50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Washington, DC Visual Story

By Jonathan Davis

Introduction

50 Interesting & Fun Facts About Washington, DC Visual Story

Are you interested in learning 50 interesting facts about Washington, DC? This list covers fun...

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Washington, DC, Fun Facts

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The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is built out of stone from multiple states

Architects of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial included materials from five states in the design. The...

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The Tidal Basin takes in 250 million gallons of water during high tide

The Tidal Basin plays a vital role in keeping local water transportation open. Twice a...

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The Cherry Blossom Festival originated from a gift in 1912

Celebrated every March and April in Washington, DC, the Cherry Blossom Festival is more than...

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Washington, DC, is home to 20 Smithsonian museums and attractions

There are a total of 20 Smithsonian museums and other attractions in Washington, DC. These...

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Washington National Cathedral took 83 years to build

Washington National Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul...

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Washington, DC, residents couldn't vote for president until 1961

If you're interested in Washington, DC, facts and history, you'll be surprised to learn that...

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The US Supreme Court didn't have its own building until 1935

The United States Supreme Court is the country's highest level of judiciaries. Still, they didn't...

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The Washington Monument is the tallest obelisk in the world

Reaching nearly 555 feet, the Washington Monument is the world's tallest obelisk and the tallest...

YAY_Images/Depositphotos.com

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Rock Creek Park is the country's third-oldest national park

Rock Creek Park sits on more than 1,750 acres in the northwestern quadrant of Washington...

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President Theodore Roosevelt is memorialized on a wooded island

Unlike other former presidents with monuments in the city's heart, the 26th President Theodore Roosevelt...

Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com

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William Howard Taft is the only president to serve as Supreme Court Chief Justice

A lawyer by trade, William Howard Taft is the only US President to also serve...

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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located at 1964 Independence Avenue SW

King was a driving force behind the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s...

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The District of Columbia is named after Christopher Columbus

Most people know that the city of Washington, DC, was named after Founding Father George...

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Washington, DC, covers an area of 68.3 square miles

The District of Columbia was established by Congress in 1790 to be the home of...

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Washington, DC, license plates read, "End Taxation Without Representation"

Taxation without representation was one of the primary motivations behind the American Revolutionary War. But...

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The International Spy Museum has the largest public collection of spy memorabilia

Opened to the public in 2002, the International Spy Museum is home to the world's...

grandbrothers/Depositphotos.com

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Georgetown University is the oldest post-secondary institution in Washington, DC

Prestigious Georgetown University holds the title of being the oldest post-secondary institution in Washington, DC...

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Folger Shakespeare Library has the world's largest written collection of Shakespeare

English writer William Shakespeare is known for his classic plays like Hamlet and Othello But...

Andrei Medvedev/Shutterstock.com

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Only six presidents have been sworn in outside of Washington, DC

There have only been six presidents sworn in outside of Washington, DC. The first two...

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Washington, DC, residents want it to become the 51st state

Washington, DC, statehood has been debated for years. Still, if residents had their way, they'd...

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Interesting Facts About Washington, DC

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The Potomac River has an average flow of seven billion gallons per day

The Potomac River, which delineates Washington, DC's southwestern border with Virginia, pumps an average of...

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Washington, DC, has more residents than two states

Another of many interesting things to learn on this Washington, DC, information and facts list...

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The World War II Memorial has 56 pillars

Washington, DC's World War II Memorial comprises a fountain surrounded by 56 granite pillars. Each...

sainaniritu/Depositphotos.com

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The Washington, DC Flag was first designed in 1924

The Washington, DC flag has a white background with two horizontal red stripes topped by...

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Abolitionist Frederick Douglass lived in Washington, DC, for over two decades

Frederick Douglass was born into slavery before escaping to New York City in 1838. Douglass...

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Washington, DC, has a higher per capita income than any state

It may be a federal district, but Washington, DC boasts a higher per capita income...

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The Municipal Fish Market is the oldest in the United States

Washington, DC's Municipal Fish Market, also known as the Maine Avenue Fish Market, is the...

EQRoy/Shutterstock.com

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The Washington Monument has a two-tone color pattern

Although it may look like a single tone at first glance, the towering Washington Monument...

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The Lincoln Memorial has a typo

Long before you could fix a typo with the stroke of a key, an unfortunate...

ImageSource/Depositphotos.com

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You can read the official FBI Interrogation Manual at the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress in Washington, DC, has a massive collection of over 173 million...

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There's a ten-foot statue of John Paul Jones near the Tidal Basin

John Paul Jones is recognized as the father of the United States Navy. His line...

eurobanks/Shutterstock.com

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Washington, DC, has the second-busiest Amtrak station

Washington Union Station is the District's primary hub for ground transportation. It's also the headquarters...

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Weird Facts About Washington, DC

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There's an unused tomb under the US Capitol Building

Many visitors tour the US Capitol Building's Crypt, most likely thinking that they're walking on...

Bill Perry/Shutterstock.com

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Darth Vader's helmet is sculpted on the Washington National Cathedral

In the 1980s, National Geographic promoted a contest for children to design a new sculpture...

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The White House has been home to some exotic presidential pets

Most people think of presidential pets as cats and dogs. Still, plenty of other exotic...

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There are two marble bathtubs in the US Capitol Building

Hidden down in the basement of the US Capitol Building, two palatial marble bathtubs sit...

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Washington, DC, residents drink more wine than anyone

Ready for some facts on Washington, DC, drinking habits? Wine is the perfect drink for...

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Facts About Washington, DC History

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The Lincoln Memorial is a part of civil rights history

With President Abraham Lincoln's role in ending slavery, it's no surprise that the Lincoln Memorial...

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George Washington chose the site for the White House in 1791

George Washington never lived in Washington, DC. He did, however, choose the site for the...

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There are nearly 4,000 cherry blossom trees around the National Mall

The National Mall and Memorial Parks are home to about 3,800 cherry blossom trees. Most...

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Before the 1600s, Washington, DC, was inhabited by the people of Nacotchtank

Another of the many historical facts about Washington, DC, is that John Smith was the...

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Woodrow Wilson is the only president buried in Washington, DC

Some interesting information about Washington, DC, is that only one president is buried within the...

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Washington, DC's National Mall was first planned in 1791

The National Mall, a two-mile park, is one of Downtown Washington, DC's most recognizable features...

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The White House was originally called the "President's Palace"

What we know today as the "White House" was initially named "President's Palace" when first...

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John Quincy Adams was the first presidential child to become president

John Quincy Adams was the 6th president of the United States from 1825 to 1829...

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Important Facts About Washington, DC

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The National Museum of African American History and Culture houses 40,000 items

Occupying 350,000 square feet across ten floors, the National Museum of African American History and...

bloodua/Depositphotos.com

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Washington, DC, is technically a federal district

Washington, DC, is a city, but it's also a federal district. Washington occupies all of...

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Washington, DC's official bird is the wood thrush

Commissioners for the District of Columbia designated the wood thrush as its official bird in...

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The Emancipation Proclamation was issued in Washington, DC, in 1863

Easily the most famous presidential proclamation in United States history, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued...

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DC is home to International Cultural Centers like the Mexican Cultural Institute

Because of the city's significance in global politics, it's common for nations to open international...

DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock.com

Conclusion

In Summary

It may seem like there are a lot of interesting facts about Washington, DC, for...

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