-
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Category Archives: Attractions
The Embassy Row Lady and the Curse
The Indonesian Embassy was once the home of Evalyn Walsh McLean, whose Irish immigrant father hit it rich as a gold miner. This 3 1/2-story brick mansion trimmed with three bands of limestone and a red tile roof was the … Continue reading
Remembering JFK at Holy Trinity church
Holy Trinity Church (3513 N. St. NW) was the city’s first Catholic church in 1792. In the early years, parishioners either rented space on the pews or brought their own chair. But don’t worry, today’s 10,000 parishioners have ample room … Continue reading
The Awakening now entertains tourists
For 36 years, a 70-foot statue has been trying to get up in the morning. Guess I’m not so slow after all. The Awakening is a 70-foot statue of a man trying to get up from the earth. There are … Continue reading
Stephen DeCatur House remains special
Stephen DeCatur must have been one cool cat, if not an unlucky one. After fighting in the War of 1812 and later facing pirates off the Barbary Coast, DeCatur used the “prize money” from Congress to build this three-story brick … Continue reading
There are no boundaries to art
Sponge Bob is better known than a plumbob, but at the National Building Museum you’ll see the latter. Bordering the museum on 4th, 5th, F and G Sts. NW, the Boundary Markers are 10-feet tall with a brick base and … Continue reading
Where your tax money goes – U.S. Treasury
Posted in Attractions
Tagged Best Washington walking tours, Photo by Rick Snider, taxes, US Treasury
Leave a comment
George Washington’s whiskey is a little rye, uh dry
(Reprinting one of our favorites) After beating the British and serving two terms as our president that included putting down the Whiskey Rebellion, George Washington retired to his home Mount Vernon — to make whiskey. In fact, Washington was the … Continue reading
If you’re a plane or space junkie, Udvar-Hazy worth the trip
For years I’ve heard great things about the The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Drove by the entrance plenty of times without stopping just like hundreds of other local attractions. It’s worth the trip to the Chantilly, Va. venue near Dulles … Continue reading
I like Ike, his building not so much
It’s not the prettiest building in Washington. Mark Twain called the Eisenhower Executive Office Building “the ugliest building in America” while former president Harry Truman called it “the greatest monstrosity in America.” The EEOB is a French Second Empire style … Continue reading
George Washington and Purple Heart
There’s a marker just a few yards left to the entrance into Mount Vernon that is often overlooked but a pretty cool remembrance of history. George Washington wasn’t allowed by the Continental Congress to promote Revolutionary War soldiers based on … Continue reading
U.S. Botanic Gardens more than a greenhouse
One of the joys of becoming a tour guide is stopping at places I’ve driven past a million times. High on the list is the U.S. Botanic Garden on 1st and Maryland Ave. S.W. on the footstep of the U.S. … Continue reading
Grading Washington’s attractions
Lincoln A+ Capitol A (when open) Arlington National A Mount Vernon A National Cathedral A Museum of Bible A FDR B+ National Archives B+ Vietnam Memorial B+ White House B Jefferson B MLK B World War II B Korean Memorial … Continue reading
Lily Pond: art for art’s sake, I guess
On this site was the first water to be piped through the streets for city residents. I’ll let you have a moment to absorb all that. The Lily Pond in John Marshall Park at 4th and C Sts. N.W. by … Continue reading
Christmas comes to Nationals Park
Posted in Attractions, Washington life
Tagged Christmas, Enchant, Nationals Park, Video by Rick Snider
Leave a comment
St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral’s artwork is inspiring
Washington has no shortage of beautiful churches from the National Cathedral to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral on 3400 Massachusetts Ave. NW is perhaps the city’s most colorful church from floor … Continue reading
Jefferson keeps an eye on Library of Congress
The Library of Congress across the street from the U.S. Capitol was created as a reference library for our politicians. Today, the public also uses it for research. The three buildings are grand to see with their architecture and collections. … Continue reading
A walk in a French forest . . . kinda
Most people walk through Meridian House and come away impressed with the shear size of the Beaux Arts mansion designed by the renowned John Russell Pope in 1919. Me – I liked the trees in the back. U.S. ambassador Irwin … Continue reading
