The capital of democracy
Washington D.C. is one of the world's great capital cities — a place where ancient marble monuments, free world-class museums, and the living pulse of American democracy all coexist on one legendary mile-long Mall.
The National Mall stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the United States Capitol — a 1.9-mile open-air corridor flanked by the most visited museums on Earth, all free to enter thanks to the Smithsonian Institution. The National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture are just the beginning.
Beyond the Mall, D.C. reveals itself as a genuinely liveable, diverse, and food-obsessed city. Georgetown's cobblestone streets and Federal-era architecture charm visitors. The 14th Street corridor buzzes with restaurants and bars. The Wharf waterfront has transformed the Southwest waterfront into a destination in its own right. And the Kennedy Center offers world-class performing arts year-round.
The National Mall — the iconic 1.9-mile corridor from Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol with 19 free Smithsonian museums