District of Columbia (DC)

District of Columbia Flag

Why visit D.C.?

For culture, cycling, fishing, galleries, golf, government buildings, history, kayaking, monuments, museums, national institutions and parks.

The White House, Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Olya Adamovich/Pixabay 

At a Glance

• Capital: Washington
• Bird: Wood Thrush
• Dessert: None
• Flower: American Beauty Rose
• Gemstone: None
• Mammal: Bison
• Rock: Potomac Bluestone

United States Capitol, Washington, DC. Photo Credit: David Mark/Pixabay 

Fun Facts

• Built in 1765, Old Stone House (Georgetown) is the oldest original standing building.
  
• Named after the first president (1789) and Founding Father, George Washington (1732-1799).
  
• In 1791, Pierre "Peter" Charles L'Enfant, French-American Military Engineer designed the basic plan, "L'Enfant Plan" commissioned by President Washington. His design was based on cities such as Amsterdam, Karlsruhe, Milan and Paris. 
  
• Since the fourth elected President (1809-1817) James Madison (1751-1836), nearly every president has sat in Pew 54 at St John's Church (H St NW).
• In 1814, the White House was burned by the British raid, "Burning of Washington".
  
• In 1829, James Smithson (1765-1829), English Chemist & Mineralogist left his estate to The United States of America.
  
• In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act ending slavery locally freeing 3,100.
  
• In 1888, home of the city's first motorized streetcars.
• In 1935, the United States Supreme Court Building was completed.
  
• Our Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence is maintained by the National Archives & Records Administration. 
  
• Martin Luther King Jr,  wrote his "I Have a Dream" speech (August 28, 1963) at the Willard InterContinental Hotel (Pennsylvania Avenue NW). 
• Residents may vote for President and Vice President, however hold no representation in the Senate.
  
• Congress approves the city's budget with veto power over any laws passed.
• Over 20 million visitors visit the capital city annually.
  
• City hosts 177 foreign embassies. 
  
• All road names include the quadrant district abbreviation to indicate their location and house numbers corresponding with the number of blocks away from the Capitol. 
  
• Over 1,600 residential properties (Massachusetts Avenue) are owned by foreign countries.
  
• Largest district building approximately 3.1 million square feet, Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center (Pennsylvania Avenue NW). 
  
• Go-Go, a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of rhythm and blues is their own native music.
  
• Has fifteen official sister city agreements with Accra, Addis Ababa, Ankara, Athens, Bangkok, Beijing, Brasília, Brussels, Dakar, Paris, Pretoria, Rome, San Salvador, Seoul and Sunderland. 
• The nation's capital has over 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees.
  
• Features 14 National Parks.

Washington Monument (George Washington), Washington, DC. Photo Credit: skeeze/Pixabay 

Thank You!

• Spotlight Celebrities: Alyson Hannigan (Actress), Amarr M Wooten (Actor), Andrew Luck (Athlete), Angela Renée White "Blac Chyna" (Model), Bella Hadid (Model), Bridgit Mendler (Actress), Elgin Baylor Lumpkin "Ginuwine" (Musician), Goldie Hawn (Actress), Jon Bernthal Actor), Isabelle Fuhrman (Actress), Katherine Heigl (Actress), Kevin Durant (Athlete), Marvin Gaye (Musician), Maury Povich (TV Host), Michael Ealy (Actor), Mýa Marie Harrison (Musician), Raven Goodwin (Actress), Regina Hall (Musician), Samuel Jackson (Actor), Stephen Colbert (Comedian) and Taraji Henson (Actress), just to name a few.
• Movies to Inspire You: A Few Good Men (1992), All the President's Men (1976), Broadcast News (1987), Chances Are (1989), Forrest Gump (1994), In the Line of Fire (1993), No Way Out (1987), St Elmo's Fire (1985), Thank You for Smoking (2005), The Exorcist (1973) and The Pelican Brief (1993), just to name a few.
• Reads Set in D.C.: Cross (written by 
  James Patterson), 
  The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears (written by Dinaw Mengestu), The Innocent (written by 
  David Baldacci), 
  The Lost Symbol (written by 
  Dan Brown), 
  The Pelican Brief (written by 
  John Grisham) and 
  The Street Lawyer (written by 
  John Grisham), just to name a few.

Cherry Blossoms, Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Rachel Bostwick/Pixabay 

Good to Know

• Geographically in four Districts: Northwest (NW), Southwest (SW), Northeast (NE) and Southeast (SE) all corresponding from the Capitol. 
  
