DC: Washington, DC, USA
Explore Washington, DC, USA; America's Capital City is a delight to its citizens and visitors from around the world who enjoy its museums, monuments, and history. You'll also discover that Washington, DC is a diverse city offering a wide range of things to do and see.
Welcome
This web helps you explore Washington, DC, USA; here, you'll find organized and annotated links to Web sites about Washington's current conditions, facts, activities, events, places, sports, civic life, media, education, commerce, and reference works. You can view and link to this information in a variety of ways, and your suggestions are welcome. Use the links at the top of this page to navigate and access this information
- Edited by: You can contact the editor of this information with your ideas and corrections; there are more pages like this covering other areas of the country
- John December: Editor of this information since 2003
- Suggestion?: Please send a correction of any information you find here or your suggestion to johndecember@gmail.com via email with the subject line places-dc
- Going elsewhere?: Access other pages like this; explore: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Las Vegas, Miami, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Madison WI, New York State's Capital District, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and a reference page for the whole United States
- Formats: You can view and link to this information in a variety of ways; find the level of detail that is right for you; pages are available for each section; you can link to and use the page that fits your needs
- Mobile users:
use the index format.
- DC index: Outline of sections; shows the section names with a link on the section name to a file showing the entries and annotations for that section; put your cursor over the section name to see a popup describing it; this format is useful to quickly select and load only the section that you'd like to see; this is a good format to show someone new to this information so as not to overwhelm them with too many links on a page
- DC blue: Table; shows all entries with short labels in a table format; put your cursor over labels or section headings to see a popup description; links on section names take you to a file showing the entries and annotations for that section
- DC mini: Compressed table; shows all entries and section names with short labels and no linebreaks; no inline graphic boxes (weather, gas stickers); put your cursor over labels or section names to see a popup description; links on section names take you to a file showing all the entries and annotations for that section; useful if you are familiar with the information and want all the links in a smaller amount of space
- DC all: Everything in one big file; shows all entries and all annotations in one HTML file; useful if you want to see everything at once or search for a text string in this information; to search, use your Web browser's Find feature; in Microsoft Internet Explorer, do this by selecting from the titlebar menu "Edit," then "Find on this page"; or you can just hit Control/F keys; links on section names go to a file showing entries and annotations for that section
- Updates: List of recently-added entries or entries that have a new Uniform Resource Locator or description
- List; shows updated information
Updates: Commanders (Sports), Link maintenance and cleaning
- List; shows updated information
Current
See live conditions and views of Washington
- Weather: Current weather observations and forecasts
- Graphic; shows current weather conditions for Washington
- Forecast: Weather forecast; forecast for Washington, DC; shows forecast as well as current conditions
- Radar: National Weather Service radar
- Satellite: Goestationary infrared image; satellite image for Eastern United States sector, infrared image; provided by National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Dept of Commerce
- Bouys: Northeast USA Recent Marine Data; get readings from marine buoys about water and weather conditions through a clickable, graphical map of the Atlantic off the Northeast USA coast; provided by the National Data Buoy Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Dept. of Commerce
- Earthcam: Smithsonian Cam; shows live views from the National Mall
- Panda Cam: National Zoo Pandas
- Graphic; shows current weather conditions for Washington
- News: News and reports about what's going on in Washington
- Bing News: Bing news search for Washington, DC
- Yahoo News: Yahoo news search for DC; finds news and sports stories in a variety of news sources; includes photos
- Media: Media - Washington, DC, USA; newspapers, magazines, radio, and television covering the area
- Traffic: from WTOP
Facts
Look up information about Washington such as maps, facts, and census information
- Maps: Online mapping services; these allow you to zoom in and out and select specific features to view on the map
- Open: OpenStreetMap of DC; zoom down to detailed street features
- MapQuest: Washington map; integration with digitalcity.com city Internet guide
- Virtual: Virtual Tour of Washington, D.C.; map with links to information or tours of National Mall buildings
- -USA Maps-: More online mapping services; you can use this list of sites to get more maps of the area or specialized maps such as historical, topographic, or satellite imagery
- Info: Look up basic facts about Washington from online reference works
- Almanac: Information Please Almanac; entry for Washington; gives a page of basic facts about the city, including a general description and current facts
- Books: DC Books; a page presenting books about the city of Washington
- Encyclopedia: Information Please Encyclopedia; article about Washington giving a very brief overview of the city's neighborhoods, points of interest, history, and bibliography
- Population: Washington - Arlington - Alexandria MSA
Living
Find out about things to do and places to see in Washington
Activities
Events, groups, and things to do; People in Washington take part in many clubs and organizations; activities include interest groups, clubs, hobbies, community centers, organizations, and groups
- Groups: People in Washington take part in many clubs and organizations; activities include interest groups, clubs, hobbies, community centers, organizations, and groups
- -Directories-: Search organization directories; there are hundreds of thousands of organizations, associations, societies, and nonprofits in the US covering many interests; as the national capital, Washington DC is home to many thousands of these organizations; use directories to help you locate an organization
