|


National
Theatre 800.447.7400
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
National Theatre is located near METRO Center, on Freedom
Plaza, at 13th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, or 13th and E
Streets, NW, across from the Ronald Reagan International Trade
Center. The National Theatre has operated in the same location
since 1835 and proclaims itself to be "The Theatre of
Presidents." The theatre present touring Broadway shows.
From September through April, look for free children's shows
on Saturday, and free Monday night shows that run the gamut
from Asian dance to performance art to a cappella cabarets.
Warner
Theatre 202.783.4000
1299 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
The Warner Theatre opened as a grand movie house in the 1920s
and is now a host to road shows, dance recitals, pop music,
and the occasional comedy act.
|
|
Corcoran
Gallery of Art 202.639.1700
500 17th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art was founded in 1869 as a major
institution of American visual arts. The Museum offers an
extensive collection of American and European masterworks,
ongoing contemporary art exhibitions, and is one of the most
distinguished colleges of art and design in the country. The
Museum is located one block from the White House and just
a short walk from the nation's Historic Mall. Hours are 10am
to 5pm daily; closed Tuesdays.
Inter-American
Development Bank's Cultural Center 602.623.3774
1300 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
Enriques V. Iglesias established the Cultural Center in May
1992 with a mission to foster economic growth in the Americas
by providing a forum of discussion and a showcase for a variety
of art and artifacts from 46 countries with emphasis on Latin
America and the Caribbean.
National
Building Museum 202.272.2448
401 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C.
The National Building Museum opened in 1985 with a mandate
from Congress to explore and celebrate architecture, design,
engineering, construction, and urban planning. The only institution
of its kind in the United States, the Museum has become a
vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about such
topical issues as managing suburban growth, preserving landmarks
and communities, and revitalizing urban centers. The Museum
is housed in one of Washington's most spectacular structures,
an 1887 Italian Renaissance building designed with open archways
and windows allowing the Great hall to function as a reservoir
of light and air. It has been the site for many inaugural
balls and once housed the Pension Bureau and later occupied
by other government agencies. The Museum is open Mon-Sat 10:00am-5:00pm,
Sun 11:00am-5:00pm.
The
White House 202.456.2121
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.
The White House, as President Theodore Roosevelt officially
named it in 1901, was completed in 1800 and its first residents
were President John Adams and his wife, Abigail. Throughout
much of the 19th century, the general public could visit the
Executive Mansion and actually meet the president face-to-face.
While access is far more restricted today, the White House
remains one of Washington's most-visited places, and provides
an intriguing glimpse into the nation and its leaders.
Lincoln
Memorial
23rd Street NW and West Potomac Park, Washington, D.C.
The Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln
and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War
(1861-1865). It is one of the city's most recognizable landmarks
and is located at the western end of the Mall. Completed in
1922, the marble memorial was built to resemble a classical
Greek temple; it has 36 Doric columns, one for each state
at the time of Lincoln's death.
Smithsonian
Institution 202.357.2700
National Mall, Washington, D.C.
Smithsonian Institution was founded in 1846 and is the world's
largest museum complex and research organization. Composed
of sixteen museums and galleries, as well as the National
Zoo, the Smithsonian's exhibitions offer visitors a glimpse
into its vast collection. Admission is free for all Smithsonian
museums in Washington, D.C., and the American Indian Museum
in New York. Most museums are open daily, 10am-5:30pm. For
more information, please visit the web sites of the Washington
D.C. based Smithsonian's museums.
United
States Capitol 202.225.6827
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
The United States Capitol is among the most architecturally
impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world.
It has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate and the House
of Representatives for almost two centuries. Begun in 1793,
the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and
restored. Today, it stands as a monument not only to its builders
but also to the American people and their government.
US
Botanical Gardens 202.357.2700
245 First Street, SW, Washington, D.C.
The idea of a national botanic garden was proposed in 1816,
and Congress first established such a garden in 1820. The
US Botanic Garden includes the Conservatory and Bartholdi
Park. The Conservatory features a wide variety of living exhibits,
including seasonal exhibits. Approximately 4,000 plants are
on display. Bartholdi Park is a 2-acre outdoor garden demonstration
landscape and includes the historic Bartholdi Fountain. The
gardens offer a tropical paradise with its richly scented
halls delirious with color and bloom. The complex is bordered
by First Street and Third Streets, S.W., and located along
the north and south sides of Independence Avenue. The Conservatory
is open daily 10am-5pm free of charge, and Bartholdi Park
daily from dawn to dusk.
Washington
Monument 202.426.6841
15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
Constructed as a tribute to George Washington in recognition
of his leadership in the cause of American independence, the
Washington Monument was designed by Robert Mills in 1838 and
completed in 1884. Made of marble, the Monument's design was
built to follow the form of an Egyptian obelisk, it rises
more than 550 feet above the city and is the largest masonry
structure in the world. Since the Monument's renovation, visitors
can no longer use the stairs, but rather ride the elevator
to the top for a spectacular view. Admission is free but limited.
To be admitted, you can "purchase" a maximum of
six tickets at the adjacent booth as early as 8:00am; tickets
are usually sold out by 10:00am. You can also purchase tickets
for $1.50 by calling Spherix at 800.967.2283.
Please also check out downtown BID's site for information on restaurants, hotels, events, venues, etc.
|