KEY SITES IN THE D.C. METRO AREA
http://www.si.edu/
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex,
consisting of 19 museums and galleries (including 2 in New York), the National Zoological Park,
and nine research facilities. Most Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo are free and
open every day of the year except December 25.
Museums in Metro D.C.
•
African American History and Culture
Museum
•
African Art Museum
•
Air and Space Museum
•
Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy
Center
•
American Art Museum
•
American History Museum
•
American Indian Museum
•
Anacostia Community Museum
•
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Freer Gallery of Art
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture
Garden
National Zoo
Natural History Museum
Portrait Gallery
Postal Museum
Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian Institution Building, The
Castle
Arts and Industries Building
Research Centers
• Archives of American Art
• Astrophysical Observatory Conservation Biology Institute
• Environmental Research Center
• Marine Station at Fort Pierce
• Museum Conservation Institute
• Smithsonian Archives
• Smithsonian Libraries
• Tropical Research Institute
U.S. CAPITOL, HOUSE & SENATE GALLERIES
http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
The United States Capitol is a monument, a working office building, and one of the most
recognizable symbols of representative democracy in the world. Visitors are welcome to enter
the building through the Capitol Visitor Center, located underground on the east side of the
Capitol. You can begin your Capitol experience at the Visitor Center by visiting the Exhibition
Hall, perusing our Gift Shops or dining in our Restaurant. The Capitol Visitor Center, the new
main entrance to the U.S. Capitol, is located beneath the East Front plaza of the U.S. Capitol at
First Street and East Capitol Street. The Capitol Visitor Center is open to visitors from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's
Day and Inauguration Day. Tours of the U.S. Capitol are conducted from 8:50 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.,
Monday through Saturday. Tours of the U.S. Capitol are free, but tour passes are required.
The Senate and House galleries are open to visitors whenever either legislative body is in
session, however the galleries are not included as part of the U.S. Capitol tour. Passes are
required to enter either gallery at any time. Visitors may obtain gallery passes from the offices
of their Senators or Representative. When the House of Representatives is not in session,
visitors with passes are admitted to the Gallery from 9 a.m. to no later than 4:15 p.m., Monday
through Friday. The last entry into the Gallery may be earlier than 4:15 p.m. based on demand.
Visitors are advised to arrive prior to 4 p.m. for the best opportunity to view the Gallery. The
House Gallery is closed on holidays and is subject to unplanned, temporary closures when the
House is out of session.
The Senate gallery is open during scheduled recesses of one week or more, and visitors are
admitted to the gallery from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Friday. On recess days,
visitors are welcome to stay until 4:30 p.m., at which time the gallery closes. The Senate gallery
is closed on weekends and holidays (unless the Senate is in session), and during any recess or
adjournment of less than one week.
http://loc.gov/
The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the
research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books,
recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library of Congress
occupies three buildings on Capitol Hill. The Thomas Jefferson Building (1897) is the original
separate Library of Congress building. (The Library began in 1800 inside the U.S. Capitol.) The
John Adams Building was built in 1938 and the James Madison Memorial Building was
completed in 1981. Check out the Library of Congress' interactive elements, like the re-creation
of Thomas Jefferson's library. Take a free one-hour walking tour of this historic building and
learn about its history, symbolic art and architecture and the Library’s history and work. While
there, take advantage of the free lectures, concerts, exhibits and poetry readings that are held
regularly.
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 400,000 fallen heroes from
the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the veterans of World Wars I and II, the Korean
conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War and America’s Civil War. Established in 1864, the cemetery is
still fully operational today, conducting an average of 27 funerals each day throughout its 624
developed acres. Witness the following at the Cemetery:
• Tomb of the Unknowns Changing of the Guard Ritual
• President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Gravesite
• Arlington House
• Historical Figures Buried at Arlington: Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall, world champion boxer Joe Louis, the seven Space Shuttle Challenger
astronauts, and the Tuskegee Airmen.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/
The U.S. Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and such number of
Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress. The number of Associate Justices is currently
fixed at eight. The Supreme Court Building is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It is closed Saturdays, Sundays and on federal holidays. Visitors are
encouraged to take advantage of a variety of educational programs available during their visit
including Courtroom Lectures, a visitors' film, and exhibitions that are changed periodically.
