basketball court for employees.
Official website: https://www.supremecourt.gov
9. The Edgar Hoover Building
The high-rise Edgar Hoover Building on Pennsylvania Avenue
We will advise where to go in Washington for fans of American detectives, because they often mention this institution and its respected director and creator, who led the Bureau for almost half a century. The FBI headquarters stands out against the background of neighboring buildings with a slightly brutal architectural style. About 30 thousand people work here.
Official website: https://www.fbi.gov
10. Washington Cathedral
The majestic Gothic church of Saints Peter and Paul in a beautiful park in Washington
An amazingly beautiful cathedral made of light sandstone, built in the best traditions of the Neo-Gothic style. More than 200 windows are decorated with mosaics. One of them has gained worldwide fame thanks to a fragment of a moonstone inlaid in its center. The cathedral has a height of 91 m, the cathedral organ is the largest in the capital. The graves of many famous American citizens are located here.
Official website: https://cathedral.org
11. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Neo-Byzantine Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Washington
A large Catholic church with a height of 152 m is one of the best attractions in Washington. The dome of the basilica is only 2 m smaller than the Capitoline in diameter. According to experts, more than 12 million pilgrims come here every year.
Official website: https://www.nationalshrine.com
12. The Georgetown area
The oldest and most prestigious area of Georgetown on the Potomac River at night
The oldest and most respectable district appeared in the middle of the XVIII century. Everything here is prestigious and expensive, starting from the prices of goods in stores and ending with old mansions. American ceramic bricks served as the material for the construction of many of them, perfectly preserved facades speak of careful reconstructions. The university of the same name is located in the area, so the local streets are always full of young people.
Official website: https://www.georgetowndc.com
13. Ford’s Theatre
Ford’s Theatre, which houses the Lincoln Memorial Theatre and Museum
There are interesting places in Washington known for sad events. In 1865, Abraham Lincoln was assassinated here during a performance. The first floor of the theater tells about this with a large informative exposition with the personal belongings of the president and the murder weapons. To this day, the seat occupied by the president on that tragic evening is never occupied.
Official website: https://www.fords.org
14. National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art is an art museum in the National Alley Park in Washington
Let’s pay tribute to the beautiful. What should art lovers visit in Washington? The gallery presents a unique collection of works of art from different eras and consists of two buildings connected by an underground passage. It seems that the architect had no desire to create monotonously, so the eastern room was built in a neoclassical manner, and the western one resembles the Roman Pantheon. Expositions with 1200 paintings, sculptures and other works will amaze the imagination of any tourist.
Official website: https://www.nga.gov
15. Library of Congress
The Thomas Jefferson Building is the oldest of the three buildings of the United States Library of Congress
When going on a trip, be sure to plan a visit here. The world’s largest library with a huge number of printed publications impresses with its architecture: an exquisite facade, a fountain at the entrance, high arched windows. The interior is replete with mosaics, frescoes, and marble columns. Among them, in addition to books: collections of music, manuscripts, photographs. There is an amazing copy here – a tiny book the size of a dot!
Official website: https://www.loc.gov
16. Martin Luther King Monument
Monument to Martin Luther King in the Museum and Park area of the National Mall
The memorial is dedicated to a Christian preacher who fought for the rights of blacks. The unusually executed stone monument is impressive, although it is completely devoid of pathos. The pose of the King carved out of stone, as if coming out of a cliff, emphasizes determination and confidence in his actions. Plates with quotes of the wrestler are laid nearby.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
17. The Museum of American History
Entrance to the north facade of the Museum of American History on the Billy Hathorn National Mall
Here, the exhibits tell about American history, culture, and the progressive achievements of the nation. Many of the objects of the exhibition once belonged to prominent figures of the country. The museum often hosts symposiums, lectures, festivals, and social events
Official website: https://americanhistory.si.edu
18. Museum of the American Indian
The Museum of the American Indian at the National Mall Park in Washington, Gabriele Giuseppini
The review of this museum contains recommendations for tourists who want to learn more about the native inhabitants of the United States. The interior is richly decorated with marble columns, sculptures, and paintings. From time to time, concerts of Indian music are held here, and thematic exhibitions are organized.
Official website: https://nmai.si.edu
19. Museum of Natural History
An exhibit in one of the halls of the Museum of Natural History in Washington Ken Lund
The dim lighting inside the museum creates a sense of mystery and mystery. Tourists are greeted by a huge stuffed elephant. There are so many exhibits that they do not fit into the exhibition halls, some of them stand right in the corridors. Among the more than 500 million exhibits are minerals, archaeological finds, meteorites, the Star of Asia sapphire, the diamond of Hope, the Hope diamond. An impressive extensive collection of dinosaur skeletons, a stuffed ancient sperm whale.
