History

Washington, D.C. history and landmarks

Washington, D.C. history and landmarks: start with Library of Congress, Lincoln Memorial, and National Gallery of Art. Use the 158 places below to build a plan around this theme; each place has source-backed details behind its description.

158 places

Places to start with

Oak Hill Cemetery

Source-backed place · History

Oak Hill Cemetery

A serene 22-acre rural cemetery in Georgetown, featuring the Gothic Revival Renwick Chapel and the resting places of influential…

Old Korean Legation Museum

Source-backed place · Museums

Old Korean Legation Museum

A historic Victorian house museum in Logan Circle, detailing the early diplomatic relations between the Joseon kingdom and the Un…

Old Stone House

Source-backed place · History

Old Stone House

The oldest structure on its original foundation in Washington, D.C., this 1765 pre-Revolutionary home in Georgetown provides a ra…

Pierce Mill

Source-backed place · History

Pierce Mill

A historic 1829 water-powered mill in Rock Creek Park, offering seasonal demonstrations of corn, wheat, and rye grinding grains u…

Prince Hall Masonic Temple

Source-backed place · History

Prince Hall Masonic Temple

A stunning Indiana limestone landmark on U Street, this 1929 temple serves as a monument to African American advocacy and the his…

Renwick Gallery

Source-backed place · Museums

Renwick Gallery

The Renwick Gallery is the nation's premier museum dedicated to American craft, housed in a stunning National Historic Landmark b…

Riggs National Bank (historic building)

Source-backed place · History

Riggs National Bank (historic building)

A stunning example of Richardsonian Romanesque Revival architecture, this 1891 landmark once served as the 'Bank of Presidents' a…

Source-backed place · Museums

Rubell Museum DC

A dedicated contemporary art museum housed in a historic 1906 school building, showcasing the extensive Rubell Family collection…

Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington

Source-backed place · Religious sites

Shiloh Baptist Church of Washington

Founded in 1863 by 21 formerly enslaved people from Fredericksburg, Virginia, this historic Civil War-era congregation stands as…

Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

Source-backed place · Religious sites

Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

A revitalized historic synagogue in Chinatown, Sixth & I is a non-denominational Jewish congregation and cultural center for arts…

St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown

Source-backed place · Religious sites

St. John's Episcopal Church, Georgetown

A historic Gothic Revival sanctuary in Georgetown, St. John's Episcopal Church has served as a center for worship and community o…

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The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle rectory and campus

Source-backed place · Religious sites

The Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle rectory and campus

A historic Catholic cathedral in downtown Washington, D.C., serving as the seat of the archbishop and a renowned site for prayer…

The Exorcist Steps

Source-backed place · Landmarks

The Exorcist Steps

An iconic set of 75 stone stairs in Georgetown, made world-famous by the climactic final scene of the 1973 horror masterpiece, Th…

The Line Hotel (former First Church of Christ, Scientist)

Source-backed place · History

The Line Hotel (former First Church of Christ, Scientist)

A stunning Neoclassical Revival church from 1912 converted into a design-centric boutique hotel and community hub in the heart of…

The National Museum of Women in the Arts

Source-backed place · Museums

The National Museum of Women in the Arts

The world's first museum dedicated solely to championing women through the arts, featuring a vast collection of over 6,000 works…

The Octagon House

Source-backed place · History

The Octagon House

A masterpiece of late Federalist architecture, this historic townhouse served as the temporary White House for President James Ma…

The Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House

Source-backed place · Museums

The Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House

The headquarters of the nation's oldest patriotic organization, housed in a grand 1905 Beaux Arts mansion in the Dupont Circle ne…

True Reformer Building

Source-backed place · History

True Reformer Building

A historic five-story landmark at 1200 U Street NW, designed and financed by the Black community as a symbol of independence and…

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

Source-backed place · Museums

Tudor Place Historic House & Garden

A National Historic Landmark in Georgetown featuring Federal-period architecture, expansive gardens, and the largest collection o…

U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms

Source-backed place · Museums

U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Reception Rooms

An opulent living museum within the Harry S. Truman Building, showcasing over 5,000 pieces of early American decorative arts used…

U.S. Department of the Interior Main Building

Source-backed place · Landmarks

U.S. Department of the Interior Main Building

The headquarters of the U.S. Department of the Interior, this New Deal-era landmark is a massive Stripped Classical building hous…

Source-backed place · History

U.S. Naval Observatory

The U.S. Naval Observatory is a premier scientific and military facility in Washington, D.C., serving as the official source of t…

U.S. Navy Memorial

Source-backed place · Landmarks

U.S. Navy Memorial

The official national tribute to the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine, featuring a massive granite world…

Walsh-McLean House (Embassy of Indonesia)

Source-backed place · History

Walsh-McLean House (Embassy of Indonesia)

A lavish Gilded Age mansion designed by Henry Anderson, this eclectic architectural gem served as the home of the Hope Diamond's…

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