When the Court is not sitting, Courtroom Lectures are generally scheduled every-hour on the
half-hour, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with a final lecture beginning at 3:30 p.m. On days that the
Court is sitting, lectures begin after the Court adjourns. A rolling 30-day calendar is available
showing the daily schedule of the lectures.
http://airandspace.si.edu/about/
The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum maintains the world's largest and most
significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight,
as well as related works of art and archival materials. It operates two landmark facilities that,
together, welcome more than eight million visitors a year, making it the most visited museum
in the country. It also is home to the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies. The museum –
located on the National Mall – houses famous icons of flight such as the original Wright Flyer,
the Spirit of St. Louis, SpaceShipOne, the Apollo 11, command module and a touchable lunar
rock. There are free interactive activities for kids, as well as IMAX movies, planetarium shows,
and flight simulators (for a fee).
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/
Enjoy thousands of exotic animals, educational animal demonstrations, the Asia Trail (where
the giant pandas live!), and many other exhibits. Daily programs include animal training,
feeding demonstrations, and keeper talks. The National Zoo's Amazonia Science Gallery (ASG) is
an 8,000-square-foot experimental science education and outreach center that brings visitors
into the day-to-day world of scientific research and the people who do it. The zoo is open daily
except Dec. 25.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
U.S. Department of the Treasury
http://moneyfactory.gov/home.html
The mission of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is to develop and produce United
States currency notes, trusted worldwide. As its primary function, the BEP prints billions of
dollars - referred to as Federal Reserve Notes - each year for delivery to the Federal Reserve
System. As the U.S. Government's security printer, the BEP is responsible for the design,
engraving and printing of all U.S. paper currency. A world leader in printing technology, the BEP
also produces secured documents for other federal government agencies. On a free tour you
will see millions of dollars being printed and the tour features the various steps of currency
production, beginning with large, blank sheets of paper, and ending with wallet-ready bills! You
may even make money.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS
ADMINISTRATION
http://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/washington/
The Rotunda of the National Archives Building in downtown Washington, DC, displays the
Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence (the Charters of Freedom)
and the archives itself houses more than 3 billion records. Flanking the permanent display of
the Charters is the exhibit, “The Charters of Freedom: Our Nation’s Founding Documents”
which takes a fresh look at the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of
Rights. Using documents from the National Archives, we answer two key questions: “How did
they happen?” and “Why are they important?” Also in the this building are the Public Vaults
permanent exhibit gallery; the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, the Lawrence F. O'Brien temporary
exhibit gallery; the Boeing Learning Center; and the William G. McGowan Theater.
THE ARTS IN THE D.C. METRO AREA
THE NATIONAL THEATRE D.C.
http://thenationaldc.org/
One of America's oldest continually operating theaters features national tours of Broadway
favorites, pre-Broadway shows and American premieres. The National Theatre’s free
performance series Saturday Morning at the National is designed for the whole family. The
lineup changes weekly, showcasing puppetry, magic, music and ballet. Seating is limited, and
tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes before the curtain goes up.
Check the theater's website for its performance schedule.
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
http://www.kennedy-center.org/
The Nation's performing arts center, presenting the best music, dance, theatre, international,
and children's programs in nine theaters and stages. Take in a free performance at the Kennedy
Center's Millennium Stage every evening at 6 p.m. Acts include everything from performances
by the National Symphony Orchestra to poetry slams.
WARNER THEATER
http://www.warnertheatredc.com/
The Warner Theater is a destination not only for revitalized downtown Washington, but also for
national and international recording artists and the finest in theatrical, dance, and television
presentations.
ARENA STAGE
http://arenastage.org/
The Arena Stage is a Tony Award-winning theater with a focus on the production, presentation,
development and study of American voices from classics to world premieres.
AREAS IN THE D.C. METRO AREA FOR
EDUCATION, ENTERTAINMENT, DINING
& ALL AROUND FUN!
THE NATIONAL MALL
Situated on the banks of the Potomac River, the National Mall is a two-mile swath of land
bound by the U.S. Capitol to the east and the Washington Monument to the west.
Monuments on the Mall
The National Mall is home to the country’s most famous monuments and memorials. The
Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials all reside
here. You’ll also find the Washington Monument, the Capitol and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting
Pools, Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, the National World War II Memorial and the Korean
War Veterans Memorial. D.C.’s monuments and memorials are free and open to the public 24
hours a day. Spread out across just two miles, it’s fairly easy to see them all in a day or two (be
sure and include some time to rent a paddle boat at the Tidal Basin, where the Jefferson, FDR
and MLK memorials are located).
Museums on the Mall
The National Mall is also home to many of the country’s most popular museums. Smithsonian
museums along the National Mall include the National Museum of American History, National
Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the
American Indian and the Smithsonian Castle. The expansive National Gallery of Art, which
features two wings of traditional and contemporary art, is also conveniently located on the
Mall.
