Washington, D.C., Federal capital on the Potomac River, United States.
The federal district covers 68 square miles (177 square kilometers) divided into four quadrants radiating from the Capitol Building, featuring wide avenues lined with neoclassical government structures, memorials, and parks along the Potomac River waterfront.
Congress established the seat of government in 1790, selecting French engineer Pierre Charles L'Enfant to design a planned city on territory ceded by Maryland and Virginia, with the government relocating from Philadelphia in 1800.
Around 20 million visitors tour the three branches of federal government annually, observing American democracy in action through Capitol tours, Supreme Court sessions, and White House grounds access.
Six Metro rail lines and more than 1500 bus routes provide public transportation throughout the district, with most museums and monuments offering free admission daily except December 25th, though advance timed entry passes are required for several sites.
The district's license plates display the phrase "Taxation Without Representation," referencing residents' lack of voting representation in Congress despite paying all federal taxes and serving in the military.
Location: District of Columbia
Inception: July 16, 1790
Elevation above the sea: 72 m
Part of: contiguous United States, Mid-Atlantic, Arlington–Alexandria–Reston metropolitan division
Shares border with: Arlington County, Alexandria, Prince George's County, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, Bethesda, Silver Spring
Address: Washington, DC, USA
Website: https://dc.gov
GPS coordinates: 38.89504,-77.03654
Latest update: November 30, 2025 19:39
This list presents the 50 most populous cities in the United States according to the official estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau as of July 2024. These metropolitan areas showcase the country's diversity in economic, cultural, and geographic aspects. From New York with 8.48 million residents, a global hub of finance and media, to Los Angeles, the center of cinema, through Chicago with its notable architecture, Houston with its space industry, and Philadelphia, the city that founded American independence, each destination has its own identity. San Antonio preserves traces of the colonial era around the Alamo, while Phoenix is experiencing rapid growth in the Arizona desert. These large American cities, spread from Texas to California and from Florida to Illinois, offer a comprehensive view of the country's urban realities. Together, they host several tens of millions of inhabitants and are the main drivers of the national economy, each developing specialties from the energy sector to new technologies, maritime trade, and medical research.
Washington DC, the capital of the United States, houses the three branches of federal government and the nation's most significant political institutions. The White House serves as the presidential residence, while the Capitol building hosts Congress and the Supreme Court represents the judicial branch. The National Mall extends 2 miles (3 kilometers) and connects historic monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and Washington Monument, which commemorate the nation's founders. The city holds an exceptional concentration of museums, many belonging to the Smithsonian Institution and offering free admission. The National Air and Space Museum displays the history of aviation and space exploration, while the National Gallery of Art presents an extensive collection of European and American art. The Library of Congress preserves over 170 million items and ranks as the largest library in the world. Memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial honor significant events and figures in American history. Historic districts like Georgetown and Embassy Row, along with green spaces such as the Tidal Basin and Theodore Roosevelt Island Park, complement the capital's cultural and natural offerings.
Washington D.C is more than just the White House and the presidency of the United States. The city contains a collection of iconic monuments, national museums, and government buildings that represent American history and culture. Here, we suggest stepping off the beaten path and discovering the city from another perspective, away from the noise of American politics.
United States Supreme Court Building
2.8 km
White House
305 m
The Pentagon
3.1 km
United States Capitol
2.4 km
Washington Monument
629 m
Arlington National Cemetery
3.6 km
Library of Congress
2.8 km
Number One Observatory Circle
4 km
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
3.7 km
Lincoln Memorial
1.3 km
Resolute desk
267 m
Oval Office
273 m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
1.1 km
Washington National Cathedral
4.9 km
National Mall
1.3 km
National Archives and Records Administration
1.2 km
National Air and Space Museum
1.6 km
National Gallery of Art
1.5 km
Sidwell Friends School
5.9 km
Watergate complex
1.6 km
Capitol Hill
3.2 km
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
679 m
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
8.9 km
Executive Residence
308 m
Ford's Theatre
956 m
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
5.3 km
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
361 m
Jefferson Memorial
1.5 kmReviews
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