Washington DC Tourism Information
Public Transportation In and Around Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.’s regional public transit system (WMATA) provides excellent service in and around Washington, D.C. Please visit their website for more information on routes, hours, fares, and other information.
You may click here for a WMATA rail map.
Memorials, Monuments, Museums, and Points of Interest
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
The Robert E. Lee Memorial honors Lee’s military and public leadership in pre- and post-Civil War America. Congress designated the memorial to recognize that “the desire and hope of Robert E. Lee for peace and unity within our Nation has come to pass.” From the portico you can contemplate our nation’s fate as you gaze across the river that once divided us.
The grounds of Arlington National Cemetery honor those who have served our nation by providing a sense of beauty and peace for our guests. The rolling green hills are dotted with trees that are hundreds of years in age and complement the gardens found throughout the 624 acres of the cemetery. This impressive landscape serves as a tribute to the service and sacrifice of every individual laid to rest within the hallowed grounds of Arlington National Cemetery.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and is one of the ten largest churches in the world.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has its headquarters in Washington, D.C. Its two main buildings are the historic Marriner S. Eccles building and the William McChesney Martin building.
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
Before Dr. Carter G. Woodson, there was very little accurate written history about the lives and experiences of Americans of African descent. Today a National Historic Site, Dr. Woodson’s home served as the headquarters for the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Dr. Woodson established Negro History Week here in 1926, which we celebrate today as Black History Month.
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Clara Barton dedicated her life and energies to help others in times of need — both at home and abroad, in peacetime as well as during military emergencies. Glen Echo was her home the last 15 years of her life and the structure illustrates her dedication and concern for those less fortunate than herself.
Step back in time and experience life on a small farm in northern Virginia. Living history programs and demonstrations offer a glimpse of what life was like for a poor farm family, just before the Revolutionary War.
The permanent collection of the Gallery consists of well over 14,000 items, most of which are American. Its collections of European holdings are based primarily on the Clark collection and the Walker collection, from collectors Mary and Edward Walker.
In 1890, the founders of the DAR envisioned “a place for the collection of historical relics…portraits, pictures, etc. …in a fireproof building.” The DAR Museum supports the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s goals of historic preservation, education, and patriotism by collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the material culture and social history of pre-industrial America.
The mission of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum and Visitors Center is to educate the American public on the history of drugs, drug addiction, and drug law enforcement in the United States through engaging and state-of-the-art exhibits, displays, interactive stations, and educational outreach programs. The DEA Museum will provide a unique learning environment for the public to discover the role and impact of federal drug law enforcement on the changing trends of licit and illicit drug use in American history.
Diplomatic Reception Rooms — US Department of State
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms are among the most beautiful rooms in the world. For fifty years, the art of diplomacy has thrived in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms against a stunning backdrop of American art and architecture from the time of our country’s founding and of its formative years. This historically evocative suite contains a museum-caliber collection of American fine and decorative art from the period of 1750-1825. Today, the Secretary of State, Vice President, and Members of Cabinet continue to conduct the essential business of diplomacy in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms. In these State Rooms, the United States signs treaties, conducts summit negotiations, hosts swearing-in ceremonies, facilitates trade agreements, and promotes peace.
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection is an institute in Washington, D.C., administered by the Trustees for Harvard University. It supports research and learning internationally in Byzantine, Garden and Landscape, and Pre-Columbian studies through fellowships and internships, meetings, and exhibitions. Located in residential Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks welcomes researchers at all career stages who come to study its books, objects, images, and documents. It opens its doors to the public to visit its historic Gardens, its Museum, with world-class collections of art, and its Music Room.
The Education Center gives visitors a rare inside look into the FBI’s vital role in protecting the United States and Americans overseas from those who would do us harm.
Located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Folger is the world’s largest Shakespeare collection — the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world.
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
O! say can you see,…by the dawn’s early light, a large red, white and blue banner? Whose broad stripes and bright stars…were so gallantly streaming! over the star-shaped Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore, September 13-14, 1814. The valiant defense of the fort inspired Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Frederick Douglass spent his life fighting for justice and equality. Born into slavery in 1818, he escaped as a young man and became a leading voice in the abolitionist movement. People everywhere still find inspiration today in his tireless struggle, brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity. Douglass’ legacy is preserved here at Cedar Hill, where he lived his last 17 years.