• Shuttles operate frequently between key attractions.
  
• Tours of working government facilities require reservations in advance with limited capacity.
• Strictly prohibited and enforced are photos or recording in government facilities and several museums.
  
• For Security purposes handbags and personal items are subject to being searched.
• Restaurants are smoke-free.
  
• While relatively inexpensive, do not use unlicensed cabs.
• Picking cherry blossoms may impose a fine or even arrest due to destroying government property.
  
• A culinary melting pot is well known for ethnic cuisine Ethiopian, Indian and Vietnamese cuisine.
• Expect a citation for "jaywalking".
• For security purposes, Presidential or Diplomatic motorcades are not required to stop at red lights or stop signs.
  
• The Metro is the best method to maneuver throughout the city.
• Violent Crime exists in concentrated areas associated with drug abuse, gangs and poverty areas.
  
• The Smithsonian is open to the public free of charge.
  
• One of our nation's worst road congestion.
  

Subject to flooding, humidity, hurricanes, nor'easters blizzards and snowstorms.

• Best Time to Visit: March - May & September - November
• Coldest Months: December - February
• Hottest Months: June - August
• Peak Season: March - August

Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Mark Thomas/Pixabay 

Your Must-See & Do

• Historical Sites: Administration Building Carnegie Institution of Washington, American Federation of Labor Building, American Peace Society, Anderson House, Andrew Mellon Building, Arts & Industries Building Smithsonian Institution, Ashburton House, Blair House, Blanche K Bruce House, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carter G Woodson House, Charles Evans Hughes House, Charlotte Forten Grimke House, City Hall/ D.C. Courthouse, Cleveland Abbe House, Congressional Cemetery, Constitution Hall, Corcoran Gallery & Corcoran School Of Art, David White House, Decatur House, Elliott Coues House, Frances Perkins House, Franklin School, Gallaudet College Historic District, General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters, General Oliver Otis Howard House, General Post Office, Georgetown Historic District, Healy Hall Georgetown University, Hiram W Johnson House, John Philip Sousa Junior High School, Lafayette Building, Lafayette Square Historic District, Library Of Congress, Mary Ann Shadd Cary House, Mary Church Terrell House, Memorial Continental Hall, Meridian Hill Park, National Training School For Women And Girls, National War College, Newton D Baker House, Octagon House, Old Naval Observatory, Old Patent Office, Oscar W Underwood House, Pension Building, PHILADELPHIA (Gundelo), Red Cross (American National) Headquarters, Renwick Gallery, Robert Simpson Woodward House, Samuel Gompers House, SEQUOIA (Yacht), Sewall–Belmont House, Smithsonian Institution Building, St Elizabeth's Hospital, St John's Church, St Luke's Episcopal Church, State War & Navy Building, Supreme Court Building, Tudor Place, The Yard (Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel, Frederick Douglas Memorial Hall, Founders Library, Howard University), Twelfth Street YMCA Building, United Mine Workers of America Building, United States Capitol, United States Department of the Treasury, United States Marine Corps Barrack & Commandant's House, United States Soldier's Home, Volta Bureau, Washington Aqueduct, Washington Navy Yard, White House, William E Borah Apartment Windsor Lodge, Woodrow Wilson House and Zalmon Richards House.
• Museums: African American Civil War Memorial & Museum, Anacostia Community Museum, Arthur M Sackler Gallery, Art Museum of the Americas, College Park Aviation Museum, Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, Dumbarton House, Dumbarton Oaks Museum, Freer Gallery of Art, Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens, Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, International Spy Museum, Kreeger Museum, Marian Koshland Science Museum, Museum of the Bible, National Air & Space Museum, National Archives Museum, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, National Building Museum, National Children’s Museum, National Gallery of Art & Sculpture Garden, National Geographic Society, National Guard Museum, National Law Enforcement Museum, National Museum of African American History & Culture, National Museum of African Art, National Museum of African American History & Culture, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of Women in the Arts, National Portrait Gallery, National Postal Museum, Navy Museum, Newseum, Octagon House Museum, Phillips Collection, Potomac River, Renwick Gallery, Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building, Smithsonian Institution Building, Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian's National Postal Museum, Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center, The Newseum, The Phillips Collection, The President Woodrow Wilson House, The Textile Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Wegmans Wonderplace and Woodrow Wilson House.
