One of Washington DC’s most important hubs of African American culture and community from the 1920s to the '60s, the U Street Corridor today offers a vibrant range of restaurants, jazz clubs, shops, and other attractions. The former home of Duke Ellington, and once known as “Black Broadway,” the area is a listed Historic District.
The sports and entertainment center of downtown DC, Capital One Arena hosts more than 220 events each year. The 20,000-seat arena is home to several of Washington’s top teams—basketball’s Wizards and Mystics and hockey’s Capitals—and has hosted two Stanley Cup Finals as well as concerts from celebrities such as Elton John and Lady Gaga.
Standing along Washington D.C’s Embassy Row, the early 20th-century Anderson House was once home to esteemed American diplomat, Larz Anderson. Donated to the Society of the Cincinnati after his death, the grandiose Beaux Arts-style mansion now serves as the society’s headquarters and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Decatur House was the first private residence built near the White House. Designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, who also planned parts of the Capitol, the building has a storied past as home to foreign and American dignitaries and enslaved people. The museum tells the stories of its former residents and, through them, of a young America.
See how America’s first English settlers lived at the Jamestown Settlement. The living history museum sits in Virginia near the site of the original colony where settlers landed in 1607. It explores colonial history through films, exhibits, and interactive experiences. Plus, climb aboard replicas of the ships that sailed to Virginia.
This Georgian revival townhouse on Embassy Row earned its place on the National Trust for Historic Preservation for both its inhabitants and its architecture. The retirement home for President Woodrow Wilson and his wife, Edith, was designed in 1915 by Waddy Butler Wood—the man behind a slew of Washington DC’s finest private homes.
The National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is the place to begin your exploration of historic Gettysburg. After watching a short orientation film, check out the Civil War artifacts on display, and marvel at the iconic 360-degree cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Hosted at the National Geographic Society’s world headquarters, the National Geographic Museum is a family-friendly institution that celebrates exploration, international adventure, and the natural world. Its permanent and temporary exhibitions showcase photographs, artifacts, and films and also include interactive elements.
Located in Yorktown, Virginia—the site of the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War—the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown dives into early US history. The two-part museum offers a sweeping, multimedia exhibition space with hundreds of artifacts, as well as an immersive living history area.
Housing the world’s largest Shakespearean collection, the Folger Shakespeare Library is both an acclaimed research center and a hub for arts and culture. Set near the US Capitol Building, the library’s white marble exterior and neoclassical style blend with the surrounding architecture. Inside, discover renaissance art galleries, an Elizabethan theater, and other timepieces reminiscent of Shakespear’s era.
In 1860, the Civil War came to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The stories of its townspeople are told at the Shriver House Museum, a restored home occupied by the Shriver family during the Battle of Gettysburg. The house was occupied throughout the battle, and today, it has been restored to its original condition and is open to the public as a museum.
Virginia’s Monticello is the sprawling Thomas Jefferson–designed estate turned UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum. Its extensive gardens and impressive buildings inspired by French villas are popular with history buffs and visitors looking to delve into America’s past and the life of America’s third president.
The largest Roman Catholic church in North America, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception attracts visitors for both its religious and architectural value. Built between 1920 and 1959 as a tribute to the Virgin Mary, the church’s towering central dome and many chapels were crafted in a unique Romanesque-Byzantine style not found elsewhere in the US.
The office of the Secretary of State is responsible for America’s relations with foreign governments and operates US diplomatic missions abroad. Housed in the Art Moderne-style Harry S. Truman Building, the State Department, as it is more commonly known, is also concerned with assisting and protecting American citizens and businesses in other countries. Here, visitors can get a peek of the opulent reception rooms.
Housed in a historic manor in the heart of Washington DC’s Dupont Circle neighborhood, The Phillips Collection is one of the city’s highlight art museums. Founded in 1921, it is home to a 3,000-strong permanent collection of American and European artworks, including pieces by van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, O’Keeffe, and Rothko.
One of the first homes ever built in the nation’s capital, the historic federal-style Octagon House was designed in 1799 by William Thornton for wealthy Virginia landowner Colonel John Tayloe III. Renovated multiple times and established as a museum in 1970, it now offers limited hours for tours and self-guided visits.
