Washington attractions and their description. Washington is the center of US political life. Washington Landmarks: Hoover House and National Archives
The city of Washington is the capital of one of the most powerful world powers, the center of American democracy and a city-symbol for every US citizen. All the power structures of the country are located in Washington: the Congress, the Pentagon, the IMF, the World Bank, the presidential administration.
This city is interesting for tourists because here you can learn a lot about the history of the United States and understand what the "American spirit" is. The best achievements of culture are exhibited in numerous museums, monuments to the first presidents adorn wide avenues, the majestic Capitol building hovers over the city as a symbol of democracy and freedom.
Washington captures with its severity and solemnity. Crowds of people, crazy traffic and round-the-clock non-stop - all this is left in. Washington DC has its own special charm.
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What to see and where to go in Washington?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
It looks like a rather modest white building, which houses the administration of the President of the United States. The mansion was built in 1800 under the second American President John Adams. The building consists of six floors (including basement and basement). Two floors are occupied by the family of the incumbent president, the rest are administrative offices, reception halls, dining rooms. Along with the tour, you can see the historical chambers of the White House: Blue, Green, Red rooms and some others.
The building of the US Congress, located on the hill of the same name. It appeared along with the White House in 1800. The building was built in a solemn classical style. The name "Capitol" was borrowed from the Roman Empire, and a deep meaning was invested in it. As the ancient Capitol Hill towered over the Eternal City, so the American Capitol claims universal dominance.
The street that runs from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol building. Along the National Mall are the main Washington memorials, the city's historical museums, the Botanical Garden, and the Smithsonian Institution. Here one of the most famous speeches in the history of the United States was delivered - “I have a dream” by M.L. King, where the fighter for the rights of blacks expressed his vision of the equality of the rights of the black and white population.
Granite white marble obelisk, 169 meters high, erected in honor of the founding father, D. Washington. It was built in the middle of the 19th century with donations from American citizens and private organizations. The column is surrounded by 52 spiers with the flags of the American states. A staircase of several hundred steps leads to the top of the monument, and an elevator is also equipped for convenience and speed.
A complex located within the National Mall. It is dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln. The idea to erect a monument to commemorate the 16th president arose immediately after Lincoln's death, but the memorial did not appear until 1922. The building of the complex is somewhat reminiscent of the ancient Greek Parthenon. The 36-column column symbolizes the 36 states (during Lincoln's presidency, there were only 36 states).
The monument is dedicated to the third US President T. Jefferson, who is called one of the founding fathers. It was his hand that the text of the Declaration of Independence of the United States belongs to. The memorial stands surrounded by a garden of Japanese sakura on the shore of an artificial lake-pool. The architecture of the complex is a strict neoclassical style, which was actively planted in the United States in the early and middle of the 20th century.
Commemorative complex dedicated to the dead and missing soldiers during the Korean War of 1950-1953. It was an armed conflict between South and North Korea, in which the United States took an active part. The memorial was solemnly opened in 1995, and four years later the work on ennoblement of the surrounding area was completed. The monument is a sculpture of soldiers of various nationalities.
Martin Luther King is a famous defender of the rights of the black population and a fighter for justice and equality, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. A monument in his honor opened in Washington in 2011 in the presence of President Barack Obama and several thousand American citizens (mostly blacks). The monument is located in the park area of the National Mall.
The theater where the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated. It happened in 1865 when Lincoln was in his VIP box watching a play. A native of the slave-owning South of the United States and a fanatic of the old order, D. W. Booth secretly entered the box and shot the president. Now the theater functions as a museum. The building is listed on the US National Historic Places Register.
The library is considered one of the most beautiful and largest book collections in the world. It was founded in 1800 when the US capital was moved to Washington. About $5,000 was allocated for the purchase of books, which was a very impressive amount for the beginning of the 19th century. Initially, the library halls were intended only for members of Congress. Now the book depository funds number about 30 million copies.
A museum run by the Smithsonian Institution with over 100 million exhibits. Collections of minerals, precious stones, minerals, archaeological finds, fragments of space bodies and much more are exhibited here. For visitors, the museum is free of charge, it is open seven days a week all year and closes only on Christmas.
