US Rash Bash
Potential Touristy Stuff
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, 1050 Independence Ave. S.W. (M: Smithsonian), is entered from a pavilion in the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Institution Building (the Castle). The gallery is housed in a three-level complex that, except for the entrance pavilion, is entirely underground.The Sackler Gallery contains a permanent collection of art from the Mediterranean to Japan. Included are objects in bronze, jade, silver, gold, lacquer and ceramics, as well as paintings and sculpture that span ancient times to the present. The gallery also features changing exhibitions of Asian art from museums around the world. Free guided tours are available; phone for schedule. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 10-5:30; closed Dec. 25
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Michigan Ave. at 4th St. N.E. (M: Brookland-CUA), is said to be the largest Roman Catholic church in America and one of the largest in the world. The Crypt Church has been in use since the late 1920s; the Great Upper Church was dedicated in 1959. The shrine is Byzantine-Romanesque in style and structure. There is no steel skeleton or framework; it is made entirely of stone, brick, tile and concrete.The shrine houses a large collection of 20th-century mosaics. Artworks include Vatican Studio mosaic reproductions of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's “Immaculate Conception” and Titian's “Assumption” as well as a large mosaic of “Christ in Majesty” by John de Rosen. Memorial tablets cover the walls and columns of Memorial Hall, where the coronation tiara of Pope Paul VI is displayed. Food is available. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 7-7, Apr.-Oct.; 7-6, rest of year. Guided tours are offered Mon.-Sat. 9-3, Sun. 1:30-4. Guest artists give organ recitals Sun. at 6 p.m., preceded by a carillon recital at 5:30 on the 56-bell carillon in Knights' Tower, June-Aug.
Corcoran Gallery of Art, 17th St. between E St. and New York Ave. N.W. (M: Farragut North or Farragut West), has an extensive collection of American paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from the 18th century to the present. The permanent collection includes the W.A. Clark Collection of European paintings and sculpture, tapestries and pottery; the Salon Doré, an ornate example of 18th-century interior design; and American painter Albert Bierstadt's panoramic canvas “The Last of the Buffalo.” There also are changing exhibits of contemporary art and works by fine art photographers and local artists. Food is available.
Admission: Admission $6.75, senior citizens $4.75, students with ID $3, under 12 free, family rate $12; free to all Mon. 10-5 and Thurs. 5-9
Hours: Wed.-Mon. 10-5 (also Thurs. 5-9)
Explorers Hall, National Geographic Society is at 17th and M sts. N.W. (M: Farragut North or Farragut West). This interactive geography science center features exhibits depicting famous National Geographic-sponsored expeditions. Adjoining Explorers Hall is Grosvenor Auditorium, where guest lecturers present programs on a variety of subjects. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Mon.-Sat. and holidays 9-5, Sun. 10-5; closed Dec. 25
Ford's Theatre National Historic Site is at 511 10th St. N.W. (M: Metro Center). This theater, in which President Abraham Lincoln was fatally shot by John Wilkes Booth on Apr. 14, 1865, has been restored to its 1860s appearance. Rangers provide short talks recounting the atmosphere of Washington during the Civil War and the story of the assassination. Musical productions and plays about prominent Americans also are staged. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Theater free. Ticket prices for performances vary
Hours: Theater open daily 9-5. Ranger talks 9:15-noon and 2:15-4:15. Closed Dec. 25. Theater performances are presented Tues.-Sun. at 7:30 p.m.; matinees Thurs. at 1, Sat.-Sun. at 2:30. Phone to confirm times. The theater closes at 12:30 before matinees and sometimes on short notice for rehearsals
Franciscan Monastery, 14th and Quincy sts. N.E. (M: Brookland-CUA), is called Mount St. Sepulchre, The Holy Land of America. The monastery features replicas of Holy Land shrines including the Grotto of Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Roman Catacombs.
