DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : History & Culture

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Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church

This church was important in sheltering runaway slaves before the Civil War, and its pulpit has hosted many respected speakers, including Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Jesse Jackson.
Mount Zion United Methodist Church

Believed to be the first black congregation in the District, founded in 1816, Mount Zion’s original building was an important stop on the Underground Railroad. Its present red-brick site was built in 1884. Behind the church is a small cottage containing a collection of artifacts reflecting the black history of Georgetown.
National Air and Space Museum

The story of flight, one of the most stirring in human history, is dramatically depicted in this favorite museum, renowned for its collection of precious artifacts of the challenging experience of flying.
National Aquarium

One of the oldest aquariums in the world (1873). Sharks, alligators, piranha, and nearly 300 other species are housed here, and there are preservation programs that help other fish in the wild.
National Building Museum

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

This grand structure would be a fabulous place to visit even if it was empty. Its eight massive interior columns are among the largest in the world, and its immense interior space has beautiful natural light. The museum itself is dedicated to documenting and displaying important themes in the art and craft of building structures. It has permanent exhibitions on the city of Washington and on art created from tools, and mounts a stream of temporary exhibitions on topics such as the growth of urban transit and the development of architectural and construction methods. Other exhibits highlight the work of individual prominent architects.
National Gallery of Art

It’s fun just strolling through this grand building surrounded by illustrious artworks dating from before the Renaissance to the current day. The sculpture garden is a hit with visitors for its outdoor setting, summer jazz concerts, and inviting café.
National Museum of American History

The story of the United States of America, from its often troubled beginnings to the present day, is told here, both through public icons and through examinations of the daily lives of ordinary people. The much-acclaimed “The American Presidency” exhibit displays engaging personal belongings of the presidents in a patriotic setting. “America on the Move” draws on the museum’s unparalleled collections and looks at all the modes of transportation from 1876 to the present. There are also interactive experiences.

National Museum of American History
National Museum of American History

This fascinating museum enshrines 10,000 years of Native American life and culture, and acknowledges the contributions native peoples have made to the history of the Americas. The collection includes over 800,000 items, 7,000 of which are on display. Exhibits include pre-Columbian gold figurines, beadwork, textiles, and pottery from the Arctic to Patagonia. The building itself has been designed in harmony with Native American cultural beliefs. The entrance faces east to meet the morning sun, and light spills in reflecting the importance of the sun within Amerindian culture.
National Museum of Natural History

A favorite with children, yet filled with fascinating displays and artifacts that appeal to everyone, the vast halls of this Smithsonian museum have everything from the tiny bones of a snake to a giant ritual statue from Easter Island. Other exhibits include vast Mammal Hall, Pacific island canoes, fabulous gemstones, a giant squid, a scene from a Chinese opera, and an Egyptian mummy case (see National Museum of Natural History& National Museum of Natural History).