No study abroad in the United States of America is complete without a trip to the capital, Washington D.C. Home to the President of the United States (and the 43 before him), Washington is an iconic city with so much to be explored. With so much history and many sights and attractions to discover it can be difficult to decide what to do in a short amount of time. Here is my guide on the top things to see and do when in Washington D.C.
1. The White House
No trip to Washington is complete without a visit to the White House. Built in 1792, home to Barack Obama and many presidents before him and featured in many films, the white house is possibly one of the most famous houses in the world. Although you can’t really get that close to it and it looks a lot smaller than on the big screen, it’s still an important American icon to tick off your bucket list.
2. The Washington Monument
Located near the White House, the Washington Monument is another attraction not to be missed. The monument stands at 555 feet tall, was built in honour of George Washington and can be seen towering in the skyline all over the city. The reflecting pool next to it is also very impressive and is where the famous scene from Forrest Gump was filmed, when Forrest and Jenny embrace in the water.
3. The Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln memorial is on the other side of the reflecting pool and is a historic monument to the 16th president. It features a 19 foot high statue of Lincoln and inscriptions from his inauguration speech and the Gettysburg address. This is also the site where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his I have a Dream speech in 1963.
4. The Martin Luther King Memorial
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is another inspiring dedication to a national icon and was only recently constructed in 2011. The address of the monument, 1964 Independence Avenue, represents the year the Civil Rights Act of 1964 became law. The 30 foot tall statue is also the first in the area of the National Mall, which includes the White House and various other memorials, to honour an African American.
5. The Crime and Punishment Museum
Washington D.C. is also home to many interesting and unique museums. One of the best museums is the Crime and Punishment museum. It includes many exhibits including a history of American crime from the medieval times to the gangsters of the depression era, a real electric chair, Al Capone’s jail cell, as well as a simulated FBI shooting range and a crime scene investigation lab.
6. The Newseum
The Newseum is also a unique museum, which is a must see for any budding journalists as well as being accessible and enjoyable to a wide audience. It has both fun and thought provoking exhibits. The 9/11 exhibit is one of the best, which includes the antenna from the top of the World Trade Centre as well as many newspaper front pages from the day from all over the world. The museum also includes part of the fallen Berlin Wall, archives of various magazines and newspapers from important days in history, and a Civil Rights exhibit which includes the lunch counter from the famous Greensboro sit in during the Civil Rights Movement in 1960. It also includes a TV studio which you can tour, and Barack Obama and many celebrities have sat in there, as well as interactive games and activities, such as filming your own news broadcast.
7. The Ford Theatre
The Ford Theatre is infamous for being the place where President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. The theatre has a free museum that documents Lincoln’s life, presidency and assassination. Some interesting parts of the museum include a display of the gun that Booth used to shoot Lincoln, as well as many of Lincoln’s possessions.
8. The U.S Capitol
Finally, another must see attraction in D.C. is the U.S. Capitol building, home to the Senate and House of Representatives and where many important decisions throughout American History have been made. Free guided tours include a visit to the unused crypt of George Washington, the Rotunda (the room below the dome), and the National Statuary Hall. This is also where Barack Obama recently gave his State of the Union address.
Images are author’s own.