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Washington Maps & Attractions Guide
Washington maps & Attractions - Things to do
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Washington
Attractions - Things to do
1. National Mall
www.nps.gov/nama |
What is it? 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, 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.
The Tidal Basin, a beautiful lake famous for its spring show of
blossoming Japanese cherry trees, lies to the
south.
Hours of Operation: The park is open 24 hours daily
Phone:(202) 426 6841 (Visitor information) |
2. US Capitol
Capitol Hill
www.aoc.gov |
What is it? The heart of American government is also
Washington, DC's most prominent landmark, the US Capitol, which is
sited on the top of Capitol Hill, its giant white dome visible from
all over the city. It is the city's top tourist attraction, 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 180ft
(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.
Hours of Operation: Open from Monday to Saturday between 9am and 4.30pm.
Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Access is by guided tour
only, every 30 minutes and tickets are on a first-come,
first-served basis. To view Congress in session, Americans can get
a free pass from their senator or representative valid for two
years, and foreign nationals can get a free day pass from the House
or Senate appointment desks. Due to increased security it is
advised that all visitors phone ahead for up to date information
regarding tours
Phone:(202) 224 3121 (general information), (202) 225 6827
(tour information) |
3. The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
www.whitehouse.gov |
What is it? 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 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 Bush's horseshoe-throwing
lane. 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, and since the events of 11 September 2001
the US considers itself to be fighting a War on Terrorism; public
tours have been suspended for the time being. The visitor centre
provides interesting historical information about the residence and
its occupants.
Hours of Operation: The White House is usually open for free tours from
Tuesday to Saturday from 7.30am to 11.30am, with additional tours
in summer, but visitors need to queue early at the visitor centre
to get a ticket. At present tours are limited to certain groups due
to increased security and all visitors are advised to phone ahead
for up to date information regarding tours. The White House Visitor
Center is open daily from 7.30am to 4pm
Phone:(202) 208 1631 (White House Visitor Center), or (202)
456 7041 (for up to date, 24-hr tour information) |
4. Washington Monument
15th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
www.nps.gov/wamo |
What is it? 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, it 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 555ft (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.
Hours of Operation: The monument is open daily from 9am to 4.45pm. The
ticket kiosk in the grounds is open daily from 8am to 4.30pm, but
as a limited number of first-come, first-serve tickets are
obtainable daily, it is advisable to queue from early
on
Phone:(202) 426 6841 (park information), or to book advance
tickets (800) 967 2283 (National Park Reservation
Service) |
5. Lincoln Memorial
23rd Street, NW
www.nps.gov/linc |
What is it? 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 idea 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, is nearby.
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 8am to 11.45pm. The bookshop is open
daily from 8.30am to 10.30pm
Phone:(202) 426 6841 (park information), or (202) 426
6895 |
6. Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
www.fbi.gov |
What is it? Officially named the J Edgar Hoover FBI
Building after its notorious long-time director, the ugly concrete
structure that is headquarters of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation is one of the most popular tourist attractions in
Washington, DC. A one-hour guided tour takes visitors through the
Material Analysis Unit and crime laboratories where fingerprinting,
DNA and ballistics testing takes place. There are 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'. In the past, two tourists have
led agents to wanted criminals after recognising faces in the
line-up. The tour ends with a sharp-shooting demonstration by a
Special Agent who blasts away at a cardboard target and discusses
firearm safety. Public tours of the interior have been suspended
due to renovations until further notice and visitors are advised to
phone ahead to check on the current status. Those in search of
espionage history can go to the nearby, newly-opened International
Spy Museum.
Hours of Operation: Open from Monday to Friday between 8.45am and 4.15pm.
Admission is by FBI Tour only and as reservations are not required
it is advised that visitors queue from early to get a ticket. Tours
run between 8.45am and 2.30pm from Monday to Friday (tours closed
until further notice due to renovations)
Phone:(202) 324 3447 |
7. International Spy Museum
800 F Street, NW
www.spymuseum.org |
What is it? 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. The museum
complex includes a restaurant, spy-theme cafe and
shop.
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 9am to 8pm (April to August), 10am to
6pm or 8pm (September to March). Times can vary within the month,
so visitors are advised to consult the Musuem's website or phone
for more information. The museum closes one hour after last
admission
Phone:(202) 393 7798; and (202) 432 7328 (TicketMaster Advance
Tickets) |
8. Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Castle Visitor Center, 1000 Jefferson Drive,
SW
www.si.edu |
What is it? One of the world's finest research centres,
the Smithsonian Institution incorporates 13 excellent museums and
galleries, nine of which line the Mall, and a zoo. 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 biggest
ever 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.
Hours of Operation: The Smithsonian Castle Visitor Center is open daily
from 8.30am to 5.30pm. The museums are open daily from 10am to
5.30pm. Closed 25 December
Phone:(202) 633 1000 (recorded information) |
9. National Gallery of Art
National Mall between Third and Seventh Streets
www.nga.gov |
What is it? 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.
Hours of Operation: Open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm, and Sunday
from 11am to 6pm
Phone:(202) 737 4215 |
10. US Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
www.ushmm.org |
What is it? 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, from 1933 to 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'.
Hours of Operation: Daily from 10am to 5.30pm
Phone:(202) 488 0400; and (800) 400 9373 (Advance
Tickets) |
Washington Holidays guide
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Transport -Getting around Washington DC is relatively
easy as most attractions are within walking distance of each other,
and there is an excellent public transport system that includes
buses and the Metrorail subway, which has stations at or near
almost every tourist attraction.
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