City of Washington: sights, photos, personal impressions of the US capital. What to see in washington interesting places in washington

Washington is the capital of the United States of America, while being a separate city that is not part of any of the states. District of Columbia (DC) - official name capital, named after the country's first president, George Washington. In this article, I suggest you admire the most interesting and famous sights of the city, as well as learn about some interesting facts.

The capital of the United States was founded in 1791, and in 1871 Washington, along with a number of other neighboring territories, was merged into a single district - Columbia. Interestingly, in the USA there is also a state of the same name, because the Americans themselves call the capital none other than DC (DC).

The population of Washington is 601,723 people, but a large number of people from the suburbs come here to work every day, as well as many tourists. As a result, the population increases to 1 million people and even higher.

All US power is concentrated in Washington. The White House houses the office of the President of the country, DC also houses the representative offices and headquarters of the World Bank, the IMF and many other organizations, as well as more than 150 embassies of various states.

The United States Congress has supreme power over Washington. Due to the special subordination, the inhabitants of the city have less of all possible freedoms of self-government than the inhabitants of the states.

The motto of the city is the Latin Justitia Omnibus, which translates as Justice for All.

In the course of research, scientists have found that already 4,000 years ago, Native Americans lived on the territory of modern Washington, there were several small settlements here.

The largest number of inhabitants in the city was registered in 1950 - 802,178 people. After the Great Depression of the 1930s, people began to arrive here to work in the state apparatus.

Among the memorable events in the history of Washington, one can note the 1968 riots that broke out after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Within a few days, many buildings were destroyed, and 13,000 soldiers were brought in to pacify the raging masses. It took more than thirty years to restore, so much damage was done to the city.

The infamous event is the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, when a passenger plane crashed into the Pentagon building at full speed. On the same day, terrorist attacks took place in New York, when the famous twin towers collapsed. You can learn more about this from the collection A new look at
9/11 terrorist attack

Let's move on to geographic location a city that is located on three rivers - the Potomac, as well as tributaries, Rock Creek and Anacostia. Washington is famous for its many parks, one fifth of the entire territory of the city is occupied by all kinds of green spaces. average temperature The air here is 14-15 degrees Celsius.

Surprisingly, in the 1990s, Washington was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the United States due to the highest number of crimes in the country. Since then, the crime rate in the country has almost halved, so now the city is quite safe for life, although certain problems still remain.

The city has one of the busiest subway systems in the country, second only to the New York City Subway. On weekdays, the passenger traffic here exceeds 1 million people a day.

In addition to the main one in Washington - Dulles Airport, there are two more airports. Reagan Airport is used for domestic flights within the United States and is famous for having a subway station attached to it.

The capital of the United States is a city with an amazing history that delights and makes one admire the willpower of a proud nation. The result of a long struggle for independence can be clearly seen in the example of Washington: it is here that you can trace the main historical milestones in the life of the country. Every year, millions of tourists from all over the world come to the United States to see famous landmarks of washington. This article talks about the most amazing of them.

1. White House

The White House is the main attraction of Washington and all of America, which is a symbol of power, power and prosperity for Americans. Construction began in 1792. The mansion is made in the style of early classicism in accordance with the strict principles of Italian architecture. History of this incredible beauty The buildings are rooted in the past, symbolizing the strength and unity of the nation. Own famous name the building was acquired during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and has since become firmly established in everyday life. It is known that each subsequent president had the right to reconstruct the house at will. The White House is the only presidential residence in the world that is open to the public and tours. Rooms differ in color, shape and purpose. For example, considered the most beautiful oval blue room is designed for receptions of the president and first lady. Tea parties are held in the green room, a music hall is located in the red room, and the best examples of porcelain products are collected in the porcelain room.

