WASHINGTON, DC GENERAL ATTRACTIONS
Washington, DC
Old Post Office Pavilion
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1899, the original Post Office embodied innovative steel and granite architecture as DC's first skyscraper at 12 stories; it was built to house both the U.S. Post Office and the D.C. Post Office and was the largest and tallest government building in the city; the Old Post Office was the first government building to have its own electric power plant; when DC's demographics changed, it was nearly demolished, but preservationists saved it in the 1980s; today the former post office has been beautifully restored to house popular shops and restaurants to become one of DC's top attractions; a little known tip is that it offers a dramatic view of the city from its 315-foot clock tower
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-7p, Sun Noon-7p; longer Summer hours
ADDRESS: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW MAP
PARKING: garage on premises
TRANSIT: Federal Triangle Metro Station
PHONE: 202-289-4224
WEBSITE: http://www.oldpostofficedc.com
Freedom Plaza
DESCRIPTION: Viewed from above, the plaza displays L'Enfant's lanscape plan for DC; interspersed throughout the plaza are engraved quotes from John Adams, Alexander Graham Bell, and Martin Luther King, Jr and others; Dr. King fine-tuned his I Have A Dream speech at the Willard Hotel facing the plaza; beneath the plaza is the time capsule containing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. bible, robe and other memorabilia; it was planted on 15 January 1988 and re-opened 15 January 2008; it is not coincidence that it has become a popular place for political protests and civic events
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: 24/7
ADDRESS: Pennsylvania Ave at 12th Street, NW MAP
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Federal Triangle Metro Station
PHONE: none
WEBSITE: none
Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Think libraries shouldn’t be high on your list to visit –- think again because this one is really special; its the world's largest library with almost 119 million items in three buildings and numerous rare artifacts and American treasures of the Library of Congress
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5:30p
ADDRESS: 10 First Street, SE MAP
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Capitol South Metro Station
PHONE: 202-707-8000
WEBSITE: http://www.loc.gov
Georgetown
DESCRIPTION: Partly, a historically Black district that evolved into a premier village in the nation's capital known for its charm and human scale; explore the diverse activities available in Georgetown by clicking on your category of interest; stroll the unique C & O Canal and Shop and dine at dozens of eclectic and upscale shops on M Street and adjoining historic streets; of special note, restaurants have more recently opened on Georgetown’s beautiful waterfront; take a river cruise, if you like; the district includes a number of secret gardens and foreign embassies
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn until late
ADDRESS: M Street is the operative “Main Street”
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: a circulating tour bus goes between Georgetown and Union Station
PHONE: 202-298-9222
WEBSITE: http://www.georgetowndc.com
Adams-Morgan
DESCRIPTION: At one time DC’s hottest district for funky shops and ethnic restaurants, it has simply become an organic ethnically diverse neighborhood of immigrants and young urban professionals that is comfortable with itself and all those who visit; that diversity is good news for tourists who can sample from a couple dozen cuisines and nightclubs, with blocks of each other
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn until late
ADDRESS: 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: DuPont Circle Metro Station, walk north several blocks
PHONE: 202-232-1960
WEBSITE: http://www.ammainstreet.org
National Geographic Society
DESCRIPTION: Features an interactive exhibit about the earth and all its inhabitants, Earth Station One, an amphitheater that simulates an orbital flight, and many changing exhibits
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-5p, Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 1145 17th Street, NW MAP
PARKING: garages nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Farragut North Metro Station
PHONE: 202-857-7588
WEBSITE: http://www.ngs.org
Washington Design Center
DESCRIPTION: Home to more than 70 showrooms of fine home furnishings, fabrics, and floor coverings for the design trade; non-trade professionals are welcome to browse the Design Center showrooms on floors 1-7; half hour design consultations are available by reservation
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 300 D Street, SW, #C21 MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
TRANSIT: Federal Center Metro Station
PHONE: 202-554-5053
WEBSITE: http://www.dcdesigncenter.com
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
DESCRIPTION: See our paper currency printed at 8,000 sheets per hour on a guided 35-minute tour; tickets can be picked up at Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street) in the US Treasury Department
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8a-1:45p
ADDRESS: 14th Street & C Streets, SW MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
TRANSIT: Smithsonian Metro Station
PHONE: 202-874-2330
WEBSITE: http://www.moneyfactory.gov
Watergate Complex
DESCRIPTION: President Nixon's scandalous spying on the Democratic National Committee in this upscale office-apartment-hotel complex will forever be a place of intrigue to visitors and food for hungry novelists; an Italian designer, inspired by the human reproductive system, sculpted these set of buildings opened in 1967; the Democratic National Committee HQ was on the sixth floor of the Virginia Avenue building; on 28 May 1972, burglars working for Nixon's re-election campaign put wiretaps and took photos in the DNC office; the dimwits returned on 17 June 1972 and were caught, leading to the downfall of Nixon
ADMISSION: free, but not to the hotel or office rooms
DAYS & HOURS: 24/7, once hotel renovation completes
ADDRESS: 2650 Virginia Avenue, NW MAP
PARKING: garage on premises
TRANSIT: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station
PHONE: 202-965-2300