The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
Located in the heart of GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus, Washington, the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum fosters the study and appreciation of art, history, and culture — both within the university and throughout the global community.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon is an iconic American landmark — an enduring reminder of the life and legacy of the Father of Our Country. Once a vibrant plantation in the 18th century, the estate is now one of the nation’s most visited historic sites. Combining an authentically interpreted 18th-century home, lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and first-rate dining and shopping, Mount Vernon is an incomparable national treasure.
At Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. The Patowmack Canal offers a glimpse into the early history of this country. Great Falls Park has many opportunities to explore history and nature, all in a beautiful 800-acre park only 15 miles from the Nation’s Capital.
The Heurich House Museum preserves the legacy of Christian Heurich and enriches the cultural life of Washington, D.C.
Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
Marjorie Merriweather Post bought Hillwood in 1955 and soon decided her home would be a museum that would inspire and educate the public. Her northwest Washington, D.C. estate endowed the country with the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside of Russia, a distinguished 18th-century French decorative art collection, and twenty-five acres of serene landscaped gardens, and natural woodlands for all to enjoy. Opened as a public institution in 1977, today Hillwood’s allure stems from the equally fascinating parts that make up the whole. From the captivating life of Marjorie Post to the exquisitely maintained Mansion and Gardens, the experience of Hillwood outshines even the Fabergé Eggs.
For more than 75 years, the Interior Museum’s mission has been to inspire and educate the public about the ongoing stewardship of the nation’s public lands, natural resources, and cultural heritage.
The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events. The Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display. Many of these objects are being seen by the public for the first time. These artifacts illuminate the work of famous spies and pivotal espionage actions as well as help bring to life the strategies and techniques of the men and women behind some of the most secretive espionage missions in world history. The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage and intelligence in an engaging way and to provide a context that fosters understanding of its important role in and impact on current and historic events. The Museum focuses on human intelligence and reveals the role spies have played in world events throughout history. It is committed to the apolitical presentation of the history of espionage in order to provide visitors with nonbiased, accurate information.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center, located on the banks of the Potomac River near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., opened to the public in September 1971. But its roots date back to 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed bipartisan legislation creating a National Cultural Center. To honor Eisenhower’s vision for such a facility, one of the Kennedy Center’s theaters is named for him.
The Kreeger Museum, a private, non-profit art museum and the former residence of David and Carmen Kreeger, rests on five acres of sculpture-filled gardens and is surrounded by tranquil woods. Designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson, it is among the few examples of his work in D.C. The Kreeger’s focus on 19th and 20th century paintings is evidenced by works of Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Cézanne, Chagall, Miró, and Stella. Also included in the permanent collection are works of prominent Washington artists and outstanding examples of traditional African and Asian art.
LBJ Memorial Grove on the Potomac
From this distance the seat of national power appears pristine across the river, so President Johnson came here often when he needed to escape from the stresses of building a Great Society. After he died, his wife chose this place for his memorial. A landscape of serpentine paths, white pines, a granite monolith, and an open meadow honors his legacy of social justice and conservation legislation.
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. The Library preserves and provides access to a rich, diverse, and enduring source of knowledge to inform, inspire, and engage you in your intellectual and creative endeavors.
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Millions and millions of people have flocked through the doors of Madame Tussauds since they first opened over 200 years ago and it remains just as popular as it ever was. There are many reasons for this enduring success, but at the heart of it all is good, old-fashioned curiosity.
Marine Barracks Evening Parade
A one hour and fifteen minute performance of music and precision marching, the Evening Parade features “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, “The Commandant’s Own” The United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, the Marine Corps Color Guard, the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, Ceremonial Marchers, and LCpl Chesty XIII, the official mascot of Marine Barracks Washington. The ceremony starts at 8:45 p.m., beginning with a concert by the United States Marine Band. The Evening Parade, held every Friday evening during the summer, has become a universal symbol of the professionalism, discipline, and Esprit de Corps of the United States Marines.
