There are a lot of perks that come with being the capital city, and Washington, DC, enjoys them all. The hallowed halls of government are here, as well as monuments and memorials to the people and events that shaped national consciousness. A visit to The District, as locals affectionately refer to it, is a quintessentially American experience that engages all five senses and a flurry of emotions from solemnity to excitement. But DC is not stuck in the past. Its vibrant neighborhoods, music, food culture, modern hotels, natural beauty, and diverse community firmly ground the city in modernity, innovation, and creativity. Here are 10 pretty awesome things that Washington, DC, is known for -- and that visitors should definitely enjoy!
10 Iconic American History
Washington, DC, as the nation’s capital, is chock-full of history. Few places in the country have witnessed so many important moments in the American story. From the American Revolution to the Civil War and the Civil Rights Struggle to contemporary waves of activism, the District has been the focal point of historical movements. Today, visitors can experience the city’s rich history through guided walking tours or a hop-on-hop-off open-air bus ride around the major destinations here. One of the best ways to explore the city’s historic districts is on a bicycle rented through the Capital Bike Share program, where riders can rent and return a bicycle in virtually every neighborhood in the city. There’s also a scooter rental program that works similarly.
9 Museums For All
History doesn’t just live on in books here. There are museums and monuments all over the city that recognize the many personalities and events that shaped the city and the nation. Many outdoor monuments are open 24 hours a day and make for breathtaking nighttime views long after the crowds have dissipated for the day. The best of the civic virtues are embodied here, and public access to museums is supported through free admission to most of the city’s historical and cultural spaces.
8 The Weird (But Totally Cool) City Design
The first thing travelers notice when looking at a map of the District is its precise grid design. The city’s planner, Pierre L’Enfant, designed the city as a diamond or a square rotated at a 45- degree angle., with land donated by the states of Maryland and Virginia. The diamond is sectioned into four quadrants named for their general locations - northeast, northwest, southeast, and southwest. Streets running north and south are assigned numbers, while east-west streets are named with letters. It makes getting around a breeze once travelers understand the system. Astute visitors will notice one letter is excluded – the letter J. There are a few theories as to why this happened, but most likely, it was because J was often confused with the letter I in those days, so the two letters were sometimes used interchangeably. J was the last letter added to the English alphabet. So, for simplicity, L’Enfant just left it out!
7 Food Traditions
The nation’s capital is home to quite a few unique food designations. The city has its own distinctive sauce, known as Mumbo Sauce, and is often considered the birthplace of the half-smoke sausage. This spicy sausage is stuffed with coarsely ground meat and eaten on a bun with a variety of toppings. The iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl is a popular place to try one, but there is usually a line out of the door on weekend nights. Another foodie first, the District is home to the first fish market in America. Over a decade before New York’s Fulton Fish Market was founded, local fishermen were peddling their harvest of the sea at the Maine Avenue Fish Market.
6 Music City
Washington, DC, has a long musical history and has even created its own musical genre. During the golden age of jazz, musical legends of the genre flocked to U Street to perform, and the city has maintained a vibrant music scene for decades. Jazz legend Duke Ellington and soul icon Marvin Gaye both hailed from the District. The city even developed a musical genre, GoGo, which embellished funk-style music with lengthy percussion and bass riffs. This GoGo scene is not to be confused with the dance sensation of the 1970s by that same name.
5 Three Branches Of Government Open To The Public
In the spirit of democracy and transparency, all three branches of government are open to the public. The executive branch of government is headed by the President, whose offices are in the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Guests can request a tour by contacting their congressional representative between three months and twenty-one days before the desired tour. To visit the US Capitol Building, where congress deliberates, guests can arrange a tour online or book through the office of their representative. Although the Supreme Court complex does not offer guided tours, three self-guided tours are available on the website, and there is no need to book in advance to visit the Court. Oral arguments of the court are open to the public, but seating fills up quickly.
4 See The World In A Single City
As the nation’s political capital, the District hosts over 175 embassies, diplomatic residences, and other international cultural and goodwill organizations. It’s safe to say that the world comes together in Washington, DC. An appointment and official business are the usual prerequisites to visiting a foreign embassy. However, many embassies host annual open houses to share their culture, food, music, and arts. Visitors can find the date of these open houses on the embassy websites themselves or through Cultural Tourism DC and Passport DC. It’s a unique opportunity to see the world without getting on a plane, and savvy locals are keen to attend each year.
3 Cherry Blossoms
Travelers who visit Washington in the spring are delighted by the pink and white spectacle of blooming cherry blossom trees all around the Tidal Basin. They are the heart and soul of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. These trees were gifted to the United States by the Mayor of Tokyo in 1912. But efforts to bring cherry trees to Washington began much earlier, spearheaded by Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore in 1885. Scidmore was the first woman to sit on the board of the National Geographic Society and wielded considerable influence in scientific and social circles of the day. Although not native to the US, these charming trees eventually grew in popularity thanks to her efforts and were a crowd favorite when finally planted in the US.
2 Silver Screen Darling
The District is an ideal place for TV and movie buffs to spot iconic filming locations. Genres from horror to drama to action have all been filmed here. Even the Marvel franchise filmed extensively in the city for Captain America: The Winter Soldier. But filming iconic movies in the capital Is nothing new. In 1912 a little-remembered film called Filial Love was shot in the city, perhaps the first movie filmed there, and the iconic Mr. Smith Goes To Washington was filmed there in 1939.
1 Statehood Status: It's Complicated
The administrative and political status of Washington, DC, is a bit complicated. Its founding is enshrined in the US Constitution. When it was originally founded in 1790, national leaders at the time were concerned that the newly formed district would consolidate power from the other states. After all, state representatives were required to take up residence in the capital when the Congress was in session. To check the district’s power, residents of the area were not allowed to vote in presidential elections until 1961, and the District’s congressional representative currently has limited powers. Today, Washington has city-, state- and country-level functions, and 500 national laws do treat the District as a state. However, the District is not a state but has a popularly elected mayor. DC remains under the purview of Congress, as it has been since its founding.