Stopped by to tour the house without checking their website. Unfortunately it's closed until…read morefurther notice. I recommend checking their website before you go, just to be sure. The house sits up on a majestic hill. I'd love to visit it when they reopen.

Didn't do the tour this time. Like the White House, the interior isn't worth the wait (we didn't…read moresee the chambers of the deliberative bodies) Glad I did I it before though. My rating is for the building. This is architecturally the most breathtaking building in our great country. Worth going up to take a picture or just take it in If a natural beauty site can be five stars why can't this sublime building? Sigh

During my most recent visit to the Nations Capitol I took my grandkids where we did the inside tour…read moreof the building. These guided tours give you access to the main parts of the building with the exception of the actual Senate and House floors and provide the history and back story of the various parts of the building. The building architecture, stone work, pantings and statues are really impressive and to see this up close and personal is a real treat. Aside from the inner workings of the building, the Capital Museum that is located in one of the wings of the building provides fascinating history of the legislative Branch of our country and how it evolved/grew over time. Overall this is a must visit if you come to the Nations capitol, especially if you have not been here before.

Library of Congress -- A Living Monument to History…read more Few buildings in Washington, D.C. carry the weight of history as effortlessly as the Library of Congress. It is not merely a repository of books, but a living archive of the American story--one that reveals itself the moment you step inside. For visitors to the nation's capital, this is not optional--it is essential. The current exhibition, The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution, is particularly compelling. Through the intertwined narratives of George Washington and King George III, the exhibit captures a world on the brink--an undeclared nation edging toward war, a fragile cause facing overwhelming odds, and ultimately, the improbable path to independence. What makes this exhibition stand out is not just its historical scope, but its perspective. It does not present history as a foregone conclusion, but as a series of uncertain, high-stakes decisions made in real time. That tension--between inevitability and risk--is where the story comes alive. Accessible, visually engaging, and intellectually rewarding, this is an experience that resonates across generations. If you find yourself in Washington, make the time. Some places inform you. This one reminds you why the story matters.

I have only visited the Library of Congress at a personal level a couple of times. Other visits…read morewere due to events/meetings there. If you are visiting D.C., I cannot stress the importance of a stop here. To this day, it remains the largest library in the world. Pretty impressive. It's also the oldest federal cultural institution. Periodicals, books, etc. available in over 470 languages. More than 178 million pieces of articles from manuscripts, recordings, photos, printed materials, to books and so on. Library acts as a source of research for Members of Congress and handles copyright laws. This building and all its components are an important part of our nation's history.

What's prettier than the White House, the Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian put…read moretogether? Yes, Ariana Grande is a good answer, but I was looking for the Executive Office on 17th St! A long time ago, the love of my life used to say that this building was the highlight of her trips to DC, and I can see why. I remember walking with her in the pouring rain next to it, and taking pictures of her exposing herself in front of it. Times change... But this building never did. It's glorious and resplendent. It reminds me of something in France, but better kept, perhaps. It looks palatial. If the White House is a little underwhelming then this executive office is completely awe-inspiring. It's level with the Capitol as my favourite building in the DC area, and is the easiest 5-star rating I've given since my Cousin Daniel got drunk and showed me the ropes.

Didn't really have a lot of time to roam around Pennsylvania Ave. And my friend and I, being…read moreslightly less than ignorant didn't know that the BACK of the WHITE HOUSE would be on Pennsylvania Ave. ** Not impressed** So our pictures we're not exactly anythng to brag about. So we decided to take pictures in front of the Executive Office of the President where the FRONT of this architecture was much more impressive than the BACK of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. Still a great experience to roam DC and take in the history and political side of the US. (You don't get much of that or appreciate it as much coming from the west coast. Hence, the ignorance of the FRONT vs the BACK of the WHITE HOUSE. =X)

I'm an executive branch alum, so I give the EEOB five out of five bald eagles. Sure, the United…read moreStates Capitol houses TWO chambers, and the Supreme Court Building allegedly has a basketball court at the top. But can you bowl a perfect game at the legislature or the judiciary? NOPE. President Truman was a visionary for having this bowling alley installed. Truly ahead of his time, making sure pins could fall while democracy stands strong. Absolutely worth getting a job in the executive branch to sign up for a chance to bowl here. Oh, and there's other stuff in the building too, but bowling in the basement is what really drives good government.

I love visiting this building more than the White House. It has such a history and great people…read morewatching. Try to contact your Congress person to get a tour.

The national mall is a must. If you are visiting DC it is a really cool part of history and a…read morelovely place to walk around. You can make it a few hours, a whole day, or just take a morning jog around the park. There are so many open spaces to picnic or let the kids play. There are also many iconic restaurants and museums near by. You can't miss this stop if you are in DC. My pictures are only a few of the highlights. There are so many iconic spots you have to check out.