- Activism IFC: InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington; brings together the Islamic, Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Baha’i, Hindu-Jain, Latter-day Saints, Sikh, and Zoroastrian faith communities for dialogue and social action
- AA: Alcoholics Anonymous; Washington Area Intergroup Association
- American Indian: American Indian Society of Washington, DC; a group that represents as many tribes as possible
- Anacostia Watershed: Anacostia Watershed Society; works to protect and restore the Anacostia River and its watershed
- Artist Resources: Find Art Information Bank; An artists listing and resource service
- Audubon Society: Audubon Society of the District of Columbia; the study and enjoyment of bird sighting
- Blues: DC Blues Society; preserves and promotes the blues
- Capitol History: United States Capitol Historical Society; educational organization that promotes the history of the Capitol and Congress
- Cultural Alliance: Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington; works to sustain and increase regional leadership, appreciation, support and resources for arts and culture
- Dancing: DCDanceNet; information about dancing places, classes, clubs, competitions of all kinds in the DC area
- Film Society: Washington, DC Film Society; members enjoy mainstream, international, and independent films
- Folklore FSGW: The Folklore Society of Greater Washington; activities related to folk music and folklore
- Folk Music WFMA: World Folk Music Association; promotes contemporary and traditional folk music and keeps the folk community involved and informed
- French: Alliance Française de Washington, DC; French classes and cultural activities in Washington, DC
- German: Goethe-Institut Washington; German culture and language activities in Washington, DC
- GLBT: Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland Community Center for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender; provides a space for activities and events of interest
- Hands on DC: Works for better schools in the District of Columbia; volunteer work-a-thon to improve conditions in the public schools and raises money for college scholarships
- Hiking Club: Capital Hiking Club; walks in the DC area
- Housing Habitat: DC Habitat for Humanity; works to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness in the nation's capital by building affordable, energy efficient homes
- Housing Manna: Assists in home ownership; serves low and moderate income families, assisting them to achieve home ownership
- Humane Society: Washington Humane Society; animal protection agency; serves homeless, lost, and abused animals in DC
- Internet Society: Chapter of the Internet Society; serves the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Maryland; helps promote the development and growth of the Internet
- Italian: Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, DC; Italian activities and culture in DC
- Jazz: DCjazz; DC's online jazz community
- Jewish Ctr: District of Columbia Jewish Community Center; programs, classes, education, culture, activities, and events of Jewish life in DC
- Kiwanis: Kiwanis; community service organization
- Literacy Volunteers: Literacy Volunteers of the National Capital Area; provides free tutoring to adults who cannot read in the Washington, D.C./National Capital Area; an affiliate of ProLiteracy Worldwide
- Mentors Sister: SisterMentors; women helping young girls with the path to education
- National Academies: Advisoers to the Nation on science, engineering, and medicine; consist of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council
- Parks & People: Washington Parks & People; provides assistance with the revitalization of a wide range of parks and communities throughout the National Capital region
- Press Club: National Press Club; provides people in the news media with a center to advance professional standards and skills, promotion free expression, gain mutual support, and experience social fellowship
- Red Cross: American Red Cross of the National Capital Area; provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies
- Salvation Army: National Capital Area Salvation Army; preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs
- Science WAS: Washington Academy of Sciences; umbrella organization for the Scientific Societies in the Washington DC area
- Singles: DC Personals; find your match in Washington
- Skeptics: National Capital Area Skeptics; a supposedly independent educational and scientific organization that purports to engage in critical thinking and scientific understanding
- Songwriters SAW: Songwriters' Association of Washington; benefits aspiring and professional songwriters
- Speleological: District of Columbia Grotto; chapter of the National Speleological Society; going into caves
- Supreme Ct History: Court Historical Society; dedicated to the preservation and teaching about the history of the Supreme Court of the United States
- Sys Admin: dc.sage; an organization of, by, and for computer systems administrators in the Greater Washington DC metropolitan area
- Tech Comm: Society for Technical Communication Washington, DC chapter; promotes professional technical communication
- Tourism, Official: Official Tourism Site of DC
- Turkish: Turkish American life in the Washington DC metropolitan area
- United Way: United Way of the National Capital Area; nonprofit partners that provide health and human programs to Washington area residents
- Urban League: Greater Washington Urban League; resource center in the community for African-American youth internships and scholarships, parenting information, first-time homebuyer assistance, employment/technology training, aging services, and environmental education
- Writer's Ctr: Writer's Center; a literary organization to encourage the creation and distribution of contemporary literature
- YMCA: YMCA of Metropolitan Washington; community service, childcare, health and fitness, youth and family services; association of men, women, and children of all ages, races, religions and abilities
- YWCA: YWCA of the National Capital Area; supports women and children to achieve their potential
- Board of Trade: Greater Washington Board of Trade; regional network of business and non-profit leaders
- Chamber: District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce; dedicated to improving the climate for business in DC
- MIT Forum: MIT Enterprise Forum of Washington-Baltimore; dedicated to the entrepreneur community of the greater Washington & Baltimore area
- WITA: Washington International Trade Association; focus on trade policy, rules and regulations governing international trade, and views of US trade policy from abroad
- Listings: Connect to online calendars and databases; show what's going on and where
