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Ford's Theatre, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- Ford's Theatre is a historic theater best known as the site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865
- Lincoln was attending a performance of the comedy Our American Cousin when he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer
- Originally opened in 1863, after Lincoln's assassination, the theatre was closed for many years and eventually reopened in 1968 as a working theater and a living memorial to Lincoln
- The site is now operated through a public-private partnership with the National Park Service and serves both as a historic site and an active venue for theatrical performances
International Spy Museum, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The International Spy Museum is an independent nonprofit museum that focuses on documenting the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage
- The museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts in the world, showcasing the ingenuity and imagination of real-life spies
- Visitors can engage with interactive exhibits that allow them to test their spy skills through various missions, with their performance tracked for a debriefing
Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and serves as the research arm of the United States Congress
- Established in 1800, it is considered the nation's oldest federal cultural institution
- The Library's extensive collections include millions of books, films, audio recordings, photographs, newspapers, and maps, chronicling both American and world history
- It provides objective research to inform legislative processes, administers the national copyright system, and offers various services to support Congress
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Lincoln Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to honoring Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States
- It is a prominent example of neoclassical architecture, featuring a large seated statue of Lincoln, which is 19 feet tall, set within a chamber surrounded by 36 Doric columns
- Each column represents a state in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death in 1865
- The memorial is seen as symbolizing Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War and his commitment to equality and freedom among all people
- The interior includes inscriptions of two of Lincoln's most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address
National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Air and Space Museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution, and is renowned for housing the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts
- It encompasses all aspects of human flight, including historical aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, rockets, and related works of art and archival materials
- Beyond exhibitions, the museum serves as a center for research into aviation, spaceflight, planetary science, and terrestrial geology
#14 in Best Museums in the USA
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Gallery of Art is a prominent art museum located on the National Mall
- It serves as a center for visual art, education, and culture, and allows visitors to explore and experience art and creativity
- The museum's collection includes over 150,000 works of art, encompassing paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, photographs, prints, and drawings that span the history of Western art
#12 in Best Museums in the USA
National Mall, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Mall is a prominent landscaped park that remains an iconic area serving as a central gathering space for national events
- It is home to numerous monuments and memorials that reflect the history and values of the United States
- The landmarks there symbolize the nation's democratic values, as well as serving as a venue for public gatherings, protests, and celebrations
- The National Mall has been a site for many historic events, including presidential inaugurations and civil rights demonstrations
National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum dedicated exclusively to documenting African American life, history, and culture
- Opened in 2016, the museum houses over 36,000 artifacts that chronicle the African American experience from slavery to the present day
- It houses historical documents, photographs, and cultural items that reflect the contributions of African Americans to the nation
- The museum aims to provide a comprehensive narrative of African American history, emphasizing the importance of understanding American history through the lens of the African American experience
#38 in Best Museums in the USA
National Museum of American History, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Museum of American History is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the heritage of the United States
- Opened in 1964, it serves as a custodian of national treasures, collecting, preserving, and displaying artifacts that reflect the social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history of the nation
- It features various exhibitions that explore themes such as democracy, technology, and cultural change
#13 in Best Attractions in the USA
National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Museum of Natural History, opened in 1910, houses an extensive collection of over 146 million specimens, which include plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites, and cultural artifacts
- Its exhibitions and research cover a wide range of topics related to the history of the Earth and life on it, showcasing the planet's transformation over billions of years
#4 in Best Museums in the USA
National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The National Portrait Gallery is an art museum, founded in 1962, where it is dedicated to showcasing portraits of individuals who have made significant contributions to American history and culture, including presidents, poets, actors, and other influential figures
- The gallery houses a diverse collection that includes paintings, sculptures, photographs, drawings, and media art
United States Capitol, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The United States Capitol serves as the seat of the United States Congress, which is the legislative branch of the federal government, and remains a prominent symbol of American democracy and governance
- The Capitol houses the chambers of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where lawmakers meet to debate and pass legislation
- The Capitol has been the meeting place for Congress since 1800 and has undergone several phases of construction and renovation since its original establishment in 1793
- Designed in a neoclassical style, the Capitol's architecture draws inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman ideals, symbolizing democracy and civic virtue
- It has hosted significant events, including presidential inaugurations and State of the Union addresses
United States Botanic Garden, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The United States Botanic Garden is a botanical garden located on the grounds of the United States Capitol
- Established by Congress in 1820, it is recognized as one of the oldest continuously operating public gardens in the country
- The garden features a diverse range of plant collections, including arid desert plants, vibrant orchids, and lush tropical species
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum serves as the nation's official memorial to the Holocaust
- Established in 1993, it is dedicated to documenting, studying, and interpreting the history of the Holocaust, which resulted in the systematic murder of approximately six million Jews and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators
- The museum aims to inspire citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity
- The museum features a variety of artifacts, films, photographs, and oral histories that tell the story of the Holocaust
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to honoring the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who served and died during the Vietnam War
- The memorial was officially dedicated in 1982, where it originally listed 57,939 names of service members who died in the conflict, and as of 2017, this number had increased to 58,318
- It features a distinctive black granite V-shaped wall that is inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives
Washington Monument, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The Washington Monument is a prominent obelisk located on the National Mall
- It was built to honor George Washington, the first president of the United States
- The monument is the tallest structure in Washington, D.C., and was the tallest building in the world when completed in 1884
- The monument is designed in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, symbolizing the timelessness and respect for ancient civilizations
White House, Washington D.C.
Best time to visit: March-May, Sept-Nov
- The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States
- It serves as both a home for the President and the First Family, as well as a venue for official functions and meetings
- The site was selected by George Washington in 1791, and construction began in 1792
- It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams
- The White House reflects its role as a symbol of the U.S. government and its accessibility to the public, where it hosts various public events and tours
#63 in Best Attractions in the USA