What attractions are there in Washington in English. Washington city: attractions, photos, personal impressions of the US capital. National Gallery of Art

Washington is the capital of the United States of America, while being a separate city that is not part of any state. District of Columbia (DC) is the official name of the capital, named after the country's first president, George Washington. In this article, I invite you to 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 united into a single District of Columbia. Interestingly, the USA also has a state of the same name, which is why the Americans themselves call the capital nothing more than DC (DC).

The population of Washington is 601,723 people, but people come here to work every day a large number of people from the suburbs, 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 country's president; 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 US Congress has supreme power over Washington. Due to special subordination, city residents have less freedom of self-government than residents of the states.

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

During the research, scientists found that 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 government apparatus.

Among the memorable events in the history of Washington are the riots of 1968, which broke out after the assassination of Martin Luther King. Over the course of several 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, the damage was so severe to the city.

Infamous event - terrorist attack September 11, 2001, when a passenger plane crashed into the Pentagon 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 selection A new look at
9/11 terrorist attack

Let's move on to geographical location a city that is located on three rivers - the Potomac, as well as its tributaries, Rock Creek and Anacostia. Washington is famous for its many parks; one fifth of the entire city territory 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 crime rate in the country. Since then, the crime rate in the country has almost halved, so now the city is quite safe to live in, 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, passenger traffic here exceeds 1 million people per day.

In addition to the main airport in Washington, Dulles Airport, there are two more airports here. Reagan Airport is used for domestic flights within the United States and is famous for its metro station.

In the center of Washington is National Mall. This open area with memorials and numerous museums exhibiting works of art from around the world.

In the center of the Mall is the most important monument in the District of Columbia - Washington Monument. This is a marble obelisk pointing straight into the sky.

On the west side of the National Mall is located Lincoln Memorial. Inside the memorial there is a grandiose sculpture of the 16th US President Abraham Lincoln, looking towards the Capitol.

Between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is located National World War II Memorial. In the same western part of the Mall there are two more significant memorials dedicated to the memory of soldiers who fought in the Korean and Vietnamese wars: Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

On the stretch of the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, there are nine buildings of the Smithsonian Institution. The most popular city museum is also located here - National Air and Space Museum.

Stands behind him National Museum of Natural History, which houses the legendary “Hope” diamond.

Nearby is located National Museum of American History, nicknamed "American Attic". IN National Archives the most important documents of the country are demonstrated: the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the US Constitution.

South of the National Mall lies the waters of Tidal Basin, whose banks are lined with Japanese cherry trees. This place is especially beautiful in spring, when you can admire the reflection of cherry blossoms on the calm surface of the water pool.

Other commemorative memorials can be seen around Tidal Basin: The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Jefferson Memorial District of Columbia War Memorial. The neoclassical-style interior walls of the Jefferson Memorial are inscribed with classic quotes from America's Founding Fathers.

The rotunda and dome rise high above Capitol Hill United States Capitol. Its friezes and murals document 400 years of U.S. history.

The Capitol is surrounded by magnificent government buildings, including the US Supreme Court building. The Thomas Jefferson Building houses a reading room. Library of Congress.

Among the flower beds, lawns and shady parks is the residence of the head of the American administration - White House. Undoubtedly, this is the most famous white sandstone mansion in the world.

All the sights of Washington proudly demonstrate the grandeur, importance, and solemnity of American life. They do not simply relate to history or modern achievements. It is important that iconic places mean something to the country and its people. And, although much of what to see in Washington looks somewhat pompous and showy, the city is worthy of world-class fame.

What to see inWashingtonFirstly

A pleasant fact is that the main city museums are free to visit. We will briefly list the main attractions of Washington and tell you about the most interesting of them.

1. White House

South façade of the White House official residence US President in Washington

To the question “What to see in Washington in 1 day?” the first answer will, naturally, be the White House. All national power and the strength of presidential power are concentrated in this symbol of American statehood. The use of white color in construction has several explanations; during the tour you can hear Interesting Facts. Routes for tourists include inspection of the premises on 2 floors; excursions are conducted from Tuesday to Saturday.

2. Capitol

US Congress building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC

A snow-white building of the same name rises on Capitol Hill. Everyone puts it in first place among those visited, telling tourists the difficult and interesting story construction. The first stone was laid by George Washington, and at all stages of the construction of the building, troubles of varying complexity occurred. Today, the Capitol stands proudly on a hill, and tourists from special galleries can see the meetings of the Senate and Congress. You can also get to the world-famous Rotunda, where a collection of sculptures and paintings is located.

3. National Mall

View of the National Mall from the US Capitol building

It is called an alley, rather nominally. In fact, this is a large park area with fountains, museums and monuments that are a national treasure. Interesting fact: although the memorials on the alley honor the memory of the dead, ordinary American life reigns around them.

4. Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a white marble granite obelisk on the National Mall.

A trip to Washington cannot be complete without visiting the monument to the venerable president. It proudly rises to a height of 169 m, and a mirror pond with ducks sparkles in front of it. An internal elevator rises to the observation deck. Before the Eiffel Tower was built, this obelisk was the tallest on the planet.

5. Lincoln Memorial

Statue of Abraham Lincoln seated on a chair inside the memorial

The assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1856 shocked the American public so much that immediately after the tragic event it was decided to perpetuate his memory. The memorial is a revered landmark of Washington and is built in the form of a large temple supported by 36 columns. The style of construction, by the way, makes it similar to the ancient Greek Parthenon. Inside, a seated statue of Lincoln, held together from pieces of marble, rises to a height of more than 5 meters.

Look Beautiful places Washington in this wonderful video!

6. Jefferson Memorial

Jefferson Memorial on the banks of the artificial lake Tidal Basin in West Park

The memorial is designed in the form beautiful building in neoclassical style. Inside there is a statue of Thomas Jefferson, 6 m high. At first it was made of plaster, but after the war it was cast from metal. On the walls of the rotunda inside you can see quotes from the 3rd President of the United States. Due to its somewhat remote location, not every tourist gets here, and in vain: the memorial is worthy of attention.

