On the Fourth of July this area will transform into a Pompeii-like storm of falling embers and ash.

An ominous concrete cube cuts a dystopian silhouette atop this California mountain.

D.C. once had its own tiny rival to the New York Stock Exchange.

A much-maligned monument to teetotalism.

This unassuming passageway played a key role in one of the most important events in U.S. history.

One of the most influential presidents in U.S. history wanted only this plain, elegant monument as his lasting memorial.

A muscular Art Deco monument represents the struggle between regulators and unbridled markets.

A spectacular tribute to statesman and philanthropist Andrew Mellon.

An echo chamber with a waterfall wrapped around its base at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.

A glimpse of the Pacific Northwest‘s indigenous culture in Washington, D.C.

Architecture lovers won’t stop touching the National Gallery's 19.5 degree marble prow.

"Congress may voluntarily remain in session throughout the summer, in order that our Congressmen may be protected from the intolerable discomforts and dangers of the ordinary outdoor weather!”

A hidden gem on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.

One of the three perfect vellum copies of this historic book known to exist is on display in a specially-designed case.

A three-story tower of books about Abraham Lincoln is one of the more unusual monuments to the president.

This Masonic lodge was the first major private building to be constructed in Washington, D.C. after the Civil War.

Over the last century, this elegant columned facade has been home to the headquarters of a bank, several nightclubs, and a restaurant.

This nine-story building is the oldest standing skyscraper in D.C.

Once home to the largest photo service in the United States.

The bank that helped fund the Mexican-American War and the purchase of Alaska met its downfall after helping Augusto Pinochet launder money.

Was there a small "backpack nuke" hidden in the attic? JFK apparently thought so.

The sculptor was instructed to add “stallion attributes” to the general's bronze mare.

For over 70 years, this house was home to a pioneering Black artist and educator.

This unacceptably tall building was the real reason for Washington, D.C.'s skyscraper ban.