Washington D.C. Attractions

Posted: 02/13/2023 | Viewed: 4008156

The following Washington D.C. attractions listed are informational only.

  1. Washington Monument - Free
  2. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Free
  3. Marine Corps War Memorial - Free
  4. Tidal Basin - Free
  5. Lincoln Memorial - Free
  6. Jefferson Memorial - Free
  7. World War II Memorial - Free
  8. National Air and Space Museum – Free
  9. Natural History Museum – Free
  10. Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building - Free
  11. Museum of the Bible - Fee $
    1. Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM Daily
    2. Prices
      • Adult:  $19.99 Online; $24.99 Walk-up
      • Senior: $19.99 Online; $19.99 Walk-up
      • Children (5-17 years old): $13.99 Online; $14.99 Walk-up
      • Children (ages 4 and under): Free
  12. US Capitol - Free
    1. Hours: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM Monday to Friday
    2. Price: Free
    3. Reservation recommended – 90 days in advance
      • Create an account
      • Book through the office of your Senator
      • Book through the office of your Representative
  13. White House Inside Tour - Free
    1. Self-guided Hours: 7:30 AM – 11:30AM Tues-Thurs; 7:30AM – 1:30PM Fri-Sat. Closed on Federal Holidays.
    2. Price: Free (First-come-first-serve)
    3. Reservation required – 90 days in advance
      • Submit request through the office of your Senator
      • Submit request through the office of your Representative
    4. Identification Required for over 18 years old
      • Driver’s License Photo ID
      • Passport
    5. Restrictions:
      • No handbags
      • No backpacks
      • No purses
      • No book bags

 

  1. Washington Monument - Free

The Washington Monument is a must-see for all first-time visitors to Washington DC. Entrance to the monument requires a free ticket. Reserve tickets in advance online or via phone, or pick up a same-day ticket at the nearby Washington Monument Lodge.

Fifty flags surround the base of the Washington Monument symbolizing the 50 states of America. An elevator takes visitors to the top to see a spectacular view of Washington, DC including unique perspectives of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol Building.

  1. Vietnam Veterans Memorial - Free

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the National Mall pays tribute to the brave members of the U.S. Armed Forces who fought in the Vietnam War and were killed or missing in action. The memorial consists of three separate parts: The Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, also known as The Wall That Heals, which is the most popular feature.

  1. United States Marine Corps War Memorial - Free

The United States Marine Corps War Memorial represents this nation's gratitude to Marines and those who have fought beside them. While the statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Marines who have given their lives in defense of the United States since 1775. The memorial was dedicated on November 10, 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and the American flag has flown from the statue 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by presidential proclamation ever since.

  1. Tidal Basin - Free

This man-made inlet was created in the 19th century as a means to control the high tides of the Potomac River. Today, along the banks you can visit some of Washington D.C.'s famous memorials honoring historic figures, including Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The basin covers an area of about 107 acres and is 10 feet (3.0 meters) deep.

  1. Lincoln Memorial - Free

The iconic memorial built to honor the 16th U.S. president is a must-see for every visitor to the nation's capital. "In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." Beneath these words, the 16th President of the United States sits immortalized in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom.

There are 36 columns, each one representing one state in the U.S. at the date of President Lincoln's death. The memorial itself is 190 feet long and 119 feet wide, and reaches a height of almost 100 feet. 

  1. Jefferson Memorial - Free

The Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial dedicated to Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826). Thomas Jefferson was an American Founding Father who was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence and later served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809.

The Jefferson Memorial is one of the most popular attractions in the nation's capital and is located on the Tidal Basin, surrounded by a grove of trees making it especially beautiful during Cherry Blossom season in the spring. From the top steps of the memorial, you can see one of the best views of the White House.

  1. World War II Memorial - Free

The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people.

Consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, it is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument

  1. National Air and Space Museum – Free

The National Air Museum was created as a separate bureau of the Smithsonian Institution by an Act of Congress on 12 August 1946. Twenty years later, its name was changed to the National Air and Space Museum as part of a congressional act authorizing a separate building to house its collections, which opened to the public on July 1, 1976.

The Air and Space Museum is a must visit for any age and during your visit to DC. Always a popular spot, you are greeted with dozens of retired missiles, rockets and planes. You will never get bored of the special exhibition of space travel which is displayed in an entertaining and fun way.

  1. Natural History Museum – Free

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is the most visited natural history museum in the world.  It was opened in 1910 to invoke discovery and education of the natural world. Its green dome and immense size (comparable to 18 football fields) are signatures, as well as the 140 million-plus natural science specimens and cultural artifacts that the museum contains.  It is also a research facility dedicated to inspiring discovery about the natural world through its exhibitions and education programs.

Some of the museum's highlights include tarantula feedings in the O. Orkin Insect Zoo and the replicas of giant whales and other marine life in the 23,000-square-foot Sant Ocean Hall. You can also venture to the Samuel C. Johnson IMAX Theater for a show or the Butterfly Pavilion for some fluttery fun with multi-colored bugs. And no stop at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History would be complete without stopping by the David H. Koch Hall of Human Origins, which traces the history of human species over the past 6 million years and displays life-size models of early human faces generated using modern forensic techniques. While the museum's famous National Fossil Hall is currently closed while it undergoes renovations, dinosaur fossils can be viewed in "The Last American Dinosaurs: Discovering a Lost World" exhibit on the second floor.

  1. Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building - Free

The Arts and Industries Building has a special role among Smithsonian buildings as the first United States National Museum opened in 1881. After being closed for nearly 12 years, the Arts and Industries Building reopened for special events fall of 2015 and has hosted several activities, including the Asian Pacific American Center’s “Crosslines Culture Lab” and "The Long Conversation." Plans are being developed for the next chapter of this amazing building.

  1. Museum of the Bible - Fee $

The Museum provides guests with an immersive and personalized experience as they explore the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible. Using cutting-edge technology, the Bible comes to life before your eyes.  From the unveiling of a thousand-year-old Jewish manuscript to contemporary art depicting the Apocalypse, there is something here for everyone. Museum of the Bible invites you, your family, your community — and every community — to engage with the Bible's stories, see its history and experience its impact. With three permanent galleries and a rotating slate of temporary exhibitions, there will always be something new to explore.

  1. US Capitol - Free

The United States Capitol, often called The Capitol or the Capitol Building, is the seat of the United States Conress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It is located on Capitol Hill at the easter end of the National Mall in Washington D.C.

  1. White House Inside Tour - Free

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. The term "White House" is often used as a metonym for the president and his advisers.