- Post Event Guide: Washingtonpost.com; Entertainment guide to bars, clubs, books, movies, museums, music, restaurants, shopping, sports, recreation, and theater
- OnTap: OnTap Online; guide to bars, clubs, events in DC
- Performing: Washington is home to many performing arts and cultural groups
- Ballet: Washington Ballet
- Choral Arts: Choral Arts Society of Washington
- Embassy Series: Classical Concerts at Embassies; to promote international understanding through music
- Opera: Washington Opera
- Opera Camerata: Opera Camerata of Washington; Specializing in revivals of rare operas and operettas
- PAS: Washington Performing Arts Society; aims to increase the opportunities for artists and the public to share the performing arts in the DC metropolitan area
- Symphony, National: National Symphony Orchestra
- Periodic: Washington has many annual or one-day special events, ongoing summer concert series, and recurring trade shows
- 4 July Parade: National Independence Day Parade; annual parade celebration the independence of the USA; consists of invited bands, military and specialty units, floats, and VIP's
- 4 July Capitol: A Capitol Fourth; information about the extensive Independence Day festivities in the nation's capital; from the Public Broadcasting System (PBS)
- Army Ten Miler: 16 kilometer foot race; winds past the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and the Washington Monument
- Capital Pride: GLBT Pride Festival and festivities
- Cherry Blossoms: National Cherry Blossom Festival; celebrates the original gift of the 3,000 cherry trees from the city of Tokyo to the people of Washington, DC in 1912
- Constitution Day: Celebrates the foundation of the government by the people of the USA
- Craft Show Smithsonian: Smithsonian Craft Show; juried exhibition and sale of contemporary American crafts
- Expo East: Natural Products Expo East; presents natural and organic products
- Horse Show WIHS: Washington International Horse Show; donates all proceeds to local and national charities each year
- Jazz Fest: Capital Jazz Fest; showcase of contemporary jazz
- Filmfest DC: Washington, DC International Film Festival;celebrates world cinema
- Marine Marathon: Marine Corps Marathon; footrace starting and ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia
- St Pat's Parade: Washington, DC St. Patrick's Day Parade; celebrates the Irish community
- Spirit of America: Patriotic, live-action show; presented by the United States Army Military District of Washington
- Taste: Taste of DC; on Pennsylvania Avenue; food from Washington restaurants; music and the arts on entertainment stages
Places
Washington has many neighborhoods, entertainment venues, museums, and other places with Web sites
- Sites: Places such as parks, buildings, public gardens and zoos, notable buildings, libraries, interesting places; see also the listings for Venues, Museums, Memorials, Dining, and Housing; see Activities for cultural centers
- Aquarium: The National Aquarium; Department of Commerce Building
- Aquatic Gardens: Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens; display of aquatic plants on 283 hectares; part of Anacostia Park
- Arboretum: US National Arboretum; trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants; a division of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center of the Agricultural Research Service of the US Department of Agriculture
- Archives: National Archives and Records Administration; a repository of the nation's records; notable: US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights
- Arlington Cem: Arlington National Cemetery; veterans from all the nation's wars are buried in the cemetery
- Arts Ctr: District of Columbia Arts Center; supports emerging artists; in Adams Morgan
- Botanic Garden: United States Botanic Garden; plant museum on the National Mall at the foot of the US Capitol; Architect of the Capitol
- Bureau of Engraving: Bureau of Engraving and Printing; prints money (Federal Reserve notes), US postage stamps, Treasury securities, identification cards, naturalization certificates, and other special security documents; site has extensive information about US currency and how to spot forgeries
- Capitol: Architect of the Capitol; the United States Capitol Complex buildings: the Capitol, congressional offices, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, US Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities
- Cathedral: Washington National Cathedral; Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul; envisioned in Pierre l'Enfant's 18th century plan for Washington commissioned by President Washington to be a church "intended for national purposes, such as public prayer, thanksgiving, funeral orations, etc., and assigned to the special use of no particular Sect of denomination, but equally open to all."; built from 1907 to 1990
- Congressional Cem: Congressional Cemetery; unofficial resting place for Members of Congress; members who die in office and are buried elsewhere get a cenotaph here commemorating their service
- Downtown: Downtown DC Business Improvement District; promotes Downtown DC as the site of museums, cultural venues, restaurants, hotels and shopping; provides cleaning, safety, hospitality, marketing, economic development and homeless services
- Dumbarton Oaks: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection; housed in a nineteenth-century Federal-style house in Georgetown
- EEOB: Eisenhower Executive Office Building; formerly Old Executive Office Building; White House offices
- Eastern Mkt: food and arts market; located in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood
- Embassy Row: Electronic Embassy Web; resources for the DC foreign embassy community; includes a list of foreign embassies in DC
- Farmer's Mkts: List of District of Columbia Farmers Markets; provided by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the US Department of Agriculture
- Federal Govt: Directory of Federal Agencies/Departments; a list of agencies, most based in DC, from govspot.com
- Georgetown: Area of DC; guide provided by the Georgetown Partnership Business Improvement District
- GW Pkwy: George Washington Memorial Parkway, National Park Service; preserves natural scenery along the Potomac River; sites include Arlington House: The Robert E. Lee Memorial, Belle Haven Park & Marina, Clara Barton National Historic Site, Collingwood Park, Columbia Island Marina, Daingerfield Island, Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, Fort Hunt Park, Fort Marcy, Glen Echo Park, Gravelly Point, Great Falls Park, Lady Bird Johnson Park, Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove-on-the-Potomac, Memorial Avenue, Mount Vernon Trail, Netherlands Carillon, Potomac Heritage Trail, Riverside Park, Roaches Run Wildlife Sanctuary, Theodore Roosevelt Island, Turkey Run Park, U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and Washington Sailing Marina
