15 Things You Didn't Know About Washington, DC

Nicole Hampton

Washington DC is such a historical and tourist-driven city that you would think every hidden gem has been unearthed and spit-shined to take a selfie with, and every quirky fact has been examined. However, there are still some facts that are not known to the majority who visit or even live in DC. Some of these are in the heart of the monuments, museums and tour guide trivia, and others are right in front of the massive crowds’ eyes and just go unnoticed. Here are 15 things you might not have known about America’s capital.

The technicolor church

Building, Church

What’s better than a building filled with paintings? A building turned into a painting. Artist Alex “Hense” Brewer took up the task to turn the SW neighborhood into an arts district by turning the old white canvas of the Friendship Baptist Church into a technicolor mural and community arts center.

700 Delaware Avenue, SW Washington DC, USA, +1 202 554 0103

SW Arts Club | © Sharon VanderKaay / Flickr

The Washington Monument is two colors

Off-white and pearl? Bone and ivory? Well, regardless of the colors’ names, the contrast is unmistakable once you are up close, and especially on a rainy day. After about a third of the way up this monumental obelisk, the stone changes color. It is supposedly because the project’s funding ran short early on, so they had to change the type of stone they used to a less expensive alternative. Or it could be part of a freemasonry conspiracy theory since the Washington Monument is the tallest freestanding masonry structure (yes, another infraction).

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Washington Monument

The Grey House

Could you imagine if that’s what we called the White House? A morose grey house holding the leader of United States definitely wouldn’t have the glamorous appeal as the lustrous white painted beauty we snap photos of today. I guess it was a good thing the British lit it on fire so we had to paint over the grey sandstone that once was!

Foreign designers

Americans didn’t design the Capitol Building or the White House. A British doctor designed the Capitol and an Irishman designed the Grey, I mean White, House.

Seat for the government

The District of Columbia wasn’t even meant to be an actual city, so the 23rd amendment had to be ratified in 1961 so the citizens of D.C could vote in the presidential elections. It was designed to be a place only for the government and not for the population to live, and now half a million people reside here. Take that, government plans!

White House pets

Way before there were animal rights organizations and activists, past presidents brought in some pretty unusual pets, many of them gifts from other important people. Some included a pair of tiger cubs given to President Buren by the Sultan of Oman, Andrew Jackson had a parrot who was taught to swear, Thomas Jefferson had two bear cubs; Willliam Harrison, a goat. Perhaps the most notable are the alligators that lived in the White House with not one, but two presidents, Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams.

Alligator

Darth Vader in a church

Building, Cathedral, Church

At the Washington National Cathedral, a gorgeous church with a winding staircase and wondrous edifices, there is another type of grotesque side by side with the gargoyles. You can see an image of Darth Vader clearly outside, as well as inside a stained glass window. The force must have been strong with the architect building this church.

Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington DC 20016, USA, +1 202 537 6200

Turn left on J Street

It’s hard to imagine so far back to a time where our alphabet wasn’t finished, and letters were interchangeable due to lack of imagination – or maybe just laziness. J and I were these letters, so the founders of the city didn’t add it to the alphabetic road system. Even Thomas Jefferson signed his named T.I. (not to be confused with the rapper with the same initials).

Politics driving people to drink

Or it could be that there are a lot of good wineries around. Regardless of the reason, D.C consumes more wine per resident than any other of the 50 states! For such a small region, that’s a big accomplishment.

wine

Speaking of wine…

President Woodrow Wilson had ended his term during the Prohibition, and he had a hefty wine collection that he valued but was illegal to move. He persuaded Congress to create a special law just for him that allowed the transportation of alcohol by one person from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to his home. Talk about the perks of being the boss!

The White House Movie Theater

The theater was originally a coatroom. It must have gotten a lot of guests during the winter months! It was later changed to a movie theater, and Jimmy Carter watched 480 movies in there, the most of any president.

Creepy forest in the city

Forest, Park

If you go to Palisades Park, and walk toward what looks like a forgotten yard, take a right and you’ll come to the clown from IT who will be your tour guide. Not really, but that’s the only thing this creepy Glass Forest is missing! Take the trail that leads into the woods on your right, and you’ll start to come upon antique bicycle parts, shiny mirrors, and gnarly tree limbs. It’s truly a mix of urban and nature, which is usually not a good thing, but in this case, it has an odd appeal that many find charming.

Palisades Spray Park, 5200 Sherier Pl NW, Washington DC, USA, +1 202 282 2186

Library of Congress

Library

Library of Congress
© Powhusku / Flickr
This is the ultimate bibliophile’s dream – a library that you might need a map to find your way out of. Don’t worry, if you do get lost you could find a book on how to get out, since this library holds just about every kind of literature known to man. It’s the largest one in the United States and has over 500 miles of bookshelves to prove it.

Marthin Luther King Jr. Step

Walk 18 steps down from the Lincoln Memorial and there it is, a step dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech, which people often surprisingly miss.

Martin Luther King Speech Lincoln

New Columbia

D.C petitioned to become a state called New Columbia back in 1983 because citizens of D.C don’t have voting representation in the national legislature. The petition obviously failed, but ever since 1971 there has been one representative in the House of Representatives, even though they don’t have voting rights.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article