The FDR Memorial is very intimate and moving. His quotes from 50 years ago are especially relevant today.
Enjoy.

Hi Keith, Looks like you have lots to plan. Thanks for the tip on this site. I'm finding some good advice. Love, your sis.

The Mall, monuments, museums, DC Ducks, too many things to list

BTW, the building restrictions limit the height of buildings in DC so as to not obscure the view of the Capitol building, not the Washington Monument.

Anyway, my favorites are: Monuments by night (don't forget Albert Einstein and FDR), Dumbarton Oaks, American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, the boat trip from Old Town Alexandria (or Mount Vernon) to Georgetown, bars and restaurants in Adams Morgan, the Silent Parade (Tuesday nights at Iwo Jima between Memorial and Labor Days).

Ann your wrong about the reason for building heights. Lived in D.C it is about the Washington Monument. Like your museum choices.

I think you're both right... this is from a DC website:
"A height restriction law enacted by Congress in 1899 ensures that no private structure in Washington, D.C., will extend higher than the monument or the
Capitol."

Technically, buildings are not supposed to be taller than the BASE of the Capitol Dome. This allows for a view of the dome, as well as the Washington Monument, from miles around.

Sorry Dan is right I live in D.C also everyone understands the building restrictions to not rise higher than the Washington Monument.

The Washington Monument is over 500 feet tall. If the height limit is for nothing to be taller than that, then you could have 50 story skyscrapers in downtown. There is hardly anyting taller than 12 stories, or about 120 feet.

DC tour guide here. The building restrictions all conform to keep the Washington Monument viewable across the city.

Hang out in SE on the corner and eat chicken wings and mambo sauce from one of the chinese joints behind bullet proof glass. Throw your bones in the street when your done and grab yo'self a 40 to wash it down.

I don't live in DC now (out in the burbs), but I used to, and everyone I knew understood that it was so as not to obscure the Capitol. However, it really doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things. I'll have to ask Bob Levey in his next chat.

My tip:
C&O Canal and/or Great Falls, Maryland side, for hiking and biking. Also, try the the Billy Goat trail near Old Angler's Inn; great scenery and hard to believe that you're that close to a big city! Also, if you feel like splurging, have lunch at the Old Angler's Inn.

top

ttt

I took my first trip there a month ago, and (thanks to my Fodors guide) squeezed in quite a bit.

Alrington Cemetary was a good start for me. I moved on to the Library of Congress and Supreme Court. Eventually, I hit all the monuments.
Finally, I checked out the Capitol and the Smithsonian.

I enjoyed the Nat. Museum of Art, Air & Space, & Nat. Hist.

The Amer. Hist. Museum is so-so in comparison.

Enjoy!