- Govt Printing Office: Government Printing Office; produces, procures, and distributes printed and electronic publications of the Congress as well as the executive departments and establishments of the Federal Government
- Libraries List:
- Library: District of Columbia Public Library
- Library of Congress: Library of Congress; the research arm of Congress; the largest library in the world; more than 126 million items on approximately 850 kilometers of bookshelves
- Mall: National Mall; central open, green space linking the Lincoln Memorial in the west to the US Capitol building in the east; site of many national events
- Marshall Ctr: Thurgood Marshall Center; community services center
- Marian Shrine: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception;
- Mount Vernon: George Washington's estate and gardens
- Naval Observatory: US Naval Observatory; authority on the correct time and astronomical data required for accurate navigation and fundamental astronomy
- Neighborhoods: Neighborhood Web sites in DC; links take you to neighborhood associations or promotional Web sites
- Old Post Office: The Old Post Office Pavilion; retail, dining, events, historic site
- Parking-Spot Hero: Parking spots around town; rent by the day or longer
- Parks DC: Department of Parks and Recreation District of Columbia
- Parks NPS: National Capital Region of the National Park Service; administers the National Mall and monumental core parks (Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Ford's Theatre National Historic Site and Petersen House, Pennsylvania Avenue National Historical Park, and the Old Post Office Tower), historic sites, natural areas, and Civil War battlefields
- Pennsylvania Ave: Major ceremonial and business street in DC; National Park Service
- Pentagon: Headquarters of the US Department of Defense; tours of the Pentagon are available to schools, educational organizations, and other select groups by reservation only
- Reagan Bldg: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center; conference center and information resource for trade activities in the United States; public food court; Capitol Steps musical satire performances; offices; US Center for World Trade; DC Visitor Information Center; Woodrow Wilson Plaza free summer performance series
- Rock Creek Pk: The oldest and largest urban park in the national park system; National Park Service
- Smithsonian Gardens: outdoor gardens; over 180 acres; 13 public exhibition gardens
- Supreme Ct: The Supreme Court of the United States; head of the judicial branch of the US federal government
- Tidal Basin: Paddle boats; view Japanese Cherry Tress and Jefferson Memorial from paddle boats
- Union Station: Transit and retail complex; catch the Amtrak, Red Line metro, shop, or eat in this active and historic train station
- Visitor's Info Ctr: DC Visitor's Information Center; located in the Ronald Reagan Building; information about attractions, events, accommodations
- White House: Residence of the President and executive offices; tour requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress and will be accepted up to six months in advance
- Zoo: Smithsonian National Zoological Park; animals on 66 hectares
- Memorials: Washington, DC is a setting for hundreds of memorials and monuments; this is a selected list of well-known memorials; for a comprehensive directory with photos, see the dcMemorials site
- African Amer Civil War Veterans: Memorial for US African American troops of the Civil War
- FDR: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial; National Memorial
- Jefferson: Memorial to Thomas Jefferson; born 1743, died 1826; third US President, 1801-1809
- Korean Veterans: Memorial to Korean War Veterans; Korean conflict, 1950-1953
- Lincoln: Tribute to Abraham Lincoln; born 1809, died 1865; 16th US President, 1861-1865
- Law Enforcement: National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial; honors all of America's federal, state and local law enforcers; lists those who gave their lives to protect citizens; dedicated 1991 by President George Bush; located in Judiciary Square
- Marine "Iwo Jima": United States Marine Corp War Memorial; memorializes marines who gave their lives for their country; statue in the form of marines raising a flag resembling the photo taken by Joe Rosenthal of marines raising a flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, during World War II's antifa efforts; dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10, 1954, the 179th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps; National Park Service
- Mason: George Mason Memorial; in East Potomac Park near the Thomas Jefferson Memorial; commemorates George Mason, the author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights which inspired Thomas Jefferson when drafting the Declaration of Independence
- MLK: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial; National Memorial
- Roosevelt: Memorial to Franklin Delano Roosevelt; born 1882, died 1945; 32nd US President 1933-1945; along the Cherry Tree Walk on the Tidal Basin
- Vietnam Veterans: Honors those who served and died in the Vietnam War; dedicated on November 13, 1982 by President Ronald Reagan
- Washington Monument: Obelisk, 169 meters, on the national mall; honors George Washington; born 1732, died 1799; 1st US President 1789-1797; dedicated on February 21, 1885
- Women Military: Women In Military Service For America Memorial; honoring all military women--past, present & future
- World War II Veterans: National World War II Memorial; national memorial dedicated to all who served in the antifa efforts to defeat fascism during World War II; dedicated on May 29, 2004
- -dcMemorials-: directory of hundreds of DC-area memorials, monuments, statues; shows photos; historical markers & other tourist attractions in the Washington D.C. area & beyond; search by subject, metro station, artist or general locationa
- Venues: Places for performances, concerts, athletics, conventions, tradeshows, gatherings
- Arena Stage: at the Mead Center; Old Vat Room flexible-format stage; Kreeger stage, Fichandler stage
- Capital One Arena: Multiuse arena; home of the Washington Wizards, Capitals, Mystics; formerly Verizon Center, MCI Center
- Convention Ctr: Washington Convention Center; 213,000 square meter convention center downtown
- DAR Const Hall: DAR Constitution Hall; beaux arts building; eclectic music
- DC SEC: DC Sports & Entertainment Commission; Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square, RFK Stadium, Festival Grounds at RFK Stadium, Maloof Skate Park at RFK Stadium, DC Armory, Nationals Park
