All the sights of Washington proudly demonstrate the greatness, importance, solemnity of American life. They are not simply related to history or modern developments. It is important that iconic places mean something for the country and its inhabitants. And, although much of what to see in Washington looks somewhat pompous and indicative, the city is worthy of world-class fame.
Nice is the fact that the main city museums are free to visit. We will briefly list the main attractions of Washington and tell about the most interesting of them.
1. White House
To the question “What to see in Washington in 1 day?” the first answer will, of course, be the White House. All national power and the strength of the presidency is concentrated in this symbol of American statehood. The use of white in the building has several explanations; interesting facts can be heard during the tour. Routes for tourists involve visiting the premises on 2 floors, excursions are held from Tuesday to Saturday.
2. Capitol
A snow-white building of the same name rises on the Capitol Hill. All guides in Washington put it first among the most visited, telling tourists the difficult and interesting story of the construction. The first stone was laid by George Washington; at all stages of the construction of the building there were scrapes of varying complexity. Today, the Capitol stands proudly on a hill, and tourists from the special galleries can watch the Senate and Congress meetings. You can also get to the world-famous Rotunda, where a collection of sculptures and paintings is located.
3. National Alley
It is called alley, rather, nominally. In fact, this is a long park area with fountains, museums and monuments that are national treasures. Interesting fact: although the memorials on the alley honor the memory of the victims, the usual American way of life reigns around them.
4. Washington Monument
A trip to Washington cannot do without visiting the monument to the venerable president. It proudly rises to a height of 169 m, a mirror pond with ducks sparkles in front of it. An internal lift goes up to the observation deck. Before the Eiffel Tower was built, this obelisk was the tallest on the planet.
5. Lincoln Memorial
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1856 shocked the American public so much that immediately after the tragic event, it was decided to perpetuate his memory. The memorial is a revered landmark in Washington and is built in the form of a large temple propped up by 36 columns. The style of construction, by the way, makes it similar to the ancient Greek Parthenon. Inside, a seated statue of Lincoln, held together from pieces of marble, rises to a height of more than 5 meters.
6. Jefferson Memorial
The memorial is designed as a beautiful neoclassical building. Inside there is a statue of Thomas Jefferson, 6 m high. At first it was made of plaster, after the war it was cast from metal. On the walls of the rotunda inside, you can see quotes from the 3rd President of the United States. Due to the somewhat remote location, not every tourist gets here, and in vain: the memorial is worthy of attention.
7. Pentagon
Many excursions in Washington lead to this pentagon-shaped structure. The Pentagon is one of the world’s largest office buildings. The headquarters of the US Department of Defense is located on five floors. Despite the large area of the institution, any point can be reached on foot in 7 minutes thanks to the originally thought out layout.
8. The building of the US Supreme Court
The symbol of American justice that we see in many films is awe-inspiring for its monumentality. The halls contain a large number of sculptures. The building looks squat, but this impression is deceiving. Inside, there is a well-thought-out infrastructure, including exhibition halls, cafes, shops, an underground garage, and a basketball court for employees.
9. Edgar Hoover Building
We will advise fans of American detectives where to go in Washington, DC. they often mention both this institution and its respected director and creator, who led the Bureau for almost half a century. The FBI headquarters stands out from the neighboring buildings with a slightly brutal architectural style. About 30 thousand people work here.
10. Washington Cathedral
An amazingly beautiful cathedral made of light sandstone, built in the best traditions of the neo-gothic style. More than 200 windows are decorated with mosaics. One of them gained worldwide fame thanks to a fragment of a moonstone inlaid in its center. The cathedral is 91 m high, the cathedral organ is the largest in the capital. Many famous American citizens are buried here.
