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All United States Washington, D.C.

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington, D.C.

266 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

Updated May 25, 2023

Thereʼs no better way to experience the history of the United States than through the hidden wonders of the capital. From the more unusual inclusions in the Smithsonianʼs collection to Americaʼs very own catacombs, we can help you get beneath the American project.

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Unusual Attractions in Washington, D.C.

Catacombs of Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Catacombs of Washington, D.C.

Franciscan monks created a facsimile of the Holy Land for North Americans who couldn’t afford the trip overseas.
National Capitol Columns

Washington, D.C.

National Capitol Columns

The United States Capitol's former columns still stand.

Washington, D.C.

The Exorcist Stairs

The site of the climactic scene from the classic horror film is now a historic landmark.
Spy Museum Exterior at Night

Washington, D.C.

International Spy Museum

Home to items never before seen by the public.
Baroque Room

Washington, D.C.

The Mansion on O Street

With over 100 jam-packed rooms to explore plus elaborate tea services and events, the Mansion on O Street is a hidden treasure.
Remnants of the streetcar station.

Washington, D.C.

The Dupont Underground

Long-abandoned trolley tunnels just a mile away from the White House are turning into an art space.
North American collection

Washington, D.C.

National Bonsai Museum

One of the dwarven trees dates back to 1625 and survived the Hiroshima bombing.

Washington, D.C.

Culture House

A historic neighborhood church is reborn as a psychedelic arts collective.
See All 266 Things To Do in Washington, D.C.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington, D.C.

The cafeteria.

Washington, D.C.

Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe

A museum cafe showcases Native American dishes and indigenous ingredients from across the Western Hemisphere.
The embassy.

Washington, D.C.

The Cuban Embassy's Hemingway Bar

When it opened during the final years of the embargo, all the drinks and cigars were free.
The market from above

Washington, D.C.

Maine Avenue Fish Market

The oldest continuously operating fish market in the United States.

Washington, D.C.

Alferd Packer Cannibal Plaque

A brass plaque dedicated to a convicted cannibal hangs in the National Press Club, and that's not even the craziest part of the story.
See all 10 Places to Eat in Washington, D.C.
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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to U Street Corridor

The U Street Corridor is an epicenter of art and African American heritage in Washington, DC. Once known as “Black Broadway,” U Street was the center of Black culture in America. (It’s where Duke Ellington was born!) Though the neighborhood struggled in the years following the 1968 riots, it’s as vibrant as ever today. Start your day on U Street at a mural honoring Black Americans from Harriet Tubman to Dave Chapelle, and end at a beloved Ethiopian restaurant where you might be lucky enough to catch some live music and dancing. Along the way you’ll grab a drink, uncover forgotten history, and stand inside theaters where everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Nirvana have performed.

View Itinerary
With Bill Cosby long gone, Kamala Harris is now in residence at Ben's Chili Bowl, Washington, DC USA

Explore Washington, D.C.

History 89
Government 60
Architectural Oddities 32
Memorials 27
Monuments 26
Military 26
Politics 22
Infrastructure 18
Presidents 18
Statues 17
Parks 17
History & Culture 17
Unique Restaurants & Bars 4
Places To Stay 2

Washington, D.C. Leaderboard

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Recent Washington, D.C. Activity

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    wants to go to Lincoln Book Tower

Stories About Washington, D.C.

William Selig's 1898 short film Something Good-Negro Kiss is considered one of the earliest black films depicting black intimacy on screen.

7 Unforgettable Stories for Black History Month

Meet some of the artists, archivists, students, and descendants rediscovering and preserving the past.
by April White
February 22, 2023
People spent significant time and effort making non-alcoholic drinks glamorous.

The Prohibition-Era Effort To Make Mocktails Fun

Socialites and social campaigners joined forces to create tempting temperance drinks.
by Kirstin Fawcett
January 24, 2023
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: The Signs of Ethiopian Identity

by Alex Bellos
January 16, 2023
Cher Ami, a black checker pigeon, earned his fame carrying messages for the American military during World War I. The pigeons recruited by the CIA during the Cold War were trained to undertake more clandestine tasks.

When the CIA Spied on American Citizens—Using Pigeons

The seemingly birdbrained Cold War experiment is still partially classified.
by Steven Ewin
January 11, 2023

Podcast: Library of Congress Hair Collection

Locks from everyone, from Ludwig van Beethoven to Ulysses S. Grant.
by The Podcast Team
December 6, 2022
Medium Eusapia Palladino performs a séance at the French home of astronomer Camille Flammarion on November 24, 1898.

The Secret History of Female and Nonbinary Occultists

A new book examines how supernatural beliefs have often offered a voice, visibility, and vulnerabilities.
by Sarah Durn
October 25, 2022
On March 3, 1913, thousands of women marched along Pennsylvania Avenue, one of the earliest protest marches in the nation's capital.

Mary Edwards Walker and the Queer Suffragists Who Changed History

They wore pants, advocated for free love, and refused to back down.
by Sarah Durn
July 20, 2022

Podcast: The Places Team's Favorite Atlas Entries

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
July 7, 2022

Lists Featuring Washington, D.C.

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

You'll never unsee it now.
Washington Monument Access Hatch
Alternate view of the pyramidion
Detail of the Mini Monument

6 Secrets of the Washington Monument

Lightning rods, hidden hatches, and more.

6

Including Washington Monument Marble Stripe, Washington Monument Access Hatch, and Washington Monument Lightning Rod

They were built in 1979.
The Howe Street stair corridor is the longest in Seattle.
Seward Street Slides

When Stairs and Slides Are Hiding in Plain Sight

Play real-life Chutes and Ladders at these obscure thruways.

9

Including Secret Tiled Staircase, Esmeralda Slide Park, and Howe Street Stairs

Yellow dashes mark the old tunnel
Dashes mark the old tunnel, solid lines are the newer ones
Los Angeles Tunnels
The tunnels all look slightly differiently

7 Hidden Tunnels Under Government Buildings

The literal underbelly of public agencies.

6

Including FDR's Bomb Shelter, Steam Tunnels Under Capitol Hill, and Underground Tunnels of Los Angeles

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