Admission: Free
Hours: Church and gardens open daily 9-5. Tours are given on the hour Mon.-Sat. 9-11 and 1-4, Sun. 1-4 First-floor exhibition areas in the Madison Building open Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5, Sat. 8:30-6. Other exhibition areas open Mon.-Sat. 8:30-5. Closed holidays
Library of Congress, across from the Capitol at 1st St. and Independence Ave. S.E. (M: Capitol South), is a complex of three buildings. The library contains 54 million books and other printed materials, more than 57 million manuscripts and extensive files of maps, prints, photographs, musical scores, recordings, newspapers, reels of microfilm and the papers of 23 U.S. presidents.Of particular note in the Jefferson Building is the permanent “American Treasures of the Library of Congress” exhibit, consisting of more than 200 items relating to the country's past. Rotating exhibits are arranged in three categories: Memory (history), Reason (philosophy, law, science and geography) and Imagination (fine arts, architecture, music, literature and sports).Founded in 1800 to serve the needs of congressional members, the library began as a small collection housed in the U.S. Capitol. After the collection was destroyed in the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson's personal collection of more than 6,000 volumes formed the basis of the new national library. The current mission is “...to make its resources available and useful to the Congress and the American people and to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.”Other changing exhibits are in the building. Rotating exhibits of caricature and cartoon art are displayed in the Swann Gallery. The visitor information center inside the west front entrance offers a 12-minute film about the library as well as brochures and information. Folklife concerts and literary programs are given frequently. Food is available.
Admission: Free
Hours: Jefferson Building open Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30. First-floor exhibition areas in the Madison Building open Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5, Sat. 8:30-6. Other exhibition areas open Mon.-Sat. 8:30-5. Closed holidays
Lincoln Memorial is on the National Mall off 23rd St. N.W., aligned with the Capitol and the Washington Monument (M: Foggy Bottom-GWU). Between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument lie two reflecting pools with a combined length of 2,292 feet. The stately marble structure, designed by Henry Bacon, stands just before the approach to Arlington Memorial Bridge. Its 36 Doric columns, one for each state in existence at the time of Lincoln's death, symbolize the Union.Dominating the interior is the colossal seated statue of Lincoln by Daniel Chester French. Two of Lincoln's more famous speeches—the eloquent Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address—are carved on the north and south walls of the memorial. Murals by Jules Guerin allegorize the themes of emancipation and reunion. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 8 a.m.-midnight; closed Dec. 25. Interpretive tours are given by request
National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution is on the National Mall at 7th St. and Independence Ave. S.W. (M: L'Enfant Plaza). It is devoted to presenting the history, science and technology of air and space flight.In the Milestones of Flight gallery, visitors can touch a moon rock and view such historically important items as Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, Chuck Yeager’s Bell X-1 Glamorous Glennis, John Glenn’s spacecraft Friendship 7, the Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia and a Viking Mars Lander. The Wright brothers' 1903 Flyer is on display in the exhibition “The Wright Brothers & the Invention of the Aerial Age.”Twenty-two other galleries deal with such subjects as early flight, jet aviation, lunar and planetary exploration, rocketry, military aircraft, computers in aerospace and aerial imaging. The How Things Fly gallery explains the principles of flight and features hands-on activities, live demonstrations and interactive stations. Space Race highlights the struggle between the United States and the former Soviet Union and the race to be first in space.IMAX films are shown on the five-story screen in the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater, and multimedia shows are presented in the Albert Einstein Planetarium. A shuttle bus runs every 90 minutes beginning at 9 a.m. between the museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Food is available. Allow 2 hours minimum.
Admission: Museum free. A fare is charged for the shuttle bus. A fee is charged for IMAX and planetarium shows; phone to verify prices
Hours: Daily 10-5:30; closed Dec. 25. Free guided tours are offered daily; phone for schedule
National Gallery of Art is housed in two buildings along Constitution Ave. between 3rd and 7th sts. N.W. (M: Archives-Navy Memorial or Judiciary Square). The classical West Building, designed by John Russell Pope, and the contemporary East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, are linked by a paved plaza and an underground concourse. The West Building contains one of the world's finest collections of western European paintings and sculpture spanning the 13th century to the present, including Italian, Flemish, British and American art and French Impressionist works. The East Building focuses on contemporary art by European and American artists.Major traveling exhibitions are mounted regularly. The gallery also offers a concert series, lectures and films. Near the West Building is a 6-acre outdoor sculpture garden featuring works by such artists as Roy Lichtenstein, Tony Smith, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.The West Building offers an extensive survey of European works from the 13th century through the present. Highlights include Italian paintings and sculpture, including works by Titian and the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere; works by Rembrandt and Anthony van Dyck; French Impressionist paintings; and examples of American, British, Flemish, German and Spanish art. The Micro Gallery offers an interactive multimedia computer.The East Building features contemporary art by European and American artists. Major artists include Alexander Calder, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. The building also houses the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts, a research library and an extensive photographic archive.The gallery also exhibits 17 of the surviving 69 original wax sculptures modeled by Edgar Degas. Gifts in honor of the gallery's 50th anniversary include major works by Alexander Calder, Albert Bierstadt, Claude Monet, Clyfford Still and Andy Warhol. Some 20 traveling exhibits are presented annually. Guided tours and food are available.