- FedEx Field: Football stadium; home of the Washington Commanders
- Ford's Theatre: Historic theatre; presents musicals and plays; where President Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865; a National Historic site
- GALA Theatre: Grupo de Artistas Latino Americanos
- GMU Arena: Arena at George Mason University in Virginia; seats 10,000
- Kennedy Ctr: Performing arts center; Millennium state, National Symphony Orchestra, jazz, theater, ballet, dance, special events, festivals
- Lisner: Lisner Auditorium; performing arts center; on campus of George Washinton University
- National Theatre: National Theatre of Washington DC; historic "Theatre of Presidents" operating since 1835; three blocks from The White House; stage shows
- Nationals Pk: Nationals Park; baseball stadium
- Reagan Bldg: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center; conference center and information resource for trade activities in the United States; Conference Center includes 6,000 square meters with a 625-seat amphitheater, 2 ballrooms, a 45-meter high atrium and more than 20 special function and conference spaces
- Wolf Trap: Performing arts center; Vienna, Virginia; summer home of National Symphony Orchestra; indoor/lawn seating
- Housing: Find a place to stay or live in Washington
- B&B: National Capitol Region's Best Bed & Breakfast
- Hotels: Budget accomodations; a collection of DC hotels
- Homes Database: Regional real estate; Maryland, West Virginia, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania
- -USA Housing-: National lodging and housing directories; there are national directories you can use to locate area lodging or housing
- Dining: Find a place to eat in Washington
- Menupix: Restaurants with menus in DC; browse restaurants by area, neighborhood, cuisine, delivery, etc.
- Restaurants/RAMW: Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington; search for restaurants
- -USA Dining-: National Dining directories; you can use this link to locate restaurants in the area that may not be listed in the local guides
- Museums: Displays of objects; includes planned educational activities related to art, history, culture, or science
- Air & Space: Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum; impressive collection of aircraft, spacecraft, and related artifacts; includes National Mall building and Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Washington Dulles International Airport
- American History: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History; objects that reflect the experience of the American people
- American Indian: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of the American Indian
- Anacostia: Anacostia Museum; Smithsonian Institution museum of African American history and culture
- Art African: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art
- Art American: Smithsonian Institution American art museum
- Art Americas: Art Museum of the Americas; Organization of American States; from Latin America and the Caribbean
- Art Corcoran: Corcoran Gallery of Art; 19th-century American art; legacy of William Wilson Corcoran
- Art Freer & Sackler: Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art; Smithsonian Institution national museum of Asian art for the United States
- Art Hirshhorn: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden; Smithsonian Institution museum of international modern and contemporary art
- Art National Gallery: National Gallery of Art; painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present
- Art Phillips: Phillips Collection; museum of modern art; opened in 1921 in the home of Duncan Phillips (1886-1966)
- Art Portrait Gallery: Smithsonian Institution National Portrait Gallery
- Art Renwick: Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Art Women: National Museum of Women in the Arts; dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of women artists
- Arts & Industries: Smithsonian Institution Arts and Industries Building; constructed to exhibit materials acquired from the nation's Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia
- African American: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture
- Building: National Building Museum; architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning
- Castle, The: Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle; Information Center for the Smithsonian's collection of museums on the National Mall and elsewhere
- Children: Children's Museum; encourages children to climb, taste, touch, and imagine to learn about the world
- Crime: the history of crime, punishment, and crime scene investigation
- Cryptologic: National Cryptologic Museum; displays about the exploitation of enemy codes and the protection of American communication; provided by the National Security Agency; site includes National Vigilance Park honoring aerial reconnaissance crews who lost their lives in the line of duty; located near the National Security Agency at Fort Meade, Maryland
- Daughters Amer Rev: Daughters of the American Revolution Museum; showcases the furnishings and decorative arts of pre-industrial America
- Douglass House: Frederick Douglass National Historic Site; home of Douglass from 1877 to 1895; Douglass was a 19th-century African American spokesman; National Park Service
- Drug Enforcement: Drug Enforcement Administration Museum and Visitors Center; educates the public about the history of drugs, drug addiction, and drug law enforcement in the United States
- Dupont-Kalorama: Dupont-Kalorama Museums Consortium; promotes the "off the mall" museums and their neighborhoods in the greater Dupont-Kalorama area of Washington, DC; members include: Meridian International Center, Woodrow Wilson House, The Textile Museum, Fondo del Sol Visual Arts Center, National Museum of American Jewish Military History, The Phillips Collection, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House, Society of the Cincinnati
- Explorer's Hall NGS: National Geographical Society Explorers Hall; displays about past and current expeditions; information from scientists in the field; artifacts
- Folklife Ctr: Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage; promotes the understanding and continuity of contemporary grassroots cultures in the United States and abroad
- Heurich House: Christian Heurich House Museum, The Brewmaster's Castle; Late-Victorian house, built 1892-1894; National Register of Historic Places
- Hillwood: Hillwood Museum & Gardens; collection of 18th- and 19th-century Russian imperial art; 18th-century French decorative arts; founder Marjorie Merriweather Post; 10-hectare estate has gardens and with azalea and orchid collections
