What are your suggestions for the highlights to see with only 36 weekend hours in Washington DC?

I would suggest taking a full day walking from monument to monument. You can see the FDR Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and World War II Memorial all in one day. At the end of your tour, you can take a walk past the White House as well.

For your next half day, I would strongly urge you to go to the Holocaust Museum. If not that, I would go to Arlington Cemetery.

At night, have dinner in Georgetown and walk around the old mansions.

Here are my suggestions:

Arlington National Cemetary and the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Memorials

National Archives (documents on display)

United States Holocaust Museum

National Gallery of Art (if you like that sort of thing)

White House photo stop

Our favorites were the tour of the Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian Museums. Also enjoyed seeing all the monuments.

Forgot to mention that the Holocaust Museum was absolutely amazing and very moving.

Take the Old Town trolley.Paul

National Portrait Gallery and restaurant--Marrakesh.