Top 10 Washington DC (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

146 Pages·2011·10.19 MB·English

EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
TOP10
WASHINGTON, D.C.
WOfW
Gf li dcaCe OlESlo eTBcxrRrtecuyaEoc iEglourTdoa fti RinnvAGe egrant P lwlEeNircyNk N SWWY LhVLAiAStNTFQeAhI UAYHeA EA oRT VETuE EsN eU HE NWWBT HriuelolSiaTltdrsReduiEln ErgTy NAqaFutRNTPiaoEhLNaErneAtWiDiuaoZ tOmlAnEeGF M a r l
O ld SPoiNTnofRSaSC sMTtTEWteRhR iEeoEnEeoTEtEnt Tmr TeAoa Tr le h tFMnseo NaurdWts 10 LBMPMilveauoescstl iete-r sefse ustoe ntfaf e mpupsrltuoaivslcniaetetilsucs,m s & fbso& a rs& rpicsn ehgt&rciailg dilaclureleeu renibevssents
10 Best hotels for every budget
10 Historic homes open to the public
10 Best shops, malls & markets
10 Most important monuments
110 Insider tips for e0very visitor
YOUR GUIDE TO THE 10 BEST OF EVERYTHING
A V
P E N N S Y L V A
N W

V E
T I
U
C
E
X
E
8TH STR E E T NW
STR E E T NW
STR E E T NW
S T R E E T N W
13TH STR E E T NW
11TH STR E E T NW

W

N

E
N E W Y O R K
U
N
E
TOP10
WASHINGTON, D.C.
RON BURKE
& SUSAN BURKE
EYEWITNESS TRAVEL
Left Lincoln Memorial Right State Dining Room, The White House
Contents
Washington, D.C.’s Top 10
US Capitol 8
Produced by Sargasso Media Ltd, London
Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore The White House 12
Printed and bound by South China Printing Co.
Ltd, China National Air and Space
First American Edition, 2003
1 12 13 14 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 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,
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 American History 18
Copyright 2003, 2011 © Dorling Kindersley National Gallery of Art 20
Limited, London
Al 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,
recording, or otherwise), without the prior National Zoo 28
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. Al 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:
Left Renwick Gallery Center US Botanic Garden Right Iwo Jima Memorial
Places of African- Around Town
American History 46
Around Capitol Hill 70
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
Contents
WASHINGTON,
D.C.’S TOP 10
Washington, D.C.’s
Highlights
6–7
US Capitol
8–11
The White House
12–15
National Air and
Space Museum
16–17
National Museum of
American History
18–19
National Gallery of Art
20–23
Library of Congress
24–25
Washington National
Cathedral
26–27
National Zoo
28–29
Arlington Cemetery
30–31
Mount Vernon
32–35
Top Ten of Everything
36–67
WASHINGTON, D.C.’S TOP 10
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
light, with beautiful landscaping touches and centuries-old architecture. Built
on top of former swampland, Washington was deliberately designed into
quadrants, with the US Capitol at its hub. Its many unmissable sights provide
unparalleled access to the workings of government, internationally famed
museums with priceless exhibits, and the cultural and
FR AN K L I N
spiritual foundations of the city and the nation. SQUAR E
H STR E E T NW
L AFAYE T TE
SQUAR E
FREEDOM
E STR E E T NW PLAZA
T h e
E l l i p s e
C O N S T I T U T I O N A V E N U E N W
C o n s t i t u t i o n G a r d e n s
Refl ect ing Pool The Mall
United States
! Capitol
The Capitol’s design PoWtoemsta c
T idal
combines ancient tradition Park Basin
and New World innovation,
perfectly invoking the spirit 50 yards 0 meters 50
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).
6 Share your travel recommendations on traveldk.com
V I RG I N IA AVE N U E NW

P o t o m a c R i v e r
Washington, D.C.’s Top 10
23RD STR E E T NW
17 T H S T R E E T N W
1 5 T H S T R E E T N W
14TH STR E E T SW 1 4 T H S T R E E T N W
13TH ST NW
E
N E W YO R K AV
$)342)#4Ž/&
#/,5-")!
*HRUJHWRZQ

:$6+,1*721

$UOLQJWRQ
Mount Vernon
) George Washington’s estate
6)2').)! /BUJPOBM
and mansion is a perfect example
$QDFRVWLD
of the gentleman-farmer roots of

many of America’s founders (see PLOHVNP -!29,!.$
pp32–5). NJMFT LN
&KLQDWRZQ
+ 6 7 5 ( ( 7 1 :
( 675((7 1:
3HQQ4XDUWHU
&DSLWRO
& 2 1 6 7 , 7 8 7 , 2 1 $ 9 ( 1 8 ( 1 : +LOO Arlington National
( Cemetery
7KH0DOO ($67 & $3 ,72/ 67 Four million people each
year visit these rolling
lawns studded with the
, 1 ' ( 3 ( 1 ' ( 1 & ( $ 9 ( 1 8 ( 6 :
headstones of America’s
war dead. A moving and
' 675((7 6( reflective experience (see
pp30–31).
:DWHUIURQW
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
0$6 6 $ & + 8 6 ( 7 7 6 $9 ( 1 8 ( 1:
3(116</9$1 ,$ $9(18( 1:
1 ( : - ( 5 6 ( < $ 9 ( 1 : 1(: - ( 56(< $9( 6(
Washington, D.C.’s Top 10
7+ 675((7 6:
7+ 67 6: 7+ 675((7 1:
7+ 675((7 6: 7+ 675((7 1:
5' 675((7 6: 5' 675((7 1:
1257+ &$37 ,2/ 67
7+ 67 1(

D
B
N
P
U
P
1
'(/$:$5($9(1(
1:
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
legislative session called by President Jefferson in 1803 to approve the
Louisiana Purchase through to the House of Representatives’ vote in 1998 to
impeach President Clinton, these halls have witnessed an often rough-and-
tumble democratic process. The Capitol’s frescoes and art collection qualify it
as a notable museum, but its millions of tourists
come, above all, to brush shoulders with
history, both remembered and in the making.
Top 10 Features
1 Capitol Dome
2 Rotunda
3 Senate Chamber
4 House Chamber
5 Old Senate Chamber
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
Washington, D.C.’s Top 10