Admission: Gallery free. Self-guiding tour audiotapes of the permanent collection can be rented for $5; special exhibition audiotapes vary in price. Guided tours $6, over 64 and students with ID $5
Hours: Gallery open Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-6. Sculpture garden open Mon.-Sat. 10-7 (also Fri. 7-9 p.m.), Sun. 11-7, Memorial Day-Labor Day; Mon.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-6, rest of year. Gallery and garden closed Jan. 1 and Dec. 25. East Building tours Mon.-Fri. at 10:30 and 1:30, Sat.-Sun. at 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30. West Building tours Mon.-Fri. at 11:30, Sat. at 10:30 and 12:30, Sun. at 12:30 and 4:30. Sign language interpretation is offered with 3 weeks' notice. Gallery talks begin in the West Building Rotunda or the East Building Art Information Desk. Lectures given Sun. at 2 in the East Building auditorium. Concerts Sun. at 7 p.m., Oct.-June. Visitors should phone ahead to verify tour location and time.
National Aquarium is on the lower level of the Herbert C. Hoover Building (the Department of Commerce) at 14th St. and Constitution Ave. N.W. (M: Federal Triangle). Constructed in 1931, the aquarium is a direct descendent of the first public aquarium in the United States. It exhibits 1,200 freshwater and saltwater fish and other aquatic creatures. A touch tank for children features horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs and snails. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Admission $5; over 59 and military with ID $4; ages 2-10, $2
Hours: Daily 9-5; closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Last admission 30 minutes before closing. Feeding shows are conducted daily at 2. Shark shows Mon., Wed. and Sat. Piranha shows Tues., Thurs. and Sun. Alligator shows Fri.
National Museum of African Art of the Smithsonian Institution, 950 Independence Ave. S.W. (M: Smithsonian), is entered from a pavilion in the Enid A. Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Institution Building (the Castle). Except for the entrance pavilion, the museum is housed in a three-level complex that is entirely underground.The museum focuses on the rich artistic heritage of the African continent, presenting arts from the living traditions of diverse African cultures. Its permanent collection of bronze, wood, ivory, cast metal and ceramic objects is an important resource for the study of African art and culture. Changing exhibitions also are presented.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 10-5:30; closed Dec. 25
National Museum of American History, Behring Center of the Smithsonian Institution is on Constitution Ave. between 12th and 14th sts. N.W. (M: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian). The museum depicts the scientific, cultural, social, technological and political development of the United States. Venerated objects like the lap desk Thomas Jefferson used to draft the Declaration of Independence share the museum with such notable items as an Edison light bulb. Visitors also can watch conservators at work preserving the Star-Spangled Banner through a 50-foot, floor-to-ceiling window.AAA is a proud sponsor of the permanent exhibition “America on the Move,” which examines how transportation in the United States from 1876 to the present has shaped our identity from a mostly rural nation into a major economic power. Among other recent permanent exhibitions is “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden,” which explores the public, personal, ceremonial and executive boundaries of the nation's highest office.Other recent permanent exhibitions include Within These Walls…, which tells 200 years of American history through the stories of five families who lived in one house in Ipswich, Mass. More popular exhibitions include Information Age, Field to Factory, A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the Constitution, American Encounters and Communities in a Changing Nation.Examining the role of women in the White House is the focus of First Ladies: Political Role, Public Image. Addressed are such politically important but often forgotten events as the national radio announcement by Eleanor Roosevelt to prepare for a long and hard war at the outset of World War II. The exhibits examine the public, and to some extent, the private lives of these politically visible, yet invisible, women. The exhibit also includes a selection of First Ladies' gowns.Near the Constitution Avenue entrance is a working country store post office, relocated from Headsville, W.Va., where the mail is postmarked Smithsonian Station. Note: The museum is undergoing major renovation but remains open; however, many exhibits may be closed. Free guided tours are available; phone for schedule. Food is available.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 10-5:30; closed Dec. 25
National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. and Constitution Ave. N.W. (M: Federal Triangle or Smithsonian), is devoted to the study of human cultures and the diversity of nature. Permanent exhibitions include the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals, which showcases a collection of gemstones—including the legendary Hope Diamond—and minerals, as well as a section on mining and plate tectonics.The Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals features more than 270 mammals in lifelike poses that tell the 225 million-year-old story of mammal evolution and adaptation from the Polar regions to the Sahara Desert. Other popular attractions are the dinosaur exhibits and the O. Orkin Insect Zoo, which has tarantula feedings on most days.Additional attractions include the African bush elephant in the rotunda, ice age mammals and prehistoric life displays. Changing exhibitions also are presented.The Discovery Center includes the 487-seat Johnson IMAX Theater. Hands-on learning activities are offered in the Discovery Room. Outside, along the sidewalk between the museum and the 9th Street tunnel, is the Butterfly Habitat Garden, a living showcase of plants that support butterflies during their life cycle. Free guided tours are available Mon.-Fri., Sept.-June; phone for schedule. Food is available.
