Designed by the renowned landscape architect Beatrix Farrand in close collaboration with Mildred Bliss, the gardens unfold like a series of outdoor rooms, with terraced paths, fountains, stone stairways, and beautifully arranged flowers and trees.
Admission is $18. Ticket is purchased online only. It opens at 2pm (Don't know why it opens that hour. Why not open in the morning?)
Dumbarton Oaks is one of Washington’s cultural treasures—a place where history, art, gardens, and scholarship come together in a deeply elegant setting.
Located in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks was once the private estate of Mildred Barnes Bliss and Robert Woods Bliss. In 1920, the couple purchased the property and transformed it into a refined home filled with extraordinary art and beautifully designed terraced gardens. They later donated the estate to Harvard University in 1940, creating what is now a museum, research library, and center for advanced studies.
Admission is free, the museum is famous for its world-class collections of Byzantine art and Pre-Columbian art. Inside, you will find exquisite mosaics, icons, sculptures, jewelry, textiles, and ceremonial objects from ancient civilizations of the Americas.
I was especially impressed by the building created to house their Pre-Columbian art collection. The gallery is designed as a group of circular rooms connected to one another, creating a unique and intimate flow as I moved from space to space. The curved rooms gave the feeling of discovery, with each one revealing another remarkable collection of ancient sculptures, ceramics, and artifacts from the civilizations of the Americas. Each art pieces are kept in clear glass chambers.
The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is one of the most elegant and peaceful monuments in Washington, DC. It honors Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
Located on the edge of the Tidal Basin, the memorial is especially beautiful during cherry blossom season, when the white dome is surrounded by pink blooms reflected in the water.
The memorial was designed in a neoclassical style, inspired by ancient Roman architecture, especially the Pantheon in Rome. Its round dome and ring of white marble columns also echo Jefferson’s own architectural tastes, including his designs at Monticello and the University of Virginia Rotunda. It was dedicated in 1943.
Inside, you’ll find a 19-foot bronze statue of Jefferson standing beneath the open dome, along with inscriptions of some of his most famous words, including ideas about liberty, democracy, and religious freedom. One of the most famous inscriptions includes the line from the Declaration of Independence:
“all men are created equal”
Jefferson was one of the most influential figures in early American history. Besides writing the Declaration, he served as:
-first Secretary of State
-Vice President
-President from 1801–1809
-founder of the University of Virginia
The memorial celebrates his ideals of freedom, democracy, and education, while modern discussions also recognize the contradictions in his legacy, including his ownership of enslaved people.
Located in the historic Franklin School, a red-brick landmark at 925 13th Street NW, next to Franklin Square in downtown Washington. Planet Word is one of the most unusual museums in Washington, DC. Instead of focusing on art, history, or science, it is dedicated entirely to language, words, and communication. It opened in October 2020 and is often described as the world’s first voice-activated museum.
The museum aims to make language fun and interactive, encouraging visitors to speak, listen, sing, and play with words rather than simply read exhibits.
It's free to visit with donation. There is a puzzle-style word-themed escape room where teams solve language clues together (with $48 fee).
I really enjoyed the interactions of each room offers, especially the Karaoke Songwriting Gallery. Overall, a great place for couples and kids looking for a fun place to play.
Address: Constitution Ave NW between 7th and 9th Streets. Admission is free.
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is one of the most pleasant outdoor art spaces on the National Mall. It combines modern sculpture, thoughtful landscape design, and a relaxing park atmosphere right next to the National Gallery of Art museum complex.
It is always a pleasure to walk around the National Mall, especially on a sunny day after many days of cold and gloomy weather. I was surprised that I had somehow missed this place in the past till now, considering how many times I have walked around the Mall. The garden’s central fountain and reflecting pool is drained and converted into an ice-skating rink each winter season.