The National Mall is a must-visit for both locals and tourists to learn American history. Exhibits,…read moremonuments, and Smithsonian museums showcase historical facts from early European settlement on the eastern shores, post-Civil War Reconstruction, world wars era, Civil Rights era, Asian-American wars era, women's suffrage, modern history, and contemporary history, art, and culture. The National Mall is over 1,000 acres of greenspace, museums, gardens, sculptures, and iconic landmarks all in the heart of downtown Washington D.C. Situated along the thoroughfares of Pennsylvania, Constitution, and Independence Avenues and all cross streets in between, The Mall is open 24/7 with exception to closed door museums. On a beautiful day, the area can seem like a paradise with its ponds, fountains, tree-lined streets, and gardens. Visit during the spring and you can witness the country's most beautiful displays of cherry blossoms and seasonal flowers along the Tidal Basin. At night, the monuments are beautifully illuminated, which can be seen from every vantage point low and high. Much of The Mall's exhibits are best seed during daytime hours. Many of the highly-populated areas are well-lit, however, please be careful as some of the areas around the Tidal Basin, Constitution Gardens, and and Haines Point (East Potomac Park) are dimly lit if not devoid of any lighting at night. However, overall The Mall is generally safe as tourists frequent the area in packs at all hours of the day, but be smart and proceed with caution when walking along The Mall at night. You can spend multiple days just walking and sightseeing along the avenues. A week might be enough time to visit all the major museums. The Mall also hosts many activities and annual events like collegiate commencements, group tours, photography, sports, kite flying, and other pastimes. The Mall is also home to the East Potomac Golf Course and tennis courts. East Potomac Park is perhaps the least glorified area along The Mall, however, it is a great open space for walking/biking, people-watching, picnicking, and dog walking. There are many fields throughout The Mall where locals participate in competitive sports leagues such as VOLO. Often, you'll see large groups playing volleyball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, kickball, football, and even local college teams practicing their water sports along the Potomac River. TIPS: Check the forecast before visiting. Unless you are visiting one of the many museums, The Mall is all outdoors, so ensure your day won't be ruined by weather. Arrive early for parking. You can park along Pennsylvania, Constitution, and Independence Avenues, however, pay close attention to and adhere to parking signs. I recommend downloading the Parkmobile app to pay for parking. If strictly walking around the mall, I recommend parking along a main thoroughfare and walking along the perimeter of The Mall. There are private food and ice cream trucks along The Mall. You can also find refreshment stands and gift shops in and outside of museums and monuments. You'll also find street vendors selling cold soft drinks, water, and ice cream. Bring cash to limit credit card exposure to private vendors. Public restrooms are strategically situated throughout The Mall. I recommend packing hand sanitizer and toilet seat covers if for nothing more than when using the restrooms. The restrooms are generally clean during the winter, however, during the summer when increased tourism outpaces the area's cleaning schedule, you'll need to protect yourself. Overall, a memorable experience each and every visit.

They open up the Commandant's House to the public once a year for the Barracks Row festival. It's…read morefantastic and free! They basically let you wander through on your own. It's 3 floors, and the oldest occupied house in DC (the British never burned this one down for unknown reasons). Definitely do this if you're lucky enough to be around in mid-Sept.

On the U.S. Capitol grounds is a historic summer house that's often open to the public to escape…read morethe sun, use the drinking fountain or east on one of the seats inside.

We were excited to stumble upon this cute little place outside the Capitol building. It's actually…read morea virtual geocache site so we were excited about that as well. It's a great place to take a seat in the shade. There's a fresh fountain there so you can wash your hands or cool off there as well.

A very well preserved residence of Frederick Douglas . Not in the greatist areas of our great…read moreCapital, but has a private parking lot next to the Visitor Center. The house sits on a hill overlooking the city. You can see several recognizable landmarks from the house & the grounds. The walk from the Visitor Center has a lot of stairs so be prepared, along with tight stairways within the house. There were a couple of Seniors on our tour and they definitely struggled to navigate the house. Just something to consider when planning a tour with young children and older family members. The Visitot Center has a small gift shop, a nice Stamp Cancelation desk with several stamps. Some informational displays and a small theater that shows an older film about Frederick Douglas. Our Tour guide (a young man) was amazing !!! He told the story of Mr. Douglas, his contributions and of his wife who was an intricate part of his life. We left knowing way more than we did when we arrived. Definitely a must stop for all history buffs. 5 Stars for our Ranger Tour guide.

We had a 1:15pm tour and arrived around 1:00pm. While waiting for our tour, we went into a little…read moretheater type room and watched a movie of Frederick Douglass which was interesting. Wheew, getting up to the main house entrance was a little workout. I guess I'm out of shapes. There are a lot of stairs to climb. Shortly after arriving at the entrance we were met by a park ranger to start the tour. The home is well preserved. When there's carpet, they like you to stay on the carpet, no leaning on any parts of the home, we toured all parts of the house except for the attic that was turned into rooms. I think we toured 4 of the 10 rooms. There were 3 Master Bedrooms.