Categories: Literature & Arts; Travel & Events

Best Tourist Destinations in Washington, D.C.

By leigh
updated 2 months ago

Despite its incredible popularity with tourists (I don't usually go for such things), I loved my brief visit to Washington, D.C. Yeah, I did all the tourist stuff. Here were some of the best places.

Ford's Theatre

511 10th St Nw, Washington, DC 20004

Site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford’s Theatre features the restored theater, appearing as it did when Lincoln was the nation’s leader, and a nice little history museum in the basement. There’s a full-sized replica of the president – it’s amazing what a physically massive man he was!

Ford’s Theatre is currently closed for renovation. It will reopen in early 2009.

International Spy Museum

800 F St Nw, Washington, DC 20004

Though a bit family-oriented more than adult-oriented, the International Spy Museum still provides a fun way to learn about the history of espionage.

Admission is charged: Adults $18; Seniors (65+) $17; Children (5-11) $15; Children under 5 are free.

Though a bit family-oriented more than adult-oriented, the International Spy Museum still provides a fun way to learn about the history of espionage.

Admission is charged: Adults $18; Seniors (65+) $17; Children (5-11) $15; Children under 5 are free.

Folger Shakespeare Library

201 E Capitol St Se, Washington, DC 20003

A massive collection of Shakespearean manuscripts and documents is the heart of the Folger Shakespeare Library. There is a rotating exhibit area, which covers various historical periods and societies. This will only really be interesting to visitors who have a fascination with British literature and Renaissance or Victorian history. Of course, that’s me so I loved it.

USMC War Memorial

Marshall Dr, Arlington, VA 22211

Inspired by a famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, the USMC War Memorial portrays five marines raising the Ameri...

Inspired by a famous Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph, the USMC War Memorial portrays five marines raising the American flag to conclude one of America's great victories of World War II: the capture of Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. Located between Route 50 and Arlington National Cemetery, the memorial features a 60-foot bronze flagpole with a cloth American flag flying 24 hours a day. The USMC War Memorial is also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, VA 22211

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument in Arlington National Cemetery that honors those Americans who died in ...

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument in Arlington National Cemetery that honors those Americans who died in combat without ever being identified. A living soldier stands on guard at the Tomb 24 hours a day, and many visitors come to see the Changing of the Guard, a ritual that happens every hour during the winter, and every half-hour during the summer. The Tomb is located in the northern part of the cemetery, just off Memorial Drive.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

900 Ohio Dr Sw, Washington, DC 20242

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a magnificent, neoclassical structure honoring the third president of the United Sta...

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a magnificent, neoclassical structure honoring the third president of the United States. An open-air building, it sits on the shore of the East Potomac River, just east of the Washington Monument. With its marble pillars and Pantheon shape, the Memorial reflects Thomas Jefferson's own interest in Roman architecture. A 19-foot tall statue of him resides at its center, lit 24 hours a day.

Grave of President John F. Kennedy

Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA 22211

The Grave of President John F. Kennedy was completed on July 20, 1967, shortly following his assassination. Located i...

The Grave of President John F. Kennedy was completed on July 20, 1967, shortly following his assassination. Located in the heart of Arlington National Cemetery, it is one of the world's most famous resting places, a 3.2-acre memorial with granite walls, elaborate stone paving, and fescue and clover plantings to evoke the natural look of a Massachusetts Field. The grave is also home of the Eternal Flame.

Kennedy Center for Performing Arts

2700 F St Nw, Washington, DC 20566

Arguably the finest performing arts institution in the country, the Kennedy Center presents more than 3,000 performan...

Arguably the finest performing arts institution in the country, the Kennedy Center presents more than 3,000 performances each year, ranging from theater to dance to jazz to multimedia. It occupies 17 acres on the banks of the Potomac River. Notable upcoming productions include the New York City Ballet's rendition of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the Royal Shakespeare Company's "Coriolanus," and "The Phantom of the Opera."

Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Independence Ave & 7th St Sw, Washington, DC 20013

The Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden shows international modern and contemporary art, exhibiting wor...

The Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden shows international modern and contemporary art, exhibiting works by Matthew Barney, Ed Ruscha and many more internationally renowned artists. There are over 11,500 artifacts in the collection, and visitors can take guided tours of the museum or the outdoor sculpture garden, or attend any of a number of lectures, film screenings and workshops. Housed in a distinctly circular building, it lies next to the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building on the National Mall.

Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries

1050 Independence Ave Sw, Washington, DC 20013

Home to 6,000 types of artwork from places like Egypt, Greece, Korea and Japan, the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Gal...

Home to 6,000 types of artwork from places like Egypt, Greece, Korea and Japan, the Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries also host film festivals, lectures, and musical performances. There are a number of special events such as an Iranian film festival, a performance from Britain's Hilliard vocal ensemble and a lecture on the arts of Buddhism. The two buildings are located south of the Smithsonian Institution Building and west of the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building on the National Mall.

National Air and Space Museum

Independence Ave & 4th St Sw, Washington, DC 20560

The National Air and Space Museum deals with the history and future of aviation and space travel. The section of the ...

The National Air and Space Museum deals with the history and future of aviation and space travel. The section of the museum located on the National Mall houses many important artifacts, like the Apollo 11 command module and the Spirit of St. Louis airplane, and contains the world's largest collection of aircraft and spacecraft. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., it lies between the Capitol Building and the Smithsonian Institution Building.

Smithsonian American Art Museum

8th St Nw & F St Nw, Washington, DC 20001

The Smithsonian American Art Museum sits half a mile north of the National Mall, but its vast collection of American art is well worth the trip.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Henry Bacon Dr & Constitution Ave, Washington, DC 20001

One of the more famous war memorials in existence, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed by Maya Lin. The long black granite wall is inscribed with the names of servicemen either killed or missing in action during the war.

Washington Monument

15th St Nw & Constitution Ave Nw, Washington, DC 20024

One of the most recognizable structures in Washington, D.C., the towering white marble obelisk of the Washington Monu...

One of the most recognizable structures in Washington, D.C., the towering white marble obelisk of the Washington Monument stands over 555 feet high. Constructed in the 1880s as a memorial for the country's first president, George Washington, visitors can travel to the top of the monument via elevator, where an observation deck affords a fantastic view of the nation's capital city. The monument is part of the expansive National Mall, situated directly south of the White House, west of the Smithsonian museums and east of the National World War II Memorial and Reflecting Pool.

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial Cir Sw, Washington, DC 20024

The Lincoln Memorial is a majestic Roman-style structure built to honor the nation's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln....

The Lincoln Memorial is a majestic Roman-style structure built to honor the nation's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. A 19-foot marble statue of Lincoln, sitting in a chair, resides behind its 36 pillars. Visitors will also find inscriptions of Lincoln's two most famous speeches at the Memorial, as well as two murals by Jules Guerinnside. The memorial sits on 107 acres of park in Washington's Capitol Hill, due west of the Washington Monument.

United States Capitol

E Capitol & 1st St, Washington, DC 20510

Known best as the meeting chambers for the Senate and the House of Representatives, the U.S. Capitol is also an entir...

Known best as the meeting chambers for the Senate and the House of Representatives, the U.S. Capitol is also an entire complex of other attractions. It includes the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Grounds, the Library of Congress buildings, the Supreme Court Building and the Capitol Power Plant. It's located on the east end of the National Mall, which features many Smithsonian museums, national monuments and other pieces of American history.

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20500

The White House provides home to the President of the United States of America. It occupies three buildings, six stor...

The White House provides home to the President of the United States of America. It occupies three buildings, six stories, and nearly 60,000 square feet in the heart of Washington, D.C., a few blocks east of George Washington University. The property includes a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, and a putting green. Visitors can tour the White House, but must get special permission through their state's member of Congress.