The life-like wax statues of Madame Tussauds Washington DC museum give visitors the opportunity to engage with replicas of US presidents, celebrities, and elite athletes. As you explore the interactive exhibits, you can learn about the creation of the wax sculptures, the history of the figures, and the story of the 18th-century artist for whom the museum is named.
Home to DC’s Major League Baseball team, the Washington Nationals (and their bald eagle mascot, Screech), this LEED-certified stadium can seat over 41,000 fans. The Nationals, formed by the transfer of the Montreal Expos in 2005, are the city’s first baseball team since the Washington Senators folded in 1971, and the team became World Series champions for the first time in 2019.
Located in northwest DC, Adams Morgan is celebrated for its charming rowhouses, vibrant dining scene, eclectic cultural mix, and trendy sensibility. Situated along the buzzy 18th Street corridor, the neighborhood is known for its nightlife, though its coffee shops, vintage stores, music venues, and bookstores are a daytime draw.
Roller coasters, animal experiences, and stage shows draw visitors to Busch Gardens, an amusement park in Williamsburg, Virginia. Located in one of the country’s most historic Colonial towns, Busch Gardens offers a range of entertainment from riding a steam train through replica European villages to climbing aboard an aerial skyride through the treetops. Busch Gardens is a top family attraction in the area.
During his time as president, Abraham Lincoln spent a significant amount of time at the Soldiers' Home, now known as President Lincoln's Cottage, in Washington DC. On his commute to and from the White House and the home, Lincoln could witness the devastating effects of the Civil War, which impacted the opinions that would become his policy.
The National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC is a private nonprofit organization created by Congress in 1863 to conduct research and provide its findings to the US government. Housed in a 1924 neoclassical building just north of the National Mall, the academy hosts temporary exhibitions, lectures, films, and other cultural programs.
Just across from the White House, St. John’s Episcopal Church is one of Washington DC’s most important historical places of worship. Designed by Benjamin Latrobe and unveiled in 1816, the Greek Revival landmark has hosted presidential Inauguration Day services for nearly a century, and is a US National Historic Landmark.
The largest waterpark in Virginia, Water Country USA is home to more than a dozen rides and attractions, from gravity-defying waterslides to wave pools and paddling areas for younger children. The Williamsburg-based park also offers a wide range of dining and shopping options and is a popular day-trip destination for families.
One of the country’s largest and oldest urban parks, Rock Creek Park is a popular place to experience nature in the capital. Established in 1890 and spanning over 2,000 acres (810 hectares), it’s more than twice the size of New York’s Central Park. Rock Creek’s offerings range from hiking trails and historical landmarks to the Smithsonian National Zoo.
This historic Capitol Hill building, formerly called the Sewall-Belmont House, has served as the National Women’s Party’s headquarters since 1929. Today visitors can explore its fine art, books, political cartoons, textiles, and other artifacts made mostly by and about women that tell the story of the ongoing fight for women’s rights.
One of Washington DC’s most unusual landmarks, the House of the Temple, located in Dupont Circle, is the headquarters of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Built between 1911–1915 by storied architect John Russell Pope, and written about by popular author Dan Brown, the House of the Temple is free for visitors to explore.
From its Byzantine-style architecture to replicas of shrines that can be found in Israel, the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America appears as if it were transported from a different continent and time period. Established in the 1800s, the monastery provides a tranquil escape for visitors and a place of worship for Catholics.
The Heurich House Museum, known as the Brewmaster’s Castle, was once the home of German immigrant and acclaimed brewer Christian Heurich (1842-1945). From it’s Richardsonian Romanesque architecture to historic technological advancements such as electric lighting and metal speaking tubes, the mansion now offers a window into late 19th-century society and the life of the wealthy entrepreneur.
Ronald Reagan Washington is one of three major airports in the Washington, D.C., region. A hub for American Airlines, DCA has plenty of domestic flight options here, including nonstop travel to 100 locations within the United States and a handful of destinations in Canada and the Bahamas.
