193 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Washington, D.C. - Atlas Obscura
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The Atlas Obscura Guide To

Washington, D.C.

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

Unusual Attractions in Washington, D.C.

Unique Food & Drink in Washington, D.C.

Explore Washington, D.C.

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Upcoming Washington, D.C. Events

Ruins of the stone cutting mill.
Dec 1
Poolesville, Maryland

Off-the-Path Hike to Seneca Quarry

Join us for a guided hike through the ruins of Seneca Quarry, a site with ties to a presidential scandal and the Smithsonian Castle.
Selected experiences curated by Chase Sapphire®
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt in 1933.
Dec 2
Washington, D.C., United States

A Personal Look Into Eleanor Roosevelt's D.C.

Tour the nation's capital through the eyes of the pioneering First Lady.
Art Deco architecture and sculpture adorn the local public elementary school.
Dec 8
Greenbelt, Maryland

Discover Greenbelt's Utopian Community of Tomorrow

An Art Deco dream to some and a hotbed of radical socialism to others.
Dec 14
Washington, D.C., District of Columbia

The Tunnels and Trapdoors of Tudor Place by Candlelight

Stroll through the elegant entertaining spaces of a Federal Era mansion, decked with historic Christmas decor, and then explore the tunnels hidden underneath.
Selected experiences curated by Chase Sapphire®

Washington, D.C. Leaderboard

Recent Washington, D.C. Activity

rebekahlight wants to go to National Archives Vault
harvey wants to go to The Exorcist Stairs
chrisleece01 has been to The K-9 of the Korean War Veterans Memorial
sonderweg sonderweg has been to Washington Monument Marble Stripe
sonderweg sonderweg has been to Peacock Room

Stories About Washington, D.C.

Union Soldiers Buried Their Dead in Robert E. Lee’s Garden

Before Arlington was a national cemetery, it was the Lee homestead, and then a tent city for occupying troops.
by Jessica Leigh Hester
October 26, 2018
Beware the Demon Cat!

Why the U.S. Capitol's 'Demon Cat' Legend Is So Persistent

A lot of it has to do with paw prints.
by Eric Grundhauser
March 13, 2018

Lists Featuring Washington, D.C.

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets
View from inside the cave
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

6 Secrets of the Washington Monument
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