Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday - D.C.'s most popular annual event marked by singing, dancing, and feasting. The culmination of this day's remembrance is the orator's recital of King's I have a dream' speech appropriately featured at the Lincoln Memorial.
National Cherry Blossom Festival - Washington, D.C. was presented with these spectacular cherry trees in 1912 by Tokyo. Today the National Cherry Blossom Festival is one of D.C.'s most popular cultural events. During the cherry blossom blooming season, visitors flock to the city to witness this natural wonder.
White House Easter Egg Roll - This delightful event marks the beginning of the Easter. A lighthearted White House involvement includes the First Lady initiating the event by rolling the Easter Ball. The atmosphere of celebration, complemented with an ample supply of delicacies is unsurpassed enjoyment.
Capital Jazz Festival - A true jazz lover's delight. Come and experience your favorite jazz musicians flaunting their stuff at this musical celebration!
Cultural Attractions
Corcoran Gallery of Art - The Corcoran boasts its existence as Washington's largest non-federal, first art museum. The gallery offers a vast assortment of artistry: paintings by the first great American portraitists John Copley, Gilbert Stuart, and Rembrandt Peale; late-19th- and early 20th-century European paintings by Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir; and Dutch, Flemish, and French Romantic paintings.
National Museum of American History - For a true cultural experience this is one museum not to be missed. Exhibitions include a wide range of America's contributions to society all throughout its history, from the entertainment industry's memorabilia, to wartime reproductions, to trying one's hand at scientific experiments.
National Museum of Natural History - A true paleontologist's delight, the museum features a unique fossil display that can be viewed in the museum's awesome Dinosaur Hall. For a more hands-on approach, visitors can handle items such as seashells, rocks, and elephant tusks in the Discovery Room. Lastly, you won't want to miss the O. Orkin Insect Zoo, which includes an interesting walk through a rain forest, where numerous species of live insects can be observed.
Library of Congress - Any visitor to Washington will want to spend time exploring the Library of Congress and at least some of its gargantuan holdings. It is the world's largest library, featuring more than 134 million items that line 530 miles of bookshelves. The Library houses more than 29 million books and other written materials in 460 languages; 58 million manuscripts; 12 million photographs; 5 million maps; and 2.7 million recordings. It is estimated that half the holdings are in non-English languages. About 10,000 new items are added to its collections each workday. Read more...
Phillips Collection - The U.S.'s esteemed home of modern art, this publicly-supported museum is an art lover's delight. The museum opened in 1921 in the home of Duncan Phillips. The museum is home to some of the most famous French Impressionist works in the world, including paintings by van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, and Monet. Several of its galleries display masterpieces from modern artists such as Matisse, Braque, and Picasso. Visitors won't want to miss the American Impressionist galleries.
Smithsonian Institution Building - Home of the Smithsonian Information Center, administrative offices and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. It is the Smithsonian's first building, and is the embodiment of the entire Smithsonian. Offered in six languages, the building provides interactive touch-screen programs on Washington's famous attractions, and wall-maps.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - The museum recounts the era of history between 1933 and 1945 when the Nazis killed millions of Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, and others. Documentary films and audiotaped oral accounts are offered. A haunting replica of a freight car, depicting those that were used to transport Jews from Warsaw to the Treblinka death camp can be seen. Culminating the museum's poignant expressions from the past is the Hall of Remembrance, where one can ponder in contemplative reflection.
Washington National Cathedral - This elaborate Gothic figure is the sixth largest cathedral in the world. Included in its remarkable architecture are flying buttresses, a nave, transepts, and vaults. Topping off this Gothic wonder are exquisitely designed, stone-carved gargoyles. Adding a lighter touch to the cathedral's ambience is the Bishop's Garden, embellished by boxwoods, ivy, tea roses, and yew trees, and bas-reliefs.
Chinatown - Although unable to offer the visual excitement as those of other Washington neighborhoods, Chinatown is the venue of choice for those in search of authentic Cantonese, Szechuan, Hunan, and Mongolian culinary delights. Cultural Chinese goods are offered in the various shops at Chinatown. A unique feature of this neighborhood are the customary pharmacies which offer legacy healing substances such as powdered bones, dried eels, and herbs believed to enhance one's physical stamina and overall health.
Washington, DC Resource Links
http://www.brittanica.com
http://www.expedia.com
http://www.washington.org
Click Here for a Current Calendar of Events in Washington, DC