7. Pentagon

The Pentagon is the largest office building in the shape of a regular pentagon.

Many people come to this pentagon-shaped structure. The Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings. The headquarters of the US Department of Defense is located on five floors. Despite the vast area of ​​the institution, you can walk to any point in 7 minutes thanks to the original well-thought-out layout.

8. US Supreme Court Building

West façade of the United States Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington DC

The symbol of American justice, which we see in many films, inspires awe with its monumentality. A large number of sculptures are collected in the halls. The building looks squat, but this impression is deceptive. Inside there is a well-thought-out infrastructure, including exhibition halls, cafes, shops, an underground garage, and a basketball court for employees.

9. Edgar Hoover Building

J. Edgar Hoover's multi-story building on Pennsylvania Avenue

We will advise fans of American detective stories where to go in Washington, because... they often mention both this institution and its respected director and creator, who led the Bureau for almost half a century. The FBI headquarters stands out from its neighboring buildings with its slightly brutalist architectural style. About 30 thousand people work here.

10. Washington Cathedral

The majestic Gothic Church of Saints Peter and Paul among beautiful park in Washington

An amazingly beautiful cathedral made of light sandstone, built in the best traditions of the neo-Gothic style. More than 200 windows are decorated with mosaics. One of them became world famous thanks to a fragment of moonstone inlaid into its center. The cathedral has a height of 91 m, the cathedral organ is the largest in the capital. Many famous American citizens are buried here.

11. Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Basilica of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in neo-Byzantine style in Washington DC

The large Catholic church, 152 m high, is one of the best attractions in Washington. The basilica's dome is only 2 m smaller in diameter than the Capitol's. According to experts, more than 12 million pilgrims come here every year.

12. Georgetown area

The oldest and most prestigious neighborhood of Georgetown on the Potomac River at night

The oldest and most respectable district appeared in the middle of the 18th century. Everything here is prestigious and expensive, from the prices of goods in stores to old mansions. The material for the construction of many of them was American ceramic brick; perfectly preserved facades indicate careful reconstruction. The university of the same name is located in the area, so the local streets are always full of young people.

13. Ford's Theater

Ford's Theater, home of the Lincoln Memorial Theater and Museum

There are interesting places in Washington that are known for sad events. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated here in 1865 during a performance. The first floor of the theater tells the story with a large, informative exhibition featuring the president's personal belongings and murder weapons. To this day, the seat that the president occupied on that tragic evening is never occupied.

14. National Gallery of Art

The National Gallery of Art is an art museum on the National Mall in Washington DC.

Let's pay tribute to the beautiful. What to visit in Washington for art lovers? The gallery presents a unique collection of works of art from different eras and consists of two buildings connected by an underground passage. It seems that the architect had no desire to create monotonously, so the eastern room was built in a neoclassical manner, and the western one is reminiscent of the Roman Pantheon. Exhibits with 1200 paintings, sculptures and other works will amaze the imagination of any tourist.

15. Library of Congress

The Thomas Jefferson Building is the oldest of the three United States Library of Congress buildings.

When going on a trip, be sure to plan a visit here. The world's largest library with a huge amount printed publications is impressive with its architecture: an exquisite façade, a fountain at the entrance, high arched windows. The interior is replete with mosaics, frescoes, and marble columns. Among them, in addition to books: collections of music, manuscripts, photographs. There is an amazing specimen here - a tiny book the size of a dot!

16. Monument to Martin Luther King

Monument to Martin Luther King in the museum and park area of ​​the National Mall

The memorial is dedicated to a Christian preacher who fought for the rights of blacks. The unusually made stone monument is impressive, although absolutely devoid of pathos. The pose of King, carved from stone, as if emerging from a rock, emphasizes determination and confidence in his actions. Plates with quotes from the fighter are laid nearby.

17. Museum of American History

Entrance to the north façade of the Museum of American History on the National Mall Billy Hathorn

The exhibits here tell about American history, culture, and the progressive achievements of the nation. Many items in the exhibition once belonged to prominent figures of the country. The museum often hosts symposiums, lectures, festivals, and public events

18. Museum of American Indians

Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington Gabriele Giuseppini

A review of this museum contains recommendations for tourists who want to learn more about the indigenous people of the United States. The interior is richly decorated with marble columns, sculptures, and paintings. From time to time, Indian music concerts are held here and thematic exhibitions are organized.

19. Natural History Museum

Exhibit in one of the halls of the Museum of Natural History in Washington Ken Lund

The dim lighting inside the museum creates a feeling of mystery and enigma. Tourists are greeted by a huge stuffed elephant. There are so many exhibits that they do not fit into the exhibition halls; some of them are located right in the corridors. Among the more than 500 million exhibits are minerals, archaeological finds, meteorites, Star of Asia sapphire, Hope diamond, Hope diamond. The extensive collection of dinosaur skeletons and a stuffed ancient sperm whale are impressive.

20. Museum of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Air and Astronautics Museum in the evening

The four museum buildings in the form of marble cubes are connected by glass and steel isthmuses, in which large-scale exhibits are presented. Spaceships, planes, and stations hover in the air under the ceiling. The exhibitions are accompanied by documentary photographs and newsreels, and interactive simulators.

21. Museum of Journalism and News

Metropolitan Museum of Journalism and News building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC

The seven-story building houses, in addition to 14 galleries, 15 cinema halls and 2 radio studios. The exhibitions tell about the development of funds mass media. Thanks to interactive technologies generously used in exhibition equipment, visitors have the opportunity to try themselves in the role of a presenter or reporter. A memorial obelisk installed in the museum commemorates the 1,800 journalists who gave their lives for freedom of speech.

22. International Spy Museum

The main entrance to the International Spy Museum in Washington DC NCinDC

The only museum of this kind in the world introduces visitors to spy artifacts and tools. The halls of the museum are very interesting, where everyone can try on the role of a spy, play spy games, and take a master class on espionage training. The collection continues to grow today.

23. Smithsonian Institution building

Neo-Romanesque Smithsonian Institution building on the National Mall in Washington DC

What to see in Washington on the National Mall? This building immediately catches your eye with its brick coloring. It is stylized as ancient castle The crenellated towers reinforce this impression. The university is named after the English scientist J. Smithson; his remains are kept in a tomb in a small chapel located at the entrance.