The museum is of the greatest interest to visitors to Washington. It has been voted the most visited museum on the National Mall. More than 5 million people pass through its halls every year. Museum exhibitions tell about the history of the United States, as well as the development of culture, achievements in the social sphere and politics. It also exhibits personal belongings of the founding fathers and collections of European Renaissance paintings.
One of the most interesting museums on the Washington National Mall. Here are exhibited real aircraft, or their life-size copies. The museum also stores spacecraft, rockets, engines, command modules of space stations, spacesuits for astronauts. The exhibition opened in the middle of the 20th century. The museum constantly conducts active scientific and research activities.
One of the new museums on the National Mall - opened in 2004. Expositions are devoted to the history and culture of indigenous American peoples. Here are collected clothes, household items and rituals, weapons, jewelry, coins of various Indian tribes. There is a theater on the territory where the Indians play national instruments, dance and arrange various shows for visitors.
Museum, which contains works of masters of different art schools and time periods. Sculptures, paintings, photographs, graphic drawings by both American and European artists are exhibited here. In total, the National Gallery of Art has about 1,200 paintings. Mostly, these are the works of French, Italian and American masters.
Museum dedicated to the history of the emergence and improvement of the media. Through the expositions, one can trace the entire evolution - from the first newspapers and radio to the era of high-speed Internet. In the museum, visitors will see not only exhibits - everyone can try themselves as a reporter and find out how news is created and what goals they pursue, where informational occasions come from.
Quite an interesting place where some secrets of intelligence and espionage activities are revealed. There is only one museum like this in the USA. The Advisory Board includes former functionaries of the FBI, CIA and even the Soviet KGB. The museum's collections exhibit exhibits that shed light on the work of scouts. Separate expositions are dedicated to the history of Soviet (and Russian) intelligence.
The majestic Gothic temple, finally completed in the 90s. XX century. The cathedral belongs to the Protestant Church. The decision to build was made at the end of the 19th century, but the work dragged on for almost 100 years. The temple bears the name of Saints Peter and Paul (again, a reference to the glory of the Roman Empire, which haunts the Americans). The funeral services of the 34th, 38th and 40th Presidents of the United States were held within the walls of the cathedral.
The largest Catholic church in the USA. The temple was built in the Byzantine style. The interior decoration is made in a rather magnificent manner. The basilica was erected in the middle of the 20th century, since then the popes have visited here several times. For American Catholics, the temple is an important spiritual center and a place of pilgrimage. Church employees are active in social and educational work among the parishioners.
The building on Capitol Hill, where the highest judicial body of the United States sits. The palace was built in 1936 by architect K. Gilbert. The building is an almost perfect example of the classical architectural style. The main facade is decorated with a sculptural group depicting Freedom, Order and Power. Male and female statues on both sides of the main staircase symbolize justice and the rule of law.
A multi-storey and seemingly unremarkable building on Pennsylvania Avenue. This is where the FBI headquarters is located. Many people have known this house since the X-Files series. The headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was named after Edgar Hoover, the agency's founder and first director. You can get inside the building with an organized tour group.
A giant structure in the shape of a regular pentagon (in Greek - the pentagon), which houses the US Department of Defense. This is the largest office building in the world; about 40,000 employees work comfortably here. Pentagon parking lots are designed for several thousand cars. During the Cold War, the Pentagon was the "zero point" for Soviet nuclear missiles.
The Smithsonian Institution is one of the premier research centers in the United States. The administration of the organization is located in a picturesque neo-Romanesque red stone castle. In the middle of the 20th century, the building was included in the list of national monuments of the United States. The first architectural project was drawn up in the classical style (similar to the Capitol building), but then it was decided to use the Romanesque style characteristic of medieval Germany as a model.
An architectural building of the late 19th century with elements of the European Neo-Romanesque style, which was briefly used as a post office. For a long time it stood empty; after reconstruction, shops, offices and restaurants were placed inside. Some government offices are also located here. There are free tours of the pavilion. There is an observation deck on the 95-meter clock tower from where you can admire Washington.
The oldest and most prestigious district of Washington, where luxurious mansions stand among the greenery, antique shops and upscale restaurants work. The heart of the district is Georgetown University, an elite educational institution from which many representatives of the American establishment came out. Georgetown is one of the most picturesque places in the American capital.
