Visiting one of the most historical cities in our nation can be overwhelming if you don’t plan out your trip in advance. There is so much to see and do that it would take years to experience it all. There are eight Smithsonian museums, countless monuments, and plenty of other museums that hold must-see treasures. In my recent trip to Washington, I spent five jam-packed days running from one metro stop to the next, trying to fill my head with as much knowledge as humanly possible. I am going to tell you about the major highlights in Washington D.C., some cool things to see that are lesser known, and give you some tips to make the most of your trip.
If you asked any person on the street what Washington D.C. has to see, most would say the Lincoln Memorial, National Memorial, and all of the Smithsonian Museums. These are certainly the most well known attractions and you can’t afford to miss them. Lucky for you, they are all together in the same part of town. The National Mall and Reflection Pool connect the Lincoln Memorial and National Memorial. Both of these memorials are must-sees for your trip but you may not realize that three other great memorials line the National Mall as well. If you have time, check out the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War Two Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial. All three are beautiful and moving. After you’ve seen the most famous memorials in the nation, head on over to your first Smithsonian. The Smithsonian Institute is actually made up of 17 museums and galleries located in Washington D.C. but you probably won’t have time to see all of them unless you are moving up to D.C. for a semester or two. The most popular ones are the National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum, and the National Museum of American History. They are so large that you will probably spend four or five hours in each one. If you manage to see all of these sights, you’ve had a pretty good vacation.
If you see all of these sites and you still have some extra time before you leave, there are dozens of other things worth seeing in D.C. Three of my favorites are Arlington Cemetery, Ford’s Theatre, and the Newseum. You’ve probably heard of Arlington Cemetery before but it is the final resting place of over 400,000 military men and women. The graves dates all the way back to the Civil War. You can view the final resting place of the Kennedy Family, a Pan Am Flight Memorial, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every hour in the winter months and every half hour in the summer. This ceremony is one of the few places where you can watch a military event meet civilian life. Arlington Cemetery is truly a haunting experience that every American should see to remind them of the sacrifice that millions have made for our freedom. Ford’s Theatre is one stop that not everyone makes time for but you won’t regret it if you do. This is where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln in 1865. On the free tour you get to read all about Lincoln’s presidency as well as the back-story to Booth’s hatred for Lincoln. You learn the events of that night and you get to see the exact place where Lincoln was shot. After the tour, you can walk across the street to see where Lincoln died the next morning. Ford’s Theatre is a free chance to see a crucial piece of America’s history. The last sight to see if you have time is called the Newseum. This is a museum dedicated to our nation’s history of journalism. It has many treasures like a piece of the Berlin wall, newspaper clippings throughout America’s history, Nobel Prize winning photographs from around the world, and an amazing 9/11 tribute exhibit. This museum is a refreshing break from the normal museum cycle of old artifacts. This museum has current artifacts in addition to the old pieces of journalism. These three places are cool learning opportunities that not all get a chance to see. If you get to experience any of these attractions, you definitely won’t regret it.
Lastly, if you know who to talk to and where to look, there are some pretty cool things you can do in D.C. If you know you’re going to D.C. more than three months in advance, put in a request to tour the White House and the U.S. Capitol. You will have to contact your Congress representative and they will send the request for your visit. It is obviously a little more difficult to tour the White House but if you have more than three months notice there’s definitely a chance. If you forget to put in a tour request, you can walk into the Capitol and have the possibility of joining a tour last minute. Both of these things are unique experiences that not everyone gets to do on their vacations. If you want to see the rooms where Congress and the House of Representatives meet, you can run across the street from the Capitol, visit your local representative, and grab a pass to get into the two rooms. Talk about a cool experience! You can also tour the Library of Congress and get a library card. The library card will let you into the famous main reading room where you can look at books that are hundreds of years old. These are just a few of the cool things that you can do if you know where to look and how to find them.
Well there you have it. If you can manage to see all of these things, you have had a very thorough look into our nation’s capitol. Obviously this is still just scratching the surface of all the city has to offer but for a tourist you’re doing pretty well. Washington D.C. is a place where you can never truly see everything but the wealth of knowledge there is too good to pass up. I hope this article has helped you plan your trip to D.C. and I hope you have as much fun as I did. Our nation has such a complex history. So many pieces of our puzzle are on display in D.C. Go check them out.