THE NATIONAL HARBOR
http://www.nationalharbor.com/
National Harbor is a waterfront resort destination set along the banks of the Potomac River
overlooking Old Town Alexandria and Mt. Vernon, just south of Washington D.C. Its central
location, array of hotel options, restaurants and entertainment make National Harbor the
perfect home base from which to enjoy the entire region. National Harbor is home to more
than 150 diverse shops and boutiques, over 30 dining locations and numerous day and evening
events. National Harbor offers an exciting new way to interact with the river that is not only
fun, but practical. The Potomac Riverboat Company operates the Water Taxi service,
connecting Alexandria’s historic waterfront and National Harbor. Service will be offered from
the Commercial Pier at National Harbor as well as the Gaylord Resort and Convention Center
Dock. Another vessel, Miss Sophie, is custom built to offer efficient and fast transportation to
National Harbor’s visitors. The National Mall Water Taxi sails to Alexandria as well as the
National Mall in Washington, D.C. Service is offered from the Commercial Pier at National
Harbor, adjacent to McCormick and Schmick’s Restaurant.
DOWNTOWN D.C.
Downtown DC covers the area between the National Mall, White House, U.S. Capitol and
Massachusetts Avenue. Downtown is full of must-see sights like the International Spy Museum,
Newseum, Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., the National Museum of Women in the Arts,
the Crime Museum and Ford’s Theatre. Downtown DC has come to signify urban revitalization
and the rise of new districts like Penn Quarter, a dining and entertainment hotspot named for
its proximity to Pennsylvania Avenue.
DUPONT CIRCLE
Dupont Circle is named in honor of Civil War naval hero Rear Admiral Samuel Francis Dupont.
Bistros, bars and boutiques line the streets that come together at Dupont Circle, the meeting
place of this cosmopolitan neighborhood. The largest concentration of international embassies
sits just northwest of the circle, giving the neighborhood an extra dash of global flavor. Arts and
entertainment collide with restaurants, shops, hotels, quaint B&Bs, galleries and museums (The
Phillips Collection, The Textile Museum, Woodrow Wilson House and National Geographic
Society’s Explorers Hall, to name a few).
CHINATOWN
Chinatown runs along H Street NW as well as around cross streets, including 7th Street NW. In
Chinatown, you'll notice the storefronts have their names spelled out in Chinese characters, a
requirement to do business in the neighborhood. Museums, theaters and galleries share the
streets with bustling restaurants, lounges and hotels. Framed by the iconic, colorful Friendship
Arch, DC’s Chinatown is the place to go for Chinese food and great shopping. Nearby you'll also
find the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The Penn Quarter overlaps Chinatown in
some areas and stretches from Pennsylvania Avenue north to H Street between 5th and 10th
Streets NW. By day, view a complete collection of presidential portraits at the National Portrait
Gallery, and watch art preservationists at work in the Lunder Conservation Center. Or, try your
hand at espionage in Operation Spy, an interactive experience at the International Spy
Museum. Catch a midday production or lecture at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman
Center for the Arts. By night, see what's doing at the Verizon Center, home of the Washington
Wizards and Capitals and star-studded concerts year-round. The sports venue also includes the
Regal Cinemas Gallery Place Stadium 14 Movie Theater; Lucky Strike Bowling; and restaurants,
bars and shops. Walk along 7th Street or along F Street and enter a sea of dining and nightlife
options.
ANACOSTIA
Everyone knows Washington, DC is a seat of power, but did you know it’s also home to the
world’s biggest chair? The Big Chair in Anacostia happens to be the world’s largest (at 19 feet, it
stands as tall as Lady Freedom atop the Capitol). Check it out – it’s free to visit and serves as a
gathering spot for the Anacostia Neighborhood (Southeast of the Capitol and across the 11th
Street Bridge - First incorporated in 1854 as Uniontown, Anacostia is named for a Native
American settlement. - DC’s first planned suburb is where abolitionist and statesman Frederick
Douglass made his home. The neighborhood is also known for its beautiful late 19th-century
architecture. See one of the best views of the city from Cedar Hill, Douglass’ estate. Learn about
local African American history at the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Community Museum.
GEORGETOWN
Georgetown is a historic neighborhood, commercial, and entertainment district located in
northwest Washington, D.C., situated along the Potomac River. The primary commercial
corridors of Georgetown are the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, which contain
high-end shops, bars, restaurants, and the Georgetown Park enclosed shopping mall, as well as
the Washington Harbor waterfront restaurants at K Street, between 30th and 31st Streets.