Official website: https://naturalhistory.si.edu
20. Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics in the evening
Four museum buildings in the form of marble cubes are connected by glass and steel isthmuses, which feature large exhibits. Spaceships, airplanes, and stations hover in the air under the ceiling. The expositions are accompanied by documentary photos and newsreels, interactive simulators.
Official website: https://airandspace.si.edu
21. Museum of Journalism and News
The building of the Metropolitan Museum of Journalism and News on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington
The seven-storey building houses, in addition to 14 galleries, 15 cinemas and 2 radio studios. The expositions tell about the development of mass media. Thanks to interactive technologies generously used in the equipment of exhibitions, visitors have the opportunity to try themselves as a presenter or reporter. The memorial obelisk installed in the museum commemorates 1,800 journalists who gave their lives for freedom of speech.
Official website: https://www.newseum.org
22. The International Museum of Espionage
The main entrance to the International Espionage Museum in Washington, NCinDC
The world’s only museum of this kind introduces visitors to spy artifacts and tools. The halls of the museum are very interesting, where everyone can try on the role of a spy, play spy games, and take a master class on espionage training. The collection does not stop replenishing today.
Official website: https://www.spymuseum.org
23. The Smithsonian Institution Building
The Smithsonian Institution’s neo-Romanesque building on the National Mall in Washington
What to see in Washington on the National Mall? This building immediately catches the eye with its brick coloring. It is stylized as an ancient castle, the crenellated towers enhance this impression. The university is named after the English scientist J. Smithson, his remains are kept in a tomb in a small chapel located at the entrance.
Official website: https://www.si.edu
24. The pavilion of the old post office
An architectural structure of the late 19th century in the neo-Romanesque style in the center of Washington
The unique monument of Romanesque architecture impresses with the splendor of the facade. The height of the clock tower is 95 m, it has a museum with exhibits telling about its history. The building itself has entertainment centers, shops and several government offices. The observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and the surrounding area.
Official website: https://oldpostofficedc.com
25. Mount Vernon Estate
The house is a mansion in the family estate of the first President of the United States, J. Washington Ad Meskens
Reviewing the sights of Washington with photos with names and descriptions, you will definitely see this place located by the Potomac River. The ancestral estate of George Washington is attractive for the entourage typical of the estates of the XVIII century, and beautiful landscapes.
Official website: https://www.mountvernon.org
Washington Attractions: What else to visit in Washington?
It is advantageous to choose a hotel in Washington near the center – this will facilitate hiking and reduce transportation costs. Although, of course, the price for accommodation will be higher than in the options on the outskirts. But to see some of the sights, you still have to resort to using transport sometimes.
26. Korean War Veterans Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial in West Potomac Park Ger Dekker
Another highly rated facility on the National Mall. This exciting memorial has a solemn and unusual appearance. The territory on which it is located has a triangular shape. Along one side there is a granite wall with the names of American citizens who died in the war. The realistic sculptures of 19 soldiers made of steel walking through the thickets make a striking impression. At night, shrouded in the glare of light, the figures seem to come to life.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
27. Arlington National Cemetery
Tombstones at the American Military Cemetery in Arlington
Famous warriors, politicians, and astronauts rest here. Today, only those who died in military operations with 20 years of military experience are buried in the cemetery. Grave grave of President John F. Kennedy and the tomb of the Unknown Soldier are the objects of reverence for Americans.
28. The U.S. Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of the USA is a place where you can relax and enjoy communion with nature
It is one of the five best American gardens. There are about 60 thousand species of plants growing there. The territory is equipped with huge halls with artificial fountains and vegetation of different climatic zones.
Official website: https://www.usbg.gov
29. The Great Waterfalls of the Potomac
A series of powerful waterfalls and rapids on the Potomac River
This spectacular natural phenomenon belongs to the sights of America and is located 15 miles from Washington. The 6-meter waterfalls have an interesting geological history. Some areas are a favorite place for kayaking enthusiasts, although, given the speed and strength of the current, it is not always safe.
Official website: https://www.nps.gov
30. Cherry Blossom Festival
Blooming cherry trees by the water, illuminated by the rising sun in Washington
Tourists from all over the world come to see this fragrant and spectacular event. In 1935, the festival pleased the townspeople for the first time with the flowering of 3 thousand sakura trees, presented to Washington by the mayor of Tokyo. Since then, every year the shores of the Tidal Basin are covered with wonderful color, marking the arrival of spring. The festival lasts for 5 weeks, during which concerts, sports competitions and other entertainment events are held.
Official website: https://www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org
If you decide to go to America, then you definitely need to visit Washington. You should see with your own eyes the kilometer-long boulevards, wide avenues, legendary monuments and understand how zealously Americans realize dreams of freedom and justice. Read also about the sights of Las Vegas and be inspired to travel further across the USA.
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