2. Capitol

The Capitol Building is located in the heart of Washington DC. It is here that the US Congress, the main legislative body of America, works. Notable is the fact that Capitol Hill was chosen for the construction of the building, hence the name Capitol. It is historically known that George Washington laid one of the foundation stones of this snow-white building. The Congress building has its own subway and transports politicians. The area around the Capitol is a favorite place to walk. local residents and tourists. The Capitol will not leave indifferent art connoisseurs: there are many paintings depicting the main events from the history of the country, as well as sculptures famous people. Getting to this landmark of Washington is very simple: all the main streets of the city lead here.

3. National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC, part of the Smithsonian Institution complex, is the most visited museum of its kind in the world. Over 126.5 million exhibits have been collected in the impressive Beaux-Arts style building with a memorable green dome. Some of them have amazing story. The museum's collection is unique and has been collected since 1846. This includes plants, stuffed animals, butterflies, gems, meteorites and numerous artefacts. The most interesting thing is that the museum is free for visitors and is open every day until five o'clock. At the entrance, guests are greeted by a huge stuffed elephant, which has become its real symbol. The exposition of one of the greatest museums in the world covers different geological eras, and the exhibition halls are grouped by theme. Most loved by visitors is the Dinosaur Hall, where there are skeletons and models of these ancient reptiles. This is a must visit place in Washington DC.

4. International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is one of the most popular museums in Washington, having opened its doors in the summer of 2002. This is the only museum in the world that sanctifies the methods of espionage art. This place is filled with an atmosphere of secrets and mysteries: the best experts of the intelligence community were involved in the development of the concept of the museum. It contains the largest number of spy artifacts, weapons and tools. The collection is regularly updated and includes more than 600 exhibits, many of which were shown to the general public for the first time. the main objective museum - educational work and promotion of understanding of the importance of the influence of espionage on the course of history. Here, anyone can try themselves as a spy: interactive games and even espionage lessons are held for visitors.

5. National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is Washington's top attraction for art lovers. This richest art museum has a huge collection of art masterpieces from large private collections. It contains works of both European and American masters: sculptors, painters, illustrators, photographers. The idea of ​​the gallery arose in the 30s of the last century. The museum was created thanks to one of the richest people in America of those years - Mellon. It was he who began to collect valuable sculptures and paintings, and after his death bequeathed everything to the gallery. The museum is located in two buildings near the Capitol: east and west. The eastern building contains works by contemporary authors and creators of the 20th century. The western building contains works by American artists and masterpieces by European masters, including Botticelli, da Vinci, Van Gogh. Russian tourists can find works in the gallery that once tragically left the Hermitage.

6. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The Museum of Conscience is a memorial to millions of people who have passed away. The main purpose of the museum is to study the accumulated documents and preserve the memory of the prisoners of the concentration camps. In addition to the terrifying exhibits, there is a large-scale research and educational work. Here are collected audio and video recordings, photographs, layouts that allow you to understand the horror of those times. When visiting, everyone receives a passport real person, and during the tour it is as if his tragic experience is living. Visitors walk across the bridge from where they can see the ghetto, the crematorium, and the Tower of Faces of Disappeared People. The Holocaust Museum presents many horrific things that are forever designed to preserve the memory of the victims and prevent a recurrence of the terrible tragedy.

7. Washington Supreme Court

For some time, the city's Supreme Court resided in the Capitol until Congress approved the construction of a separate residence. The building of the famous US House of Justice is made in the neoclassical style and was built in the 30s of the XX century. This is a very beautiful architectural landmark of Washington. Gilbert designed the building to look like the Parthenon. The facades and interior are made of marble brought from several states. And the main meeting room is decorated with expensive Sienese marble, requested for this purpose from Mussolini. The building is lavishly decorated with sculptures, and the statues of famous public figures serve as the main decoration of the temple of justice. Of particular interest is the meeting room, which is truly impressive in its luxury: gold, heavy velvet curtains and majestic columns. The Supreme Court guards its own police department, which is not subordinate to the city authorities.

