DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : Architecture

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Gunston Hall

George Mason’s refurbished house is luminescent with vivid colors and designs.
Iwo Jima Statue

Marines struggling to erect the Stars and Stripes on a ridge at Iwo Jima serves as a memorial to all marines who have fought for their country. The small Pacific island was the site of fierce fighting, resulting in nearly 7,000 American deaths, during World War II.
Jefferson Memorial

One of Jefferson’s favorite Classical designs, the Pantheon in Rome, inspired this graceful monument. Dedicated in 1943 on the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth, it houses a 19-ft (6-m) bronze statue of the president by Rudolph Evans. It is especially enchanting when floodlit at night.
Joan of Arc

This 1922 work was a gift from the women of France to the women of the US.
Kennedy Center

A memorial to President John F. Kennedy, this huge performance complex – the largest in the country – presents the best expressions of the artistic culture he loved so well. National and international stars perform opera, concerts, musical comedy, drama, jazz, dance, and ballet, and even experimental multimedia productions. Located overlooking the Potomac, its terraces and rooftop restaurant have dazzling views.
Korean War Veterans Memorial

Nineteen exhausted foot soldiers plod forward, determined on their goal. These 7-ft (2-m) steel statues are the dominant element in a memorial to the Americans who died in the UN’s “police action” in Korea. A wall is etched with faces of actual soldiers. A circular pool invites quiet reflection.
Library of Congress

The most extensive library ever built contains exquisite decoration.
Lincoln Memorial

The majestic monument to the president who preserved America’s unity and began the long process of ending slavery is built in the form of a Greek temple. Daniel Chester French designed the enormous statue of a seated Abraham Lincoln in 1915, and it is among America’s most inspiring sites, especially for its association with African-Americans’ struggle for equality and opportunity.
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House

The renowned teacher and advocate for women’s and African-Americans’ rights bought this Victorian townhouse – now a National Historic Site – in 1935. It is still furnished with her possessions.
National Building Museum

In this cavernous interior, displays examine architecture, engineering, design, and city planning.