Any “best in” section is by nature incomplete. How could we include all that is “best” about DC when there is so very much? So here’s a round-up of the current greatest, but beware that our list of the best is inherently in flux.
Washington DC | Best of Washington DC
- Capitol Building
- The majestic dome and Rotunda marking the heart of the U.S. Capitol Building not only symbolize the power of the legislative branch of the greatest democracy in the world, but also determine the...
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- Library of Congress
- Established in 1800 through an act of Congress, the Library of Congress originally held 3,000 volumes, and today it is the largest library in the world with more than 138 million items, and increasing by 10,000 more daily.
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- Lincoln Memorial
- Famous across America as an enduring symbol of freedom and the struggle against slavery, the Lincoln Memorial may be the most-visited of all the capital's landmarks. Since its opening in 1922, it has frequently been the location of historic events, most notably the Rev. Dr.
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- Mount Vernon Estate
- Mount Vernon Estate is the family home of the nation’s first president George Washington. Located along the shores of the Potomac River in Virginia, the grounds and home have been lovingly...
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- Museum of Natural History
- The Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Natural History opened in 1910 on the National Mall and was among the first Smithsonian buildings constructed exclusively to house the national collections and research facilities.
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- National Air and Space Museum
- The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum is a goldmine for aviation enthusiasts, maintaining the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world, including some of the most famous artifacts of all time: the Wright Brothers' Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St.
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- National Zoological Park
- Created by Congress in 1889, the Smithsonian's National Zoo is a standout zoo, well-known as the home to more than 400 species -- including its most famous occupants, the giant pandas from China -- ...
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- Paddle Boating on the Tidal Basin
- You can view the Jefferson Memorial and other monuments from the water at the Tidal Basin by renting a Tidal Basin Paddle Boat. If the season is right, you might catch some cherry trees in bloom (late March/early April) during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
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- Smithsonian Institution Building
- The world-renowned Smithsonian Institution is truly the largest museum complex and research organization in the world.
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- Supreme Court
- The U. S. Supreme Court, the highest body of the judiciary arm of the federal government, is housed in the Supreme Court Building, designed of Corinthian marble in a style to match other congressional buildings, and constructed in 1935.
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- Washington Monument
- The Washington Monument is a 555-ft. marble obelisk that stands as a sentinel and memorial to the nation's first president. It is the most prominent landmark in Washington DC, and anchors the National Mall.
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- White House
- The White House, while planned by President George Washington and city architect Pierre l’Enfant, was never lived in by Washington, but has housed every single U.S. president since his successor John Adams moved in 1801.
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