National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
The Pentagon Memorial is a place of solace and healing and a reminder to future generations to renew their faith in and commitment to the values that citizens of a free world share.
The National Aquarium opened 1981 as a nonprofit aquatic education and conservation organization, the jewel of Baltimore City’s Inner Harbor redevelopment. With a mission to inspire conservation of the world’s aquatic treasures, the Aquarium is consistently ranked as one of the nation’s two top aquariums and has hosted over 51 million guests since opening.
The National Archives Museum depicts our astounding national mosaic and tells the stories of the American journey to young and old, scholars and students, cynics and dreamers.
The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution devoted to interpreting the history and impact of the built environment. We do this by telling the stories of architecture, engineering, and design. As one of the most family-friendly, awe-inspiring spots in Washington, D.C., we welcome visitors from around the world to our exhibitions, public programs, and festivals. Located just four blocks from the National Mall, the Museum occupies a magnificent building with a soaring Great Hall, colossal 75-foot-tall Corinthian columns, and a 1,200-foot terra cotta frieze.
The National Gallery of Art was conceived and given to the people of the United States by Andrew W. Mellon (1855–1937). Mellon was a financier and art collector from Pittsburgh who came to Washington in 1921 to serve as Secretary of the Treasury. During his years of public service he came to believe that the United States should have a national art museum equal to those of other great nations.
Explore the world and all that’s in it at the National Geographic Museum. The museum is great for all ages and features a wide range of changing exhibitions, from interactive experiences to stunning photography exhibitions featuring the work of National Geographic explorers, photographers, and scientists.
National Great Blacks In Wax Museum
The history of African-Americans in Baltimore is one of power, courage, and tenacity. Baltimore has been home to many “freedom fighters” — individuals who chose liberty, transformation and human rights over comfort and personal security.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial is the nation’s monument to law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty. Dedicated on October 15, 1991, the Memorial honors federal, state, and local law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and protection of our nation and its people.
National Mall and Memorial Parks
Each year, millions of people visit the National Mall and Memorial Parks to recreate, to commemorate presidential legacies, to honor our nation’s veterans, to make their voices heard, and to celebrate our nation’s commitment to freedom and equality.
African American Civil War Memorial
Over 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors served in the U.S. Army and Navy during the Civil War. Their service helped to end the war and free over four million slaves. The African American Civil War Memorial honors their service and sacrifice.
American Veterans Disabled for Life
Through juxtaposition of granite and glass, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial conveys a combination of strength and vulnerability, of loss and renewal. The Memorial shines a light on the important lessons of courage, sacrifice, tenacity, loyalty, and honor by bearing witness to the experiences of war heroes who were disabled as a result of military service. It is the first national memorial dedicated solely to disabled veterans, paying tribute to the hidden and visible disabilities from all conflicts and all branches of service.
Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument
Home to the National Woman’s Party for nearly 90 years, this was the epicenter of the struggle for women’s rights. From this house in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court, Alice Paul and the NWP developed innovative strategies and tactics to advocate for the Equal Rights Amendment and equality for women.
Situated between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, Constitution Gardens is a quiet oasis removed from the bustling capital, with the potential to function as an important social space and a welcome respite on the Mall.
The names of the men and women from the District of Columbia who gave their lives in the World War are inscribed here as a perpetual record of their patriotic service to their country. Those who fell and those who survived have given to this and to future generations an example of high idealism courageous sacrifice and gallant achievement.
Explore Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site, discover Abraham Lincoln’s life in Washington, D.C., the struggle for a united country, and the motivation behind Lincoln’s assassination. The National Park Service and the Ford’s Theatre Society present a variety of programs year round.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” iconic words from an iconic president. Learn more about the man, his memorial, and his lasting legacy to the Nation.
The George Mason Memorial, located in East Potomac Park near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, commemorates the neglected contributions of an important Founding Father. George Mason was the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which served as an inspiration to Thomas Jefferson while drafting the Declaration of Independence. Mason later served as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. Perhaps Mason’s greatest act was withholding his signature from the United States Constitution because it did not abolish the slave trade and lacked necessary protection for the individual from the Federal Government.
During his lifetime, John Ericsson revolutionized several facets of technology. The Swedish-born engineer/inventor is best known for his work during the Civil War when he transformed naval warfare through his design of the iron-plated USS Monitor. The movements of Ericsson’s pencil across his drafting board were as crucial to victory as the movements of Lincoln’s armies across battlefields.
Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.
“In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.” Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Located in downtown Washington, D.C., the memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.
John J. Pershing devoted his life to serving his country and remains most deserving of his memorial along Americas Main Street. Pershing saw service along America’s western frontier, during the Spanish-American War and in Mexico before he commanded the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) sent to Europe in 1917. The AEF’s bravery remains immortalized here upon engraved granite panels as an enduring testimony of the American spirit to later generations. An oasis within the heart of the thriving capital city, Pershing Park offers opportunities for both relaxation and remembrance. It is here where one may pause to honor John J. Pershing, whose World War I leadership propelled him to the rank of General of the Armies a rank he shares only with George Washington.
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site and Park
A street unlike any other. It is known the world over as the heart of the Nation’s Capital. America’s history has marched, paraded, promenaded, and protested its way along the Avenue.
The Signers of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was the Continental Congress’s “line in the sand,” their “crossing the Rubicon,” and their “point of no return” that, in turn, influenced the destiny of the people they represented. If it were a poker game, the American colonists were “all in.” Not only were the signers putting their lives and futures on the line, but they were gambling with those of the 2.5 million colonists. Declaring open rebellion against the most powerful empire on earth, these men signed their “John Hancocks” to the Declaration of Independence. One of the signers of this document, Benjamin Franklin stated in earnest, “We must all hang together or, assuredly we shall all hang separately.”
Author of the Declaration of Independence, Statesman, and Visionary for the founding of a Nation.
Honoring the men and women who served in the controversial Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically lists the names of more than 58,000 Americans who gave their lives in service to their country.
Built to honor George Washington, the United States’ first president, the 555-foot marble obelisk towers over Washington, D.C.
Through stone architecture and bronze sculptures, the World War II Memorial recognizes the ways Americans served, honors those who fell, and recognizes the victory they achieved to restore freedom and end tyranny around the globe.
National Museum of American Jewish Military History
Chartered by an act of Congress in 1958, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish-Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States, educates the public concerning the courage, heroism, and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces, and works to combat anti-Semitism.
National Museum of the Marine Corps
The National Museum of the Marine Corps is a lasting tribute to U.S. Marines — past, present, and future. Situated on a 135-acre site adjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, and under the command of Marine Corps University, the Museum’s soaring design evokes the image of the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima and beckons visitors to this 120,000-square-foot structure. World-class interactive exhibits using the most innovative technology surround visitors with irreplaceable artifacts and immerse them in the sights and sounds of Marines in action.
National Museum of the U.S. Navy
The National Museum of the U.S. Navy collects, preserves, displays, and interprets historic naval artifacts and artwork to inform, educate, and inspire naval personnel and the general public.
The National Park Service operates numerous parks, monuments, memorials, and historic sites in the District of Columbia and around the country.
“From the People of the Netherlands to the People of the United States.” This simple dedication on the Netherlands Carillon expresses the gratitude of the Dutch people for American aid received during and after World War II. The carillon itself symbolizes a friendship between the people of two countries, a friendship so rooted in a common allegiance to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy that it can weather any temporary differences of opinion.
The Newseum, headquartered in Washington, D.C., promotes, explains, and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
Built in 1899, the Old Post Office’s clock tower offers panoramic views of Washington, D.C. The tower houses the Congress Bells, a Bicentennial gift from England commemorating friendship between the nations.
The Old Stone House is the oldest structure on its original foundation in Washington, D.C. Built in 1765 in the British colony of Maryland, the house was already 59 years old when the British invaded Washington, D.C. in 1814. Although it is preserved for its architecture today, it was originally preserved through a case of mistaken identity and a desire to remember George Washington.
