Things to Do:
Washington, D.C. is home to many attractions and experiences that appeal to a weird variety of people. We suggest you get out there and check some places out, here are some of student pictures of places they went. If you want a more in-depth look into what D.C. has to offer, please check out https://washington.org/ or similar websites.
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Museums: With dozens of museums, ranging from the cultural (Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture shown left) to technical (Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum shown right) and some newer museums, such as the Spy Museum (not pictured).
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Memorials: D.C. has some of the Nation’s finest memorials dedicated to historic events (WWII Memorial shown left) and people (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial shown right).
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Monuments: Washington’s monuments are recognizable for their respect and honor towards fallen soldiers (Tomb of the Unknown Soldier(Arlington) shown left) and past leaders (Washington Monument shown right).
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Food: A wonderfully diverse city, Washington is filled with delicious cuisine from all across the globe. In just one block from the student’s residence they will find Indian, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Ethiopian, and Italian – all within the typical college-student budget.
Also, check out the Hidden Treasures of D.C. sent in by CPSC liaison Randy Butturini.
DC’s Hidden Treasures
For all you “been there, done that” folks who have seen all the Smithsonians and monuments in and around Washington, here’s an insider list of our favorite jewels of DC – places we usually don’t tell the tourists about so that we can keep them to ourselves. But because we love you like a brother (or sister!), we’re sharing them with you – just don’t tell anyone where you got this information! (BTW, if you haven’t been to the Mall [the REAL Mall of America] to see the Smithsonians and the monuments, that is a “must see DC” experience – leave the items on this list for your next trip!)
Frederick Douglass National Historical Site, 1411 W Street, S.E. Washington DC 20020-4813 (202) 426-596, http://www.nps.gov/frdo/freddoug.html
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac, Located near Arlington, VA, on George Washington Memorial Parkway, 703-289-2500, www.nps.gov/lyba
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial – Great for view of the cherry blossoms, with fewer tourists
900 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC, 202-619-7275, www.americanpresidents.org/places/31d.asp
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 202-638-2941, www.fordstheatre.org
Ford’s theater has a very nice museum exhibit in the basement where they have Lincoln’s actual clothes and Booth’s gun from that evening, among other things.
Woodrow Wilson House, 2340 S Street, NW, Washington, DC, 202-387-4062, www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org
Hillwood Museum & Gardens (admission, must book ahead, but call to see if there have been cancellations), 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008 (take a cab!), Reservations 202/686-5807, Toll Free 1-877-HILLWOOD, Office 202/686-8500, http://www.hillwoodmuseum.org/ (Marjorie Merriweather Post [of Post Toasties fame] home – former wife of the ambassador to the Soviet Union, the home is filled with Russian and French antiques, including fabulous jeweled icons, Faberge eggs from the Czar, Limoge china – a feast for the senses!)
Franciscan Monastery (in NW DC – 1400 Quincy St. N.E. 202-526-6800, not too far from Catholic U – take the red line to Brookland/CUA). The catacombs and gardens (with a replica of the Bethlehem stable) are awesome.
Library of Congress. 10 First St. S. E. 202-707-8000. Take the orange or blue line to Capitol South. The Grand Staircase and frescoes are amazing.
Roosevelt Island, off the GW Parkway. Park in a lot off the parkway and walk over a footbridge to the island. It’s very pretty to walk around, when the weather is nice, and hidden in the center of the island is a statue/memorial for Teddy Roosevelt. There are hiking trails that take you around (probably hiking is too strong of a word, because it’s not that long of a walk).
Free international films at the Smithsonian – favorites are the Asian films at the Freer/Sackler. http://www.asia.si.edu/visitor/default.htm. (note, the operative word here is “free!”)
Arena Stage also has half-priced tickets an hour and a half before a performance. http://www.arena-stage.org/season/
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. It’s FREE! Very appealing to those maximizers among you!
The National Cathedral, Massachusetts and Wisconsin, 202-537-6200 – you could take the red line to Tennleytown and then walk (and walk, and walk) – but it’s easiest to take a cab. Their tour is awesome! See a real moon rock! Call for a concert schedule – the organ recitals are amazing.
Newseum. 6th and Pennsylvania. $20 admission in 2008. See the Berlin Wall and a News Chopper! http://www.newseum.org/
Spy Museum. 9th and F Street, N.W. www.spymuseum.org/index.asp See James Bond’s car, among other amazing (and spooky!) things.
National Museum of Crime & Punishment. 7th St. between E and F (575 7th St. N.W.) $18 plus tax (is that the crime, or the punishment?). For all you Bonnie & Clyde wannabes! http://www.crimemuseum.org/index.html
Stephen Decatur House (off Lafayette Square — 16th and H Streets; Farragut West Metro, 18th St. exit). The White House gift shop (off Lafayette Square) and the gift shop for the Decatur House both have unique items pertaining to DC and American history.