Admission: Museum free
Hours: Museum open daily 10-5:30. Discovery Room open most days year-round; phone for schedule. Closed Dec. 25
National Portrait Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution is housed in part of the Old Patent Office Building on F St. between 7th and 9th sts. N.W. (M: Gallery Place-Chinatown). The third oldest government building in Washington, the Patent Office Building served as a Civil War hospital and was the scene of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural ball.
Admission: Free
Hours: Note: The gallery is undergoing major renovations and is scheduled to reopen July 4, 2006. During this time, many of its exhibitions are traveling; phone for travel schedule
National Postal Museum of the Smithsonian Institution is at 2 Massachusetts Ave. N.E. (M: Union Station). This museum is housed on the lower level of the Old City Post Office, which was built in 1914. The hands-on museum offers exhibitions portraying the history of the nation's mail service and includes one of the largest collections of stamps and philatelic materials in the world.Of note are the major galleries Binding the Nation, Customers and Communities, Moving the Mail, The Art of Cards and Letters, and the Philatelic & Rarities Galleries. The museum also houses the Library Research Center, which includes more than 40,000 volumes and manuscripts. Free guided tours are available by appointment. Sign language interpretation is offered with 3 weeks' notice.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 10-5:30; closed Dec. 25
National Zoological Park of the Smithsonian Institution borders Rock Creek Park, with entrances in the 3000 blk. of Connecticut Ave., on Harvard St. and on Beach Dr. The zoo can be reached via Metrorail's Red Line (M: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan or Cleveland Park). Connecticut Ave. bus lines stop at the zoo's main entrance.The National Zoo is noted for a pair of pandas—Tian Tian and Mei Xiang—as well as Sumatran tigers, Asian rhinoceroses, orangutans, lowland gorillas and Komodo dragons. The indoor and outdoor exhibits together house several thousand animals. Other features include the Invertebrate Exhibit; Pollinarium, a plant reproduction exhibit; Think Tank, an animal thinking exhibit; a cheetah exhibit; Amazonia, a replica of the Amazon rain forest; and American Prairie, a biological, environmental and cultural exhibition. Animal demonstrations are offered daily. Free guided tours are available by appointment. Food is available.
Admission: Zoo free. Hourly parking rates apply
Hours: Grounds open daily 6 a.m.-8 p.m., during DST (early Apr.-late Oct.); 6-6, rest of year. Most buildings open daily 10-6, during DST; 10-4:30, rest of year. Closed Dec. 25
Potomac Park is divided into West and East Potomac parks. Ohio Drive follows the river, the Washington Channel and the Tidal Basin. This drive is exceptionally beautiful in early April, when 3,000 Japanese cherry trees are in bloom around the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park. There are facilities for golfing, picnicking, swimming, tennis and ball games; pedal boats can be rented at the Tidal Basin.
Rock Creek Park follows the course of Rock Creek through n.w. Washington. Its 1,754 acres of natural woodland encompass drives, bridle paths, a riding center, tennis courts, two exercise courses, picnic areas, a golf course, athletic fields and many footpaths, bicycle trails and jogging trails.The remains of Fort De Russy, one of a circle of 68 forts that defended the city during the Civil War, stands near Oregon Avenue and Military Road and can be reached on foot. One-acre Battleground National Cemetery is located at 6625 Georgia Ave. N.W. On Beach Drive north of Military Road is the log studio of eccentric poet Joaquin Miller, who wrote “Song of the Sierras.” Concerts take place at Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 16th , Street and Colorado Avenue N.W., late June through late August.
