Everything You Need To Know About Historical Sites in Washington

One can plan a trip to Washington all-round the year, though the best time to visit the capital city is from September to November and March to May. The end of summers and onset of autumn brings crisp breeze and fresh leaves that add to the beauty of the place, and the pleasant weather enhances the travel experience of the visitors.

A trip to Washington D.C. will keep you busy. There are many items to check off the bucket list. Most of them involve great American history, culture, and heritage. There are numerous museums, memorials, monuments, and historical sites in Washington that you can explore and get an insight into the incredible history of the United States.

When it comes to exploring the heritage, one must visit these historical sites in Washington.

Lady Marjorie Merriweather Post founded the estate. It showcases a comprehensive collection she acquired over her lifetime and contained impressive masterpieces of Russian imperial art, French decorative art collection, and unique antiques from around the globe. Connected to twenty-five acres of well-manicured and landscaped gardens, the estate is maintained beautifully and exquisitely. The splendor of the mansion is a peek to her fine taste in art and culture and the wealthy lifestyle she enjoyed. From exquisite furniture to rich tapestry, fine porcelain to intricately designed jewelry boxes, everything speaks of a passion for art, rich taste, and finesse. The mansion was later turned to the museum and opened for public viewing. The museum showcases a unique collection in every room. One can browse through the place quickly or spend hours appreciating each element and the rich history associated with it. Some of the finest collection is showcased in The French Drawing Room, The French Porcelain Room, The Russian Porcelain Room, Pavilion, The English Bedroom, The Adams room, and more. The libraries on the first and second floors have an expansive collection of books on various subjects. The Collection and Research Centre carries information in detail about each exhibit.

The spectacular gardens adjacent to the Rock Creek Park are designed with care and have something beautiful for each season. They are based on themes like the Japanese Garden, French Parterre, Lunar Lawn, Four Seasons, and more. Each installation is selected with care and makes the place more alluring. Spend hours taking a refreshing walk through these beautiful gardens and click pretty pictures for your postcards.

There are various events and exhibitions held here regularly for the benefit of visitors. The Merriweather Café attached to the property offers a delightful dining experience, and The Museum Shop facilitates shopping for souvenirs and curios.

The museum is located at 4155, Linnean Avenue, and is open for the public from Tuesday through Sunday from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. The entry tickets can be bought at the venue, or the reservations can be made online in advance. It takes an average of three hours to explore the place.

The Holocaust was one of the most brutal genocides in the history of humankind. Estimated six million Jews were murdered in the name of ethnic cleansing by the racist Germans under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. This museum is one of the important historical sites in Washington that showcases the gruesome historical records and educates the visitors about the gory details of the most shameful chapter in human history. There are articles, film footage, documents, maps, personal stories, and testimonies of the survivors showcased along with the timeline of the events of World War II. An educative film ‘The Path to Nazi Genocide’takes the visitors through the Nazi rise in Germany and consolidation of power. The museum helps understand the how and why of the dictator regime and its effect and relevance in history, the aftermath of the event, and its consequences to date. The rise and the fall of Berlin and the Nazi propaganda are recounted in brief clips by the survivors of the Holocaust. There are online activities, learning material and other resources available for the students and researchers who want to do an in-depth analysis of the time-lines and topics of the Third Reich, Concentration Camps, Aftermath of World War, Killing centers, rescue missions, post-war trials, rehabilitation of Jews and more. Pay tribute to the victims and survivors and unfold the history at the Hall of Remembrance. The museum is situated at 100 Raoul Wallenberg Plaza and is open every day except Yom Kippur and Christmas from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm. Library and Archives are open from Monday to Friday and closed on federal holidays. Museum Shop and Café are other facilities available for the convenience of the visitors.

It is spread across 2 acres and is built to honor the U.S. armed forces who fought the Vietnam War and sacrificed their lives in service of the nation. The names of 58,307 war heroes who lost their lives or have been unaccounted for post the war are etched in chronological order in on the memorial’s wall. A short distance from this historic site in Washington is Vietnam’s Women Memorial to honor 265,000 women who served the nation during the war. It stands as a symbol of the pride, honor, and recognition of the valor and love of the noble countrymen for their motherland. Located at 5, Henry Bacon DR NW, the memorial is open 24 hours, every day of the year for everyone who wants to pay respect to their heroes. There are no charges for entry here.

Built to honor and celebrate the life and legacy of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the secluded memorial is spread over 7.5 acres. Sculpture depicting the President alongside his canine companion Fala adorns this historical site in Washington. There are few more sculptures depicting scenes from the Great Depression, a bronze statue of Lady Eleanor, and others spread across the manicured lawns of the memorial gardens. Designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, the memorial is conceptualized with 4 outdoor rooms, each with a running water feature, depicting the terms of complexity of his tenure during the presidency. The main water areas symbolizing the Great Depression, the Tennessee valley dam project, World War II chaos, a still pool depicting the death of the president are the main features of the memorial. Braille brochures, wheelchair accessibility, and other features make the place differently-abled friendly. The bookstore located near the entrance is open from 9.00 am to 10.00 pm. The memorial is open every day throughout the year and round the clock. The monument is accessible to all without any entry fees.