WEBSITE: http://www.thewatergatehotel.com
Old Post Office Pavilion
DESCRIPTION: Opened in 1899, the original Post Office embodied innovative steel and granite architecture as DC's first skyscraper at 12 stories; it was built to house both the U.S. Post Office and the D.C. Post Office and was the largest and tallest government building in the city; the Old Post Office was the first government building to have its own electric power plant; when DC's demographics changed, it was nearly demolished, but preservationists saved it in the 1980s; today the former post office has been beautifully restored to house popular shops and restaurants to become one of DC's top attractions; a little known tip is that it offers a dramatic view of the city from its 315-foot clock tower
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-7p, Sun Noon-7p; longer Summer hours
ADDRESS: 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW MAP
PARKING: garage on premises
TRANSIT: Federal Triangle Metro Station
PHONE: 202-289-4224
WEBSITE: http://www.oldpostofficedc.com
Freedom Plaza
DESCRIPTION: Viewed from above, the plaza displays L'Enfant's lanscape plan for DC; interspersed throughout the plaza are engraved quotes from John Adams, Alexander Graham Bell, and Martin Luther King, Jr and others; Dr. King fine-tuned his I Have A Dream speech at the Willard Hotel facing the plaza; beneath the plaza is the time capsule containing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. bible, robe and other memorabilia; it was planted on 15 January 1988 and re-opened 15 January 2008; it is not coincidence that it has become a popular place for political protests and civic events
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: 24/7
ADDRESS: Pennsylvania Ave at 12th Street, NW MAP
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Federal Triangle Metro Station
PHONE: none
WEBSITE: none
Library of Congress
DESCRIPTION: Think libraries shouldn’t be high on your list to visit –- think again because this one is really special; its the world's largest library with almost 119 million items in three buildings and numerous rare artifacts and American treasures of the Library of Congress
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 10a-5:30p
ADDRESS: 10 First Street, SE MAP
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Capitol South Metro Station
PHONE: 202-707-8000
WEBSITE: http://www.loc.gov
Georgetown
DESCRIPTION: Partly, a historically Black district that evolved into a premier village in the nation's capital known for its charm and human scale; explore the diverse activities available in Georgetown by clicking on your category of interest; stroll the unique C & O Canal and Shop and dine at dozens of eclectic and upscale shops on M Street and adjoining historic streets; of special note, restaurants have more recently opened on Georgetown’s beautiful waterfront; take a river cruise, if you like; the district includes a number of secret gardens and foreign embassies
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn until late
ADDRESS: M Street is the operative “Main Street”
PARKING: garage nearby and on street
TRANSIT: a circulating tour bus goes between Georgetown and Union Station
PHONE: 202-298-9222
WEBSITE: http://www.georgetowndc.com
Adams-Morgan
DESCRIPTION: At one time DC’s hottest district for funky shops and ethnic restaurants, it has simply become an organic ethnically diverse neighborhood of immigrants and young urban professionals that is comfortable with itself and all those who visit; that diversity is good news for tourists who can sample from a couple dozen cuisines and nightclubs, with blocks of each other
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn until late
ADDRESS: 18th Street and Columbia Road, NW MAP
PARKING: on street
TRANSIT: DuPont Circle Metro Station, walk north several blocks
PHONE: 202-232-1960
WEBSITE: http://www.ammainstreet.org
National Geographic Society
DESCRIPTION: Features an interactive exhibit about the earth and all its inhabitants, Earth Station One, an amphitheater that simulates an orbital flight, and many changing exhibits
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Sat 9a-5p, Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 1145 17th Street, NW MAP
PARKING: garages nearby and on street
TRANSIT: Farragut North Metro Station
PHONE: 202-857-7588
WEBSITE: http://www.ngs.org
Washington Design Center
DESCRIPTION: Home to more than 70 showrooms of fine home furnishings, fabrics, and floor coverings for the design trade; non-trade professionals are welcome to browse the Design Center showrooms on floors 1-7; half hour design consultations are available by reservation
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 300 D Street, SW, #C21 MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
TRANSIT: Federal Center Metro Station
PHONE: 202-554-5053
WEBSITE: http://www.dcdesigncenter.com
Bureau of Engraving & Printing
DESCRIPTION: See our paper currency printed at 8,000 sheets per hour on a guided 35-minute tour; tickets can be picked up at Raoul Wallenberg Place (formerly 15th Street) in the US Treasury Department
ADMISSION: free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8a-1:45p
ADDRESS: 14th Street & C Streets, SW MAP
PARKING: garages nearby
TRANSIT: Smithsonian Metro Station
PHONE: 202-874-2330
WEBSITE: http://www.moneyfactory.gov
Watergate Complex
DESCRIPTION: President Nixon's scandalous spying on the Democratic National Committee in this upscale office-apartment-hotel complex will forever be a place of intrigue to visitors and food for hungry novelists; an Italian designer, inspired by the human reproductive system, sculpted these set of buildings opened in 1967; the Democratic National Committee HQ was on the sixth floor of the Virginia Avenue building; on 28 May 1972, burglars working for Nixon's re-election campaign put wiretaps and took photos in the DNC office; the dimwits returned on 17 June 1972 and were caught, leading to the downfall of Nixon
ADMISSION: free, but not to the hotel or office rooms
DAYS & HOURS: 24/7, once hotel renovation completes
ADDRESS: 2650 Virginia Avenue, NW MAP
PARKING: garage on premises
TRANSIT: Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro Station
PHONE: 202-965-2300
WEBSITE: http://www.thewatergatehotel.com
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