Landmarks of Washington
1. White House
The main attraction of Washington DC is, of course, the White House, which isofficial residenceand main workplace US President.It is also the symbol of the United States in the rest of the world.This is the place where the president officially meets foreign leaders and holds official dinners. Housefor the White House chose George Washington, but the first in the White House was President John Adams.
The White House was burned down by the British during the War of 1812, but was later remodeled to construction began almost immediately, and the president James Monroe moved to the partially reconstructed White Housein October 1817.
Two of its six floors are always open for tourists. Guided tours are shown the Green, Red and Blue rooms, as well as the dining room. It is in these premises that the President of the United States holds official events and receives foreign guests. Also, the presidential workplace is open to tourists - the Oval Office, in which bills are signed.
Official website: www.whitehouse.gov
2. Capitol (United States Capitol)
After the White House, the second main attraction in Washington in terms of importance and popularity among tourists, is the Capitol. - which is located on top of Capitol Hill in the eastern part National Mall in Washington and is the residence Congress of the United States.
The Capitol is connected to the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial by the 1,800-meter National Mall, and the buildings of the Library of Congress and the US Supreme Court are located nearby. The museum mile runs along the alley. The foundation stone was laid by George Washington on September 18, 1793.
The construction of the Congress was completed in 1800. Although the Capitol is not the geographic center of Washington, it forms the basis for street numbering in Washington. This is the starting point around which the city was founded. The capitol is built in a unique neoclassical style and has a white exterior. Since 2014, the Capitol has been restored, and the final work is planned to be completed in early 2017.
Official website: www.visitthecapitol.gov
3. National mall
From a bird's eye view, the National Mall is a cross, clearly oriented to the cardinal points. The Washington Monument stands in the center of the cross, the White House in the north, the Capitol in the east, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in the south, and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial in the west. All the space between these significant monuments is occupied by museums, including the Smithsonian Institution complex, which consists of 19 museums, galleries and a zoological park.
4. Washington Monument
Another popular tourist attraction in Washington DC is the Washington Monument, probably one of the most famous obelisks in the United States and in the world.Built in the 19th century, this is a monument to the military achievements of George Washington during the Revolutionary War. The construction of the monument began in 1848 and was completed in 1888. Heightat over 170 meters, it is the tallest structure in Washington DC.The monument has been closed since it was damaged in an earthquake in 2011. An opening date has not yet been set.
Website: www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm
5. Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorialis an American National Monument built to commemorate the 16th US Resident Abraham Lincoln. It is located at the western end of the National Mall, across the street from the Washington Monument. The architect was Henry Bacon. Built in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial is one of several monuments built to honor the American president.
Around the perimeter of the building, built in the Greek style, there are 36 columns, symbolizing the number of united states during the years of Lincoln's reign (1809-1865). The names of all 48 states are engraved on the outside of the building, and a plaque with the names of Alaska and Hawaii is in front of the entrance to the memorial. Inside is a large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln and an inscription of two of Lincoln's famous sayings.
Website: www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm
6. Jefferson Memorial
Jefferson Memorialis a memorial dedicated to Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), this is one of the most important American Founding Fathers, it was Declaration of Independence, first US Secretary of State under the first President George Washington, second Vice President of the United States under the second President John Adams and third President of the United States (1801-1809), and also as the founder of the University of Virginia.
Construction on the building began in 1939 and was completed in 1943. A bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947.
Website: www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm
7. Smithsonian Museum (National Air and Space Museum)
National Air and Space Museum (NASM) from the Smithsonian Institution represents a large collection of aviation and space technology, from the Wright brothers' plane to the Space Shuttle.It was established in 1946, and the National Museum opened the main building near L"Enfant Plaza in 1976. In 2014, the museum saw 6.7 million visitors, making it the 5th most visited museum in the world.
Located in Washington DC , it is a center for research in history and science aviation and space flights.
Official website: airandspace.si.edu
8. Georgetown Neighborhood
Georgetownis historical district , which is located in northwestern Washington, along the Potomac River . Founded in 1751 in the state Maryland. It became part of the nation's capital when Congress created the District of Columbia in 1871. Today, Georgetown is a trendy place to live and work. Georgetown is home to the main campusGeorgetown Universityand many other attractions.
