
Washington DC Overview
According to ehangzhou, Washington DC is the seat of the American government and the capital of the country. Numerous important companies and government institutions are also based here. There is hardly a city in the United States of America where so many important people come and go. Numerous sights from different areas are distributed over the city, it takes a while to see everything.
One of the most important sights is of course the White House, where the incumbent president lives and works with his family. But Arlington National Cemetery and the Jefferson Monument are also important. Besides these things, you should do that too Visit the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument when touring Washington DC (Reference: AbbreviationFinder).
Of course, there are also many other sights in the city, including some well-known museums. Not to be forgotten on a tour through this city are the many great shopping opportunities in all sorts of shops and department stores and the numerous skyscrapers that characterize the cityscape.
Washington DC is one of the most important cities in the USA, which you can clearly feel when you are there. Hectic activity and stress are the order of the day for the residents there. But this does not mean that you cannot spend a good time here, because this city really has a lot to offer visitors. Just because of the importance that Washington DC has in the lives of Americans, one should definitely not miss this city on a vacation in the USA.
Washington DC – key data
Area: 177 sq km
Population: 591,883 residents (2008)
Population density: 3,343 residents per square kilometer
Highest point: 125 m
Lowest point: 0 m
Mayor: Adrian Fenty (Democrat)
Local time: CET -6 h. From the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November: CET -5 h.
The time difference to Central Europe is -6 h in both winter and summer.
Washington DC landmarks
Washington DC has been the federal capital of America for more than two hundred years. Due to its long history by American standards, Washington DC has a large number of different sights to offer.
So you should definitely see the Washington National Cathedral. The Gothic cathedral is the sixth largest in the world and was built in the style of the 14th century. The foundation stone was laid in 1907, but it took until 1990 to complete the cathedral.
Christ Church is also a Gothic style church. It was built in 1773. It was also the prayer church of two famous American figures: George Washington and General Robert E. Lee.
A visit to St. John’s Church is just as interesting. Because it is not far from the White House, the church is also often referred to as the Church of Presidents. It is interesting to know that the church chair 54 is considered the presidential church chair. St. John’s Church was built in 1815.
The Licoln Memorial is closely linked to American history. It was built between 1914 and 1922 in honor of Abraham Lincoln. The 5.80 meter high statue of the president on the south side is impressive. Otherwise, the building is an absolute masterpiece.
The Vietam Veterans Memorial is worth seeing. It consists of three parts, the Memorial Wall, Three Servicemen and Womens Memorial. It was built in memory of the fallen US forces in Vietnam. Today it is a national memorial.
The Washington Monument is definitely not to be missed. It was built between 1848 and 1884. It’s a white marble obelisk that serves as the straight line connecting the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol State Building. It was built in honor of George Washington.
The Jefferston Memorial, built between 1939 and 1943, is also worth a visit, as is the US Marine Corps War Memorial. The US Marine Corps War Memorial is a memorial against the war and is intended to commemorate the American soldiers who have been killed since 1775.
Washington DC tourist bookworms will certainly not miss the Library of Congress. The library was founded in 1800. From 1897 it has been the national library of the United States of America. Since its inception until today, more than 80 million different media have accumulated there, from books, magazines to music. You can also visit one of the largest collections of Russian literature in the Library of Congress.
The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts is something very special. It includes a theater, an opera house, a concert hall and also a movie hall. The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts opened in 1971.
The largest museum complex on earth can be found in Washington DC. This is the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian Institution includes more than sixteen museums and galleries.
The institution was founded in 1846 from the legacy of the English scientist James Smithson. Today the institution is not just an important research center. It also awards grants in a wide variety of fields and promotes research in astronomy, astrophysics, etc.
The Smithsonian Institution has its own observatory and also operates the National Museum of American History, such as American Art and the National Museum of Aerospace in Washington DC
Washington DC is also home to the world’s largest museum dedicated to Native American culture. The National Museum of the American Indian opened in 2004.
Other interesting museums are the National Gallery of Art and the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
There are some special buildings in Washington DC. The White House is definitely not to be missed. It was built in 1792 at the request of George Washington and Piere c. L’Enfants built in the classical style. Since it was damaged by British troops in 1814, it had to be re-plastered white. Hence the name it has had since 1902 “White House”. Since its inception, the White House has always been the seat of the President of the United States.
The Capitol is the seat of the American legislature. The building was built in the French architectural style according to the plans of Dr. William Thornton built in 1793.
One of the largest office buildings in the world is the Pentagon. The Pentagon is the headquarters of the US Department of Defense. The building includes more than 50 hectares of parks and green spaces.
The Supreme Court should also be seen. The foundation stone was laid in 1929. But it took six years for the Supreme Court to be completed. Today it is the seat of the United States Supreme Court.