Washington D.C is the capital of the United States, located in the mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast of the United States. With the capital’s manifest of captivating intellectual and cultural energy, D.C is bordered in the northwest by Maryland and Montgomery County, in the eastern part by Maryland and Prince George's County, in the western and southern sections by Virginia, Arlington and Alexandria. Washington D.C is fondly called “the District”, "D.C" or "The Federal City." The wide boulevards, historic cobblestone neighborhoods, stunning museums, iconic monuments and natural reserves abound, it is hard not to fall in love with the nation's capital. Is it worth a visit? It is a resounding "Yes."
Image by Kevin McCoy via Wikimedia Commons
History of Washington DC
The history of Washington D.C date back to some 4000 years. Native Americans settled near the Anacostic River in the District, prior to the European exploration. Among the early settlements, the Nacotchtank is the present tribe residing in Nacotchtank. In the early 17th century, the initial European exploration began.
In 1749 Virginia was discovered and later in 1751, Georgetown was formed. There was shortage of housing as the population of the District grew during the World War II and the Great Depression. The Pentagon, one of the biggest official buildings was built to accommodate Federal defense Offices.
Important Locations in Washington DC
A large number of significant landmarks and sights are accumulated in the Northwestern quadrant of the city. With traditions that run so deep, DC has plethora of magnificent museums, art galleries and monuments that you don't want to miss. From White House to Washington Monument , to National Museum of Natural History, to National Gallery of Art - Washington DC is the epitome of American arts, tradition and culture.
White House
You cannot afford to miss a visit to the White House, marbleized symbol of the free world. Who wouldn't want to see America's most famous homestead - the home to every U.S. president since John Adams in 1801.
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Washington Monument
Once the world's tallest structure at 555 feet and 5 inches, Washington Monument lets you savor 360-degree breathtaking vistas of the city from the monument's top observation deck.
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National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History is a massive Smithsonian museum, that showcases over 126 million artifacts. The museum encompasses giant whales replicas, Insect Zoo, IMAX Theater and lots more.
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National Gallery of Art
Art connoisseur's haven - National Gallery of Art is an ultimate place to marvel art. The gallery comprises of east and West building, displaying magnificent collections of modern and older artworks. You can also relax in the garden or one of the cafes.
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National Air & Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum will amuse you with its display of celebrated aircraft, flight simulator, planetarium and IMAX Theater. And the huge three-level gift shop is magnetic and you'll find it hard to resist your shopping temptations.
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Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial is a gorgeous building with striking design, that is especially adored by history buffs, architecture and art history aficionados. The etched walls will enlighten you with Lincoln's two famous speeches (the Gettysburg Address and the second inaugural address).
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Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Commonly referred as "the Wall", -
Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials is a place that will evoke vault of emotions in you. Staring at the names engraved on the black granite wall, of over 58,000 Americans who perished during the Vietnam War, it will simply move you and leave you with bleary eyes.
The Tidal Basin
A 2-mile-long pond, the Tidal Basin serves as the city's adored loved site. During spring time, this place looks like something right out of an artist's canvas, amid the cherry blossom trees that bloom into cotton candy-colored tufts and winding pathways around the basin.
Washington National Cathedral
This majestic and robust Gothic style cathedral is the world's sixth largest cathedral. The beauty of the place lies within its interior, decked up beautifully with its intricate stained glass panes and the exterior is surrounded by gorgeous gardens.
People and Culture of Washington DC
With a considerably high cost of living and politically high impact city, DC is a place more driven towards transients than families. Having said that, the city is quite a family-friendly place. Agriculture and manufacturing was the main sectors that the city rely on before the Civil War. Since then, the economy of DC has slowly drifted to a diversified economy, driven mainly by services, education, the Federal Government sector, scientific research, financial institutions and tourism. According to 2014 United States census bureau estimation, the population of Washington was 658,893, which is an increase of 9.5% since the year 2010.
Time Zone and Phone Code of Washington DC
Washington DC is in the Eastern Time Zone (UTC-5). The Summer Daylight Saving Time (DST) is Eastern Daylight Time (UTC−4).
Standard time zone: UTC - 5 hours
Daylight saving time: 1 hour
Current time zone offset: UTC - 4 hour
Time zone abbreviation: EST
Phone Codes of Los Angeles
Area code: 202
International Country Code: 1
Best Time to Visit Washington DC
The ideal time of the year to plan a visit to Washington DC is between September to November and March to May. During the months of March and April, crowds enjoy the Cherry blossoms festival. Beach enthusiasts will love the summer season when the sun is out to take a dip in those beautiful sun kissed beaches. Pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds and lesser hotel prices are what you can expect during the months of September and October.
DC's notable Festivals and Events
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday
Smithsonian Folklife Festival Veterans Day
Marine Corps Marathon
National Tree Lighting
Library of Congress National Book Festival International Food & Wine Festival President's Day
Labor Day Concert
General Information Map Guide of Washington DC
