DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : Places of interest

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Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The three-day battle of Gettysburg in 1863 was the bloodiest of the Civil War, killing over 51,000. Lincoln’s famous address dedicating the cemetery here expressed determination to persevere in maintaining the Union and began to put the great conflict in perspective. The Gettysburg National Military Park is among the most visited sites on the East Coast.
Grace Church

The 1866 church construction was built to house a congregation founded to serve the boatmen and support staff of the C&O Canal. The simple but extremely elegant design brings back the mid-19th century, although admittedly without the raucous bustle that must have accompanied the canal at its peak. The grounds are beautifully peaceful. The church offers poetry readings, theater performances, and concerts. Today’s congregation has a serious devotion to community service and outreach.
Great Falls

About 15 miles (24 km) north of Washington, D.C., the Potomac is rent by magnificent waterfalls over the crags and sluices of the eroded river bed. In the state of Virginia, Great Falls Park is reached from Old Dominion Drive (Route 738). It provides spectacular overlooks above the river, fine hiking trails, and the ruins of a small 19th-century town. On the Maryland side, the Great Falls area is part of the C&O Canal. The Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center offers canal rides, hiking, and ranger-led tours and remarkable river views from the overlook on Olmstead Island.
Hands-On History Room

Historical artifacts in this room in the National Museum of American History, such as a cotton gin, are recreated and made available for children to use (see National Museum of American History).
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Before the Civil War, John Brown carried out his famous raid against government troops here, protesting the legality of slavery in the United States. The picturesque little town around the old Potomac waterfront has been preserved and is filled with exhibits about the history of this important industrial, shipping, and military center. This is a fine place to hike, and picnics on the riverfront are popular.
Ice Skating

The fountain in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (see The East Building and Sculpture Garden) is frozen for ice skating in the winter, and visitors can rent skates on site.
Johnson IMAX Theater

The movie screen at the Museum of Natural History is 66 ft high and 90 ft wide (20 m x 28 m), and some of the films shown are 3-D using polarized glasses. Most film subjects are hits with children (see National Museum of Natural History).
Library of Congress

The world’s largest collection of books, documents, and sound and video recordings is housed in three huge buildings to the east of the Capitol. The architecture of the Jefferson Building makes it a tourist destination in itself.
M Street and Wisconsin Avenue

This intersection is surrounded by the main shopping, entertainment, dining, and bar-crawling areas of Georgetown. The attractive shops of Georgetown Park include hundreds of retailers selling cool urban clothes, jewelry, fine wine, art and antiques, and countless other specialties. Restaurant food of every description is available, from modern gourmet to street window kebabs.
Manassas Battlefield

This Civil War battlefield is where Confederate and Union soldiers fell by the thousands fighting for conflicting visions of the nation’s future. Manassas experienced two pitched battles, the first an opening confrontation of untested troops, the second a bloodbath. Guided tours are available.