Things to do in Washington, D.C.

About Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. serves as the federal capital of the United States, defined by its monumental architecture and status as a global political center. The city features a radial street layout designed by Pierre Charles L'Enfant, centered on the expansive National Mall [137]. Visitors often navigate the corridor between the US Capitol Grounds [32356] and the Lincoln Memorial [231] to explore extensive collections at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History [277]. It remains the only major American city not located within a state, operating as a federal district under the jurisdiction of Congress.

Good to know

1. 1

   The city's height regulations are governed by the Height of Buildings Act of 1910, which prevents most buildings from reaching higher than the width of the street they front plus 20 feet.

2. 2

   Washington, D.C. has a shadow representation in Congress, electing two 'shadow' senators and a representative who lobby for statehood but lack voting power.

3. 3

   The city was built on land ceded by Maryland and Virginia, though the portion originally from Virginia was retroceded to that state in 1846.

4. 4

   There are over 170 foreign embassies located in the city, many concentrated along a section of Massachusetts Avenue historically known as Embassy Row.

5. 5

   Despite its name, the city does not have a professional baseball team that plays within its own city limits in a traditional sense; the District houses the stadium, but the city itself lacks the autonomy of a traditional state municipality.