The National Aquarium in Washington D.C, is located in the basement of the Department of Commerce. It is a short walk from the White House and just north of the National Mall.  The Commerce Department once developed fish-breeding programs and technologies to stimulate the economy and so in 1873, the National Aquarium was established. 

The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. is one of the world’s most prestigious art museums and gallery.  It was formed by an act of Congress in partnership with Andrew W. Mellon’s generous donation in 1937.  The Museum has collected art pieces from around the world.

The MCI Center is located in downtown Washington DC at 7th and F Streets and is the home of the NBA Wizards, the NHL Capitals, the WNBA Mystics, and the Georgetown Hoyas.  It is also the central venue for music concerts, family shows, and other sporting events in Washington D.C.  The arena hosts over 220 events each year.

Rock Creek Park is West Virginia’s largest park and recreational area located to the northwest of Washington D.C.  Throughout the wooded park, there are hiking and biking trails as well as campgrounds.  The park is named for the large creek that runs through it which supports fishing and canoeing/kayaking.  Rock Creek park is where most residents of Washington D.C. go for exercise and resh outdoor air.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is located northwest of the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall along the Potomac River.  It was originally to be called the National Cultural Center when President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bipartisan act in 1958 to create a Center for classical and contemporary performances as well as educational programs for the arts.

The Constitution Gardens lie adjacent to the National Mall and is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city as well as a testament to our engineering knowledge.  Originally, the 50 acres of park land lay beneath the Potomac River.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the land at the beginning of the 20th Century.

While you are in Washington D.C., you must make the time to visit Mount Vernon Estates.  The mansion is set on 8,000 acres near Fairfax, Virginia and was the home of George and Martha Washington from 1759, when they were married, until 1799 when our first president passed away.  The estate was purchased by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association in 1858 and opened to the public for tours in 1860.  It has received more than 80 million visitors since then.

The Washington Monument is arguably one of the greatest feats of mankind and a symbol of American pride.  It stands at 169 meters and is located at the West end of the National Mall.  The monument was built to honor our country’s first President, George Washington, and took 36 years to complete.  The monument, designed by Robert Mills, is made of sandstone, granite and marble.

The original White House was neither white, nor referred to as a house. The first President of the United States lived in three houses while President, none of which were the White House, as it was not completed while he was President.

If you are heading to Washington D.C., then the first place you will want to stop at as your tour the city is the United States Capitol Building located on the east end of the National Mall.  The Capitol Building has a long history with almost as many revisions as the legislative branch of our government that calls the building home.