DC Landmarks
For reference, see Washington
D.C. Sightseeing Map
- The Library of Congress Madison Building
is a block southeast of The
Capitol .
- The Library of Congress Jefferson Building is directly East of and
facing the Capitol, across 1st Street SE. It is across Independence Avenue
from the Madison Building.
- The Supreme Court is adjacent to the Jefferson Building, to the
North.
- Union Station is a 10 minute walk North (and slightly East) of the
Capitol.
- The Washington Monument
and Lincoln Memorial are on a straight line to the West of
the Capitol.
- Along that line, between the Capitol and Washington Monument, is "the
Mall", where most of the museums are:
- Between the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial is the Reflecting
Pool (so called because the Monument is reflected at night).
- There's another, smaller reflecting pool adjacent to the Capitol, on that
line, called the "Capitol Reflecting pool".
- Just North of the (monument) Reflecting pool is the Viet
Nam Veterans Memorial.
- The White House is on 16th street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW (North
of and roughly 16 blocks West of the Capitol). It is nearly due north, but
just west, of the Washington Monument.
- The "Ellipse" is the ground area linking the Washington Monument
and the White House. It is the site of the National Christmas tree, and a
popular place for baseball in the summer. There actually is a geometric ellipse,
after which it is named (when it's real quiet in Washington you and a friend
can stand at the foci and whisper to each other). At the north tip of the
ellipse, is the "zero milestone", the point to which quoted-distances to DC
are measured.
- The Tidal Basin (on which sits the Jefferson Memorial) is just south
of and between the Monument and Lincoln Memorial, in SW. The famous "cherry
Blossoms" circle the Tidal Basin.
- National Airport is on the Southeast DC border (and it seems nobody
is sure whether it's in Virginia or Washington). When flying in to National
Airport, ask for a window on the left; if landing from the North (usually
about a third of the time) you'll get a spectacular view of the Monument,
Lincoln Memorial, and Tidal Basin just before landing. National Airport completed
renovation of its main terminal in 1997; it's a real airport now, and we're
right proud of it!
- Dupont Circle,
in NW, is formed by the intersection of several notable streets: Massachusetts
Ave, New Hampshire Ave, and Connecticut Ave. It is to the NW of the White
House. Note Connecticut Ave above Dupont Circle runs in a Northwest bearing.
Follow it a mile or so and the (see next) is just off to the right.
- The National Zoo, part of
the Smithsonian Institution, is one of the world's most popular zoos. And
it's free! (I know you didn't come to Washington to go to the zoo, but you
won't reget it.) It has 5000 animals of about 500 species. 3001 Connecticut
Avenue N.W. Take the Metro Red Line to the Woodley Park/Zoo stop or the Cleveland
Park stop; both are a short walk.
- The National Arboretum
is a beautiful 444-acre park of display gardens, collections, and historical
monuments set among native stands of eastern deciduous trees. During April
and May there is always some magnificent display of whatever happens to be
blooming. Most notable are the daffodils, usually early April (you never imagined
there could be so many different daffodil species). Located in northeast Washington,
DC, about 2 miles from the Capitol. Bordered on the west by Bladensburg Road,
on the north by New York Avenue, on the south by M Street, and partly by the
Anacostia River. Entrances on New York Avenue and on R Street.
- Not nearly as big as the Arboretum, but much more convenient, is the U.S. Botanic Garden, a five-minute walk
from the Capitol, in SW. Open daily, free, 9:00 to 5:00. It houses collections
of plants from subtropical, tropical and arid regions, plus special exhibits
of orchids, as well as carnivorous plants. Maryland Avenue and First Street,
SW.
- DC Stadium, about two miles East of the Capitol, just inside the
Anacostia River, is home of America's Team, the mighty Washington
Redskins, winners of the 2003 Superbowl (guaranteed!). (Uh oh! The Redskins
no longer play in DC, they moved to some stadium in Maryland.) DC Stadium
was renamed RFK stadium but we Washington folks still use the more elegant
name "DC Stadium". It's been sitting for 30 years waiting for a baseball team
-- It was home of the Washington Senators, stolen by the state of Texas in
1971. (An earlier version of the Senators was stolen in 1960 by the state
of Minnesota.)
- The University of Maryland, located roughly four miles due east
of the north tip of the DC diamond, is home of the 2002 NCAA Basketball champs,
the Maryland Terrapins!
- The Capital Center, located roughly three miles east (slightly north)
of the east tip of the DC diamond, just outside the beltway, is former home
of the Washington Bullets, former professional basketball team, who still
attempt Basketball, but haven't been heard from since 1979.
- But if you want real professional basketball (women style) go see the Washington
Mystics.
- Along the NE border of DC, about a mile from the north tip, is the lovely
little town of Takoma Park Maryland (founded 1883; pop. 17299 in 1990),
birthplace of Goldie Hawn, Dominique Dawes, Steve Barber (early 60's Oriole
pitcher, "faster than Koufax"), and Ray Miller (past Orioles manager). Takoma
Park likes to call itself the "Azalea Capitol of the world" and "Tree City
USA" too! Major export is Nuclear-free Mulch, "guaranteed free of fallout"!
Takoma Park is a is a Nuclear-free Zone! When travelling to DC, if
you're carrying nuclear weapons, when you venture into Takoma Park, park those
weapons in DC before entering! But if those Soviets ever drop the big one
on DC, just step over the line into Takoma Park and you're safe!