Georgetown is home to the main campus of Georgetown University and numerous other
landmarks, such as the Volta Bureau and the Old Stone House, the oldest unchanged building in
Washington. The embassies of Cameroon, France, Kosovo, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Mongolia,
Sweden, Thailand, Ukraine and Venezuela are located in Georgetown. Several movies have
been filmed in Georgetown, including 1973 horror film The Exorcist, which was set in the
neighborhood and partially filmed there. In the movie's climactic scene, the protagonist is
hurled down the 75-step staircase at the end of 36th Street NW, which connects Prospect
Street with M Street below. The staircase has come to be known as the "Exorcist steps."
ADAMS MORGAN
Adams Morgan is a culturally diverse neighborhood in Northwest Washington, D.C., centered at
the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Road. Adams Morgan is considered the center of
Washington's immigrant community, and is a major night life area with many bars and
restaurants, particularly along 18th Street (the primary commercial district) and Columbia Road.
Much of the neighborhood is composed of 19th- and early 20th-century row houses and
apartment buildings. Adjacent to Adams Morgan is Dupont Circle to the south, KaloramaSheridan to the southwest, Mount Pleasant to the north, and Columbia Heights to the east.
The neighborhood is bounded by Connecticut Avenue to the southwest, Rock Creek Park to the
west, Harvard Street to the north, 16th Street to the east, and Florida Avenue to the south. In
September 2014, the American Planning Association named Adams Morgan one of the nation's
"great neighborhoods", citing its intact Victorian rowhouses, murals, international diversity, and
pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly streetscape.[In Showtime series Homeland Season 3, Episode 4
("Game On"), the main character Carrie Mathison states that she lives in Adams Morgan.
ROCK CREEK PARK
http://washington.org/article/things-do-rock-creek-park
Rock Creek Park is a rustic expanse of 2,100 acres surrounding Rock Creek and extending north
of the District line. The Park includes Peirce Mill, The Old Stone House, a nature center, riding
stables, tennis courts, a golf course, 30 picnic areas, playing fields and an extensive network of
trails for walking, jogging and cycling. Rock Creek Park is one of America’s largest and oldest city
parks and one of the first urban natural areas to be set aside by Congress for the enjoyment of
the people. Much like New York City’s Central Park, it offers a nearby respite from city dwelling.
Between historic mills, a nature center, riding stables, tennis courts, a golf course, 30 picnic
areas, and miles and miles of trails, Rock Creek Park has something for everyone. Read the
“Things to Do in Rock Creek Park” for a plethora of ways to spend an afternoon.
GREAT FALLS PARK
http://www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm
Great Falls Park is 800 acres of beautiful parkland with green space, cascading rapids and
waterfalls are located just beyond the Beltway.
SHOPPING IN THE D.C. METRO AREA
THE FASHION CENTRE AT PENTAGON CITY
(aka Pentagon City Mall)
Pentagon City Mall is an upscale shopping mall near I-395 and Hayes Street, Arlington, Virginia
(Crystal City) anchored by Macy’s and Nordstrom and includes a six-screen movie theater.
PENTAGON ROW
Pentagon Row is an upscale outdoor shopping and residential center next to Pentagon City Mall
with storefronts facing South Joyce Street. It is adjacent to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon
City.
POTOMAC YARDS RETAIL CENTER
The Center is located on Jefferson Davis Highway, Alexandria, Virginia, and includes a Best Buy,
Barnes and Noble, Old Navy, Thomasville Furniture, and Target and TJ Maxx, as well as
restaurants and a movie theater.
TANGER OUTLETS
Shop over 85 Brands at Tanger Outlets at National Harbor! Brand name stores including Calvin
Klein, H&M, IZOD, Gap Factory Store, American Eagle Outfitters, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana
Republic Factory Store, White House Black Market Outlet, Chico’s Outlet, Columbia, Brooks
Brothers Factory Store, Aeropostale, P.S. by Aeropostale, J. Crew Factory Store, Le Creuset
Outlet and many more.
TYSON’S CORNER CENTER
Tysons Corner Center is located in Fairfax County, Virginia (between McLean and Vienna,
Virginia) and is the largest shopping mall in the state and in the Baltimore-Washington area.
The mall's four department store anchors are Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Lord & Taylor,
Macy's A second, more upscale mall, called Tysons Galleria, operates across the street from
Tysons Corner Center within the Tysons II with high-end department stores Neiman Marcus and
Saks 5th Avenue. Major retailers near Tysons Corner Center include Crate & Barrel, Tiffany &
Co., Hermes Paris, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, some of which are located in Fairfax Square.