Arlington, Virginia
Abingdon Plantation Ruins
The remains of a historic plantation nestled in between a parking lot and the rental car return at Reagan National Airport.
Places Added by Elliot Carter
178
Items added
Items this traveler has added to the Atlas.
Washington, D.C.
Capitol Tile Room
In the basement of the U.S. Capitol Building is a hidden storage room full of ornate floor tiles leftover from the 1850s.
Washington, D.C.
National Building Museum
Fittingly, America's museum of architecture is itself a magnificently designed old building.
Washington, D.C.
Water Gate at the Watergate Complex
Before Nixon, "watergate" meant canals.
Freeport, Texas
Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve
This hollowed salt dome is the largest oil storage facility in the world, hoarding 250 million barrels of crude oil.
Washington, D.C.
Steam Tunnels Under Capitol Hill
100 years later, they're still down there.
Washington, D.C.
White House Helipad
Disks are rolled out onto the south lawn to absorb the impact of Marine One's wheels like giant coffee coasters.
Bethesda, Maryland
Madonna of the Trail
She stares out across six lanes of traffic, clutching a musket and infant with determination.
Lincoln, Nebraska
Pioneers Park Pillars
Four ionic columns from the Treasury Department building ended up in a park in Nebraska.
Washington, D.C.
Washington Monument Marble Stripe
Look closely and you’ll notice that the color changes a third of the way up the tower.
Washington, D.C.
American University Experiment Station
The school tested mustard gas for the U.S. Army during World War I.
Washington, D.C.
FDR's Bomb Shelter
The first presidential bomb shelter was located in an old vault under the Treasury, connected to the White House via tunnel.
Washington, D.C.
National Cathedral Bell Tower
There’s a special club house at the top for the bell ringers.
Permanently Closed
Washington, D.C.
Treasury Department Laundry
Literal "money laundering."
Washington, D.C.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
A lovely aquatic park built by a one-armed Civil War veteran who made a fortune from lotuses.
Washington, D.C.
Inaugural Parade Center Line
A line of blue paint marks the route of the inaugural parade.
La Habra Heights, California
The Hass Avocado Mother Tree
About 80% of all U.S. avocados are descendants of Rudolph Hass's glorious tree.
Simi Valley, California
Ronald Reagan’s Situation Room
The White House Situation Room was taken apart in 2006 and shipped to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Washington, D.C.
Serenity Statue
This poor little statue is the most vandalized memorial in Washington.
Washington, D.C.
Willard Hotel
Legend has it that President Grant’s frequent drinking in the lobby gave rise to the term “lobbyist.”
Washington, D.C.
Capitol Building Tunnel System
Members of Congress have traveled between the buildings on Capitol Hill for a century hidden from tourists, press, and storm clouds.
Washington, D.C.
FDR's Swimming Pool
There's an old indoor swimming pool hidden directly underneath the White House Press Briefing Room.
Washington, D.C.
Flag Office Elevator
The elevator that makes it possible to fly American flags in bulk over the U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
State Department Protocol Gift Office
They sort through millions of dollars worth of diplomatic gifts on behalf of the government.