24. Pavilion of the old post office

architectural structure late XIX century in neo-Romanesque style in the center of Washington

This unique monument of Romanesque architecture amazes with the splendor of its façade. The clock tower is 95 m high and has a museum with exhibits telling its history. They work in the building itself entertainment centers, shops and several government offices. Co observation deck offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding area.

25. Mount Vernon Estate

Mansion house on the family estate of the first US President George Washington Ad Meskens

Looking through photos of Washington attractions with names and descriptions, you will definitely see this place located near the Potomac River. George Washington's family estate is attractive with its ambiance, typical of 18th-century estates, and beautiful landscapes.

Sights of Washington: what else to visit inWashington?

It is beneficial to choose a hotel in Washington near the center - this will help walking and reduce transportation costs. Although, of course, the price for accommodation will be higher than in options on the outskirts. But in order to see individual attractions, you still have to sometimes resort to using transport.

26. Korean War Veterans Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial in West Potomac Park Ger Dekker

Another highly rated property on the National Mall. This moving memorial has a solemn and unusual appearance. The territory in which it is located has a triangular shape. Along one side there is a granite wall with the names of American citizens killed in the war. The realistic sculptures of 19 steel soldiers walking through the bush make a striking impression. At night, shrouded in glare of light, the figures seem to come to life.

27. Arlington National Cemetery

Headstones at the American Military Cemetery in Arlington

Famous warriors, politicians, and astronauts are buried here. Today, only those killed in hostilities with 20 years of military experience are buried in the cemetery. The tomb of President John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier are objects of veneration for Americans.

28. US Botanical Garden

Botanical Garden The USA is a place where you can relax and enjoy communion with nature

One of the top five American gardens. About 60 thousand plant species grow there. The territory is equipped with huge halls with artificial fountains and vegetation of different climatic zones.

29. Great Falls of the Potomac

A series of powerful waterfalls and rapids on the Potomac River

It's spectacular a natural phenomenon refers to and is located 15 miles from Washington. The 6-meter waterfalls have an interesting geological history. Some areas are favorite place for kayaking enthusiasts, although given the speed and strength of the current, this is not always safe.

30. Cherry blossom festival

Blooming cherry trees by the water illuminated by the rising sun in Washington

Tourists from all over the world come to see this fragrant and spectacular event. In 1935, the festival for the first time delighted the townspeople with the blossoming of 3 thousand cherry blossoms, donated to Washington by the mayor of Tokyo. Since then, every year the shores of the Tidal Basin are covered with wonderful color, signaling the arrival of spring. The festival lasts 5 weeks, during which concerts, sports competitions and other entertainment events are held.

If you decide to go to America, then you should definitely visit Washington. You should see with your own eyes the kilometer-long boulevards, wide avenues, legendary monuments and understand how zealously Americans make dreams of freedom and justice come true. Read also about and get inspired for your further travel around the USA.

Basic moments

With its marble monuments and high politics, Washington has long been saddled with a reputation as a dull government city. “The city of southern prosperity and northern charm,” as John Kennedy described it, often seems slow and uninteresting to visitors. But today the capital of the United States is bathed in new energy, turning it into interesting place for relax. Although the government is still the orbit in which the city's sun revolves, there are many famous museums And interesting surroundings. And with the advent of restaurants, cafes, fashion boutiques and clubs, DC has become a cultural center.

The District of Columbia is so much more than just Museum exhibit or a great backdrop for the evening news. There are tree-lined areas, amazing theaters, and international restaurants. It is worth looking deeper, and the life of the city opens up to your eyes, in which, among everything else, there are more and more markets. The cobbled streets are home to a population of 50% African-American descent.

Washington is a city not only of politicians, but also of owners of ancestral mansions and immigrants from El Salvador. Artists and other creative types are drawn to Washington's undeniable intellectual energy, with more successful and talented people working there than would be expected from a city of its size.

Over 3 million people live in Washington and the suburbs of Virginia and Maryland; the population of the city itself is about 670 thousand inhabitants (according to census data, increased from 606,900 people in 1990 to 672,228 people in 2015), where more than half are African-American.

Seeing the beautiful houses and diplomatic missions around Massachusetts Avenue and the university district of Georgetown, it is hard to believe that for a long time Washington was the swampy banks of the Potomac River. When laying out the city, George Washington invited the Parisian engineer Pierre-Charles Lanfant, who was rebuilding Federal Hall in New York on the occasion of Washington's assumption of the presidency.

The sights of Washington fit into a rather limited space, which is a rectangle stretching from railway station Union Station and the Library of Congress in the east to the Watergate area and the Lincoln Memorial near the Potomac River in the west. Georgetown occupies the northwestern part of this rectangle, and Arlington Cemetery stretches along the western bank of the Potomac. Visiting almost all monuments and museums is free.

You can choose a traditional range of activities with visits to classics like the White House and Washington Monument, as well as the Museum of Natural History. Plan a visit for late March or early April, during the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and you'll be rewarded with the sight of lots of pink petals. If you've already seen the must-see program, experience another side of the city, brightly colored by the lights of the clubs, decorated with art galleries and vibrant farmers' markets in the suburbs.

It only takes a couple of days to see a city familiar to many short guides, but to get to know modern Washington, which is loved by its residents, it takes more than one month.

If you don't like to walk, as the city usually swelters in the heat of midsummer, you can take the Tourmobile tram service, which runs past the city's main monuments, museums and government buildings, with stops at the Capitol, the Esplanade and the White House. The guides tell you everything while you are driving. The benefit of this method of transportation is that you can travel all day with one ticket, which is purchased when you first board the tram.

In addition, Tourmobile streetcars provide service to Arlington and Mount Vernon.

Public transportation in Washington DC consists of convenient city buses and an extensive Metrorail network. There are many taxis, where quite reasonable prices are charged depending on the area into which the city is divided (a map can be seen in the taxi cabin), and not on the distance traveled. Section one covers most of the main attractions. Use your car when traveling out of town, since official parking in the center is expensive, and illegal parking can ruin you. The police simply tow the car to one of 20 fenced parking lots, without even notifying the owner where exactly.

