Must See Places in Washington D.C.
Washington D.C. is a compact city and the capital of the Nation, United States of America. The city has numerous unique tourist attractions and historic monuments including the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Memorial. Washington D.C is situated near the Potomac River and the Anacostia River on its eastern side. Washington D.C. is also home to various islands such as Theodore Roosevelt Island, Kingman Island, etc., and wilderness areas like Rock Creek Park with a hiking trail that extends over 32 miles.
Exploring the city’s highlights might take at least 3-4 days, this is because Washington D.C. has many government buildings and museums to visit, markets and malls for shopping, etc. Travellers looking for a more effective way to explore most of the city’s highlights can consider the bus tour options. Be mindful about the tours timings and places covered, it might vary subject to the tour agencies offering such services.
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Lincoln Memorial
A must-visit place in Washington D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial. It is an iconic memorial that started in 1914 and took eight years to complete the construction work in 1922. The memorial was dedicated to honour the 16th president of the U.S.A, Abraham Lincoln on May 30, 1922. The memorial features 36 columns, each representing the states of the United States, a reflective pool, etc. A statue of Abraham Lincoln is the main attraction of the memorial, it weighs 175 tons and is 19 feet high. The Lincoln Memorial is entry-free and open for 24 hours, so visitors can choose any time to visit the memorial.
The White House
The most popular tourist place in Washington D.C. is The White House tour. The tours include all the rooms such as the Green, Blue and Red Rooms of the house, the Dining Room, the Rose Garden, the East Wing, etc. Even though the tours of The White House are free of cost, visiting it requires prior booking, which is either three months or at least 21 days prior to the visit. According to the availability of the slot visitors will be allotted a specific date to visit The White House. The slot might also get cancelled due to the schedules of The White House. Visitors are mandated to carry a National photograph ID card for security check-ups.
Tidal Basin
The Tidal Basin in Washington D.C. is well-known for its breathtaking view of Pink Cherry Blossoms trees. The trees are planted alongside the Potomac River, which has clean and clear pathways. Usually, March or April is the Cherry Blossoms blooming season in the Tidal Basin. However, travellers are recommended to check the season before travelling. The Tidal Basin is also home to various monuments, one such monument is the Jefferson Memorial, the dome-structured memorial built to honour Thomas Jefferson, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
World War II Memorial
The construction of the Memorial was started in 2001 and completed in 2004. It was built as a memorial of the people who were part of the United States Army during World War II. The memorial reflects the structure of the United States, the 56 granite columns represent the states of the United States. The columns of the memorial form a semi-circle, and the two walls on each side exhibit the war scenes. The Freedom Wall is considered as the breathtaking sight of the World War II Memorial. The wall has over 4000 gold stars representing the American soldiers killed during World War II. It also has battle names and destinations of military campaigns.
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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The well-known Smithsonian National Museum provides an insight about human evolution and natural history. The museum exhibits over 126 million objects which include gemstones, animal fossils, etc. The total area of the museum extends over 325,000 square meters, and it has various theme-based halls. The Hall of Human Origin exhibits over 70 skulls. The Sant Ocean Hall is home to various other marine life and the replicas of giant whales. The Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall inside the museum displays the cursed Hope Diamond. Other highlights of the museum are the Butterfly Pavilion and David H. Koch Hall of Fossils.
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
The museum is completely dedicated to aircraft, spacecraft, rockets, missiles, etc. Visitors can experience the life of aviation and space travel in the National Air and Space Museum. The museum was opened on July 1, 1976, and since then it has turned to be the hub for the collection of air and spacecraft which attracted and inspired visitors around the world. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum exhibits the most remarkable and largest collection of spacecrafts which include Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis aircraft, Apollo 11 Command Module, space suit, lunar rock, Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, etc.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The USHMM (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum) was dedicated to the history of Holocaust in 1993. The USHMM is divided into three major parts namely ‘Final Solution,’ ‘Nazi Assault,’ and ‘Last Chapter.’ The museum reflects upon the events and sufferings of the Holocaust and exhibits the cruelty and way of life under Nazi rule. Visitors to the museum can explore the collection of over 80000 artifacts, numerous archival materials, photographs, video footage, and historical films. The museum provides an insightful journey into the past which includes the Holocaust survivors and reality of Jew concentration camps.
Eastern Market
Eastern Market is a shopping paradise situated in the centre of Capitol Hill, the historic city in Washington D.C. The market is a popular centre to eat, shop and repeat. Since the market's establishment in 1805, it has been a public square for fresh organic products and handmade art and crafts. The Eastern Market is open on all days except Monday. Visitors can explore the streets of the market for fresh products such as meat, seafood, poultry, flowers, sweets, a variety of cheeses, fresh vegetables, seasonal fruits, etc. The Eastern Market is also a hub for live music and numerous café and restaurants.
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park offers a journey into the wilderness. Hiking is the famous adventure activity of Rock Creek Park, it has over 30 hiking trails, and visitors can choose any of the hiking trails that best suit their fitness level. The park borders the Smithsonian National Zoo which has two entrances and amazing wildlife to explore, and it is completely free of cost. The next fascinating site to visit in Rock Creek Park is the Peirce Mill built in the 19th century. The Planetarium in the park offers a breathtaking projection of the night sky in a dome-structured ceiling. The Planetarium offers various free programs about astronomy, galaxies, etc.
Surely, there is a lot more to explore in Washington D.C. than the above-listed places such as the National Mall, Washington Monument, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Library of Congress, United States Capitol, etc. Travellers can save money by visiting entry free museums and monuments in Washington D.C. Never miss out to explore water sport activities like kayaking, if not take a Duck Boat tour or Potomac Riverboat cruise to visit the Washington Harbour and city view.
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