Things to do / Travel Guide
Home to some of the world's most iconic buildings and structures, Washington DC seems to have architectural wonders in every direction. The most obvious sites that can be seen even before entering the city limits are the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. Both completed over the course of the 19th century, the structures are representative of America and democracy all over the world.
The Washington Monument, built to honor the nation's first president, stands 555 feet high and is made up of marble and granite with the tip fashioned from aluminum, which, at the time of construction in the 1840s, was deemed as valuable as silver. From the top of the monument, you can catch an amazing view of Washington DC, as well as some of the outlying areas.
The Capitol Building sits on a campus 274 acres large. The building itself is recognized by a massive dome which is said to be made up of some 9 million pounds of iron. Above the dome at 288 feet in the air sits the statue “Freedom.” At nearly 20 feet tall, the statue itself weighs some 15,000 pounds.
As the design of the city includes many diagonals and traffic circles, many of the city's structures were built to fit into those designs. By law, the top of the Capitol Building must remain the highest point in the city. As such, most structures are wide and squat as opposed to tall. Many of the large government offices and memorials, including the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives, and the Supreme Court, are massive stone structures held up by an extensive series of pillars. These buildings, with their impressive façades offering many details and inscriptions, borrow elements from both Roman and Greek architecture.
The Old Executive Office Building is a palatial-looking structure in Victorian style located next to the White House that acts as the base of operations for many of the offices of the executive branch of the federal government.
More modern forms of construction, reflective of the construction boom of the post-World War II period, can be seen at sites around the city, such as the offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. An exhibit at the National Building Museum is dedicated to the various architectural patterns around the city.
Maryland
As a city with buildings dating back to the colonial period, many stately homes, churches, and other structures can be found around Baltimore. A full list of architectural and historical attractions to be found in Baltimore can be obtained from the Maryland Historical Society.
Virginia
Across the border from DC in Virginia, many structures from colonial times have been preserved to hold onto the unique building styles of that period. George Washington's home at Mount Vernon is a good example of this colonial type of architecture along with many other preserved buildings located in Alexandria.
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