Washington, District of Columbia

1. The White House

8.7
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW (btwn 15th St NW & 17th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Government Building · Northwest Washington · 512 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Completed in 1800, The White House is the oldest public building in Washington, DC and has been the home of every president except George Washington.

2. Rose Garden

7.7
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
Garden · Northwest Washington · 14 tips and reviews

Presidential LibrariesPresidential Libraries: To fete the White House bicentennial in 1992, the Bushes buried a time capsule at the southwest corner of the residence. The contents were kept secret; Presidential history for the future to find!

3. National Museum of African American History and Culture

9.3
1400 Constitution Ave NW (btwn 12th & 14th St NW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Northwest Washington · 148 tips and reviews

Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International: Construction of a stand-alone museum is scheduled to begin next year, but for now you can visit the museum's temporary home within the National Museum of American History. Read more.

4. Arlington National Cemetery

214 McNair Rd, Arlington, VA
Cemetery · 129 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: Cemetery - 624 acres, where veterans and military casualties from each of the nation's wars are interred. See video for more history. Read more.

5. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

9.6
2700 F St NW (at New Hampshire Ave), Washington, D.C.
Performing Arts Venue · Northwest Washington · 178 tips and reviews

C-SPANC-SPAN: The Kennedy Center, which first opened in 1971, has 9 stages, 2 of which are Millennium Stages located in the Great Foyer that house free performances every day of the year. Watch video for more info. Read more.

National Trust for Historic Preservation is one of Washington, District of Columbia.

6. National Trust for Historic Preservation

2600 Virginia Ave NW Ste 1000 (at 26th St.), Washington, D.C.
Office · Northwest Washington · 1 tip

7. Washington Monument

9.4
2 15th St NW (btwn Constitution Ave NW & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 344 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Washington Monument was formally dedicated on February 22, 1885, and at the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the world; it remains the tallest stone structure in the world.

8. Lincoln Memorial

9.6
2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW (btwn Constitution & Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 471 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Construction began in 1914, and the memorial was opened to the public in 1922. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd by the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 .

9. Vietnam Veterans Memorial

9.2
5 Henry Bacon Dr NW (at Constitution Ave NW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Northwest Washington · 91 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial & the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, where over 58,000 names are engraved.

10. Thomas Jefferson Memorial

9.4
16 E Basin Dr SW (at Ohio Dr SW), Washington, D.C.
Monument · Southwest Washington · 143 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: President Roosevelt asked the Commission of Fine Arts about the possibility of erecting a memorial to Thomas Jefferson. Construction went from 1938-43, & Roosevelt laid the first cornerstone himself.

11. National Museum of American History

9.0
1400 Constitution Ave NW (at 14th St NW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Northwest Washington · 356 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The museum first opened in 1964, and among the items on display are the original Star-Spangled Banner and Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz.

12. Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)

8.6
1000 Jefferson Dr SW (btwn 9th & 12th St SW), Washington, D.C.
History Museum · Southwest Washington · 86 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson, who had never visited the US himself.

13. National Museum of Natural History

9.2
1000 Constitution Ave NW (at 10th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Science Museum · Northwest Washington · 427 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson, who had never visited the US himself.

14. National Air and Space Museum

9.2
6th St. (Independence Ave SW), Washington, D.C.
Science Museum · Southwest Washington · 637 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Originally called the National Air Museum when it was formed on August 12, 1946 by an act of Congress, some pieces in the National Air and Space Museum collection date back to 1876.

15. National Geographic Museum

1145 17th St NW (at Sumner Row NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Connecticut Avenue - K Street · 49 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The National Geographic Society formed in 1888 for the advancement and diffusion of geographical knowledge. You'll find artifacts ranging from expeditions to temporary exhibits on the world's cultures

16. National Archives and Records Administration

8.8
700 Pennsylvania Ave NW (at 7th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Federal Triangle · 151 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Congress established the National Archives Establishment in 1934 to centralize federal record keeping & holds Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights & a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta

17. Ford's Theatre

8.3
511 10th St NW (btwn F St NW & E St NW), Washington, D.C.
Theater · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 72 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: On the second floor of the Theater, you can see the boxseat where Abe Lincoln was sitting when he was killed. On the lower level the museum displays exhibits about Lincoln’s life and his tragic death.

18. International Spy Museum

800 F St NW (9th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Museum · Penn Quarter · 207 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The museum opened on July 19, 2002 and is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events.

19. United States Botanic Garden

9.0
100 Maryland Ave SW (Independence Ave), Washington, D.C.
Botanical Garden · Southwest Washington · 111 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The garden is a living plant museum & was established by Congress in 1820. The Conservatory reopened in Dec 2001 after a four-year renovation,with approx 4,000 seasonal, tropical & subtropical plants.

20. National Museum of Crime & Punishment

575 7th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Museum · Penn Quarter · 58 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: On April 1 1845, Samuel Morse opened the world's first telegraph office on this location. Messages were sent in a coded alphabet consisting of electronic dots & dashes which became known as Morse Code

21. Capital One Arena

8.7
601 F St NW (at 7th St NW), Washington, D.C.
Basketball Stadium · Chinatown · 285 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: This center is home to the Georgetown Hoyas, Washington Wizards & Washington Capitals. In 2003 Michael Jordan scored 43 points & became the 1st player over 40 to score more than 40 points in a game.

22. U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.
Capitol Building · Southeast Washington · 38 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.

23. United States Capitol

Capitol Cir (at E Capitol St), Washington, D.C.
Capitol Building · Northwest Washington · 205 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.

24. Library of Congress

9.2
101 Independence Ave SE (btwn 1st & 2nd St SE), Washington, D.C.
Library · Southeast Washington · 184 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Created in 1800 the library is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution & the largest library in the world. In 1815 Thomas Jefferson sold his entire personal collection of books to the library

25. Supreme Court of the United States

1 1st St NE (at E Capitol St NE), Washington, D.C.
Courthouse · Northeast Washington · 51 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: After the federal government was established in Washington, the court was housed in a basement room in the US Capitol until 1929, when Chief Justice Taft argued successfully for their own building.

26. Union Station

7.6
50 Massachusetts Ave NE (at Columbus Cir NE), Washington, D.C.
Rail Station · 662 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: Completed in 1908, the station was the largest train station in the world at the time it was built. In fact, if put on its side, the Washington Monument could lay within the confines of the station.

27. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

2400 E Capitol St NE, Washington, D.C.
Stadium · Southeast Washington · 69 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: This stadium has been home to a number of professional sports teams: the Washington Redskins of the NFL (1961-96), the Washington Senators of MLB (1962-71) and the Washington Nationals, also of MLB.

28. United States National Arboretum

9.0
3501 New York Ave NE (at Hickey Ln NE), Washington, D.C.
Botanical Garden · National Arboretum · 60 tips and reviews

HISTORYHISTORY: The arboretum was established in 1927 by an act of Congress & functions as a major center of botanical research. It has a library with 10,000 volumes & approx. 90 publications on botanical literature.