- Holocaust: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; Holocaust history and a memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust by the Nazi's, collaborators, supporters, and pacifist enablers between 1933 and 1945; the United States didn't enter World War II until 1941 when an antifa coalition liberated Europe
- Interior Dept: Department of the Interior Museum Program; over 145 million objects and documents in federal collections; this page describes administrative information about this program
- Jewish: B'Nai B'rith Lutznick National Jewish Museum; collection of Jewish artifacts
- Marine Corps: National Museum of the United States Marine Corps; museum and heritage center under construction on a 55 hectare site next to the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia; 48 km south of Washington, DC
- McLeod Bethune House: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site; commemorates the life of Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of the National Council of Negro Women
- Military American-Jewish: National Museum of American Jewish Military History; contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States; Jewish War Veterans of the USA
- Natural History: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
- Navy History Ctr: Naval Historical Center; Washington Navy Yard
- Newseum: Interactive news museum; now closed in Arlington, Virginia in preparation for a new Newseum facility on Pennsylvania Ave and Sixth Street in DC expected 2006
- Old Post Office: View from 82-meter tower; Richardsonian romanesque architecture; home to the bells of the US Congress; National Park Service
- Old Stone House: historic home; daily lives of Georgetown's early residents; of Revolutionary War-era architecture
- Postal: Smithsonian Institution National Postal Museum; located in the old Post Office building next to Union Station
- Red Cross: American National Red Cross Museum; historic displays about health and safety
- Sewall-Belmont House: Sewall-Belmont House and Museuem; home of the historic National Woman's Party
- Science Koshland: Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences; presents science related to public policy; exhibits based on the National Aacademy of Sciences reports.
- Shakespeare Folger: Folger Shakespeare Library; independent research library on William Shakespeare's work, life, and times; on Capitol Hill
- Smithsonian: Smithsonian Institution; largest museum complex in the world; organization operating many museums in DC and elsewhere; research and education; founded 1846 with a gift from James Smithson "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge"
- Spy: International Spy Museum; espionage and international spy-related artifacts
- Textile: Textile Museum; textile arts
- Trolley: National Capital Trolley Museum; presents history of Washington's electric street railways; Montgomery County, Maryland
- Tudor Place: Tudor Place Historic House and Garden; neoclassical house; National Historic Landmark; in Georgetown's Historic District
- Tussauds: Madame Tussauds Washington
- Wilson House: Woodrow Wilson House; museum honoring Thomas Woodrow Wilson, born 1856, died 1924; 28th US President 1913-1921; Wilson lived here after his presidency
Sports
Washington is home to major-league basketball and baseball, pro hockey and soccer, and college sports
- Pro: Professional sports in Washington
- Commanders: Washington Commanders National Football League team
- Wizards: Washington Wizards National Basketball Association team
- Capitals: Washington Capitals National Hockey League Team
- Nationals: Washington Nationals Major League Baseball Team
- DC United: Major League Soccer team
- DC Divas: National Women's Football Association team
- Mystics: Washington Mystics Women's National Basketball Association
- Explosion: Washington Explosion Minor Professional football team
- College: Area colleges with athletic activities
- Community: Amateur, organized sports clubs, and special community sporting events
- Sports Leagues: DC Sports Leagues; Neighborhood athletic association; recreational sports leagues, tournaments and social opportunities for men and women of all ages and skill levels
- Bicycling: Washington Area Bicyclist Association; works to create a more bicycle-friendly region; information on paths, trails, rides, clubs, gear, issues, news, and events
- Bowling NCABA: Nation's Capital Area Bowling Association
- Frisbee WAFC: Washington Area Frisbee Club
- Rugby Renegades: Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club; all-inclusive rugby club welcoming newcomers and experienced ruggers in the DC metropolitan area
- Rugby West Potomac: West Potomac Rugby
- Running DC RR: DC Road Runners; chapter of the Road Runners Club of America; also affiliated with USA Track & Field
- Sailing Club: Sailing Club of Washington; welcomes a range of sailing interest: people who have never sailed but want to learn, "old salts" who've been sailing for years, and those who simply enjoy socializing with other sailing enthusiasts
- DC outdoor: Independent on-line publication; covers outdoor recreation in Washington, DC region; DCSki focuses on skiing and snowboarding; DCBike and DCHike cover activities such as mountain biking and hiking
Civic
Washington's civic life
Government
Washington's government and representatives at all levels
- Local: City government; Washington and the District of Columbia are the same municipality
- DC: Washington, DC portal; elected district government information
- Police: District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
- Fire & EMS: District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services
- Metro Council: Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments; regional organization of Washington area local governments; composed of local governments surrounding DC, plus area members of the Maryland and Virginia legislatures, the US Senate, and the US House of Representatives; addresses regional issues
- Elections: DC Board of Elections
- US States: State Services Organization; Hall of the States near the Capitol and Union Station, home to many Washington offices of the fifty states, US territories and associations of state officials; joint venture of the Council of State Governments, the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Governors Association
- Federal: The United State's government has an extensive presence in Washington
- National Federal: Washington is the seat of the United States Federal Government; major top-level Web sites related to the United States government include the White House, Supreme Court, Federal Courts, Senate, and House
