Off The Beaten Path

While most attractions in Washington, DC do not draw long lines, there are some interesting places that may escape the notice of most tourists. This is a selection of sites that give you history and perspective on our nation.

"The Awakening" sculpture at National Harbor, Prince George's County, Maryland No admission charged
	This 100-foot statue of a giant embedded in the earth, struggling to free himself, was created in 1980. It was part of the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition.
Congressional Cemetery (202) 543-0539 10am-2pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 9am-1pm Sunday 1801 E Street, SE, Washington, DC No admission charged
	Celebrating its centennial in 2007, this cemetery is the final resting place for 19 Senators and 71 Representations with monuments honoring 120 other Members who died in office. The website listes a number of self-guided tours that can be taken at the cemetery, including Civil War, Native Americans and noteworthy women.
Sewall-Belmont House (202) 546-1210 12pm-4pm Wednesday-Sunday; guided tours on the hour; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Admission donation suggested
	The Washington home, a National Historic Landmark, of Equal Rights Amendment author Alice Paul serves as the headquarters for the historic National Woman's Party and is the only museum in DC dedicated to exhibits that show the fight for the American woman's right to vote. It is located on Capitol Hill next to the Senate Hart Office Building.
U.S. National Arboretum, including National Bonsai and Penjing Museum (202) 245-2726 8am-4:30pm daily; closed December 25 No admission charged
	Over 14,000 different species, varieties and cultivars are displayed on this campus in northeast Washington, D.C. You will find Asian plant collections, dogwoods, holly, magnolia, bonsai, azaleas and many other varieties. You can walk, bike and drive through the 446-acre site.
U.S. Naval Observatory (202) 762-1467 Tour given 8:30pm selected Mondays No admission charged, but reservations are required and can be submitted at least six weeks in advance
	The residence of the Vice President is located on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.  Until 1974, Vice Presidents and their families lived in private homes, but the cost of securing those homes grew over the years until it became advisable to select a permanent Vice Presidential residence.  The residence is not open for public tours. The oldest scientific agency in the country offers limited public tours. The tour takes you through the USNO's unique library and gives you a perspective on the timekeeping responsibilities entrusted to the agency. You may even have the opportunity to view celestial objects with the 12-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope.
Voice of America (202) 203-4990 330 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC  20237 12pm and 3pm Monday-Friday; closed federal holidays No admission charged
The Voice of America is an international broadcasting service that provides more than 1,000 hours of news, information, educational and cultural programming each week to a worldwide audience that exceeds 115 million people.  Those broadcasts are conducted in more than 40 languages.  The studio tour is a behind-the-scenes look at live broadcasting in radio, television and the Internet in several of the languages in which VOA broadcasts; a "Kid's Version" of the tour is also available.  The tour lasts 45 minutes. You can make arrangements for a tour online through the link above.
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