Story

Like much of American history, the story of D.C. is one of compromise. In this case, the balance fluctuated due to politicians of the North and South, who dreamed of placing the capital in their zone of influence. After rejecting candidates such as Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore, it was decided to found a new city in the middle of the 13 colonies, on the banks of the Potomac River. The states of Maryland and Virginia (which took its land back in the 19th century) donated the land.

Washington was initially ruled by Congress, the city was set on fire by the British during the War of 1812, and in 1846, with talk of abolition buzzing in the capital, Virginia was returned south coast subordinate port of Alexandria. Over the years of its history, Washington has developed into different directions: as a shrine to the federal government and home to federal employees on the one hand, and as a ghetto for northbound African Americans and overseas immigrants on the other.

In 1973, the city finally got its own mayor, Walter Washington, one of the first African-American mayors to lead major cities. Even with perpetual underfunding, today's Washingtonians pay the same taxes as other American citizens without having a voice in Congress. The educated upper class is incredibly distant from the poor, to whom they pay little attention; Almost every second person has a university degree, but one in three Washingtonians is illiterate.

With the election of Barack Obama in 2008, the status of Washington has increased - now New Yorkers are moving here, and not vice versa! President Obama's habit of playing basketball and visiting local restaurants are rare signs: this is a president who not only works in Washington, but also has a Washington soul.

Sights of Washington

To make the city easy to navigate, two designers were involved in its planning. Unfortunately, their ideas about the capital came into conflict with each other. Pierre Lenfant's diagonal streets, named after states, juxtapose Andrew Ellicott's grid pattern (remember: letters go from east to west, numbers from north to south). On top of that, the city is divided into four sectors with the same addresses in different parts- If you go to F and 14th NW you will be next to the White House, and if you go to F and 14th NE you will be next to Rosedale Playground.

Most of the attractions are in the North-West sector, and most of unkempt areas - in the South-East (Southeast, SE). Don't get lost in the evening and prepare for crowds during events like the National Cherry Blossom Festival. To the south and west is the Potomac River; to the north and east lies Maryland; The capital's ring road encircles the entire city.

The White house

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; tel.: 202-456-70-41; www.whitehouse.gov

Although the White House is open to the public, for security reasons it now offers very limited tours, usually only available to US citizens who can arrange them through their representative in Congress. But you can also get a fairly complete picture of the White House and its history by visiting information Center at 15th and E streets in the Department of Commerce building. The park rangers serving the center are always ready to help, there are also exhibitions, a 30-minute film is shown and there is a souvenir shop. Tours of the White House Gardens are available on select days and tickets are available at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the tour. For more information, contact the information center.

The White House was designed in 1792 by Irish architect James Hoban in the English Palladian style, common among the landed gentry. During the competition, where the winner was awarded a gold medal worth $500, Hoban beat out Thomas Jefferson's anonymous design.

Rejoicing at his arrival here in 1801, Jefferson remarked that the vast apartments of the White House could easily accommodate “two emperors, a pope and a Dalai Lama to boot.” But such a statement did not prevent him from soon adding wings with a terrace on both sides, and Benjamin Latrobe added porticoes. And then almost all of Jefferson's successors, deprived of his architectural knowledge, fell into the habit of changing something in their temporary home.

Those lucky enough to get inside the White House will see something like this: one of the corridors on the first floor leads to Jacqueline Kennedy's garden, followed by the Gilded Room with a collection of gilded silverware and a library. Upstairs is the Government Floor, with the five halls most familiar to us from books and television shows.

In the East Hall, where presidential press conferences are held, concerts, balls and receptions are held on the occasion of the marriage of the president's children, and the funeral of the current president, in particular, Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Kennedy. The first "First Lady" of the White House, Abigail Adams, used it as a drying rack for her laundry room. The famous 1796 portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart was saved from a fire in 1814 by Dolley Madison, wife of President James Madison.

First ladies often hold tea in the tastefully furnished Green Room under a 1790 crystal chandelier given to Herbert Hoover by the British government. Jefferson loved to dine in the Green Room, showing puzzled Americans the latest in European cuisine such as pasta, waffles and ice cream.

The Blue Room is furnished in the French Empire style, which corresponds to the gala dinners held here. There is also the “Truman Balcony”, where the president, originally from Missouri, liked to breathe air. The Red Room, whose walls are covered in red satin, boasts gilded and marble tables. Its opulence contrasts with the restrained decoration of the State Dining Room at the western end of the floor, above which are the presidential living quarters. The dining room is decorated in elegant 18th-century English style, and Queen Anne walnut chairs line the oak walls with Corinthian pilasters, but a portrait of Abraham Lincoln dominates everything.

National Mall and Potomac Park

The esplanade, surrounded by greenery and water, stretching from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, crosses the imaginary line of the White House - Tidal Basin at the Washington Monument and represents one of the largest city alleys. Surrounded by monuments and museums, it is almost always full of people walking, relaxing, flying kites and playing ball, demonstrating the posthumous triumph of the ideas of the architect Pierre-Charles Lanfant, who dreamed of achieving a harmonious combination of the built environment with the landscape.

If the Statue of Liberty personifies America in the eyes of the whole world, then the George Washington Memorial is a symbol of the state in the eyes of the Americans themselves. The construction of the 169 m high white marble obelisk began in 1848, but took as long as 36 years due to lack of funds and the Civil War. A lift will take you to the top of the monument, from here you can enjoy a stunning view of the city.

Then walk west from the obelisk along the 610m long tree-lined reflecting pond to the Lincoln Memorial (1922) . This rectangular ancient Greek temple structure, surrounded by 36 Doric columns, houses a six-meter statue of Lincoln seated in thought by Daniel Chester French. The sculpture is especially impressive if you look at it at the first rays of the sun.

To the left of the entrance is a plaque with Lincoln's speech after the Battle of Gettysburg, where he pays tribute to those who died for "a new race of men, conceived in the bosom of Liberty and deeply believing that all men are born equal." American schoolchildren know this speech as the Gettysburg Address.

