Washington DC

A Arlington National Cemetery J Jefferson Memorial L Lincoln Memorial S Smithsonian

U Union Station V Viet Nam Memorial W Washington Monument White House

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Washington DC, our nation’s capital is filled with history, museums, and monuments -- many of them free to the public. Founded in 1790 with gifts of land from Virginia and Maryland, Washington DC is home to the head of all three branches of US government – the executive branch at the White House, the legislative branch – the Senate and the House of Representatives -- at the Capitol Building, and the judicial branch at the Supreme Court Building. Washington DC also includes the headquarters for the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the FBI, and the Organization of American States.

The District of Columbia, itself, is home to a little over 500,000 residents, many of whom work in government or its supporting agencies. The greater Washington DC area, which includes parts of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia has a population of over 4.7 million.

History

Washington DC was conceived and designed to be the capital of the United States. The city was laid out by Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a Major in the US Army. His name still graces an avenue, a traffic circle, and a subway stop in the city, among other landmarks. The War of 1812 hampered the city’s construction and the new White House was even set afire by the British troops. Washington remained a city of just a few thousand residents the Civil War, when federal government agencies grew significantly to administer the war and to handle its veterans’ benefits.

Washington Today

Washington DC, today, is a vibrant city, nestled along the Potomac River. It has a rich cultural climate. In addition to the Smithsonian Museums, the city is home to the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which host the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Opera, and Washington Ballet, and a full schedule of music, dance, and theater performances. Washington DC is home to the Washington Redskins football team and the Washington Nationals baseball team. A number of major corporations call the area home, including Fannie Mae, Nextel, CapitalOne, Choice Hotels, and Marriott International.

The Monuments

Washington DC is a delightful city for tourists. Some of the most popular attractions in the city are its monuments. The Washington Monument stands proudly at the end of the National Mall facing the Capital Building. Designed by Robert Mills, the 169 meter obelisk is open to the public every day except for December 25. Other monuments include the Jefferson Memorial and the adjacent Tidal Basin, home to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, the stately Lincoln Memorial, and moving Viet Nam Memorial.

The Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institute is a collection of nineteen museums and seven research facilities, most of them located along the Washington Mall and most of them offering free admission to the public. Included are the National Art and Space Museum, the Museum of the American Indian, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of American History, which houses such treasures as the flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired the Star Spangled Banner, the ruby red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, and Julia Child’s kitchen, reassembled inside the museum.

Other Washington Sights

Washington DC features other sights in addition to the monuments and museums. The White House is available to groups for tours by applying to your congressman’s office. The Capitol Building also offers tours, on a first-come, first-served basis. The National Zoo is famous for its pandas and myriad of animals housed in natural habitats.

Visiting Washington DC

Washington DC is served by three major airports. Ronald Reagan International Airport, just across the Potomac River from Washington DC, handles primarily domestic US flights and is connected with the city by the subway system. Dulles International Airport, in suburban Virginia, is the city’s primary International airport and flights arrive there daily from all over Europe and the world. Maryland’s Baltimore Washington International Airport is just 40 minutes from the city center and frequently offers US travelers lower airfares than Reagan Airport.

The Washington subway system is clean, affordable, and efficient. It connects all parts of Washington as well as Alexandria VA, Arlington VA, and parts of Maryland. Completed in 1976, the system features a station at Reagan International Airport that makes it easy for arriving passengers to bypass the, sometimes gridlocked, traffic to the city center.