8. Lincoln Memorial

It's symbolic architectural structure was erected in 1922 to honor one of the country's most respected presidents, whose presidency fell on hard years civil war. Lincoln will forever go down in history as a person who managed to free the country from slavery. It is known that over 50 thousand people gathered at the opening of the memorial. This attraction of the US capital fascinates with its beauty and size: the grandiose structure is very similar to the Greek Parthenon. The memorial is surrounded by 36 marble columns, which symbolize the number of states in America during the reign of Lincoln. At night, the monumental complex, illuminated by spotlights, appears in its full grandeur. Inside the memorial is a skillfully executed statue of Lincoln, whose height is almost 6 meters.

9. National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum is one of the most popular places in Washington among tourists. The museum was officially opened in 1976 with its own dedicated building and is currently the most popular technology museum in the world. This research center has amassed the largest collection aircraft. Most of the exhibits are unique and are genuine historical rarities. The collection visually introduces the history of flying, from Chinese kites to manned spacecraft. The first exhibition model was an aviation steam engine Stringfellow, still in the museum. Also here is the glider of the Wright brothers, on which they made their first flight. A large number of military equipment was received by the museum after World War II and the Korean Wars. Entrance to the museum is free, and almost every exhibit can be touched with your own hands.

10. Washington Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is the main religious landmark in the city of Washington. This building, whose architecture is dominated by the neo-Gothic style, at first sight makes you feel proud of the country and the people living in it. The cathedral took 83 years to build, and the first stone was laid by Theodore Roosevelt. The building material for the temple was sandstone, which was delivered from India. Numerous fragments of the cathedral are made of stones brought from different parts of the world. What amazes visitors more than the scale of the building are the mosaic windows that create amazing, mesmerizing patterns. Stands out against the general background of the "cosmic window", dedicated to the landing of man on the moon and containing a fragment in the center moonstone. The walls of the cathedral are decorated with 112 gargoyles, among which there is an extremely unexpected sculpture - the head of Darth Vader.

11. Hillwood Museum and Gardens

Another attraction that will be interesting to visit in Washington DC is the Hillwood Museum and Gardens. Many of the most valuable works of art have found a permanent home in the collection of Majori Post, who founded this museum by buying a mansion on Rock Creek for this purpose. Even then, Post planned to make a museum inside, and around a beautiful garden that connects traditions different countries. Many exhibits, including porcelain, Romanov jewelry and Faberge eggs, were previously in the Hermitage. The museum fund impresses with a variety of exhibits. In addition to a large collection of things from Russia, Post has collected some art from France. The doors of the museum were opened in 1977. The mansion's stunning gardens were laid out in 1950, when Post hired top professionals to style the existing gardens.

12. US Botanical Garden

The garden is located near the Capitol and is the most beautiful landmark in Washington, where those who truly love the beauty of nature can have a good time. The complex is divided into thematic sections and will appeal to everyone: both ordinary tourists and botanists. There really is a lot to explore here. You can find out what grows in the desert and what grows in the tropics. Particularly popular among visitors are the reconstruction of the primeval landscape, the orchid garden and the endangered species area. The saturation of the garden with plants did not progress so quickly, but the US research expedition helped significantly. Living plants and seeds from the expedition became the core botanical garden. Subsequently, the seeds for the creation of the collection were brought from all over the world. Now the garden has more than 60 thousand plants.

Washington is a city unique atmosphere. A city that can be called a place of power. It houses a lot of government offices of ministries and departments. This place has a lot of attractions and they are all very close to each other, which gives you the opportunity to see everything.

You can see the whole city at a glance by climbing observation deck. The main monument of the capital can be considered the Washington Monument. Not far from it are at least interesting monuments such as the Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt memorials. In addition to the state ones, dozens of private museums have settled in the city, which are dedicated to various topics. In the capital, you can also go to the opera (the national opera is located here). You can listen to a symphony orchestra and attend a ballet (the Washington Ballet Company is located here). A large number of nightclubs and establishments that operate around the clock can be found in the Georgetown area. Worth a visit if you are traveling with kids national zoo, in it you will see a huge number of rare animals.