Admission: Park free
Hours: Park daily 24 hours
St. Matthew's Cathedral is at 1725 Rhode Island Ave. N.W. (M: Dupont Circle or Farragut North). Established in 1840, the present Renaissance-style church was completed in 1895. Both the altar and the baptismal font were gifts from India. The altar is made of white marble with colored floral insets reminiscent of decorations in India's Taj Mahal.The work of French and Italian craftsmen is displayed in the faceted windows, frescoes, marble and mosaics throughout the church. An inscription in marble commemorates the funeral of assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Guided tours are available by appointment. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Sun.-Fri. 6:30-6:30, Sat. 7:30-6:30, holidays 7:30-1
Smithsonian American Art Museum is housed in part of the Old Patent Office Building on F St. between 7th and 9th sts. N.W. (M: Gallery Place-Chinatown). This monumental Greek Revival structure, the third oldest government building in the city, served as a hospital during the Civil War and was the scene of Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural ball.
Admission: Free Hours: Note: The museum is undergoing major renovations and is scheduled to reopen July 4, 2006. During this time, the museum is sponsoring exhibitions at the Renwick Gallery
Supreme Court Building faces the Capitol between Maryland Ave. and E. Capitol St. N.E. (M: Capitol South or Union Station). This white marble edifice is where the country's highest judicial body holds its sessions. Exhibits and a film describing the court are presented on the ground floor. All sessions are open to the public; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.The richly ornamented, Corinthian Classical-style building was completed in 1935. The entrance, with the mandate on the architrave of “Equal Justice Under Law,” is flanked by the statues “Contemplation of Justice” and “Authority of Law.” The panels on the massive bronze doors depict the history of the development of law. The five-story, self-supporting marble and bronze spiral staircases are architectural masterpieces. Food is available. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Building open Mon.-Fri. 9-4:30; closed federal holidays, during inclement weather and occasionally for cleaning. The court often hears arguments Mon.-Wed., Oct. 1-late Apr. When it hands down opinions, these take place Mon. at 10, Oct.-June. Lectures are given in the courtroom every hour on the half-hour 9:30-3:30 when court is not sitting
Thomas Jefferson Memorial is on the s.e. side of the Tidal Basin. The monument to the author of the Declaration of Independence and the country's third president is a circular Classical dome supported by 54 Ionic columns. The central memorial room contains a 19-foot bronze statue of Jefferson by Rudolph Evans; panels on the surrounding walls are inscribed with the statesman's most significant writings. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Open 8 a.m.-midnight; closed Dec. 25. Guided tours are given by request daily 8 a.m.-11:45 p.m.
United States Capitol is on Capitol Hill in a 59-acre park (M: Capitol South or Union Station). The Capitol, based on Dr. William Thornton's 1792 design, with revisions by subsequent architects over a 200-year period, is 751 feet long and 350 feet wide, and contains about 550 rooms. A 19.5-foot-tall statue of Freedom surmounts the dome.The two wings, constructed of marble, contain the Senate and House chambers. The central part of the building includes the Rotunda, Statuary Hall and the original Supreme Court and Senate chambers.Note: The Capitol is open to the public only by guided tours. Obtain House or Senate gallery passes from your senator or representative by phoning his/her office (see sidebar page ). Visitors from outside the United States can obtain an International Visitor's Pass by presenting a valid passport or other photo ID at the South Visitors Facility, the departure point for tours.
