Washington, D.C., is a place of living history, every street and every building will have had some contact with a pivotal moment, a crucial twist in America's story. It can be be overwhelming to choose from the host of sights, but there are perhaps a few structures and a museums that stand out from the crowd.
Not far from the National Mall stands the 555-foot Washington Monument. An impressive structure on its own, the lobby inside contains a brass molding of George Washington himself. A trip to the top, which is free but requires a ticket, affords views stretching for more than 30 miles.
Washington Monument
2 15st NW
Washington, D.C. 20024
202-426-6841
nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc72.htm
With hourly tours of the area and the opportunity to see one of the most iconic statues in America, you have to visit the Lincoln Memorial at least once. Arriving early in the day allows for a better experience as crowds can lessen the experience.
Lincoln Memorial
900 Ohio Drive Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20024
202-426-6841
nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc71.htm
Free tours of the Library of Congress reward the visitor with an intensive history of the building's architecture, its collection of artwork and texts as well as the turbulent history of one of America's oldest structures.
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20540
202-707-5000
loc.gov/index.html
The tallest building in the nation's capital, the Basilica is a stunning piece of architecture which dominates the D.C. skyline. As the largest Catholic Church in America it is well worth a visit to see the Papal Tiara of Pope Paul VI and the largest collection of modern ecclesiastical art in the world.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20017
202-526-8300
nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4719297/k.BF65/Home.htm
At $20 for an adult ticket, the Washington Newseum may seem a little expensive, but once inside it becomes obvious where the money is spent. Here visitors can experience the history of news and news broadcast production. There is also the opportunity to be a reporter with a deadline to meet, a photographer on the hunt for the perfect shot, or a journalist presented with the ethical dilemma of the ideal of free-speech vs. national security.
Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20001
202-292-6100
newseum.org
The National Theater's imposing Gothic facade belies the buildings status as a monument to American unity. A place of prayer for religious and atheist groups throughout history, the cathedral has famously housed services for Americans during the second World War and today still hosts most major religious events of national importance.
Washington National Cathedral
3101 Wisconsin Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20016
202-537-6200
nationalcathedral.org/
From the history of aviation to breathtaking shots of America and from the air to interstellar space travel, the Smithsonian is ambitious in its scope. Whether it's an IMAX theater, the Einstein Planetarium, an expert lecturer or a number of different exhibits, the price of around $10 per exhibit is a bargain.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Independence Avenue Southwest
Washington, D.C. 20024
202-633-2214
nasm.si.edu/
A tour of the venue of Abraham Lincoln's assassination is sobering and fascinating. Like most historical sites in the capital, there is no charge although a ticket is required. The National Park Service and Ford's Theater Society offer presentations on the history of the theater as the option of an audio tour, replete with sound effects and character actors.
Ford's Theatre
511 Tenth St., NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
202-347-4833
fordstheatre.org/
It is well worth the time to visit this touching memorial to the casualties of the Vietnam War. The Iwo Jima Memorial and the Women's Memorial are evocative sculptures and fitting tributes, but it is the Memorial Wall which possesses a more disquieting reality. As a place to pause and reflect on the fallen and the realities of war there is nowhere quite as moving.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1023 15th St. Northwest, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20005
202-393-0090
nps.gov/vive/
No trip to Washington, D.C., would be complete without a trip to the home of the President. Simply viewing the building from the outside is anti-climactic, and strangely the best view is to the rear of the White House. However, petitioning your Member of Congress for a pass is well-worth the effort as there are extensive tours available. Arriving early is recommended as huge lines form later in the day.
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20500
202-456-1414
whitehouse.gov/