Stop at the nearby Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This modest monument to those killed in Vietnam contains the names of 58 thousand soldiers. A more familiar sculptural group was built later at the request of those who served there. From here, you can visit the Jefferson Memorial through Potomac Park, which surrounds the Tidal Basin. (1943) , modeled on the Roman Pantheon.

When looking at the bronze statue of this architect, philosopher and statesman with refined manners, the apt words of President Kennedy come to mind. At a dinner in the Blue Room in honor of the Nobel laureates, he said: “This is the most extraordinary collection of talent and human knowledge that has ever come together in the White House, except perhaps when Thomas Jefferson dined alone here.” .

The esplanade runs among the world's most impressive concentration of museums and art galleries. Enter the Botanical Garden, located just south of the brooding figure of Civil War General Ulysses S. Grant. The three-year renovation of the garden made it possible to expand the already significant collection of plants from all over the world, full of captivating smells.

Capitol Hill

Most powerful government Western world occupies a building resembling the Capitol. This imposing structure rests under a huge white dome that unites the Senate in the north wing with the House of Representatives in the south wing. The building itself is impressive.

The original design in 1793 by William Thornton called for a low dome. When Benjamin Latrobe expanded the design after the fire of 1814, congressmen praised him only for the capitals of the Corinthian columns located in their meeting room in the form of corn cobs and tobacco leaves. Charles Bulfinch arrived from Boston to install a more magnificent vault, but in 1850 Congress decided to enlarge the dome further. And then Thomas Walter, taking as a model the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral, placed the iron dome on a grandiose drum supported by columns, and so it has stood ever since, and the Statue of Liberty of the architect Thomas Crawford crowned it in 1863.

The entrance to the Capitol is located at east side and starts from the Rotunda (tours usually last 45 minutes). The extensive ceiling was painted in 1865 by artist Constantine Brumidi, depicting the Apotheosis of George Washington, who is glorified by the gods representing Liberty, Victory and Glory, and women representing the 13 American states. Closer to the floor, along the entire circumference of the Rotunda, there is a 91 m long frieze depicting historical events: from the arrival of Columbus to the surrender of the British under the command of Cornwallis at Yorktown to the flight of the Wright brothers' airplane in 1903.

In the National Statuary Hall and the corridors leading from the Rotunda you will find what is considered the largest collection of enormous sculptures in America. It arose after all 50 states were invited to submit statues of their most eminent citizens, created by their own sculptors.

Outside, the grounds of the Capitol, with an area of ​​53 hectares, are occupied by beautiful parks, laid out by a landscape architect of the 19th century. Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for creating parks in New York, Boston, Chicago and California.

1st Street & Independence Avenue; tel.: 202-707-97-79; www.loc.gov

The Library of Congress, containing millions of books, maps, manuscripts, periodicals, photographs, sound and video recordings, and rare instruments, is one of the most remarkable buildings on Capitol Hill. The permanent exhibition of documents includes the Gutenberg Bible of 1455 - one of only three copies that have survived to us in good preservation. In addition, in the section " Printed publications and Snapshots,” take a look at the moving photographs of the Civil War by Matthew Brady, America's first great photojournalist.

Folger Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol Street), located behind the Library of Congress, in its Tudor-style rooms, houses the largest collection of the poet's works outside the UK, his works and objects of the era, including a carefully reproduced Elizabethan theatre. Nearby stands the formidable Supreme Court building, built in 1935, the last example of the Greco-Roman style among Washington's government buildings.

North and south sides of the Esplanade

Abraham Lincoln Assassination Site, Ford's Theater (511 10th St., between E and F streets; tel: 202-347-48-33; www.fordstheatre.org) has the status of a historical landmark and has been restored as it appeared on the fateful evening of April 14, 1865. Since 1968, it has again become a working stage venue; Presidential box added. Downstairs there is a museum that tells the story of Lincoln's life. The clothes he wore to the performance are on display; the killer's Derringer pistol and the diary of the killer, John Wilkes Booth - actor and ardent supporter of the defeated southerners. Opposite, at No. 516 is the Petersen House Museum, where the dying president was taken, because of the poor condition of the roads they were afraid to take him to the White House. There is a small bedroom where the tall Lincoln, whose height was 2 m, had to be placed on the bed at an angle.

A history lesson is available at the National Archives (National Archives; Constitution Avenue, between 7th and 9th streets; www.archives.gov), where the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are displayed, handwritten on parchment. Some are badly faded and now sit in light-filtering boxes filled with helium to protect them from rotting.

On the south side of the Esplanade, at 14th and C streets, is the Currency and Securities Bureau. (tel: 877-874-41-14; www.bep.treas.gov, valid ID required; tours canceled when enhanced security measures are implemented), where you can see how American paper money and postage stamps are printed, from one-cent stamps to a $500 million Treasury bond (photography is prohibited). You will follow the entire journey of turning clean white sheets of cotton and linen paper into crisp banknotes. You can buy shredded banknotes as a souvenir.

Arlington

Along the green banks of the Potomac behind the Lincoln Park Highway, a half-mile scenic drive runs north between the Rock Creek Park Highway and the river. On weekends you can watch polo games, field hockey and kayaks passing by. You'll pass the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts along the way. (2700 F Street), where the attraction is not the awkward architecture, but its cultural activities, since the capital previously eschewed the performing arts.

The center includes two drama theatres, one opera house, concert hall and the American Film Institute's superb family-friendly theater. To the north is the Watergate, a complex of buildings where dirty deeds were carried out in 1972, leading to the forced resignation of President Richard Nixon under threat of impeachment.

Situated picturesquely on the hillside on the other side of the river, the Arlington House, also known as the Robert E. Lee Memorial (Robert E. Lee Memorial). This austere mansion in neo-Greek style, decorated with eight Doric columns on the front, was built in 1812 by George Washington P. Custis, the grandson of George Washington's wife by her first marriage, who was raised in their home. Then he lived here until 1861, when General Lee had to leave for the Confederate troops. In front of the house itself is the tomb of the architect Pierre-Charles Lanfant, from where there is a wonderful view of the capital across the river, which he so lovingly planned. His original city plan is carved into the granite stone, allowing comparison with what was built. The house is currently undergoing reconstruction, but it itself is open to visitors, although all the furnishings have been removed for the duration of the restoration work.