Isaac Peirce built Peirce Mill on Rock Creek in 1829. Using the moving water as a power source, the mill ground corn, wheat, and rye. Succeeding generations further developed the mill, sawmill, orchard, and tree nursery.
The Pentagon Tours program, under the purview of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, hosts more than 106,000 visitors annually. Our tours dynamically highlight the respective missions of the five Armed Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and the Joint Staff through a 60-minute presentation that includes a 1.49 mile walk through the building. Each tour includes the mission of the Department of Defense and numerous military displays.
Encounter superb works of modern art in an intimate setting at The Phillips Collection, opened to the public in 1921 in Washington’s vibrant Dupont Circle neighborhood. Paintings by Renoir and Rothko, Bonnard, O’Keeffe, van Gogh, and Diebenkorn are among the many stunning impressionist and modern works that fill the museum. Its distinctive building combines extensive new galleries with the former home of its founder, Duncan Phillips. The collection continues to develop with selective new acquisitions, many by contemporary artists.
President Lincoln’s Cottage is an historic site and museum located in the Petworth neighborhood of northwest Washington, D.C. It is the only place the public can experience the history of Abraham Lincoln’s public and private life where he lived and worked for over a quarter of his presidency. While in residence at the Cottage, Lincoln visited with wounded soldiers, spent time with self-emancipated men, women and children, and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. The human cost of the Civil War surrounded him, undoubtedly impacted his thinking, and strengthened his resolve to challenge the status quo. Through innovative guided tours, exhibits and programs, we use Lincoln’s example to inspire visitors to take their own path to greatness, and preserve this place as an authentic, tangible connection to the past and a beacon of hope for all who take up Lincoln’s unfinished work.
The mission of the Lewis Museum is to be the premier experience and best resource for information and inspiration about the lives of African-American Marylanders. The museum seeks to realize its mission by collecting, preserving, interpreting, documenting, and exhibiting the rich contributions of African-American Marylanders from the state’s earliest history to the present and the future.
Rock Creek Park is truly a gem in our nation’s capital. It offers visitors opportunity to reflect and soothe their spirits through the beauty of nature. Fresh air, majestic trees, wild animals, and thousands of years of human history emanate the delicate aura of the forest.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex, consisting of 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, and nine research facilities.
The Anacostia Community Museum examines, documents, and interprets the impact of historical and contemporary social issues on urban communities.
The Arts and Industries Building has a special role among Smithsonian buildings as the first United States National Museum opened in 1881.
The Smithsonian Institution has two museums of Asian art: the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. The Freer Gallery houses one of the premier collections of Asian art, with objects dating from Neolithic times to the early 20th century, as well as the world’s most important collection of works by James McNeill Whistler. The Sackler Gallery features both permanent and temporary exhibitions of Asian art from ancient times to the present.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden displays the art of our time in the celebrated Gordon Bunshaft designed cylindrical building and adjoining plaza and sunken sculpture garden.
The National Air and Space Museum houses twenty-three galleries exhibiting hundreds of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and other flight-related artifacts.
National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Udvar-Hazy Center displays hundreds of aviation and space artifacts that are too large to exhibit in the museum on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., along with thousands of small flight-related artifacts.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, art, history, and culture.
National Museum of African Art
The National Museum of African Art exhibits the finest examples of traditional and contemporary art from the entire continent of Africa.
National Museum of American History
The National Museum of American History is devoted to the scientific, cultural, social, technological, and political development of the United States.
National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History houses exhibitions on the earliest human origins, development of world cultures, and ancient and modern mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and sea creatures.
National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is home to one of the largest and most diverse collections of Native art and historical and cultural objects; exhibitions are designed in collaboration with Native communities from across the hemisphere.
The National Portrait Gallery tells the stories of America through the individuals who have shaped our nation, from pre-colonial times to today, including poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists.
The National Postal Museum is devoted to the history of America’s mail service and the hobby of stamp collecting.
The National Zoological Park is one of the world’s best zoos and home to approximately 2,000 animals representing nearly 400 species, of which about a quarter are endangered; provides leadership in animal care, science, education, and sustainability.