Some of the most interesting sights of the US capital are:

• White House and Pentagon;
• Capitol;
• International Spy Museum;
• Mall and memorial parks;
• Washington National Cathedral;

White House

This is very beautiful building, which is the symbol of the United States of America. Its construction dates back to 1792, designed by James Hoban and directed by George Washington. The residence is built in a classic style, it is laconic, refined and elegant. The façade is clad in white Virginia sandstone and coated with a mixture of casein, lead and lime. In 1801, the White House increased its area, adding east and west terraces to the building. At the beginning of the 20th century, two wings were added to the house - West and East. On the this moment The residence consists of six floors, two of which are basements, two for official events and two for the president's family. The most delightful, as well as historically important premises are open to tourists. The interior in them changed, but at the same time remained sustained in the style of the 18-19th century. In some of the rooms, things that once belonged to the presidential families have been preserved.

Inside the building you will be able to see:

• East Hall;
• Green Hall;
• Oval Office;
• Red room.

Pentagon is a symbol of the power of the country. Within its walls is the US Department of Defense. The seven-story building was built in the form of a pentagon, two floors of which are underground. It's not easy to get on a tour. To do this, you must pre-register for it. Cadets act as guides. It is the largest office building in the world.

Capitol

Washington is a city that does not have skyscrapers, as there is a law in the county that all buildings must not be higher than the Capitol, which is 88 m high. This is the most recognizable building with a rich past. The Capitol is conditionally divided into two parts, southern and northern, and the large dome, as it were, symbolizes the unity of America. The lower house of parliament sits in the southern part of it, and the upper house sits in the northern part. This building is one of those that you should definitely see during your trip.

A huge number of historical documents, valuable photographs, expensive paintings, statues are collected here. Even in the decoration of the premises, strength and power can be traced. In addition to the Capitol, this includes attractions such as the Library of Congress, the US Supreme Court. You can also take a walk in the magnificent park nearby.

International Spy Museum

This museum is unique as it is the only one in the world. It will be interesting to visit it for a person of any age. Here you have the opportunity to try your espionage abilities. Interactive games are held for guests and even lessons in spy art are taught. Here you can see umbrellas with syringes, guns in a tube of lipstick, hidden cameras.

The museum was founded by a man who served 35 years in the CIA. Geographically, the museum is located in 5 historical buildings that form a complex. It includes halls with expositions, shops with spy paraphernalia, a cafe, a restaurant, storage, all this makes a great impression and looks spectacular. There are several rooms here. One of them is called "Legends and Covers". Entering it, you will hear how the speakers tell you that you are being watched. Your task is to come up with a fake name and pass the lie detector. The second is "Spy School". Here you will receive instructions on how to properly apply makeup, how to follow the object, eavesdrop, take pictures. The third hall of the "Secret History". In it you can hear stories about special services and agents.

Mall and memorial parks

This is a large open park, surrounded on one side by the Capitol, and on the other by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial. On the way from one to another, you can visit several museums, the White House and the George Washington Memorial. It has a large collection of exhibits and works of art. Most of Washington's museums are located within the park. This square is important in the public life of the city, rallies and protests are held here, history is created here.

On the territory of the Mall (as the National Mall is called) is Smithsonian Institution who created the network free museums(ten of the nineteen museums are located in the park). Here you can see the best collection of art in the world. Huge collection precious stones and minerals can be admired in Museum of Natural History. You can learn more about the history of the United States in Museum of American History. You can see old planes and spacecraft in National Museum aviation and astronautics. If you want to admire the paintings of Picasso, Matisse, Hoffmann, Bacon, go to Hirshhorn Museum.
Very majestic architecture and beauty make the National Mall very unusual place where you can feel all the grandeur and significance of the capital of the United States.