• Popular Attractions: Air Force Memorial, African American Civil War Memorial Museum, Albert Einstein Memorial, Anthem, Arlington National Cemetery, Bar-Code, Bar Deco, Belmont–Paul Women's Equality National Monument, Ben's Chili Bowl, Black Cat, Bladensburg Waterfront Park, Blues Alley, Boundary Stone Public House, Bureau of Engraving & Printing, Busboys & Poets, Cafe Citron, Cameron Run Regional Park, Cherub Antiques Gallery, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Chinatown, Churchkey, C&O Canal National Historical Park, Clyde's, Connecticut Avenue, Constitution & Independence Avenue, Constitution Gardens, District of Columbia Arts Center, Dumbarton Oaks, Dupont Circle, Earth Treks, Eastern Market, Embassy Row, Enid A Haupt Garden, Falls Road Golf Course, Fletcher's Cove, Folger Shakespeare Library, Ford's Theatre, Fort Dupont Ice Arena, Foundry Gallery, Founding Farmers, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Freer Gallery of Art, General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument, Georgetown Flea Market, George Washington's Mount Vernon, Glen Echo Park, Gravelly Point, Greenbelt Park, Great Waves Waterpark, Heurich House Museum, Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens, Hu's Shoes & Hu's Wear, Islamic Center, Jack Rose Dining Saloon, Jefferson Memorial, John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, JR's Bar & Grill, Kramerbooks & Afterwords, Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lafayette Square, Lake Artemesia, Larz Anderson House, Library of Congress, Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln Theatre, Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove, Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., Madam's Organ, Maine Avenue Fish Market, Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial, Massachusetts Avenue, Mazza Gallerie, McCrillis Gardens, Meridian Hill Park, Miss Pixie's, Momofuku CCDC, National Arboretum, National Archives, National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, National Mall, National Sculpture Garden, Nationals Park, National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, National Theatre, National Zoological Park, 9:30 Club, Old Stone House, Old Town Alexandria, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Pennsylvania Avenue, Pentagon, Pohick Bay Golf Course, Politics & Prose, POV Rooftop Bar & Terrace, President Lincoln & Soldiers’ Home National Monument, Quill, Rasika, Reflecting Pool, River Farm, Rock Creek Park, Rock Creek Park Golf Course, Rose's Luxury, Round Robin & Scotch Bar, Sackler Gallery Shop, Second Story Books, Shakespeare Theatre, Shaw District, Signature Theatre, Six Flags America, Som Records, Studio Theatre, Sudhouse DC, Supreme Court, The Anthem, The Capitol Steps, The Capital Wheel, The DC Improv, The Ellipse, The Fashion Centre, The Mead Center for American Theater, The Music Center, Theodore Roosevelt Island & Memorial, The Park, The Phoenix, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier , The Wonderland Ballroom, Tiny Jewel Box, Transformer, Tudor Place Historic House & Garden, Twins Jazz, Union Pub, Union Market, Union Station, United States Marine Corps War Memorial, U.S. Botanic Garden, U.S. Capitol, U.S. Navy Memorial & Naval Heritage Center, U Street District, U Street Music Hall, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Warner Theater, Washington Canal Park, Washington Monument, Washington National Cathedral, Washington National Opera, West Potomac Park , White House, White House Gifts, Willard InterContinental, World War II Memorial, Wisconsin Avenue, Wolf Trap National Park, Woolly Mammoth and Zenebech. 
• Special Events: (January) Washington Auto Show, (February) D.C. Fashion Week, (March) National Cherry Blossom Festival, Rock 'n' Roll USA Marathon, (April) White House Easter Egg Roll, (May) DC Bike Ride, National Harbor Food & Wine Festival, Passport DC, Washington National Cathedral Annual Flower Mart, (June) By The People Festival, Capital Jazz Fest, Capital Pride, Firefly Festival, National Capital Barbecue Battle, (July) Capital Fringe Festival, Citi Open, Fort Reno, Immigrant & Refugee Music Festival, Marine Corps Marathon, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, (August) Lockn Festival, Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week, National Book Festival,(September) Adams Morgan Day, DC Jazz Festival, H Street Festival, Summer Spirit Festival, (October) Adams Morgan Farmers Market, Columbus Day, Italian Heritage, Marine Corps Marathon, (November) National Christmas Tree Lighting, Veterans Day, (December) Military Bowl and Pearl Harbor Day.

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC. Photo Credit: Lars Hoffmann/Pixabay 

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