9. Library of Congress
The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world.But the Library of Congress had humble beginnings, being founded in 1800 to house official US documents that were transferred from Philadelphia to Washington. For the first 100 years, it was mainly a reference library for Congress, but today is home to 158 million items, which include 36 million books in 460 languages and 69 million manuscripts. It has the largest collection of rare books in North America.
Official website: www.loc.gov
10. National Cathedral (Washington National Cathedral)
Washington Cathedral or Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul -
main cathedral of the Anglican Episcopal Church of the United States . The cathedral is the sixth largest in the world and the second largest in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt helped lay the foundation stone for the Cathedral in 1907.The cathedral was built for 83 years and completed only in 1990.
Official website: www.cathedral.org
The city of Washington made a strange impression on me. IMHO, this is not a living and real city like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, but some kind of life-size "model" of the city. That is, everything seems to be in place, but the spirit of the city is not felt categorically. No bubbling energy New York, industrial power and gloss Chicago, European charm San Francisco, love of life New Orleans or Miami and (running a little ahead) colonial charm and comfort Philadelphia.
It seems that it is not people who live here, but only faceless officials "functioning" - and, like those officials, the city of Washington appears "dressed" in a boring official suit. Some kind of gray, faded, colorless. Of course, there are many world-famous attractions in Washington: the Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, lincoln memorial. But all this seemed to me somehow lifeless, like the scenery for a film, when they can build a whole street or block for filming, and then dismantle it all in a day or two. It is quite possible that these are my personal “defects of perception”, because by the time I arrived in the US capital, I had slept for 4 hours for several days and simply accumulated banal fatigue, which, quite likely, influenced my impression of Washington as a city. I met people who really like this city - but I personally do not belong to them. Washington, with its bureaucratic "artificiality," reminded me a bit of The Hague.
According to historical chronicles, George Washington personally chose a place for the future capital of the United States, and also engaged in raising capital and supervised the progress of construction work. On his behalf, the French engineer (characteristically, not an architect) Pierre Lanfant "planned out a beautiful city with wide alleys and luxurious mansions." The fact that the choice fell on the Frenchman is not surprising - at that time, after the successful war for the independence of the North American United States against Great Britain, the British were not in favor and, quite naturally, a Frenchman was invited to the role of the creator of the new capital - a representative of a country always ready “insert a hairpin” for the British: in addition to the city of Washington, France has another world-famous American symbol and “an example of architectural taste” on its conscience - the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Interestingly, the American idea of creating an artificial city for officials gave its shoots in distant Brazil in the form of the new capital of the country, the city of Brasilia. Moreover, in my humble opinion, the Brazilians succeeded in implementing this bold plan a little better than the Americans.
Today, Washington stands out from other US cities not only for its featureless architecture and dull atmosphere, but also for several purely democratic incidents: although the population of the district elects its mayor, the city is governed directly by the US Congress; the only deputy from Washington in the House of Representatives does not have the right to vote there, and in the Senate Washington has no delegates at all - in the light of the foregoing, it is not surprising that the people of Washington consider their city "the last colony of the United States."
Washington Landmarks: The White House
The White house- a small building in downtown Washington at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, used by the current US presidents as their residence, is known - if only by its name - to the majority of the literate population of the Earth.
In fact, in reality, the house is rather nondescript, it looks like an ordinary villa of a middle-class tycoon. In this moment, the Anglo-Saxon "continuity" is clearly traced: London's Buckingham Palace, the residence of the Queen there, is also no more impressive than an ordinary tram stop. If you wish, you can discern the “modesty of power” and its “closeness to the people” in this fact - but I had no such desire, so I saw only an ordinary “landlord’s estate” with a garden in the White House in Washington.
At one time, excursions to the White House were popular among tourists, but after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the then American president closed this shop - and now, instead of contemplating the famous Green Room (with green silk-covered walls and interiors in the style of the 18th century), the East Room ( where Nixon once announced his resignation) and the Red Room (for some reason very beloved by the first ladies), tourists are only offered to graze in an organized way in the garden in front of the White House. Although, if there is an irresistible desire to touch the holy of holies of America, you can visit a thematic exhibition dedicated to the residence of American presidents - address 1450 Pennsylvania avenue, open daily from 7:30 to 16:00.