Washington National Cathedral

Washington Cathedral is a majestic building, the architecture of which is dominated by the Gothic style. Among the cathedrals of the whole world, this one ranks sixth in size. The cathedral took 83 years to build and was completed in 1990. Sandstone brought from India was used as the main building material. Beautiful stained glass windows and 112 gargoyles that adorn the walls of the cathedral fascinate tourists from all over the world. The high altar is made of sandstone brought from the Solomonic quarries themselves. And in front of him are ten stones from the Chapel of Moses, which are symbols of the ten biblical commandments. The cathedral has ten completely different chapels. It is also the resting place of many prominent US figures. It is worth mentioning such unusual design elements as a stained-glass window dedicated to the landing of a man on the moon, and the head of Darth Vader among the gargoyles of the cathedral.

Map Hotels

The first stone in the building of the future official residence of the presidents of the United States, known worldwide as the White House, was laid on October 13, 1792. The project was designed by architect James Hoban, with the active participation of George Washington.

The first US president not only made his own adjustments to the Hoban project, but was also an active participant in choosing a site for construction. According to Washington, it was to be a place on the Potomac River that would not exceed ten square miles. Eight years later, on November 1, 1800, the $2.5 million building was completed.

Building presidential residence made in the Palladian style, which is based on elements borrowed from ancient Greek temple architecture and strict observance of symmetry.

The interiors of the White House are made in a different style, each of them has not only an original finish and purpose, but also its own names. The oval Blue Hall is intended for official receptions, the Green Hall - for informal meetings. Office of the Presidents - Oval Office. Visitors to the White House can see the personal belongings of former US presidents, as well as members of their families.

Modern Art Museum

This museum is housed in a very nice building with a combination of old and new architecture. The portraits are just amazing. It's like a chance to visit with some delightful people from American history. Simply magical. AND modern Art- lots of fun too.

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Lincoln Memorial

Visiting the Lincoln Memorial is a popular itinerary for tourists in downtown Washington. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century in memory of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. He became famous for bringing northern states to victory in the bloody Civil War, which put an end to the era when the economy was based on slave labor. The construction of the memorial complex took 8 years. It symbolizes the main idea of ​​President Lincoln - faith in the freedom of man.

The architecture of the Memorial resembles an ancient Greek temple - the building has the shape of a rectangle, which is made up of 38 snow-white marble Doric columns in height. Each column is about 13 meters high and over 2 meters in diameter. Two columns form the entrance to the memorial, and the remaining 36 indicate the number of states that made up the country during the Lincoln years. Overall Height complex exceeds 50 meters.

The main attraction inside the memorial is a huge statue of Lincoln, which weighs 175 tons. Depicted in a thoughtful pose, the president seems to be looking at the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Nearby are two large slabs, one of which is carved with Lincoln's speech during his second inauguration, and the second with a speech after the Battle of Gettysburg.

especially beautiful memorial Complex at night - night illumination strikes with originality and majesty. Near the complex is the famous Sparkling Pool, which attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. This is one of the places that should definitely be visited by every tourist who wants to get acquainted with the capital of one of the greatest world powers.

The National Theater in Washington DC is the oldest theater in the United States, having been performing since 1835. Performances, plays and musicals of the National Theater are comparable in level to the Broadway ones. It survived five huge fires in the 19th century, one of them broke out right during the production of Beauty and the Beast. Five times the building was reconstructed on the same site, the last major reconstruction took place in 1984.

The theater was founded by prominent citizens of the city under the leadership of William Corcoran, who wanted to have a chic theater in their capital. The first production at the then National Theater was Man of the World. The theater worked almost continuously, its audience was mainly the high society of the city - a few blocks from the theater building is the White House. The name of the theater has changed several times depending on the change of ownership. For a while, even the famous actor Joseph Jefferson ran it.

