Located on the Potomac River, Washington DC has served as the US capital since 1790. John Adams was the first President to reside in the city, moving there in 1800. Naturally, the 3 branches of government are here, all situated along or nearby the grassy park known as the National Mall. Washington DC has a lot of attractions to offer, so you can easily spend weeks exploring the city and its history. I have been to the nation’s capital on three different occasions and below are my recommendations on the most important things to see in Washington DC.
Visit the Monuments and Memorials along and off the National Mall
When you visit Washington DC, you are going to spend most of your time around the National Mall. The National Mall is, in fact, the most visited national park in the US. The monuments and memorials located here honor the most significant US presidents and heroes. They also pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives on the battlefield. You absolutely should take your time to explore the amazing sights.
The Lincoln Memorial
Located on the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is certainly one of the most revered monuments in the United States. It’s a magnificent building in the shape of a temple with a statue of Abraham Lincoln seated in a chair. The words of the Gettysburg Address and Lincoln’s Second Inaugural are inscribed on the walls. It’s truly a solemn place to visit. If you have a chance, come early in the morning before the crowds and then return after dusk to see the temple illuminated. It’s certainly a sight to behold.
The views from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial are spectacular. Essentially right in front of you, you will have the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Memorial, and the Capitol Building.
The Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is dedicated to the first President of the United States, George Washington. It is actually a 555 ft tall obelisk, which, at one point, was the tallest building in the world. While you can take the elevator up to the observation deck, make sure to reserve your tickets in advance.
The World War II Memorial
You will find the lovely World War II Memorial essentially in the heart of the National Mall between the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument. It is, in fact, one of the more recent memorials in Washington DC, opened in 2004. A beautiful oval fountain sits in the middle of the memorial while 56 pillars representing the US states and territories of the times surround it. There are also 2 arches on both sides of the memorial representing the Atlantic and Pacific fronts. The Freedom Wall is particularly poignant with 4000 stars, each symbolizing 100 US veterans who died in the war.
The US Capitol
The Capitol Building is located on the east edge of the National Mall. It’s a gorgeous building, certainly stately in appearance. Coincidentally, there was a Senate vote scheduled for the afternoon when we visited, so we were able to see several senators rushing into the Capitol. It was pretty interesting- suddenly the road gets closed off and the black vehicles pull in and let the politicians out. Because it’s a working building, it’s not unusual to spot someone famous.
Since we visited Washington DC over the holidays, the Capitol was nicely decorated for Christmas with a Christmas tree in front. Winter is actually a good time to visit DC – far fewer tourists than in the summer.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial flanks the National Mall just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial. It was designed by Maya Lin in 1982. The memorial itself is actually a black marble wall with a long list of names of American men and women who died in the Vietnam War. It’s certainly a moving experience to walk along this simple yet powerful memorial pondering the meaning of war and peace.
The Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial is located just southeast of the Lincoln Memorial. It is dedicated to the men and women in the US Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during the conflict years. In essence, the memorial showcases a platoon of 19 soldiers on patrol with their ponchos blowing in the wind while their shadows are reflected in the Mural Wall. This is certainly symbolic because it gives the appearance of 38 statues which corresponds to the 38th parallel north – the dividing line between North and South Korea. The Pool of Remembrance, which is part of the monument, is a lovely spot to admire the memorial from and reflect on the cost of freedom.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial
One of the most lovely structures in Washington DC, is, in my opinion, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. It sits on the south side of the Tidal Basin, directly south of the White House and the Washington Monument. The memorial is dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States.
The structure, resembling the Roman Pantheon, is built in a neoclassical style with beautiful white marble. It is a circular, open air building with 59 columns. The bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in the center of the memorial chamber while quotes from Jefferson’s writings are carved on the walls. It’s truly an amazing place to visit.
At night, you can see the shimmering reflection of the structure in the water of the Tidal Basin. In fact, the view is so beautiful that everyone should see it at night.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
The FDR Memorial is situated along the Tidal Basin, between the Jefferson Memorial and Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. It is a very interesting memorial that essentially documents the major events that took place during FDR’s time in office. There are actually four outdoor ‘rooms’ representing FDR’s four terms as President.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Essentially in the northwest tip of the Tidal Basin, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial honors dr. King’s legacy of non- violent struggle for racial equality in the United States. It is in fact the first memorial to an African American on the National Mall. The granite statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is carved into a large stone – the Stone of Hope. Surrounding it is the Inscription Wall with excerpts from his speeches.
The US Supreme Court
Immediately east of the US Capital and not officially on the National Mall is the US Supreme Court. This is another magnificent building resembling a Roman temple. The two pools in front add beauty and charm to the exterior of the building. The inside is lovely as well with white marble columns and white marble floors. The building is open to the public and unlike the Capitol Building, there were no lines to get inside.
Visit Arlington National Cemetery
Most people come to the Arlington National Cemetery to see the grave of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States. Not many people know, however, that another president, William Howard Taft is also buried here. Other famous people laid to rest at the Arlington National Cemetery are Senators Ted and Bobby Kennedy as well as Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice.
While here, I also recommend visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Located on a hill overlooking Washington DC, the monument honors America’s fallen unknown soldiers and is guarded 24 hours a day by the Tomb Guards. If you can, stay around to see the solemn ceremony of the Changing of the Guards. It is certainly interesting.
Visit some amazing museums
While there are many fascinating museums in Washington DC, I definitely recommend visiting the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The exhibits will surely be interesting for both adults and children. What’s more, the museum is free, which is always nice.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is also a must see place. It documents the tragedy of the Holocaust in a powerful way. Even though I have visited Auschwitz, Poland, several times, visiting the Holocaust Museum was still a moving experience. I think it’s important for everyone to see it and ponder the atrocities committed by the Nazis.
One museum that unfortunately we did not get to see was the National Museum of African American History and Culture. It is definitely on my list.
View America's founding documents
The National Archives Museum is home to the original founding documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. They are located in a magnificent room known as the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. Don’t miss it!
Stroll through Georgetown
Strolling through the historic neighborhood of Georgetown should be, in my opinion, on everyone’s list while in Washington DC. This is a great area to go out to dinner with lots of restaurants and bars to choose from. Of course, Georgetown is also home to the prestigious Georgetown University, so visiting the beautiful campus is a must.
We visited Washington DC in December of 2017 as part of our winter East Coast trip.