- Shadow Rep: Shadow DC representative to the US House of Representatives; provides services to constituents but cannot vote; District of Columbia residents do not have voting representation in either the US House of Representatives or the US Senate
- US Dist Ct: United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- US Bankruptcy Ct: US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
- US Ct of Appeals: US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- FBI DC: Washington Division Federal Bureau of Investigation; serves DC and parts of Virginia
- Army Dist: US Army Military District of Washington; major installations include Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, Fort Myer (VA), Fort Belvoir (VA), Fort A.P. Hill (VA), Fort Hamilton (NY), and Fort Meade (MD)
- Naval Dist: Naval District Washington; United States Navy operations in DC, headquartered on the Historic Washington Navy Yard
- Andrews AFB: Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
- Bolling AFB: Bolling Air Force Base, DC
- Langley AFB: Langley Air Force Base, Virginia; Air Combat Command and 1st Fighter Wing
- World: World governments have a presence in DC through representatives
- Embassies: Electronic Embassy Web; resources for the DC foreign embassy community; includes a list of foreign embassies in DC
- OAS: Organization of American States; countries of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean working for common goals
- UN Info Ctr: United Nations Information Centre; for the spread of current data about United Nations activities and a reference library of United Nations documentation
Services
Support for human needs and infrastructure
- Transport: Washington offers a variety of transit options; it is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country and is part of the transit-rich eastern seaboard corridor including Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia
- Metro Transit: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; operates rail and bus transit networks; serves DC, Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Fairfax, and Loudoun counties in Virginia
- Metro Airports: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority; Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- capital bikeshare: Bicycle sharing system; share a bike in Arlington County, VA and DC
- Car Free: Possible in DC; with great walkability and extensive transit systems, you could easily live without a car in DC
- Car Sharing: Avoid owning a car; be car-free as much as possible, but keep the idea that you can rent or borrow a car only when you need it--for a big project or trip to far-out areas, for example
- BWI Airport: Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI)
- Circulator: The one-dollar crosstown get-around; bus service along east-west K Street/Mass Ave NW corridor and 7th street south from Mt Vernon Place transfer
- DC Streetcar: In-development streetcar system; streetcars were previously dismantled from DC in 1962
- Commuter Connections: Regional transit information; transit, bicycling, walking, carpooling, vanpooling, telework; coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
- CommuterPage: Transit information Arlington; presented by Arlington County, Virginia; information about mass transit, carpooling and vanpooling, bicycling, walking, telecommuting/telework, and other alternatives to driving alone
- DASH: Alexandria, Virginia Transit Company; bus service in and around Alexandria
- Virginia Railway: Virginia Railway Express; provides commuter rail service from the Northern Virginia suburbs to Alexandria, Crystal City and downtown Washington, DC; partnership of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission and the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
- Maryland MTA: Maryland Transit Administration; provides a network of transit and rail and freight services throughout Maryland
- Amtrak: Amtrak passenger train service; from DC's Union Station; train service to destinations around the region and USA
- Greyhound: National, commercial bus transit company; offers connections from DC to the United States, Canada, and Mexico
- GotoBus: Bus reservation system; buses connecting many cities including DC
- Peter Pan: Regional, commercial bus transit company; offers connections from DC to northeast cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston
- Vamoose: Vamoose Bus DC-NYC; express, non-stop bus service
- Facilities: Institutions, units, organizations, or systems that build, distribute, plan, or and keep area resources or infrastructure working
- Public Service Comm: Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia; an independent District Government agency which regulates the electric, gas and telephone companies in DC
- Water & Sewer: DC Water and Sewer Authority; provides potable water to DC and wastewater collection and treatment services to DC and other jurisdictions
- Planning NCPC: National Capital Planning Commission; provides overall planning guidance for federal land and buildings in the National Capital Region
- Human: Health and human services
- Military: Information for the Washington, DC area military community
- Health: DC Department of Health
- UPO: United Planning Organization; community action agency for Washington, DC; plans, coordinates, and implements human service programs
- -USA Human-: National Health and Human services; you can use these directories to find doctors, hospitals, dentists, and other health and human services
Media
Access information about and in many cases read (or listen to) Washington's media outlets
- Periodicals: Washington's many publications offer Web sites with online content
- Post: Washington Post daily newspaper
- Times: Washington Times daily newspaper
- Examiner: Washington Examiner weekly; free weekly tabloid newspaper
- Times Weekly: National Weekly Edition of The Washington Times; independent and voice covering stories that the dominant Washington Post does not
- Business Jrnl: Washington Business Journal
- Politico: political journalism; distributed by Internet, print, television, newspaper, and radio
- City Paper: Entertainment free weekly
- Common Denominator: Independent newspaper; published biweekly
- InTowner: neighborhood news and information; Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights; Dupont, Scott, Thomas and Logan Circles; Dupont East, U Street, Shaw; Mt Vernon Square, Pennsylvania Quarter; publication is on the second Friday of each month
- Metro Herald: politics, Culture, and Events weekly
- The Hill: newspaper for and about the US Congress
- Roll Call: congressional news and information; published Monday through Thursday while Congress is in session (Mondays only during recess); news of the legislative and political maneuvers that happen every day on Capitol Hill
