History Lover's Guide to Washington DC

For United States history buffs, there’s no better bang for your buck than a visit to Washington DC. In the country’s capital, memorials to past conflicts and triumphs stand alongside working political hubs like Congress and the White House. Here are the top six places to get your American history fix in DC.

Crowning Capitol Hill, the home of the US Senate and the House of Representatives is almost always buzzing with legislative activity. Free tours can be booked online in advance. Same-day passes are often limited, so it’s smart to plan ahead.

This open-air park extends from the US Capitol on the eastern end to the Lincoln Memorial and is visible across the city thanks to the towering Washington Monument. Discover the best photo ops on a small-group National Mall walking tour, and don’t miss seeing the monuments and memorials lit up at night.

The most famous address in America is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, home to every president since John Adams. For US residents, White House tours can only be arranged through the visitor’s state representative. For foreign travelers to the US, a White House tour can be requested through the visitor’s embassy in Washington DC. With or without a reserved tour, the White House’s South Lawn can often be seen on bus and walking tours.

See John Hancock’s original signature on the Declaration of Independence, plus other historic documents like the Bill of Rights and US Constitution in these climate-controlled archives. Many guided tours include reserved access, for a smoother visit without the wait.

Located on the National Mall, this free museum showcases American history and culture through artifacts like the original Star-Spangled Banner (the flag that inspired the country’s national anthem) and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz film. Book a private tour for deeper insight into highlights of the museum’s nearly 2 million objects.

Across the Potomac River but connected to central DC with a Metro stop, this hallowed burial ground is the final resting place of soldiers from armed conflicts dating back to the Civil War. The peaceful landscape is huge, so guided tours provide an efficient way to locate prominent grave sites like John F. Kennedy’s Eternal Flame, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Iwo Jima Memorial.