Admission: Free
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9-4:30; closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 25. Tickets for tours are required and are available on a first-come, first-served basis (one ticket per person) beginning at 8:15 a.m. at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk near the intersection of 1st St. S.W. and Independence Ave.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has entrances on 14th St. S.W. and at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. S.W. (M: Smithsonian); there is no parking at the museum and limited parking in the area. The museum presents the history of the 6 million Jews and millions of others —including Gypsies, Soviet POWs, Poles, dissidents, homosexuals, Jehovah's Witnesses and the disabled—who suffered and died at the hands of the Nazis during their rule of Germany 1933-1945. Part of the mission of the museum is to teach the implications of the Holocaust for contemporary life.The architecture of the limestone and brick building incorporates many references to the Holocaust, including towers like those used to watch over prisoners in the concentration camps. The three-floor permanent exhibition depicts the story of the Holocaust through artifacts, photographs, films and oral histories. To personalize the experience, upon entry each visitor is given an identity card bearing the name and picture of a Holocaust victim. The permanent exhibit also features stories of resistance and rescue, highlighting such heroes as Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who risked his life to hide and save Jews.The Hall of Remembrance, a six-sided, 60-foot-high structure illuminated by a skylight, is an area for private contemplation as well as public ceremonies. The Wexner Learning Center offers a number of touch-screen computer workstations to assess information about the Holocaust. The Children's Tile Wall features more than 3,000 hand-painted tiles created by students from across the United States and is dedicated to the memory of the 1.5 million children who were murdered. Note: The permanent exhibition is recommended for visitors age 11 and older. Daniel's Story: Remember the Children is designed for ages 8 and older. Flash photography and video cameras are not permitted in the permanent exhibition. Free timed passes are required for admission to the permanent exhibition, but passes are not needed to enter the museum or for any special exhibitions. A limited number of same-day passes are available daily starting at 10 a.m. at the box office on the 14th St. side of the building. There is a limit of four passes per person and a service charge for advance passes. Food is available. Allow 2 hours minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 10-5 (also Tues. and Thurs. 5:30-8, Apr. 1 to mid-June); closed Yom Kippur and Dec. 25. Last admission to the permanent exhibition is 1 hour before closing
U.S. Botanic Garden is on the w. side of the Capitol at 1st St. and Maryland Ave. S.W. (M: Federal Center S.W.). Founded in 1820, the garden is a plant museum. Visitors enter the conservatory through the Garden Court, where there are splashing fountains and colorful, exotic foliage. The 100-foot-tall, glass-enclosed Palm House has a catwalk that allows visitors to view the tree canopy from above. From late May to late September hanging baskets and pots of summer-blooming annuals are displayed on the outdoor terrace.Bartholdi Park, on Independence Avenue across from the rear entrance to the conservatory, contains the Bartholdi Fountain, a rock garden, a formal parterre, native plants, therapeutic plants, and changing seasonal displays of annuals and perennials.Flower shows are offered throughout the year; phone for details. Allow 1 hour, 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Conservatory open daily 10-5
U.S. National Arboretum is just e. of jct. US 50 (New York Ave.) and Bladensburg Rd.; entrances are on New York Ave. and R St. N.E. (M: Stadium-Armory). This 446-acre arboretum contains many introduced and native plants commonly grown in the eastern United States. A network of foot trails and 9.5 miles of roads enables visitors to observe thousands of primarily woody plants. Narrated 40-minute tram tours provide a good introduction to this peaceful refuge from hectic Washington.The arboretum was created in 1927 to conduct research and to educate the public regarding ornamental trees and shrubs. Among the specimens are dwarf conifers, peonies, day lilies, boxwoods, hollies, magnolias, crab apples, native ferns and wildflowers, and a large collection of azaleas.The National Herb Garden, occupying a large meadow, contains a formal European knot garden, a garden of historic roses and gardens of specialty herbs. The Court of Honor displays new plants developed for the nursery trade; the Asian Valley exhibit highlights Asian plants. The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum Collection features a collection of American, Chinese and Japanese bonsai trees. Twenty-two columns from the 1959 renovation of the east portico of the Capitol building grace the hilltop beyond the herb gardens. The Friendship Garden features ornamental grasses and perennials.The Administration Building houses offices and laboratories and is surrounded by pools containing ornamental aquatic plants and fancy Japanese koi. Horticultural demonstrations, lectures and exhibits also are offered. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Admission free. Tram tour $4; over 54, $3; ages 4-16, $2; under 4 free on lap
