The majestic white house clearly defines this area of the city – everyday business in Washington frequently takes place around the house because the major east-west routes, Pennsylvania and Constitution Avenues, are close by. Many government buildings stand in the vicinity, including the old and new Executive Office Buildings, the Federal Reserve Building, and the State and Treasury Departments. To the west lies Foggy Bottom, a former swamp area now home to George Washington University. Farther west, the Kennedy Center stands on the waterfront. Throughout the area, as one would expect, restaurants, hotels, and shops provide the quality of service required by high-profile diplomats and politicians.
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Morning
Begin your day with a tour of Decatur House , a gorgeous Neo-Classical mansion. After the tour, turn left and walk to the end of the block; turn left onto 17th St, NW, and continue one block to Pennsylvania Ave. The Renwick Gallery is on the corner. Don’t miss the luxurious ballroom on the second floor.
Continuing east on Pennsylvania, you can view the renowned north portico of The White House on your right. Reverse direction, return to 17th St, and turn left to take in the ornate Executive Office Building (see Eisenhower Executive Office Building).
A block south is the Corcoran Gallery of Art with its superb American and European art. Have lunch at the Café des Artistes , in its Beaux Arts atrium.
Afternoon
After leaving the Corcoran, turn right and continue down 17th Street one block, to D Street. Turn right, and almost at the end of the block is the entrance of the Daughters of the American Revolution. In addition to the fascinating period rooms, the gift shop is a treat for anyone with an interest in quilting, samplers, or porcelain.
End your day by hailing a taxi on 17th Street to the Kennedy Center and enjoy dinner at the Roof Terrace Restaurant , with its stunning river views.
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Margaret Eaton, wife of President Jackson’s secretary of war, was rumored to have had a scandalous past. Jackson defended her honor and his enemies attacked, threatening his presidency.
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Arnold, in the early years of the Revolution, was an effective military leader on the colonists’ side. Yet, driven by money, he conspired to turn over to the British the army installation at West Point. His name became synonymous with “traitor.”
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Clinton’s denial of sexual relations with the White House intern led to charges of perjury, obstruction of justice, and an investigation by the House of Representatives.
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In the atrium of the Corcoran Gallery (see Corcoran Gallery of Art). Sunday brunch with live gospel music.
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This 1897 building is among the finest Beaux Arts designs in the United States. Note the atrium with its exquisite symmetrical stairway. The art collection inside includes some of the very best of American and European masterworks. In the American art collection, works by the Hudson River School and the Luminists are especially strong.
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The largest concert hall in the city is in Constitution Hall, the grand performance space operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The cornerstone of this John Russell Pope design was laid in 1928, using the same trowel George Washington used for the US Capitol building cornerstone in 1793. The DAR also has a fascinating museum of early American artifacts, ranging from a simple 17th-century dwelling to an elaborate Victorian parlor. The DAR is a patriotic organization that fosters understanding and respect for the heritage of the United States.
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This is another Second Empire building, but on a mammoth scale. Many people consider its highly embellished style and daunting proportions – 300,000 sq ft (27,871 sq m) of office space on five stories – to be magnificent, but Mark Twain called it “the ugliest building in America.” The Departments of State, Navy, and War were housed here on its completion in 1888. Today it is home to offices for executive branch employees and the vice president.
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Another gleaming white design by Paul P. Cret, architect of the Folger Shakespeare Library (see Folger Shakespeare Library and Theater). The Federal Reserve System is the central banking authority in the United States, regulating and facilitating both banking and the flow of currency and financial transactions.
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Exceptional modern Italian food. The kitchen has a small demonstration cooking area, where chefs prepare a tasting menu in view of the diners.
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Restaurant price categories
For a three-course meal for one with half a bottle of wine (or equivalent meal), taxes and extra charges.
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