Tour of Washington D.C.

The Capitol Building is situated at the east end of the 2 mile long National Mall. This is the most impressive building in Washington.

The Senate wing was completed in 1800, while the House wing was completed in 1811. Though the building was incomplete, the Capitol held its first session of United States Congress November 17th 1800.

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The National Air and Space Museum is situated a short distance down the National Mall. This is probably the most visited of the many museums either side of the mall.

The Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It is also a center for research into the history, and science of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics.

Other museums close by are: American Indian, Army Medical & Library, African Art, Freer Gallery, American History, Natural History, National Gallery of Art & Gallery of Art Sculpter Garden.

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The Washington Monument is situated in the centre of the National Mall, the highest building in Washington D.C.

The Washington Monument is an obelisk built to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington. The monument is made of marble, granite, and sandstone. It is both the world's tallest stone structure, and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 555 feet 5? inches.

It was designed by Robert Mills, an architect of the 1840s. The actual construction of the monument began in 1848, but was not completed until 1884, almost 30 years after the architect's death. This delay in construction was due to a lack of funds, and the intervention of the American Civil War.

A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet up, shows where construction was halted for a number of years. The monument officially opened October 9th 1888.

The 270-foot observation level allows visitors a great view of the city. And to make it even better, there is free admission.

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The White House is situated north of the Washington Monument just off the National Mall.

The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States. It was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian style, designed by Irish-born James Hoban.

It has been the residence of every U.S. President since John Adams. Thomas Jefferson used the architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe to expand the building in 1801.

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The U.S. National World War II Memorial is situated on the National Mall just west of the Washington Monument.

This memorial is dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II.

Consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, it is located on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

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The Lincoln Memorial is situated at the extreme west of the National Mall.

This memorial was built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It was opened to the public May 30th 1922. The building is in the form of a Greek Doric temple containing a large seated sculpture of Abraham Lincoln.

The memorial has been the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered on August 28th 1963.

Close to the Lincoln Memorial are the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Veterans Memorial.

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The Jefferson Memorial is situated a short distance south of the National Mall.

This is a presidential memorial dedicated to Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States.

The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope. Construction began in 1939 with the building being completed in 1943. The bronze statue of Jefferson was added in 1947. In 2007, it was ranked fourth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

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The Washington National Cathedral is situated about 3.7 miles northeast of the National Mall.

This is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, of the Episcopal Church.

It is of neogothic design, the sixth largest cathedral in the world, second largest in the United States, fourth tallest structure in Washington, D.C.

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Baltimore is a popular day trip from Washington D.C., 46 miles northeast.

Baltimore is a major U.S. seaport that was once the second leading port of entry for immigrants to the United States.

The city was the site of the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. After burning Washington, D.C., the British attacked Baltimore on the night of September 13th 1814. United States forces from Fort McHenry successfully defended the city's harbor from the British.

The top visitor attraction is Fort McHenry, one of the must see places in the USA, along with the harbour area that can be toured by Water Taxi.

Commuter Trains can be taken from Washington D.C.. - Union Station. Google Map of Union Station.

Philadelphia is a popular day trip from Washington D.C., 141 miles northeast.

Ben Franklin took a large role in Philadelphia's early rise to prominence. It was in this city that many of the ideas, and subsequent actions, gave birth to the American Revolution and American Independence, making Philadelphia a centerpiece of early American history.

Philadelphia served as one of the nation's many capitals during the Revolutionary War and after.

Trains can be taken from Washington D.C.. - Union Station including the Acela Express. Google Map of Union Station.

Tour of Philadelphia . Google Map.

New York is a popular day trip from Washington, 233 miles northeast.

Trains and buses from Washington normally arrive at New York's Penn Station, in the centre of Manhattan, travel time between 4 & 5 hours. Open top bus tours can then be taken for a day tour of the city and historic islands in the harbour.

Trains can be taken from Washington D.C.. - Union Station including the Acela Express. Google Map of Union Station.

Buses . Google Map . Tour of New York.