The Renwick Gallery is the branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum dedicated to exhibiting American contemporary craft and decorative arts from the 19th to the 21st centuries
Entered from a copper domed kiosk on Jefferson Drive between the “Castle” and the Freer Gallery of Art, the S. Dillon Ripley Center houses The Smithsonian Associates, the Discovery Theater, and the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The nation’s first collection of American art offers an unparalleled record of the American experience. The museum is the home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world.
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
Completed in 1855, the Castle is the Smithsonian’s signature building and home to the Smithsonian Visitor Center.
Supreme Court of the United States
Majestic in size and rich in ornamentation, The Supreme Court Building serves as both home to the Court and the manifest symbol of its importance as a coequal, independent branch of government.
In the 1930s, landscape architects transformed Mason’s Island from neglected, overgrown farmland into Theodore Roosevelt Island, a memorial to America’s 26th president. They conceived a “real forest” designed to mimic the natural forest that once covered the island. Today miles of trails through wooded uplands and swampy bottomlands honor the legacy of a great outdoorsman and conservationist.
U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Located in the heart of the Nation’s Capital, the BEP’s Washington, D.C. Tour and Visitor Center is a great place to learn all about U.S. paper currency. You can see millions of dollars being printed as you walk along the gallery overlooking the production floor. The free 40-minute experience includes an introductory film and gallery tour of the production process. The visitor center includes exhibits and currency products for sale.
The United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is a symbol of the American people and their government, the meeting place of the nation’s legislature. The Capitol also houses an important collection of American art, and it is an architectural achievement in its own right. It is a working office building as well as a tourist attraction visited by millions every year.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
Tour highlights of the U.S. Department of the Treasury include the Salmon Chase and Andrew Johnson Suites, the West dome and lobby, and the Cash Room.
U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial
Based on an iconic image of the second flag-raising on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II, the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial is dedicated to “the Marine dead of all wars and their comrades of other services who fell fighting beside them.”
The U.S. National Arboretum enhances the economic, environmental, and aesthetic value of ornamental and landscape plants through long-term, multi-disciplinary research, conservation of genetic resources, and interpretative gardens and exhibits.
United States Air Force Memorial
The United States Air Force Memorial honors the service and sacrifices of the men and women of the United States Air Force and its predecessor organizations, including the Aeronautical Division, U.S. Signal Corps; the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps; the Division of Military Aeronautics, Secretary of War; the Army Air Service; the U.S. Army Air Corps; and the U.S. Army Air Forces. More than 54,000 Airmen have died in combat while serving in the Air Force and these historical service arms of the military. Located on a promontory in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial is easily seen on the skyline of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia in Arlington county.
Steeped in history, rich with tradition, the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) is a living plant museum that informs visitors about the importance, and often irreplaceable value, of plants to the well-being of humans and to earth’s fragile ecosystems.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Located among our national monuments to freedom on the National Mall, the Museum provides a powerful lesson in the fragility of freedom, the myth of progress, and the need for vigilance in preserving democratic values.
The United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce positioning, navigation, and timing data for the United States Navy and the United States Department of Defense. The Observatory grounds also serve as the home of the Vice President of the United States.
The United States Navy Memorial
The Navy Memorial includes both a commemorative public plaza and a Naval Heritage Center. The plaza is a round ceremonial amphitheater paved in granite to form a 100-foot diameter of the world. Surrounding the deck of the plaza are fountains, pools, flagpole masts, and sculptural panels depicting historic achievements of the sea services. A symbolic statue of a Lone Sailor stands watch near the edge of the plaza.
The Voice of America Studio Tour is a behind-the-scenes look at live broadcasting in radio, television, and the Internet in several of our 45 languages. Tours last 45 minutes.
Washington National Cathedral is dedicated to serve as a house of prayer for all people and a spiritual home for the nation.
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
Women In Military Service For America Memorial
The Women In Military Service For America Memorial is the only major national memorial honoring all women who have defended America throughout history. We are proud to recognize their devoted patriotism and bravery as an integral part of our National heritage.