Renwick Gallery on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave and 17th Streets (an off-the-Mall Smithsonian Museum, focuses on arts and crafts– free).
The Octagon House (18th and NY and owned by the American Institute of Architects – served as the President’s Residence after the White House was burned in the war of 1812!)
Mount Vernon is the one place you have to see – but it’s hard to get to without a car. Take the Metro to King St. in Alexandria and grab a cab to Mt. Vernon – it’s a bit pricey but worth it!
The Albert Einstein sculpture in the front yard of the National Academy of Sciences (between 21st and 22nd on Constitution) — you can sit in his lap and have your picture taken.
Kennedy’s grave at Arlington Cemetery—Arlington itself is wonderful if you’re in the right mood – sobering to see the sacrifice that so many made for their country. Metro: Blue line to Arlington Cemetery.
US Botanic Garden and the Arboretum. Newly renovated! 100 Maryland Ave. N.W. (1st Street between Maryland & C Streets) www.usbg.gov. And you can check out the progress on the new Native American Museum, opening soon!
Old Town Alexandria. Take the yellow or blue line to King Street and meander down to the water front and the Torpedo Factory (yes, it really was a torpedo factory during WWII!), now an artists’ studio and gallery.
George Washington Masonic Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22301
Main Voice – 703-683-2007, www.gwmemorial.org/default.htm. Good views from the top, and elevators that are engineering marvels of their time!
Kreeger Museum off Foxhall Rd. (take a cab!) The founder of GEICO Insurance built a house, designed by noted architect Philip Johnson, just to house his fantastic art collection. The Kreeger is that house. Kreeger Museum • 2401 Foxhall Road, NW • Washington, D.C. 20007 • Phone (202)337-3050 Toll Free (877)337-3050 • Reservations (202)338-3552 • Fax (202)337-3051
Phillips Collection, located in the Dupont Circle area, one-half block off of Massachusetts Avenue on 21st Street, between Q and R Streets. 202-387-3036 – admission fee. A private collection based around Impressionists with other styles featured. Thursday is usually “wine and art night” for the singles in the area!
Corcoran Art Gallery — 500 17th Street NW, DC – Always some interesting exhibit. Admission charge; good café!
Old Post Office Tower, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. (202-289-4224). Run by the National Park Service. Great views from the top of the tower.
Old Stone House, 3051 M Street (202-426-8851). It’s old and it’s made of stone! Oldest house remaining in DC, built in the 18th century (that’s the 1700’s!). Run by the National Park Service. Within walking distance from the ACCI conference hotel.
The Textile Museum 2320 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008-4088 Phone: (202) 667-0441
Fax: (202) 483-0994. Great gift shop! (don’t even ask how I know this!)
National Museum of Women in the Arts 1250 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-3970 202-783-5000, 1-800-222-7270
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House. 1318 Vermont Ave., N.W. 202-673-2402. Founder of the National Council of Negro Women.
National Museum of Health and Medicine. Georgia Ave. & Elder St. (near Walter Reed Army Medical Center) 202-782-2200 www.natmedmuse.afip.org Military medicine from the Civil War to the war in Iraq.
Capital Children’s Museum. 800 Third St. N.E. Washington DC 20002 202-543-8600. Red line to Union Station, walk down H Street to 3rd St. (on the corner, about a 5 min. walk).
U.S. Navy Memorial, Pennsylvania Ave. between 7th and 9th Streets (Metro: Yellow or Green lines to Archive/Navy Memorial) . www.lonesailor.org, 701 Pennsylvania Ave N.W. Suite 123, Washington DC 20004-2608, 202-737-2300.
Exterior Walking Tour of the U.S. Capitol (10 AM daily for 2 hours). Meet at Union Station Metro, top of outside escalator Massachusetts Ave. exit, 202-543-8919 x 17. Or contact tours@uschs.org. See www.uschscatalog.com. See the Dirksen and Russell Senate Bldgs, the Capitol, and the Rayburn and Cannon House Buildings.
Dumbarton Oaks, home to a wonderful collection of Byzantine art, host of the IMF/World Bank formative discussions. 1703 32nd St. N.W., between R & S. 202-339-6410 Parts of the home were designed by Philip Johnson. www.doaks.org
Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E. St., S.E. 202-543-0839. Take the orange or blue line to Stadium/Armory. Statuary that are works of art, and the final resting place of luminaries such as Mathew Brady (Civil War photographer), John Philip Sousa (the march king), and J. Edgar Hoover (a different kind of royalty!).
And last but not least:
Eastern Market – a MUST see! 7th & C Streets, S. E. Take the orange or blue line to Eastern Market and follow the crowd. Food, crafts, flea market, and entertainment all rolled into one. Come hungry—not exactly the Ithaca Farmers Market, but in some sense, waaay better!