During the Civil War, Northern troops confiscated Lee's home, setting aside part of the surrounding plantation for the burial of dead soldiers. This marked the beginning of Arlington National Cemetery, where only those Americans who participated in hostilities are buried.

A place of honor is occupied by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers of the Two World Wars and the Korean War, where an infantryman stands guard of honor, changed every half hour in summer and hourly in winter. In a small park there is the grave of John F. Kennedy in the form of a paved area around the Eternal Flame. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis rests in the same plot, and the president's brother, Robert Kennedy, is buried nearby.

The Marine Corps War Memorial, better known as the Iwo Jima Monument, is located in front of the cemetery's north entrance. It is the world's largest bronze statue, rising 23 meters and representing five Marines and one sailor raising the American flag. (the real flag is raised daily by Marines stationed in the city) on Mount Suribachi while mastering Japanese naval base on pacific island Ioto February 23, 1945 The battle for the island lasted three months and claimed 5,000 American lives, although Japanese casualties were four times higher.

Georgetown is in the northeast federal district, high-ranking government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, university professors and highly paid journalists live here. It's also a vibrant part of town, with colorful shops clustered around M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. art galleries, cafes and restaurants.

Georgetown, already a major center of tobacco trade, was founded in 1751, when the development plan for Washington was just being drawn up. The city exported tobacco along the Potomac and imported luxury goods such as silk, wine, pewter, tea and wig powder for idle landowners. A couple of houses remain from those times, but the best examples of residential architecture are represented by buildings of the Georgian and Federal styles of the first half of the 19th century V. and individual buildings of the Victorian style of the post-war era (meaning Civil War) . It’s nice to see the narrow and shady streets here after the wide avenues of bureaucratic Washington.

The oldest building in the city - Ancient stone house (Old Stone House; 3051 M Street) 1766, where the Museum of Colonial Life is now located. Another significant building is Dumbarton House (Dumbarton House; 2715 Q Street), supposedly rebuilt in 1805 by Benjamin Latrobe. Nowadays there is a museum of furniture, silverware and porcelain from the Federalist period. The museum hosts lectures on furniture styles of the 18th-19th centuries. and concerts are given.

Dumbarton Oaks (Dumbarton Oaks; 3101 R Street)- a stately mansion built in 1801 became the venue for a conference in 1944, where the USA, Britain, Soviet Union and China outlined the creation of the United Nations. On 6.5 hectares of land, strict terraces and ponds are perfectly combined with a more free layout in the English style of the landscape below. In the garden (at the 32nd Street entrance) is the Museum of Pre-Columbian and Byzantine Art, topped with a mushroom-shaped dome (Museum of Pre-Columbian and Byzantine Art), built by architect Philip Johnson.

Ruins of the Chesapeake-Ohio Canal are visible at the southern end of Georgetown. (Chesapeake 8c Ohio Canal). From 1828 to 1924, coal was transported along it, and now there is freedom for pedestrians, cyclists, kayakers and fishermen, and in winter - for skaters. Channel area (Canal Square; 1054 31st Street) was a warehouse, now converted into a shopping center.

Washington Museums

National Gallery of Art

Constitution Avenue between 4th and 6th streets; tel.: 202-737-42-15; www.nga.gov

The West Building, a classical colonnaded temple of the arts, houses European and American paintings and sculptures, and its exhibition halls display works from the Middle Ages to the present day. Designed by architect Bei Yuming, the East Building is a striking combination of geometric shapes in the form of billowing narrow triangular prisms. You are even more amazed when you get inside the building, where a collection of modern art is presented.

Not one, but a whole series of museums took refuge under such a sign: the 17th century. in Washington, two in New York and branches in other cities. Museums have 75 million artistic and scientific exhibits, and only a hundredth of them are presented to the public. Admission is free everywhere. The colorful red brick building on the Esplanade, commonly referred to as the “castle,” is the Smithsonian Visitor Center, open daily and housing a café. The nine museums listed below are Smithsonian Institution; More detailed information can be obtained by phone: 202-633-10-00.

National Air and Space Museum

7th Street and Independence Avenue; www.nasm.si.edu

The entire history of aviation - from the Wright brothers' first flight across the North Carolina grassland in 1903 to Neil Armstrong's flight from Cape Canaveral to the Moon exactly 66 years later - is presented in 23 rooms.

National Museum of Natural History

10th Street & Constitution Avenue; www.mnh.si.edu

Here you can see everything from a 24 m long diplodocus to insects. The largest permanent exhibition presented in the Maritime Hall. R. Santa.

Madison Drive, 12th to 14th streets; www.americanhistory.si.edu

The life of Americans of various eras and social classes is presented here, accompanied by an entertaining history of the development of electric lighting and electric motors. An extensive renovation of the museum, completed in late 2008, allowed for the addition of new exhibits.

National Museum of the American Indian

4th Street and Independence Avenue; www.nmai.si.edu

The National Museum of the American Indian is a collection of thousands of items, including feathered carvings and masks of Northeastern Indians, Plains Indian skins and headdresses, Southwestern Indian pottery, and 18th-century artifacts. Great Lakes Indians and beautiful Navajo textiles.

Independence Avenue between 7th and 9th streets; www.hirshorn.si.edu

This drum-like building houses contemporary art, with a garden of sculptures including Rodin's Citizens of Calais and works by the Englishman Moore, the Spanish Picasso and the American David Smith. The collection of paintings includes creations of cubism, socialist realism, op art, pop art and minimalism.

Freer Art Gallery

Jefferson at 12th Street; www.asia.si.edu

Freer Art Gallery - large Asian collection and smaller American collection. Subterranean exhibition spaces connect the Freer Gallery with the Arthur M. Saclep Gallery (1050 Independence Avenue SW), which features Buddhist sculpture, ancient Iranian forging, and works of art from China. South-East Asia and the ancient Near East.