- Blade: Washington Blade; weekly news for Washington's Gay community
- Washingtonian: Washingtonian Magazine; restaurants, dining, arts, entertainment, tourism information
- Wash Technology: Washington Technology; national newspaper for government IT systems integrators and resellers
- Wash Life: Washington Life Magazine; social and cultural scene
- Washington Flyer: Magazine; official magazine of the Metropolitan Washington Airports authority
- Pathways: Pathways Magazine; quarterly journal and resource guide for improving the quality of life physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually
- Wash Diplomat: Washington Diplomat; independent monthly newspaper; regular columns and features focusing on international news and events for the Washington diplomatic community
- DC Music News: Music resource sites for independent musicians in DC, MD, and VA
- Oyez: Supreme Court Multimedia; current news articles and audio archives
- MetroSports: MetroSports Washington DC; news about participant sports, gear, training, ads, message boards
- Georgetowner: Georgetowner community news
- Potomac Tech Wire: Free daily technology email service; that summarizes technology and Internet stories from the greater Washington DC area
- Takoma Voice: Suburban Voice Newsmagazines; lower Montgomery County: Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Kensington, Chevy Chase, Bethesda
- Broadcast: Broadcast communications; Washington' media broadcasters; directories give current listings of stations for radio and tv
- CSPAN: Congressional and Public Affairs Network; created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a public service; public access to the political process through television, radio, and Internet; televises US House of Representatives and the US Senate when they are in session; covers congressional hearings, White House press briefings, and speeches
- Radio-locator: List of radio stations within listening range of Washington; from radio-locator.com
- TV Index: Television stations in the Washington market
- Radio Streema: Web-based radio stations in Washington; from streema.com
- TV Streema: Web-based tv stations in Washington; from streema.com
- HD Radio: search for HD Radio Stations in Washington, DC (ZIP code 20001); this form requires a zip code for searching; click the city name in upper right-hand corner; then enter 20001 for Washington (the zip code of Washington City Hall)
Education
Washington's educational opportunities
- Higher: The Washington area's colleges and universities
- Consortium: Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area; comprised of DC universities and colleges; provides students with opportunities to benefit from the combined resources of its members
- Secretariat: Washington Higher Education Secretariat; association of national, higher education associations representing different sectors and functions in post secondary institutions
- TWC: Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars; an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. and London, England, for academic credit
- American: American University; independent Methodist; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- BAU: Bay Atlantic University; private; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- CUA: Catholic University of America; independent Catholic; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- Corcoran: Corcoran College of Art and Design; independent; undergraduate
- Gallaudet: Gallaudet University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; undergraduate programs open primarily to hearing-impaired
- GMU: George Mason University; state-supported; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; Fairfax, Virginia
- GWU: The George Washington University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- Georgetown: Georgetown University; independent Roman Catholic Jesuit; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- Howard: Howard University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral
- IWP: Institute of World Politics; independent graduate school of statecraft and national security affairs; master's degrees
- Marymount: Marymount University; independent; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; Arlington, Virginia
- NDU: National Defense University; professional military education; under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Potomac: Potomac College; proprietary; undergraduate; business administration; computer management
- Southeastern: Southeastern University; independent; undergraduate and graduate
- Strayer: Strayer University; proprietary; undergraduate and graduate
- Trinity: Trinity College; independent; undergraduate and graduate
- UMD CP: University of Maryland--College Park; state-supported; undergraduate, graduate, doctoral; College Park, Maryland
- UDC: University of the District of Columbia; independent; undergraduate and graduate
- Schools: Washington's primary, secondary, career, and trade schools
- K12: Washington DC Public Schools
- Language/ICLS: International Center for Language Studies; English as a Second Language; foreign language programs
Reference
Works to help you find out more about Washington
- Guides: Learn more about Washington with online guides that describe area attractions
- Cultural Tourism: Links to Washington's heritage and arts
- ExploreDC: DC cultural and historical guide; produced by public broadcasting station WETA
- SeeDC: Tourism guide
- Historic Tours: Historic Tours of America; shows offerings of tours of DC points of interest
- Boulevards: Travel and tourism guide; from Boulevards New Media
- Time Out: Entertainment guide; DC's section from timeout.com
- Indexes: Access online information about Washington through general and specialized indexes
- DCpages: Search engine and directory; directory of greater DC (to Balitmore) Web sites in many categories
- Crosstown Arts: Music scene; Links to Web sites related to independent musicians, performers, artists, writers, film makers in the area and nonprofit arts organizations
- Yellow Pages: Search form; find businesses and organizations using the SMARTpages.com directory
- General: Find more information related to Washington
- craigslist: Online community; classified ads, jobs, housing, personals, for sale, discussion
- USA index: An index for the United States; resources to help you locate information about activities, events, places, sports, government, media, commerce, and reference information in the USA; You can use this page to locate information on other cities or information you couldn't find here
- -USA General-: General reference section of USA Index; lookup information in national directories for classified ads, jobs, discussion, or lookup resources