Hours: Grounds open daily 8-5. Administration Building open Mon.-Fri. 8-4:30 (also Sat.-Sun. 8-5, Mar. 1 to mid-Nov.). The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum Collection is open daily 10-3:30. Tram tours Sat.-Sun. and holidays at 10:30 (if not previously booked), 11:30, 1, 2, 3 and 4, mid-Apr. to mid-Oct. Closed Dec. 25
Vietnam Veterans Memorial, near the Lincoln Memorial between the Reflecting Pool and Constitution Ave. (M: Foggy Bottom-GWU), honors the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam. Its polished black granite walls are inscribed with the names of the dead listed chronologically by date of casualty; the names of the missing also are listed.A life-size statue of three servicemen stands near the V-shaped walls; each one carries a dog tag in a different place. Wreath ceremonies take place on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The Memorial to Honor Women Who Served in Vietnam honors the more than 265,000 women who served during the Vietnam War with a statue depicting three servicewomen coming to the aid of a wounded soldier. Allow 30 minutes minimum.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily 8 a.m.-11:45 p.m.; closed Dec. 25
Washington Monument stands at the w. end of the National Mall. The grounds extend from 14th to 17th sts. and from Constitution to Independence aves. N.W. (M: Smithsonian). The cornerstone for a monument to honor the first president was laid July 4, 1848, but was not completed until 1884, when a 3,300-pound marble capstone, topped with a 9-inch pyramid of cast aluminum, was set in place. The marble obelisk rises just over 555 feet from a knoll in the center of the grounds, surrounded by 50 American flags. An elevator runs to the observation room at the 500-foot level. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Same-day tickets free. Advance ticket reservations $2 per ticket
Hours: Daily 9-4:45; closed Dec. 25. Tickets are required and are available on a first-come, first-served basis daily 8-4:30 at the kiosk on 15th Street near Madison Drive. The line for same-day tickets forms at 7:30 or earlier, and all are usually distributed before noon. Tickets also are available from 24 hours to up to 5 months in advance and can be reserved by phoning the monument's toll-free number
Washington National Cathedral (Episcopal) is on Mount St. Alban at Massachusetts and Wisconsin aves. N.W. Officially the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, this impressive example of Gothic architecture is said to be the sixth largest cathedral in the world. It was completed in 1990 after 83 years of construction. The top of the Gloria in Excelsis Central Tower, one of the last towers in the world to contain both a carillon and a 10-bell peal, is the highest point in Washington.Decorative features include elaborate stone carvings and large stained-glass rose windows, as well as statues of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Notable individuals interred in the cathedral are Adm. George Dewey, secretaries of state Cordell Hull and Frank Kellogg, Helen Keller and President Woodrow Wilson. Various guided tours and a CD-based audio tour are available. Scheduled tours are 30 minutes, unscheduled tours are 15 minutes, mid-Mar. through June 30; all tours are 45 minutes, rest of year. Allow 1 hour minimum.
Admission: Admission $4, senior citizens $3, children $2
Hours: Cathedral open Mon.-Fri. 10-8, late May-Labor Day; Mon.-Fri. 10-5:30, Sat. 10-4:30, Sun. 8-6:30, rest of year. Closed during special services. Guided cathedral tours Mon.-Sat. 10-11:30 and 12:45-3:15, Sun. 12:45-2:30. Cathedral services Mon.-Sat. at 7:30, noon, 2:30 and 5:30 (no 5:30 service Sat.), Sun. at 8, 9, 10, 11, 4 and 6:30 (no 10 a.m. service July-Aug.). Pipe organ demonstrations Wed. at 12:30. Peal bell recitals Sun. at 12:15. Carillon recitals Sat. at 12:30. The cathedral towers are closed during Code Orange Alerts
White House is at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. (M: McPherson Square, Metro Center or Federal Triangle for the visitor center); street parking in the vicinity is not available. James Hoban's design was chosen for the presidential mansion in 1792, and the building was completed in 1800. A 1948-52 renovation preserved the exterior walls and rebuilt the interior. The West Wing, location of the President's Oval Office, was constructed in 1902. This has been the home of every president except George Washington.Within the White House Visitor Center, at the southwest corner of 15th and E sts. N.W., are exhibits and a 30-minute videotape that describe the history and architecture of the Executive Mansion. Note: Self-guiding public tours of the White House are available Tues.-Sat. 7:30-12:30 (excluding federal holidays) for groups of 10 or more people only. Tour requests must be made through one's member of Congress (senator or representative) and are accepted up to 6 months in advance; tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis approximately 1 month before the scheduled date.
[NOTE from TF: My understanding is that for security reasons, tours of the White House are no longer permitted]
Admission: Tours free. Visitor center free
Hours: Visitor center open daily 7:30-4