Washington, DC Attractions
Built on the grounds of Robert E. Lee's historic homestead, veterans from all our nation's wars are interred in the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. Open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM October through March and from 8 AM to 7 PM April through September. Frequently visited sites include The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Amphitheater, the Custis-Lee Mansion, and the eternal flame marking the grave of President John F. Kennedy. Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier occurs every hour on the hour and every half hour during the summer months.
Need some inspiration for your garden at home? The U.S. Botanic Garden (USBG) is a beautiful and fascinating living plant museum containing a greenhouse that is divided into separate rooms, each one simulating a different habitat. Located on the National Mall across from the U.S. Capitol, the USBG is open every day of the year, including federal holidays.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
An interactive monument to our nation's 32nd President and the era he represents, the FDR Memorial is a landscape of four outdoor sections with granite walls, inscriptions, waterfalls and thousands of plants, shrubs and trees along the famous cherry tree walk. Located on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park and open year round.
Ford's Theatre and Lincoln Museum
Ford's Theatre is both an active theater and an historic site remembering the assassination of President Abrham Lincoln. A museum beneath the theater displays artifacts related to the assassination, including the Derringer pistol used to carry out the shooting, John Wilkes Booth's diary, and the original door to Lincoln's theatre box. Ford's Theatre, the Lincoln Museum, and The House Where Lincoln Died are open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM every day except December 25.
Frederick Douglass Memorial Home
Tour the home of Frederick Douglass, America's leading 19th-century African American abolitionist, author, statesman and reformer. Located at 1411 W Street, S.E. and open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is a monument to Douglass' efforts to abolish slavery and his struggle for Human Rights, Equal Rights and Civil Rights for all oppressed people.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center is both a center for the performing arts and a memorial to President John F. Kennedy. Free tours of the Kennedy Center are available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Popular stops on the tour include the Hall of States and Hall of Nations, the Center's main theaters, and dozens of paintings, sculptures, and other artworks given to the Center by foreign countries. A sneak peak virtual tour is available here.
Jefferson Memorial
South bank of the Tidal Basin. Open 24 hours daily. At the Swan Boathouse, you can rent a paddle boat to cruise the Basin.
Korean War Memorial
The memorial stands on the south side of the Lincoln Memorial as a tribute to those who served in the Korean War. Open 24 hours daily. Independence Avenue & 23rd Street NW.
Lincoln Memorial
West Potomac Park at the foot of 23rd Street NW. Open 24 hours daily. Phone: (202) 426-6895.
Mount Vernon
The home of George Washington. November through February; open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through February tours end at 4 p.m.; April through August the tours begin at 8 a.m. Phone: (703) 780-2000 or visit http://www.mountvernon.org/
The oldest aquarium in the United States, The National Aquarium has over 50 tanks containing nearly 1,000 specimens from over 200 different species. Popular exhibits include piranhas, sea turtles, sharks, and alligators. The aquarium is not managed or funded by the federal government and the entrance fee is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.
The sixth-largest cathedral in the world, The National Cathedral was completed on September 29, 1990. The cathedral's pointed arches, stained glass windows, and flying buttresses display influences from the various Gothic architectural styles of the Middle Ages. There are over two hundred stained glass windows, including the Space Window, honoring man's landing on the Moon, which includes a fragment of lunar rock at its center. A variety of tour options are available year round.
The National Gallery of Art houses one of the finest art collections in the world. Located on The National Mall, the museum has two main buildings containing paintings and sculptures from artists such Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, and Jackson Pollock. There is also a beautiful outdoor sculpture garden with a fountain in the summer and ice rink in the winter. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
With over 19,400 works, ranging from paintings and sculpture to photographs and drawings, The National Portrait Gallery the only museum of its kind in the United States to combine the aspects of American history, biography and art. Famous works include the "Lansdowne" portrait of George Washington, by Gilbert Stuart and a portrait of Benjamin Franklin by Joseph Duplessis that is featured on the new $100 bill. Open daily from 11:30 AM to 7:00 PM.
Lions, tigers, and pandas... oh my! With over 2,500 animals of 435 different species, the National Zoo is a popular tourist destination. Highlights include the Panda House, Reptile Discovery Center, Cheetah Conservation Station, and Great Ape House. The grounds are open daily from 6 AM to 8 PM in the spring and summer and from 6 AM to 6 PM in the fall and winter.
This museum "covers" current events past and present. It's open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Same-day tickets may be purchased in person at hte Newseum, either at the ticketing kiosks or at the admissions desk. Advanced tickets may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-NEWSEUM (639-7386).
The Vietnam Veterans War Memorial consists of three distinct sections: The Wall; the Three Servicemen Statue and flagpole; and the Women in Service to the Vietnam War statue. The black granite Wall is inscribed with the names of the 58,000 plus Americans who gave their lives or remain missing from the Vietnam War. Located in a grassy park of Constitution Gardens near the Lincoln Memorial, the Wall is open all day, year round.
The World War II Memorial honors all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation's call to arms. The memorial is made up of 56 pillars arranged in a semicircle around a central plaza with two giant arches on opposite sides. The pillars represent the American communities that contributed to the war effort and the arches are inscribed with "Atlantic" and "Pacific." There is also a Freedom Wall containing 4,048 gold stars, one for approximately 100 American deaths incurred in the war. The memorial is open all day, year round.