Freer Art Gallery

National Portrait Gallery

8th and F streets; www.npg.si.edu

National Portrait Gallery - All presidents and prominent women are represented here, including Pocahontas, Eleanor Roosevelt and Gertrude Stein. In addition, the gallery is a major center for historical photography. The exhibition is located in National Museum American art.

National Museum of American Art

8th and G streets; www.americanart.si.edu

Fine examples of colonial art - from Winslow Homer, Mary Stevenson Cassatt and James Whistler to Georgia O'Keeffe and Willem De Kooning. His branch, the Renwick Gallery (Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street), showcases the finest examples of American decorative arts.

Washington for children

Without a doubt, the highlight of the excursion is the zoo, where approximately 2,000 animals live on 163 acres, from Asian elephants and great apes to fur seals. Don't miss your chance to meet the zoo's most popular resident, baby panda Bao Bao. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk under the Orangutan Transport System (or just O-line)– chances are high that you will see these primates swinging on wires between eight steel towers. And if you are more interested in exotic animals South America, check out the Amazon Exhibition, which covers almost 1.3 square kilometers.

Visiting the zoo is free, but parking is not - the first three hours will cost $16, more than three hours - $22, so the cheapest and easiest way to get to the zoo is to take the Red Line subway to Woodley Park station.

Museums throughout the city will provide children of all ages with new knowledge and entertainment. But if you (or they) tired of indoors, head to any of the many enticing green parks, such as the 328-acre East Potomac Park (Ohio Dr SW) with a playground, swimming pool open air, mini golf and picnic equipment; the park extends southeast from Tidal Basin.

On the Washington DC website Our Kids (www.our-kids.com) there are many lists of performances and activities for children, family restaurants, as well as a large number of ideas on how to spend the day.

Many hotels provide nanny services, but you can also book a nanny from the reputable Mothers" Aides (Tel: 703-250-0700; www.mothersaides.com) with rates ranging from $15 to $20 per hour.

The wide spaces of the Alleys are ideal for family entertainment outdoors, whether you want to throw a Frisbee, have a picnic, ride an old-fashioned carousel ($2.50 tickets) or go to museums.

Children love anything that flattens and/or causes other things to flatten; Both dinosaurs and insects can be seen at the National Museum of Natural History (National Museum of Natural History). The Kennedy Center hosts live entertainment, and the National Air and Space Museum (National Air & Space Museum) there are pieces of lunar rock, a 3D cinema and an amazing horse riding simulator.

The National Theater hosts free Saturday morning performances ranging from puppet shows to tap dancers (seats must be reserved in advance).

At the Discovery Theater (Tel: 202-633-8700; www.discoverytheater.org; 1100 Jefferson Dr SW; adults/children $6/5) below the Ripley Center building (Ripley Center) There are entertaining shows for young viewers.

Be sure to check out the Children's Museum (Tel: 301-686-0225; www.ncm.museum; 112 Waterfront St, National Harbor, MD), which is located in the National Harbor Complex, 16 km south of the Mall (Mall).

Independence Day in Washington

Festivals and events

National Cherry Blossom Festival

Held from late March to early April. Washington is especially beautiful during the festival (www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org).

Smithsonian Folk Festival

Held over two weeks or more in June and July, the fun, family-friendly celebration features the region's traditional folk art, crafts, food and music (www.festivai.si.edu).

independence Day

It is not surprising that here it is celebrated with pomp, the 4th of July is celebrated with a parade, an open-air concert and the launch of fireworks over the Mall (Mall).

Accommodation

Looking to stay in a bed and breakfast or private accommodation throughout the city, contact Bed & Breakfast Accommodations (Tel: 877-893-3233; www.bedandbreakfastdc.com).

If you want to come to Washington by car, expect parking to cost $20 or more. (or leave your car in Arlington or Alexandria, where some hotels provide free parking).

Kitchen

As you'd expect from one of the most international cities in the world, Washington DC's restaurant scene is eclectic, with a huge variety of restaurants serving Ethiopian, Indian, Southeast Asian, French, Italian and other cuisines, as well as good old-fashioned Southern fare. kitchens.

Excursions from Washington

Mount Vernon (Virginia; 26 km south on park road to Mount Vernon Memorial; in summer, also by Tourmobile trolley; tel.: 703-780-20-00; www.mountvernon.org), in addition to being the home of George Washington, allows you to see a carefully restored 18th-century Virginia plantation: perhaps only the lawns look more manicured than then. Make the 35-minute drive in the morning to escape the spring and summer crowds and sit, as Washington and his wife Martha once did, on the columned veranda overlooking the Potomac River Valley and the green hills of Maryland in the distance.

The great warrior and leader George Washington was also a skilled farmer who was an early adopter of extended crop rotation. On his land of 3,250 hectares, he started five farms where 120 slaves worked. Along the border of the bowling green you will see old trees planted by Washington. You can see Martha's supply books in the house. Washington's bedroom contains original items, including a traveling chest that accompanied its owner along the roads of the war, and the bed on which he died in 1799.

Colonial Virginia (south of Washington on Interstate 95 through Richmond to Interstate 5). Route 5 takes you to three historic sites: Jamestown, where Virginia was founded, Williamsburg, Virginia's capital from 1699 to 1780, and Yorktown, where the Revolutionary War ended in 1781. All cities are connected by the Colonial Park Highway, where the visitor center distributes tickets to visit Colonial Williamsburg (Exit 238 to Interstate 64). If you have a busy schedule, visit all three places in one day.

Colonial Williamsburg has the largest restoration program in the country, spanning over 500 18th-century buildings. Guests are invited to interact with their inhabitants, who are represented by actors dressed in period dress. Visit the shoemaker's, blacksmith's, pharmacy and printing shop to learn about these crafts, or take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

The restoration has been carried out since 1927 with funds from John D. Rockefeller Jr. Using drawings from 18th-century engravings found in the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford in England, architectural historians have reconstructed in detail the 1705 Capitol building and the governor's palace. As for the palace, a drawing of its interior layout drawn by Thomas Jefferson, who lived here for six months while governor of Virginia, was very helpful. the main street Named after the Duke of Gloucester, there are beautiful clapboard and red brick Georgian houses.