Anti-Israeli picket in front of the White House:
Washington Landmarks: Hoover House and National Archives
Hoover House(J. Edgar Hoover building) is the headquarters of the American FBI, which is known to everyone who even occasionally watches Hollywood products.
Among other things, the Hoover House is known for its impressive collection of weapons, which at various times passed as evidence - if you wish, you can admire the tools of such celebrities as Al Capone, Bonnie and Clyde and others. You can read more about visiting the Hoover House and the exhibition at www.fbi.gov/aboutus/tour/tour.htm.
Literally across the street from the FBI headquarters is located US National Archives- a place where priceless artifacts such as the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution with the first ten amendments, the Magna Carta and the Bill of Rights are stored with all possible respect.
Washington Landmarks: The Capitol
The fact that in the capital of the United States, the city of Washington, a building was to be erected for the work of senators and the House of Representatives, there is even a mention in the American Constitution, adopted in 1787. In 1800, in the still unfinished building, the US Congress met for the first time - and the congressmen of the "stronghold of freedom and democracy" were not particularly embarrassed by the fact that the Capitol building was built by slave forces. In 1814, that first building was almost completely destroyed by the British, who sought to return their recalcitrant colony. As a role model, the builders of the American Capitol took the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome - and the Americans do not particularly hide this fact (in principle, Americans do not tend to reflect on any occasion).
Getting into the Capitol is somewhat easier for a tourist than into the White House - and for good reason. Passing massive bronze doors, designed to inspire awe and respect for authority, visitors find themselves in a huge round vestibule with a diameter of 30 meters, covered with a dome. Apparently, the main purpose of this room is to aggravate the impression previously made by bronze doors. In addition, at the Capitol Tour Center you can get free tickets to the Hall of Statues, which features sculptures of 100 of America's most prominent people - characters for the hall were selected fairly, two from each state.
The Capitol building is only part of a huge complex that also includes the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court (both also located on Capitol Hill, east of the main Capitol building). If you wish, you can watch the work of the US judiciary - for information on the available time to visit the Supreme Court, you should contact the tourist information center.
US Library of Congress It is considered the world's largest collection of books, pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, photographs and maps, with ten new documents added every minute. If books and photographs are not particularly attractive, it still makes sense to go to the library: there is a cafe on its sixth floor Madison Building Cafeteria with a good panorama of the city of Washington.
Not far from the Capitol is the tallest building in the city: Washington Monument(in general, in the American capital one can pretty much feel the “cult of personality” of this, no doubt, respected political figure). It is legally prohibited to build buildings higher than the Capitol in the US capital (or rather, there is no direct reference to the Capitol in the law, only the maximum allowable height of buildings is mentioned) and the Washington Monument is the only exception to this rule.
Washington Attractions: Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex and one of America's oldest scientific and cultural institutions, includes eighteen museums and galleries, including the National Gallery of Art, the Woodrow Wilson Science Center, the National Zoo, the Astrophysical Laboratory and much more. It was founded in 1846 in Washington by decision of Congress at the expense of the English scientist James Smithson, who, although he had never been to the United States in his life, bequeathed his entire inheritance (500 thousand US dollars at that time) to the government of the United States "for the creation of an institution for the development and dissemination knowledge". In his will, the benefactor did not specify what kind of institution he had in mind: a research institute, a library, a museum, or something else. Seventeen years after Smithson's death, the US Congress approved the creation of an educational and scientific institution that included museums, several libraries, and research institutes.
Smithsonian Institution in Washington is located in one of the most unusual and memorable buildings of the US capital, known as the "castle":
Washington Monument
Washington Monument It was built and named after the first US President George Washington, and for a long time was the tallest building on the planet, until the Eiffel Tower was erected in Paris. This is one of the most famous "long-term construction" in the United States - the construction of the obelisk began in 1848, and ended 36 years later, in 1884.
In fact, the Washington Monument was built of granite and lined with marble and surrounded by a ring of flags of 50 American states - but, unfortunately, I didn’t find it in this form: after the 2011 earthquake, the Washington Monument was decorated with a picturesque crack and, for the purpose of repair monument, the marble was stripped from it:
City of Washington: Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial- one of the few places in the US capital that makes at least some impression.
The Lincoln Memorial, erected in downtown Washington, is a tribute to the memory of the 16th President of the United States, whose reign was marked by the Civil War (from 1861 to 1865) and the abolition of slavery in a country that considered itself free and democratic from the very day it was founded. And in which such phenomena as "freedom" and "slavery" coexisted quite peacefully with each other until the era of Abraham Lincoln. According to the inhabitants of the United States, Lincoln could rightfully be called honest, steadfast and tolerant - it is not surprising that such a rare set of positive qualities for a politician greatly helped him die a violent death. The Lincoln Memorial is a symbol of the 16th President's unwavering belief that all people have a right and should be free. And, if you look at the results of the reign of Abraham Lincoln, he was not so idealistic.
The Lincoln Memorial is built in the image and likeness of an ancient temple - the height of the architectural structure is 57 meters, and its width is 36 meters. The pseudo-Greek temple of the Lincoln Memorial is supported by 36 marble columns, which are symbols of the North American United States (there are more states in the country today, but it was 36 states that the United States consisted of at the time of the assassination of its 16th president).
In the "altar" of the "temple" sits a stern, adamant Lincoln and looks with obvious disapproval towards the Capitol:
At first glance, the six-meter statue of Abraham Lincoln looks like it was made from a single piece of marble, but in reality it consists of many artfully fitted parts.
Washington Landmarks: The Pentagon
Pentagon, the American Department of Defense (translated from the Greek word pentagon meaning "pentagon") is the largest office building in the world.
Here are just a few figures: the perimeter of the "pentagon" is 1405 meters, the length of each of its sides is 280 meters. The total area of all five floors of the Pentagon is 604 thousand square meters, and the total length of all its corridors is about 28 kilometers. So, if I again meet the journalistic stamp “in the corridors of the Pentagon” somewhere on the Internet, I will imagine something boundless, like a hadron collider. The height of the building, excluding the underground floors, is about 20 meters, it is designed in such a way that you can get to any of its places in a maximum of 7 minutes. In general, the Pentagon is a skyscraper, which, mindful of the ban on the construction of high-rise buildings in the city of Washington, was simply laid on its side.
City of Washington: Arlington Cemetery
America's most famous cemetery is located on the opposite bank of the river. Potomac, from the city you can get there by the bridge.
Among those who are buried in Arlington are a huge number of national heroes and politicians of the first magnitude - for example, brothers John and Robert F. Kennedy. Given the crowds of people visiting the graves of celebrities, it can be said that those buried at Arlington Cemetery are unlikely to have found peace after death.
Arlington Cemetery also has its own tourist attraction: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier every half hour there is a changing of the guard of honor, consisting of military personnel of the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the US Army.
Well, just a photo of the city of Washington:
My personal opinion: if you go to Washington, then only for public needs (and preferably at public expense) or for a “tick” - they say, I’ve been, I’ve seen the White House with the Capitol, I didn’t care about the Pentagon ... In America, there are a sufficient number of much more interesting and places worth visiting, from the same New York it seems to me more interesting and closer to go for a day or two to Philadelphia or Boston with Niagara Falls than to spend this time on a trip to artificial Washington through and through.
How to get to Washington
By plane: there are currently no direct flights between Russian cities and Washington, so you will have to fly with at least one transfer - in New York or at one of the European airports; if you take care of buying tickets in advance, then it is quite possible to find them for $ 500 (round-trip, with one transfer).
To find cheap flights to Washington, you can use this form:
By bus: Private carrier Greyhound's buses compete with Amtrak's in price and are often comparable in speed. The Greyhound Bus Terminal in Washington is located at 1005 1st/L Sts. N.E.
By train: Amtrak trains arrive at Union Station and connect Washington to all major cities on the East Coast and Midwest (and, with transfers, to every other major US city). For flight schedules and tickets, please visit www.amtrak.com
Washington: how to get from the airport to the city center
Ronald Reagan Washington Airport:
The easiest way to do this is by subway. In my case, I had to take the yellow line to the Gallery Palace/Chinatown station, the fare was $3. In addition to the metro, the city center from Ronald Reagan Airport can be reached by bus.
In addition to Ronald Reagan, Washington can be reached from two more airports: Dulles(Dulles International Airport) and Baltimore-Washington (Baltimore-Washington International Airport)
Dulles International Airport: located 42 kilometers southwest of the city, every 45 minutes a shuttle leaves the airport to the West Falls Church metro station. If you need to get to downtown Washington, it is more convenient to use the Washington Flyer, www.metwashairports.com.
Baltimore-Washington International Airport: is located 48 kilometers northeast of the city of Washington. There is an express bus from the airport to the Greenbelt metro station, www.bwiairport.com every 40 minutes.
Life hack: how I save on hotels and insurance
In addition to traditional and well-known tools such as Booking or Hotellook, new online services have recently appeared that make life much easier for the traveler and pleasantly protect the thickness of his wallet. One of them - roomguru I use it all the time and recommend it to all my friends and family. This service compares prices for an object in 30 booking systems at once, and offers you the most interesting options. In addition, it tracks discounts and special offers.
As for a good working travel insurance, it was not easy to find it before, but now it has become even more difficult due to the constant fluctuations of the ruble against world currencies. For the past few years, I have taken out insurance for my travels through an online service.
The first stone in the building of the future official residence of the presidents of the United States, known worldwide as the White House, was laid on October 13, 1792. The project was designed by architect James Hoban, with the active participation of George Washington.
The first US president not only made his own adjustments to the Hoban project, but was also an active participant in choosing a site for construction. According to Washington, it was to be a place on the Potomac River that would not exceed ten square miles. Eight years later, on November 1, 1800, the $2.5 million building was completed.
The building of the presidential residence is made in the Palladian style, which is based on elements borrowed from ancient Greek temple architecture and strict observance of symmetry.
The interiors of the White House are made in a different style, each of them has not only an original finish and purpose, but also its own names. The oval Blue Hall is intended for official receptions, the Green Hall - for informal meetings. Office of the Presidents - Oval Office. Visitors to the White House can see the personal belongings of former US presidents, as well as members of their families.
Modern Art Museum
This museum is housed in a very nice building with a combination of old and new architecture. The portraits are just amazing. It's like a chance to visit with some delightful people from American history. Simply magical. And contemporary art is a lot of fun too.
What sights of Washington did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.
Lincoln Memorial
Visiting the Lincoln Memorial is a popular itinerary for tourists in downtown Washington. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in memory of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He became famous for leading the Northern States to victory in the bloody Civil War, which ended the era when the economy was based on slave labor. The construction of the memorial complex took 8 years. It symbolizes the main idea of President Lincoln - faith in the freedom of man.
The architecture of the Memorial resembles an ancient Greek temple - the building has the shape of a rectangle, which is made up of 38 snow-white marble Doric columns in height. Each column is about 13 meters high and over 2 meters in diameter. Two columns form the entrance to the memorial, and the remaining 36 indicate the number of states that made up the country during the Lincoln years. The total height of the complex exceeds 50 meters.
The main attraction inside the memorial is a huge statue of Lincoln, which weighs 175 tons. Depicted in a thoughtful pose, the president seems to be looking at the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Nearby are two large slabs, one of which is carved with Lincoln's speech during his second inauguration, and the second with a speech after the Battle of Gettysburg.
The memorial complex is especially beautiful at night - night illumination strikes with originality and majesty. Near the complex is the famous Sparkling Pool, which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. This is one of the places that should definitely be visited by every tourist who wants to get acquainted with the capital of one of the greatest world powers.
The National Theater in Washington DC is the oldest theater in the United States, having been performing since 1835. Performances, plays and musicals of the National Theater are comparable in level to the Broadway ones. It survived five huge fires in the 19th century, one of them broke out right during the production of Beauty and the Beast. Five times the building was reconstructed on the same site, the last major reconstruction took place in 1984.
The theater was founded by prominent citizens of the city under the leadership of William Corcoran, who wanted to have a chic theater in their capital. The first production at the then National Theater was Man of the World. The theater worked almost continuously, its audience was mainly the high society of the city - a few blocks from the theater building is the White House. The name of the theater has changed several times depending on the change of ownership. For a while, even the famous actor Joseph Jefferson ran it.
Now the National Theater boasts a hall with 1676 seats. It played such famous premieres as "Madama Butterfly" and "West Side Story". Such world theater stars as Jenny Lind, Sarah Bernard, Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn, Helen Hayes and many others have visited its stage at different times. Even now, the National Theater maintains a tradition of staging Broadway and pre-Broadway performances.
Library of Congress
The US Library of Congress, founded in 1800, is one of the largest libraries in the world and is the oldest public cultural institution in the United States. In addition to its unique library collections, it attracts the attention of numerous visitors with its architecture. The Library of Congress building complex includes three buildings on Capitol Hill connected by underpasses, as well as a depository in Virginia.
The history of the Library is filled with numerous dramatic events, as is the history of the Capitol building, in which it was located for almost the entire 19th century. Several times the library was damaged by fires, most of the books that came to the library as a gift from the third US president, Thomas Jefferson, perished in the fire.
In 1897, a new building of the Library was erected, in the architecture of which elements of the Italian Renaissance can be traced. 26 artists and 22 sculptors worked on the project of the new building, and as a result of their joint creative efforts, a true work of art was obtained. In addition to its architectural charms, the Library was a real engineering miracle of that time - it housed its own power plant, fire-fighting book depositories, as well as special elevators for books. The main facade of the Library building is decorated with a magnificent fountain, vaguely reminiscent of the famous Roman Trevi Fountain.
The Library of Congress collection contains more than 132 million copies of books published in 470 languages of the world, hundreds of thousands of microfilms, about 5 million maps, sheet music, numerous engravings, photographs and even comics, more than 1 million copies of newspapers published over the past three centuries. This is truly a unique and versatile collection of literature.
Eastern Market
East Market in Washington DC is the oldest public market and has been a center of commerce for over 200 years. It is located on Capitol Hill, in a historic 19th-century brick building, recognized as a monument of architecture. The Oriental Market is much smaller than traditional public markets, but it is still a culinary treasure trove filled with history, tradition and delicious food.
It has a wide range of farm products, including fresh meats, baked goods, cheeses, vegetables and fruits. The attraction of the Eastern Market is the flea market, striking in its diversity. Artisans and antique dealers offer a wide range of goods from all over the world.
The gallery of the market hosts art exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances. The Eastern Market has a long history and is one of the most attractive tourist sites.
Chinatown
Chinatown is one of the most interesting places in Washington DC. Active construction in this area began in the 30s of the twentieth century, when, on the recommendation of the city authorities, the Chinese began to come here from the central districts of the city.
Today, Chinatown is a world-famous tourist quarter with many Asian restaurants and souvenir shops. Here is the famous Arch of Friendship, made in the style of traditional Chinese gates. It was built in 1986 and features seven colorfully painted pagoda roofs and 272 dragons in the style of the Qing and Ming imperial dynasties.
Chinatown is famous for its traditions - the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, various festivals and colorful costume performances. The old Patent Office building houses two museums that are part of the famous Smithsonian Institution: the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art.
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Potomac River
The Potomac is one of the major waterways of the United States, forming a significant segment of the border between the states of Maryland and Virginia, and western Virginia. The river originates in the Appachi Mountains and flows into the Chesapeake Bay of the Atlantic Ocean. The banks of the river are picturesque: in the Harpers Ferry area, it flows through a rocky gorge in the Blue Mountains and forms a waterfall, in addition, there is a real expanse for fishing enthusiasts.
For the first time, the leg of a European entered around 1570, when the Spaniards visited these parts. Then in 1608, Captain John Smith described and mapped the river, after which traders from Virginia settled here. A few years later, the Potomac became the main transport artery of the colony. During the Civil War, the river formed the northeastern border of the Southern Confederacy.
The origin of the word "Potomac" is associated with the name of one of the Indian tribes that inhabited the southern coast. Historians believe that it meant "a trading place" or "a place to which tribute is brought." As for the Indians themselves, they called the river "goose".
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