Bethesda, Maryland
Madonna of the Trail
She stares out across six lanes of traffic, clutching a musket and infant with determination.
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Places I've been
Places this traveler has marked as been there.
Silver Spring, Maryland
'Coastline' Wave Pool
Live data is transmitted from the Atlantic coast to instantly recreate the ocean waves in this fountain at the NOAA headquarters.
Silver Spring, Maryland
Wheaton Station Escalator
The longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere takes over three minutes to ride down.
Kensington, Maryland
Washington, D.C. Temple
The tallest The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in the world soars above the Beltway.
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.
National Building Museum
Fittingly, America's museum of architecture is itself a magnificently designed old building.
Washington, D.C.
Carousel on the National Mall
Washington's iconic carousel has a nice piece of Civil Rights history.
Washington, D.C.
Theodore Roosevelt Island
The national park was once a plantation estate.
Washington, D.C.
D.C. War Memorial
An overlooked memorial honoring the local Washington residents who died in World War I.
Washington, D.C.
Peacock Room
This stunning blue and gold room changed cities twice before becoming part of the Smithsonian.
Washington, D.C.
Ben's Chili Bowl Mural
A gorgeous mural outside a beloved D.C. restaurant pays homage to famous Black Americans.
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.
Culture House
A historic neighborhood church is reborn as a psychedelic arts collective.
Washington, D.C.
The Dupont Underground
Long-abandoned trolley tunnels just a mile away from the White House are turning into an art space.
Permanently Closed
College Park, Maryland
Pinball Parlor at MOM's Organic Market
Two dozen pinball games hidden away inside a most unlikely location.
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring B&O Railroad Station
Built in 1945, this historic train station has a new lease on life with its baggage area serving as an event space.
Washington, D.C.
Abandoned Drawbridge Control Room
The hidden offices underneath Memorial Bridge have been locked up since 1976.
Washington, D.C.
Old Stone House
The oldest building in the District of Columbia was preserved because of a mistaken connection to George Washington.
Permanently Closed
Smithsburg, Maryland
Abandoned Hang-gliding Launch Pad
A labor of love built by local hang-gliding enthusiasts, this ideal launch spot was outlawed by the authorities and has since been largely abandoned.
Silver Spring, Maryland
Bust of the 'Homeless Mayor'
A tribute to the beloved, kind-hearted "homeless mayor" of Silver Spring.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Bronner's Christmas Wonderland
World's largest Christmas store.
Ellicott City, Maryland
Daniels
An eerie, decaying ghost town destined to fade into the forest.
Duffield, Virginia
Virginia's Natural Tunnel
A 300-yard long natural tunnel runs through a ridge deep in the Appalachian Mountains.
Saltville, Virginia
Great Channels of Virginia
This maze-like slot canyon is a unique gem within an already fascinating geological area.