Built-in shape of the Egyptian Obelisk, the monument commemorates George Washington, founding father and the first President of the United States of America and is one of the most important of the historical sites in Washington. The construction of 555 feet and 5 inches (152 meters) tall structure started in 1848. No building in the USA is allowed to be taller than the Washington Monument. One can visit the top of the monument and enjoy the birds-eye view of the city. Currently, the monument is closed for repairs and modernization and expected to open in the spring of 2019.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American Indians (NMAI) showcases an expansive collection of the native artifacts, archives, objects, and media reports connected with the western hemisphere extending from the Arctic Circle to the Tierra del Fuego. Their Washington facility offers the gallery for lectures, symposia, performances, research, and more. Its mission is to foster a rich human experience in partnership with the natives and locals. It exhibits the artifacts and interactive displays to enable the understanding of the culture and history of the Native Americans. The 12000 years of history with over 1200 indigenous cultures spread across the region are cataloged with over 825,000 objects beautifully preserved and aesthetically displayed. Various festivals, exhibitions, facility tours, and film programs are regularly organized for the benefit of the visitors. Rasmuson and Lelawi theatre offers an amazing experience to the history enthusiasts. The Museum is located on 4^th street Independence Avenue. It is open for public viewing from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm every day. The admission is free, and the venue is friendly for people with disabilities. Mitisitam Café and Museum store are available for the convenience of the visitors. The imaginations activity center is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm and on Sunday from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm.

Built to honor President Abraham Lincoln and located on the western end of National mall across the Washington Monument, this memorial was built in 1914 and is open to the public 24 hours every day. It’s a tribute to symbolize his contributions during the American Civil rights movement. The 36 columns erected here represented the number of states that were part of the Union during the times of Lincoln.

Later there were 48 stone decorations added above the columns to represent 48 states when the memorial was completed in 1922. Designed by Henry Bacon, the monument draws its inspiration from the ancient Greek temples. The memorial is divided into three parts, and the main chamber hosts a 19-foot tall statue of President Abraham Lincoln. The sculptor Daniel Chester designed the statue with left hand clenched, and the right hand curled around the chair’s armrest with index finger slightly lifted to symbolize the confidence, physical, and mental strength of the President. Many movements and rallies are held at this site. It’s from this historical site in Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on 28 Aug 1963 to honor the President who worked to end slavery and racial discrimination against the colored folks in America. Carved on the exterior walls of the memorial are the famous words of the President ‘‘With malice toward none; with charity for all…let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds’’. This and many such pearls of wisdom are carved on the walls of the memorial. The principles to live by and those that inspire the generations to come are etched at this historical site in Washington.

Home to the original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution, and many other historical publications and records, the Archives preserves and exhibits the National Treasure for public viewing and promote archival awareness. They hold over 11 million records in 40 different facilities with a vast collection of Court and Federal records and registers, Presidential libraries, Genealogy and Ancestry records preserved through centuries, and more. Explore the rich history of the great nation and information about various historical sites in Washington through documents, records, and photos. One can request military records and learn about revolutionary landmarks and various services. You can contribute to the archives or volunteer for work. There is a wide variety of records on genealogy, ancestry, veterans, declassified records, and more available and in a well-organized manner — order copies of specific records or research a topic of popular or particular interest. The facility is open from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm, seven days a week, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. One has to pay a nominal entry fee as convenience charges. Make an online reservation in advance and eliminate the waiting time in long queues. Spend time exploring the main archives and rest of Rubenstein gallery, the public vaults, and the rotating exhibits to learn more about what makes America a great nation. Buy a copy of the Charter of Freedom and other souvenirs from the National Archive store. Photography is strictly prohibited, and the facility is heavily guarded for the safety of valuable records.

Situated in Arlington County, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, is one of the most important of historical sites in Washington, 624 acres of land is dedicated as a final resting place for the war heroes. There are over 400,000 people who are buried here since 1860. Eligible to be laid to rest here are soldiers who lost their lives on active duty, retired armed force members, former prisoners of war, retired reservists, recipients of various military awards, certain veterans and their family members. Presidents buried at the Arlington Cemetery are John F Kennedy and William Howard Taft, along with their respective spouse Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and Helen Herron Nellie Taft. The flags in Arlington National cemetery is kept at half-staff from 30 minutes before the first funeral service to 30 minutes after the last funeral as a mark of respect to the departed. Tours are conducted to help visitors understand the importance of the place and include a visit to Kennedy graves, Arlington Cemetery Amphitheatre, and changing of the guard ceremony at Tomb of Unknown Soldier and other sites. This tomb is guarded all the time by fully uniformed sentinels from the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment or the Old Guard with M-14 rifle. They march for 21 steps in front of the tomb,face north and stand in attention for 21 seconds and march 21 steps back.It’s a memorial to those unknown and unnamed soldiers who lost their lives in World War I, World War II,the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The changing of the guard ceremony takes place every hour and in summers every half hour. An eternal flame lighted by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1963 is kept alight ever since and can be seen flickering over the granite stone at the head of President’s grave. Arlington House – The Robert E. Lee Memorial close to the cemetery is also a noted historical site in Washington.

The place is open 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year without any entry fees, and one can pay their respects here to the departed ones.

These and many more monuments and historical sites in Washington like Korean War Memorial, Ford Theatre, Anderson House, Fredrick Douglass National Historic Site, Heurich House Museum, Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument and Museum, Decatur House, Lockkeepers House, Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington, Fort De Russy are few places of historical importance in Washington D.C.

Have your camera handy and capture beautiful memories for your travel diaries. Keep your contacts updated with your whereabouts on social media by posting pictures taken at the historical sites in Washington.