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- More Free Things To Do In Washington D.C.
The capital of the United States is one of the most bustling cultural locations in the entire country. While anyone can enjoy a trip here, its rich political and social history makes it especially interesting for those fascinated by the United States' inner workings and legacy.
There’s so much to see here, but there’s no need to worry about how much it’ll cost you. Most major monuments and museums in Washington, D.C. are completely free! You heard that right. So if you’re looking to get a sweeping overview of one of the most relevant cities in the nation without spending a dime, read on. We’ve got you covered.
UPDATE: 2023/02/06 10:44 EST BY AARON SPRAY
More Free Things To Do In Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the nation and is full of free things to see and do. The memorials, buildings, and museums in Washington are some of the best in the world. Most of these public attractions are free and open to the public. They are part of how the nation remembers the past and seeks to educate whoever comes to visit on the path the nation has taken to be what it is today. This list was expanded to include more free things to do in Washington.
13 The White House
Touring the home of every U.S. President since John Adams is fascinating and free. Public tours can be made through your Congress members as early as three months before your visit and as late as three weeks prior to it.
Guests who go on tours get to wander through the East Wing, Green Room, State Dining Room, and more. During select months, it is also possible to tour the White House Garden. This tour is definitely worth booking, as not only is it free, but you get to see a rich piece of living history!
12 Washington Monument
The Washington Monument is an Egyptian-style stone obelisk built to commemorate George Washington. It stands over 550 feet tall and was once the tallest structure in the world until that title was taken over by the Eiffel Tower at the end of the 1800s.
The building is free to go up in and offers the best view of the city. Tickets are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis, so be sure to get there early. While you’re at it, consider exploring the rest of The National Mall right outside the monument. Nicknamed “America’s front yard,” the over two-mile National Mall is the nation's most-visited national park — and perhaps one of the most gorgeous.
11 National Archives Museum
This history-loaded museum lets guests view the country’s founding documents, including the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
The museum features permanent exhibits on the promises of America’s founding documents and national treasures. It also features a special exhibit on the history of women’s voting rights, which will be open through January 3, 2021.
10 National Gallery Of Art
This popular art museum in D.C. features a wide variety of paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, and more from the Middle Ages to the present. In other words, this is a place for art lovers have to check out.
The National Gallery of Art’s highlights includes the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the U.S., the largest mobile created by Alexander Calder, and Gerard van Honthrost’s monumental The Concert. The gallery sees over 5 million visitors a year, placing it among the top ten most visited art galleries in the world list.
9 Arlington National Cemetery
Located across the Potomac River from Washington D.C. is Arlington National Cemetery, a beautifully preserved military graveyard that gives visitors a chance to reflect on the sacrifice soldiers have made for their country.
One of the most visited monuments at the cemetery — The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier — honors deceased service members whose remains are not identified. Every half an hour, the symbolic Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place for spectators to witness. The gravesite of President John F. Kennedy can also be viewed at this location.
8 Library Of Congress
The largest library in the world is located in Washington, D.C. It contains research materials from across the world in more than 450 languages and over 38 million books. This doesn’t include its over 8 million pieces of sheet music, 14 million photographs, 5 million maps, and 70 million manuscripts. In other words, it’s gigantic.
Free one-hour tours of the Thomas Jefferson Building are available throughout the year, but visitors are also welcome to explore on their own.
7 Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian Institution features 17 incredible museums and galleries stocked with every type of artifact imaginable. While the National Museum of Natural History boasts plants, fossils, meteorites, and animals, the National Air and Space Museum houses planes, missiles, and lunar modules. These two alone attract over 5 million visitors each, and that’s not even including the 15 other museums. Did we mention there’s also a Smithsonian zoo?
Even wilder than that is the fact that they’re all free. It’ll take you several days to venture through these collections loaded with interesting artifacts.
6 Lincoln Memorial
This iconic Greek Doric temple houses a gigantic sculpture of Abraham Lincoln with inscriptions of his two best-known speeches behind him. The site also happens to be the location at which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech.
The memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day and attracts more than seven million visitors annually. The building is also featured on the back of the U.S. five-dollar bill and the penny, so if it looks familiar, it’s probably because it is.
5 The Capitol Building
The United States Capitol is where the legislative branch of government works out of every single day. It also houses incredible works of art and breathtaking architecture, so it’s worth a visit. The exterior of the building alone is something to behold, with its huge dome top and detailed columns.
Guests who book tickets in advance can tour the building’s Crypt, Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall. These informative tours tell visitors about the building’s rich history and the interesting events that have occurred there.
4 The Pentagon
If you book tickets at least two weeks in advance, you can get a glimpse into the five-sided building that acts as the United States Department of Defense. Considered the world’s largest office building, The Pentagon stretches across more than 6.5 million square feet of space. That’s crazy, considering that it was built in only 16 months.
There are tons of things to see in D.C., and chances are you won’t be able to see it all during a single visit — but if you hit the city's most recognized locations, you'll get a pretty good glimpse at it.
3 Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The United States is a nation that honors and remembers those who serve the country. While in Washington, D.C., take the time to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and remember the many thousands who gave their lives in that brutal war. The memorial is a two-acre site that is dominated by two black granite walls. Those walls are engraved with the names of those who died or were missing in the war. The Wall was first built in 1982, and more were added later. While there, see the other memorials, too - like the Korean Veterans Memorial.
2 The Washington National Cathedral
The Washington National Cathedral is the second-largest church building in the United States and the third-tallest building in D.C. It is a massive church that took around 83 years to build. It is modeled on the English Gothic style found in the late fourteenth century. Construction started in 1907 but was only completed in 1990 in the presence of President George H. W. Bush. When there, look for the sculpture of Darth Vader in the Cathedral.
1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most influential Americans of the 20th century and today one of the most remembered and loved. Today one of the newer attractions in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall is the granite statue of the fallen Civil Rights Movement leader. Be inspired and moved by just simple words such as "I Have A Dream." The memorial was first opened to the public in 2011 after the project being in the works for over two decades.