10 Best Hidden Secrets In DC
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

10 Best Hidden Secrets In DC

776
10 Best Hidden Secrets In DC

1. The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the world's largest library with more than 32 million cataloged books in 470 different languages. The library is intended to be used by high-ranking Congressional employees, but materials can be checked out by the public with special clearance. The building was finished in 1800 and includes what I think is some of the most impressive architecture in DC, including the expansive reading room featured in the film "National Treasure 2."

2. Baked and Wired

Most tourists come to DC in search of the renowned Georgetown Cupcakes attributed to the show "DC Cupcakes." However, true DC residents know that just down the street is the real hidden gem. Baked and Wired is a small cafe with a hippy vibe serving coffee, tea, and cupcakes the size of your head. Popular flavors include "Texas Sheetcake," "Elvis Impersonator," and my favorite "Razmanian Devil."

3. Eastern Market

Located in the heart of the original Capitol Hill neighborhood is Eastern Market, an extensive building filled with incredible food, drinks, crafts and artwork. Weekends tend to be the most popular, with musicians and street vendors also contributing, so I would recommend taking the metro downtown and walking there.

4. Kayaking the Potomac River

During the hot summer days when every paddleboat on the Tidal Basin has been rented, I would recommend driving down to the Canal in Georgetown and renting a kayak or canoe and paddling down the quieter parts of the Potomac River. If you're really motivated you can paddle down towards the monuments, or simply just stick around the Georgetown area.

5. The Exorcist Steps

One of Georgetown's best-kept secrets is the Exorcist Steps featured in the 1973 movie "The Exorcist." Just blocks from Georgetown University in Northwest DC, the steps now serve as a great workout for many DC residents, as well as a tourist attraction for horror movie fanatics.

6. Lincoln's Summer Home

President Lincoln's Summer Home served as a summer getaway for him as well as President's James Buchanan and Rutherford B. Hayes. It is most famous for being the location where Lincoln wrote the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation. The building, which is located in the Parkview Neighborhood of Northeast DC, was just opened to the public in 2008 and features special exhibits on Civil War soldiers and Lincoln's presidency.

7. Theodore Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island is an 88-acre island located in the middle of the Potomac River just west of DC. The island has been inhabited by a variety of groups including Native Americans, Union troops during the Civil War, and a research group testing dynamite away from the city. In 1931, the island was purchased by the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association and a memorial was erected in his honor. Today, it is most popular for its hiking trails and views of the river.

8. The National Cathedral

The national cathedral of the Episcopal church is the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second largest in the United States. Construction on the Neo-gothic structure began in 1903 and was finished in 1990 under President H.W. Bush. Due to the earthquake in 2011, the cathedral is once again under construction but visitors can still tour the interior and view the incredible stained glass pieces.

9. The Renwick Gallery

The gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum with a central focus on American art from the 19th to 21st centuries. Most exhibitions are rotated about every six months to a year. Some of the most popular exhibits from the past year include a rainbow made of 60 miles worth of thread, and an art exhibit made entirely of dead insects.


10. The Lincoln Memorial (at night)

Every tourist knows that the Lincoln Memorial is a must-see, but instead of fighting hundreds of people to see the memorial during the day time I recommend going late at night. Sit on the steps of the memorial and enjoy the view of the Reflection Pool and the Washington Monument without the hustle and bustle of the daytime crowds.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

46627
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

29568
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

953801
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

165252
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments