Top 10 Washington DC (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

146 Pages·2011·10.19 MB·English

by  DK PUBLISHING

EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
10
TOP
WASHINGTON, D.C.
10
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10 Best hotels for every budget
10 Historic homes open to the public
10 Best shops, malls & markets
10 Most important monuments
10 Insider tips for every visitor
YOUR GUIDE TO THE 10 BEST OF EVERYTHING

TOP10
WASHINGTON, D.C.
RON BURKE
& SUSAN BURKE
EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
s
t Left Lincoln Memorial Right State Dining Room, The White House
n
e Contents
t
n
o
C Washington, D.C.’s Top 10
US Capitol 8
Produced by Sargasso Media Ltd, London
The White House 12
Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore
Printed and bound by South China Printing Co.
Ltd, China National Air and Space
11F 1ir2s t1 A3m 14e r1ic0a n9 E8d 7it i6o n5, 42 030 23 1 Museum 16
Published in the United States by DK Publishing,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 National Museum of
Reprinted with revisions 2004, 2005, American History 18
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Copyright 2003, 2011 © Dorling Kindersley National Gallery of Art 20
Limited, London
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights Library of Congress 24
under copyright reserved above, no part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in or
introduced into a retrieval system, or National Cathedral 26
transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, National Zoo 28
recording, or otherwise), without the prior
written permission of both the copyright owner
and the above publisher of this book. Arlington Cemetery 30
A catalog record for this book is available from
the Library of Congress Mount Vernon 32
ISSN 1479-344X
ISBN 978-0-75666-948-5 Moments in History 36
Within each Top 10 list in this book, no hierarchy
of quality or popularity is implied. All 10 are, in Presidents 38
the editor’s opinion, of roughly equal merit.
Art Galleries 40
Museums 42
Historic Homes and
Buildings 44
The information in this DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide is checked regularly.
Every effort has been made to ensure that this book is as up-to-date as possible at the time of
going to press. Some details, however, such as telephone numbers, opening hours, prices,
gallery hanging arrangements and travel information are liable to change. The publishers
cannot accept responsibility for any consequences arising from the use of this book, nor for
any material on third party websites, and cannot guarantee that any website address in this
book will be a suitable source of travel information. We value the views and suggestions of
our readers very highly. Please write to: Publisher, DK Eyewitness Travel Guides, Dorling
Kindersley, 80 Strand, London, Great Britain WC2R 0RL, or email: [email protected]
Cover: Front – Alamy Images: David R. Frazier Photolibrary, Inc cib; SuperStock: Bruce Dorrier main. Spine –
DK Images: Scott Suchman b. Back – DK Images: Kim Sayer c, cl, cr.
2
C
Left Renwick Gallery Center US Botanic Garden Right Iwo Jima Memorial
o
n
Places of African- Around Town t
e
American History 46 n
Around Capitol Hill 70
t
s
Memorials and
The Mall and Federal
Monuments 48
Triangle 76
Green Spaces 50
Penn Quarter 86
Children’s Attractions 52
The White House and
Places of Politics
and Intrigue 54 Foggy Bottom 90
Shopping Areas 56
Georgetown 98
Theaters 58
Beyond the City Center 106
Outdoor Activities 60
Nightspots 62
Streetsmart
Restaurants 63
Practical Information 116
Festivals and
Cultural Events 64 Places to Stay 126
Day Trips 66 General Index 134
Left Washington Monument Right Red Fox Inn, Middleburg
Key to abbreviations 3
Adm admission charge Free no admission charge Dis. access disabled access

WASHINGTON,
D.C.’S TOP 10
Washington, D.C.’s
Highlights
W
6–7
US Capitol A
8–11S
The White House H
12–15I
N
National Air and
G
Space Museum
16–17T
National Museum of O
American History
N
18–19
,

National Gallery of Art
D
20–23
.
Library of Congress C
24–25.
’
S
Washington National

Cathedral T
26–27
O
National Zoo
P
28–29

1
Arlington Cemetery
30–310
Mount Vernon
32–35
Top Ten of Everything
36–67
Washington, D.C.’s Highlights
A symbol of democracy the world over and the seat of American government,
Washington, D.C. confronts visitors with stirring icons and monuments at every
turn. This sparkling self-styled city on the Potomac River is full of marble and
0
1 light, with beautiful landscaping touches and centuries-old architecture. Built
on top of former swampland, Washington was deliberately designed into
p
o quadrants, with the US Capitol at its hub. Its many unmissable sights provide
T unparalleled access to the workings of government, internationally famed

s museums with priceless exhibits, and the cultural and
C.’ spiritual foundations of the city and the nation. FSRQANUAKRLIEN
hington, D. STREET NW VIRGINIA AVENUE E NW S TREET NW 17TH STREET NW H ELSASlTTlFQRAihEUYpEAEeTsRT ETe E NW 15TH STREET NW N14TH NW STREET EFWRP EL EYADOZOARM K13TH ST NW AVE
Was 23RD CONCSoTnITsUtTiItOuNt i o n G a r d eAnVEsN UE NW
! United States Reflecting Pool The Mall SW
Tcaponhemderf CeNbCcaiaentpplweyiis t tiWo noalv’nolsoc rkdlideien nsignti gnttnhora ev da sittipiooinrni,t Potomac River PoWPtoae5mrs0kt0a c yardBTsa idsai0nl meters 514TH STREET 00
of US democracy (see
pp8–11).
@ The White House
The most elegant and
familiar of all the world’s
political residences, the
White House has witnessed
some of the most conse-
quential decisions of modern
history (see pp12–15).
£ National Air and Space Museum
Reportedly the most visited museum in the
world, and with good reason. The artifacts of one
of mankind’s greatest quests – flight above and
beyond Earth – are rendered even more impres-
sive by the hangarlike architecture (see pp16–17).
$ National
Museum of
American History
This museum com-
bines the “America’s
attic” approach with
contemporary exhibits.
The artifacts range
from political campaign
buttons to early locomotives, as well as the
Star-Spangled Banner (see pp18–19).
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% National
Gallery of Art
The National
Gallery’s vast
collection makes it
one of the greatest
art museums in the
world (see pp20–23).
* National Zoological Park
Animals from across the world’s
varied habitats can be seen and
learned about at this internationally
recognized leader in animal care,
breeding of endangered species, and
public education (see pp28–9).
& Washington
National
Cathedral
Ancient and mod-
ern come together
^ Library of Congress in this “national
The breathtaking interior of the house of prayer,”
largest library in the world does full from the Gothic
justice to its 120 million items, the architecture to the
works fill 530 miles (850 km) of Space Window
shelves (see pp24–5). (see pp26–7).
7
United States Capitol
From the elevated site that Pierre L’Enfant (see p36) described as “a pedestal
waiting for a monument,” the dignified Capitol has stood unwavering as the
symbol of American democracy throughout its 200-year history. From the
0
1 legislative session called by President Jefferson in 1803 to approve the
Louisiana Purchase through to the House of Representatives’ vote in 1998 to
p
o impeach President Clinton, these halls have witnessed an often rough-and-
T tumble democratic process. The Capitol’s frescoes and art collection qualify it

s as a notable museum, but its millions of tourists
C.’ come, above all, to brush shoulders with
D. history, both remembered and in the making.

,
n Top 10 Features
o
t 1 Capitol Dome
g 2 Rotunda
n 3 Senate Chamber
i
h 4 House Chamber
as 5 Old Senate Chamber
W 6 National Statuary Hall
7 Brumidi Corridors
8 Hall of Columns
Façade 9 Columbus Doors
The Visitor Center 0 West Front
is located under-
ground at the front
of the Capitol, facing
east. See www.visit
thecapitol.gov
The Capitol is most
inspiring when
viewed rising up @ Rotunda
from the Mall. America’s first president
ascends into the heavens in
this 4,664-sq ft (430-sq m)
• National Mall, fresco The Apotheosis of
between 1st and 3rd Sts Washington, lining the
and Independence and interior of the dome (above).
Constitution Aves, SW ! Capitol Dome
• Map R5 The central dome £ Senate Chamber
• 202-226-8000 (above) defines the city for A semicircle of 100 desks
• www.visitthecapitol. people worldwide. It was faces the dais in this emi-
gov added, with the Statue nent assembly room (below).
• Open 8:30am–4:30pm of Freedom (see p11), Democrats sit to the right,
Mon–Sat between 1855 and 1866. Republicans to the left.
• Free
8 For more sights on Capitol Hill See pp70–73