Washington, D.C.
Inside the Capitol Dome
The walls of the iconic dome are hollow and have a secret stairway.
Places Charles WV Wants to Go
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Places I want to go
Places on this traveler's wishlist.
Washington, D.C.
Summerhouse
A hidden gem on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted.
Washington, D.C.
Reading Room at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Home to a vast and influential collection of Shakespeareana.
Washington, D.C.
Abandoned Drawbridge Control Room
The hidden offices underneath Memorial Bridge have been locked up since 1976.
Washington, D.C.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
A cavernous three-story, 43,800-square-foot basement that was forgotten about for 60 years.
Washington, D.C.
Renwick Gallery
The first purpose-built art gallery in the United States is once again open as a center of craft arts.
Washington, D.C.
Washington Mini Monument
There's a 12-foot-tall replica of the Washington Monument hidden under a manhole nearby.
Washington, D.C.
Old Post Office Tower
The National Park Service’s best-kept secret with views that rival any in D.C.
Washington, D.C.
International Spy Museum
Home to items never before seen by the public.
Washington, D.C.
Rotunda of the Provinces
An echo chamber with a waterfall wrapped around its base at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
National Building Museum
Fittingly, America's museum of architecture is itself a magnificently designed old building.
Washington, D.C.
The Mutilated Currency Division
An obscure public service from the U.S. government that redeems burnt, moldy, and soiled old greenbacks.
Washington, D.C.
Annie's Paramount Steakhouse
This restaurant has been a haven for D.C.'s LGBTQ community since the 1950s.
Washington, D.C.
House of the Temple
This imposing Masonic temple a mile from the White House was the first public library in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
African-American Civil War Memorial
The first memorial dedicated solely to the Black troops who fought for the Union.
Washington, D.C.
Washington Family Church National Cathedral
An amazing example of early-20th-century architecture, this church features marble transported from Utah.
Washington, D.C.
The Dupont Underground
Long-abandoned trolley tunnels just a mile away from the White House are turning into an art space.
Washington, D.C.
The Brewmaster's Castle
This grand gothic brewery has been pumping out suds for over a hundred years.
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.
Washington, D.C.
Mount Zion Cemetery's Underground Railroad Shelter
People escaping slavery may have hidden inside a corpse vault.
Washington, D.C.
Tudor Place
A historic estate packed with George Washington's heirlooms, and its own nuclear bunker.
Washington, D.C.
Old Stone House
The oldest building in the District of Columbia was preserved because of a mistaken connection to George Washington.
Washington, D.C.
Foundry Branch Tunnel
Once a sewer culvert, this road tunnel now offers cyclists and pedestrians a subterranean stroll under the C&O Canal.
Washington, D.C.
Ruins of the Columbian Cannon Foundry
These recently uncovered walls are all that's left of Washington, D.C's first defense contractor.