Prominent figures of the Revolutionary War met at Reilly's Tavern; you can taste cuisine from the 18th century. in the King's Arms, Chowning's and Christiana Campbell's taverns, which are in excellent condition.

Jamestown, 10 km south of Williamsburg, was where the first settlers from England landed in May 1607. (13 years before the Mayflower arrived in Massachusetts). It was long believed that the only surviving monument of colonial Jamestown was the collapsing bell tower when the site was abandoned due to malarial mosquitoes (now missing). But extensive excavations since 1994 have revealed thousands of traces of those ancient times, including parts of the original wooden James Fort. The settlement of Jamestown was built on the model of an ancient fort with a yard for glassblowing and with exact copies of the fragile ships "Susan Constant", "Discovery" and "Godspeed" on the river bank, on which John Smith and 103 settlers set off on a long and dangerous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean .

Yorktown, 29 km to the east, is where Lord Cornwallis surrendered with his garrison in October 1781, marking the loss of Britain's American colonies. Before visiting this battle site, visit the Yorktown Victory Center, 2 miles outside the city, where you can see a “Continental Army camp,” talk to costumed actors, and see an exhibit of Revolutionary War artifacts. In the city itself, visit Moore's House, where the British negotiated the terms of surrender with the Americans and French.

Useful sites

• Information for tourists online (www.washington.org, www.thedistrict.com).
• Washington City Paper (www.washingtoncitypaper.com) Free editorial weekly newspaper with list entertainment places, snack bars, cafes and restaurants.
• Washington Post (www.washingtonpost.com) Dear Daily Urban (and state) newspaper. You can get its daily version for free in the Express tabloid format. Check out the website for a list of events.

Movement within the region

To/from the airport

If you need to get to international Airport Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall (Baltimore/Washington International Airport) or to get to the city from there, you can drive from Union Station to final stop at the airport or back or by MARC train ($6, 40 minutes) or by Amtrak train ($14, 40 minutes).

• Metrobus 5A (www.wmata.com) Runs from Dulls to Rosslyn Metro Station (Rosslyn) (35 minutes) and downtown Washington (L"Enfant Plaza, 48 minutes); departs every 30-40 minutes. The total bus fee is about $8.

• Metrorail (www.wmata.com) The National Airport has its own station for fast and inexpensive (about $2.50) Metro rail.
(Tel: 800-258-3826; www.supershuttle.com) door-to-door shuttle bus connecting downtown Washington DC to Dulls ($29) , National Airport ($14) and Baltimore ($37) .
• Washington Flyer (www.washfly.com) Departs every half hour from Dulls to West Falls Church Metro Station. ($10) .

Public transport

• Metrorail (Tel: 202-637-7000; www.wmata.com) One of the best transport systems Country will get you to most attractions, hotel and shopping areas, and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. Train service starts at 5.00 from Monday to Friday (from 7.00 on weekends); last flight leaves around midnight from Sunday to Thursday and at 3.00 on Friday and Saturday. Vending machines inside stations sell computerized tickets; tickets start at $1.60 (children under five free). You can also purchase unlimited travel passes. (one day/seven days from $9/33).

• Circulator (www.dccirculator.com) Buses operate convenient routes, including between Union Station and Georgetown (Georgetown). One way ticket fee is $1.
• Metrobus (www.wmata.com) Buses of this company ply around the city and its environs; fixed fee (currently $1.70).

For a taxi, contact Capitol Cab (Tel: 202-636-1600) Diamond (Tel: 202-387-6200) or Yellow Cab (Tel: 202-544-1212).

Road there and back

Airplane

Washington Dulles International Airport (Washington Dulles International Airport) (IAD; Tel: 703-572-2700), 42 km west of the city center, and the National Airport. Ronald Reagan in Washington (Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) (DCA; Tel: 703-417-8000), 7 km south, are the main airports serving Washington, although Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport) (BWI; Tel: 410-859-7111), located 48 km to the northeast, is also an option. All three airports, especially Dulles and National, are important hubs for flights from around the world.

Bus

In addition to Greyhound flights, there are many cheap bus routes to New York, Philadelphia and Richmond. A one-way ticket to New York from most companies costs $20 (takes four to five hours). Stations where you can board are scattered throughout the city, but can always be reached by metro. Tickets usually need to be purchased online, but can also be purchased on the bus itself if there are free seats.

• Bolt Bus (Tel: 877-265-8287; www.boltbus.com; B) Best of inexpensive options. Bolt Bus operates from the upper level of Union Station.
• DC2NY (Tel: 202-332-2691; www.dc2ny.com; 20th St and Massachusetts Ave NW).
• Greyhound (Tel: 202-589-5141; www.greyhound.com; 10051st St NE) Flights throughout the country. The terminus is a few blocks north of Union Station; if it gets dark, take a taxi.
• Megabus (Tel: 877-462-6342; www.us.megabus.com) Flights are temporarily departing from Capitol St and N Capitol St NW. Call to confirm location.
• New Century (Tel: 202-789-8222; www.2001bus.com; 513 St NW).
• Peter Pan Bus Lines (Tel: 800-343-9999; www.peterpanbus.com) Flights to the northeastern US; the terminus is directly opposite the Greyhound station.
• WashNY (Tel: 866-287-6932; www.washny.com; 133319th St NW)

Train

• Amtrak (Tel: 800-872-7245; www.amtrak.com) Gorgeous and elegant Union Station. Trains travel to cities across the country, including New York (from $76.3.5 hours), Chicago (from $106, 18 hours), Miami (from $163.24 hours) and Richmond, Virginia ($31, three hours).
• MARC train (Maryland Rail Commuter; Tel: 866-743-3682; www.mtamaryland.com) Local rail service between Washington DC and the Baltimore metro area. Frequent trains to Baltimore ($7, hour 11 minutes) and other cities in Maryland ($4 to $12); also in Harpers Ferry (Harpers Ferry), West Virginia ($15, hour 20 minutes).