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Welcome to Washington, D.C.

Known by locals as “The District” or simply “D.C.,” the nation’s capital offers far more than the iconic museums and monuments on the National Mall.

Where Are We?

D.C. is a city of many neighborhoods, and the Walter E. Washington Convention Center anchors Mount Vernon Square. The Beaux-Arts building in the center of the square was the city’s original Carnegie Library. It opened in 1903 as the city’s first desegregated public building and now houses the D.C. History Center and an Apple Store.

Mount Vernon Square is also home to some interesting labor history. At the corner of Massachusetts Ave. N.W. and 9th St. N.W. stands the historic headquarters building of the American Federation of Labor from 1915 until 1955, when it merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The building was incorporated into the new Marriott Marquis. The new AFL-CIO moved to a larger location on 16th St., where it remains today. On the next block of Massachusetts Ave., the Samuel Gompers Memorial pays tribute to the first president of the AFL.

If you have time during the busy days of convention business, there are great places to eat near the convention center. And you don’t want to miss Blagden Alley, home to more great restaurants and to the DC Alley Museum, a series of colorful outdoor murals painted on garage doors and building walls.

Don’t limit yourself to your hotel and the convention center! From Georgetown to Adams Morgan to the Wharf, there are many more cool neighborhoods to visit.

Lesser-Known Attractions

You should, of course, not miss the famous—and free!—Smithsonian museums (some require timed entry passes) or the monuments and memorials for which the city is known. If you’ve already checked those off your list, here are some additional spots to consider.

  • A visit to the Great Hall of the National Building Museum is free, but a general admission ticket is required to see exhibits on the schools built by Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald for Black children in the early 20th century, the Tuskegee Chapel, and the reimagining of America’s downtowns. Geared toward children in grades K-3 and their caregivers, the Building Stories exhibit explores architecture, engineering and construction as depicted in children’s books.
  • Planet Word is an immersive language experience located at the historic Franklin School, within walking distance of the convention center. Planet Word is a voice-activated museum with interactive galleries and exhibits that bring words and language to life in fun ways. Booking passes in advance is highly recommended. Passes for July will be released at 10 a.m. on June 1.
  • Just three Metro stops from the convention center at L’Enfant Plaza on the Yellow or Green Line, the International Spy Museum takes you on an interactive undercover mission. Using a cover identity, you’ll be assessed on your ability to complete tasks specific to your unique mission. The Spy Museum also houses the largest collection of international espionage artifacts on public display. Tickets are available for purchase 60 days in advance of your visit date.
  • Also close by, the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration (Farragut North stop on Metro’s Red Line) opens on June 26, and tickets are available for purchase now. The original NatGeo exhibit space was tiny by comparison, so the new museum’s exhibits and immersive experiences are sure to provide an exciting view of the wildlife, landscapes, communities and cultures that make up our planet.
  • Stop in for a self-guided tour at the Go-Go Museum & Cafe, the go-to site for the appreciation and study of go-go music, history and culture. Go-go music—the “Official Music of the District of Columbia”—is a blend of funk, R&B, hip-hop and Afro-Latin rhythms created in the 1970s in Washington, D.C. In the same Anacostia neighborhood, you’ll find the Frederick Douglass house and The Big Chair.

Need More?

Here are some FREE exhibits, events and ideas to help you fill your time in D.C.

  • The city is best seen on foot! Download a self-guided walking tour of an area or site that interests you.
  • Take a nighttime walk around the monuments and memorials. The Lincoln, Jefferson, World War II and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials are stunning after dark.
  • The exhibit Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art at the National Museum of African Art explores LGBTQ+ artists from Africa as part of a larger, joyful story of African art history.
  • On July 17, see a Friday evening parade at the Marine Barracks, the “Oldest Post of the Corps,” featuring the Marine Band, the Drum and Bugle Corps, and the renowned Silent Drill Platoon.
  • Want to see Jazz in the Garden in the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden? The lottery for free passes to the July 17 event opens on Monday, July 6, at 10 a.m.
  • Throughout the summer, the 451-acre U.S. National Arboretum will stay open each night until 8 p.m., three hours past regular closing time.

This is just a taste of all that Washington, D.C., has to offer. Visit washington.org to explore on your own.