Now the National Theater boasts a hall with 1676 seats. It played such famous premieres as "Madama Butterfly" and "West Side Story". Such world theater stars as Jenny Lind, Sarah Bernard, Vivien Leigh, Katharine Hepburn, Helen Hayes and many others have visited its stage at different times. Even now, the National Theater maintains a tradition of staging Broadway and pre-Broadway performances.

Library of Congress

The US Library of Congress, founded in 1800, is one of the largest libraries in the world and is the oldest public cultural institution in the United States. In addition to its unique library collections, it attracts the attention of numerous visitors with its architecture. The Library of Congress building complex includes three buildings on Capitol Hill connected by underpasses, as well as a depository in Virginia.

The history of the Library is filled with numerous dramatic events, as is the history of the Capitol building, in which it was located for almost the entire 19th century. Several times the library suffered from fires, died in the fire most of books received by the library as a gift from the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson.

In 1897, a new building of the Library was erected, in the architecture of which elements of Italian Renaissance. 26 artists and 22 sculptors worked on the project of the new building, and as a result of their joint creative efforts, a true work of art was obtained. In addition to its architectural charms, the Library was a real engineering miracle of that time - it housed its own power plant, fire-fighting book depositories, as well as special elevators for books. The main facade of the Library building is decorated with a magnificent fountain, vaguely reminiscent of the famous Roman Trevi Fountain.

The Library of Congress collection contains more than 132 million copies of books published in 470 languages ​​of the world, hundreds of thousands of microfilms, about 5 million maps, notes, numerous prints, photographs and even comics, more than 1 million copies of newspapers published over the past three centuries. This is truly a unique and versatile collection of literature.

Eastern Market

East Market in Washington DC is the oldest public market and has been a center of commerce for over 200 years. It is located on Capitol Hill, in a historic 19th-century brick building, recognized as a monument of architecture. The Oriental Market is much smaller than traditional public markets, but it is still a culinary treasure trove filled with history, tradition and delicious food.

It offers a wide range of farm products, including fresh meats, baked goods, cheeses, vegetables and fruits. The attraction of the Eastern Market is the flea market, striking in its diversity. Artisans and antique dealers offer a wide range of goods from all over the world.

The gallery of the market hosts art exhibitions, musical and theatrical performances. The Eastern Market has a long history and is one of the most attractive tourist sites.

Chinatown

Chinatown is one of the most interesting places in Washington DC. Active construction in this area began in the 30s of the twentieth century, when, on the recommendation of the city authorities, the Chinese began to come here from the central districts of the city.

Nowadays, Chinatown is famous all over the world. tourist quarter with many Asian restaurants, souvenir shops. Here is the famous Arch of Friendship, made in the style of traditional Chinese gates. Built in 1986, it features seven colorfully painted pagoda roofs and 272 dragons in the style of the Qing and Ming imperial dynasties.

Chinatown is famous for its traditions - the annual celebration of the Chinese New Year, various festivals and colorful costume performances. The old Patent Office building houses two museums that are part of the famous Smithsonian Institution: the National Portrait Gallery and the Museum of American Art.

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Potomac River

The Potomac is one of the major waterways of the United States, forming a significant segment of the border between the states of Maryland and Virginia, and western Virginia. The river originates in the Appachi Mountains and flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Atlantic Ocean. The banks of the river are picturesque: in the Harpers Ferry area, it flows through a rocky gorge in the Blue Mountains and forms a waterfall, in addition, there is a real expanse for fishing enthusiasts.

For the first time, the foot of a European entered around 1570, when the Spaniards visited these parts. Then in 1608, Captain John Smith described and mapped the river, after which traders from Virginia settled here. A few years later, the Potomac became the main transport artery of the colony. During the Civil War, the river formed the northeastern border of the Southern Confederacy.

The origin of the word "Potomac" is associated with the name of one of the Indian tribes that inhabited South coast. Historians believe that it meant " trading place"or" a place to which tribute is brought. "As for the Indians themselves, they called the river" goose ".

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