Our nation's capital is famous for its amazing museums, monuments and government buildings. Hidden around these popular sites are many quirky gems that reaffirm that even the center of our government can be full of the odd and eccentric. Explore this side of the city and you'll see things like a Darth Vader gargoyle, a flower that smells like a corpse and everything in between.
1. Brunch at Mad Hatter
Brunch is the unofficial weekend meal of DC. But even the standard Washingtonian brunch can be made eccentric with an utterly unique atmosphere. Enter the Mad Hatter — the jewel of DuPont Circle. As its name implies, the restaurant is Alice in Wonderland-themed, even including an upside down room. Eclectic decor, a tavern feel, and menu items like, "Hatter's punch" and "A mad men's breakfast" definitely spice up a standard brunch affair. Plus, if you order a special drink off the menu, it will be delivered by a dancing server in a panda costume.
2. The Mansion at O Street
This place is basically a hidden treasure trove right off of DuPont Circle. The eclectic decor and artifacts do not disappoint. You can see the guitars of famous musicians as well as sculptures, letters and other memorabilia. The mansion hosts themed treasure hunts, tours, parties, and meetings. There's also a bed and breakfast and a museum, both of which allow further exploration of the vast cultural collection within the walls. If you're a fan of the quirky and extravagant, you can even plan to have your wedding inside the mansion!
3. National Museum of Health and Medicine
This museum is not for the faint of heart or the squeamish. Step off the Metro red line in Silver Spring, MD to learn about the history of medicine. Highlights include the bullet that killed President Lincoln, a giant hairball removed from the stomach of a 12-year-old girl, and various preserved brains. You can also learn about the history of military medicine in the United States.
4. Smell the corpse flower at the United States Botanic Gardens
Standing in the greenhouse of the Botanic Gardens is a massive eight-foot flower from Indonesia. It emits a smell similar to that of rotting flesh--not super pleasing to people, but hey, it attracts pollinators! If the scent of the flower freaks you out, you can always seek refuge with the Botanic Garden's vast collection of bonsai trees.
5. Hidden gems at the Library of Congress
Our government's library happens to be the largest library on the planet. Don't let the name fool you — there's way more than just books within the walls of this beautiful building. The Library of Congress actually receives over 15,000 new items each day, including artifacts, photographs, and even tweets. This allows the library to be arguably the best display and record of American culture. Gems housed in its walls include the contents of President Lincoln's pockets from the night that he was assassinated. Preserved are his wallet, glasses, handkerchief and strangely, a confederate $5 bill. If you're feeling particularly presidential, be sure to check out President Jefferson's restored library — which includes some of his original books.
6. Visit the technicolor church
In 2014, an artist turned this abandoned church into a spectacular work of art. Stroll down Delaware Avenue in Southwest and you cannot miss this colorful display of urban artistic transformation. Plus, photographs of the church make for like-worthy Instagram pictures. Exploring the rest of the nation's capital, you'll be sure to find many other great examples of urban street art and murals.
7. The crypt and gargoyles at the National Cathedral
From the outside, the Washington National Cathedral looks like a pretty traditional gothic house of worship. Explore the grounds and the inside of the cathedral and you'll find a completely different story. If you look closely, you can find unique gargoyles such as Darth Vader and the "grotesque frog." Inside, there's a moon rock in one of the many beautiful stained-glass windows. Venture into the crypt and you'll see President Wilson's tomb. A fun fact: he is the only president actually buried in the city. Other unique finds include the ashes of Helen Keller and her tutor, Anne Sullivan. Don't forget to pay your respects to the lesser-known statue of Abraham Lincoln on your way out.
