Washington, D.C. Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Culture == {{Main|Culture of Washington, D.C.}} {{Infobox region symbols|country=United States <!-- Sources: https://os.dc.gov/page/dc-symbols, http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/dc_symb.htm --> |region = District of Columbia |bird = [[Wood Thrush]] |tree = [[Scarlet Oak]] |flower = [[American Beauty rose]] |beverage = [[Rickey (cocktail)|Rickey]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Jamie R. Liu |title=Rickey Named Official D.C. Cocktail |work=DCist |date=July 14, 2011 |url=http://dcist.com/2011/07/rickey_named_dcs_cocktail.php |access-date=July 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014163359/http://dcist.com/2011/07/rickey_named_dcs_cocktail.php |archive-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref> |dinosaur = ''[[list of informally named dinosaurs#Capitalsaurus|Capitalsaurus]]'' |food = [[Cherry]] |rock = [[Potomac bluestone]] |dance = [[Hand dancing]] |slogan = Federal City |image_route = {{infobox road/shieldmain/USA|state=DC|type=DC|route=295}} |image_quarter = 2009 DC Proof.png |quarter_release_date = 2009 |mammal=[[Little brown bat]] |fish=[[American shad]] |crustacean=[[Hay's Spring amphipod]] }} === Arts === {{Main|Theater in Washington, D.C.}} [[File:Moulin Rouge at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts audience perspective.jpg|thumb|A performance of ''[[Moulin Rouge! (musical)|Moulin Rouge!]]'' at the [[Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]]]] Washington, D.C., is a national center for the arts, home to several concert halls and theaters. The [[John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts]] is home to the [[National Symphony Orchestra (United States)|National Symphony Orchestra]], the [[Washington National Opera]], and the [[Washington Ballet]]. The [[Kennedy Center Honors]] are awarded each year to those in the performing arts who have contributed greatly to the cultural life of the United States. This ceremony is often attended by the sitting [[President of the United States|U.S. president]] and other dignitaries and celebrities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/about/home.html |title=About the Kennedy Center Honors |access-date=June 29, 2008 |publisher=The Kennedy Center |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516004214/http://kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/about/home.html |archive-date=May 16, 2008}}</ref> The Kennedy Center also awards the annual [[Mark Twain Prize for American Humor]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The historic [[Ford's Theatre]], site of the [[Assassination of Abraham Lincoln|assassination of President Abraham Lincoln]] on April 14, 1865, continues to function as a theatre and as a museum.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rothstein |first=Edward |title=Where a Comedy Turned to Tragedy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/arts/design/07linc.html |access-date=April 2, 2011 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512181850/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/arts/design/07linc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.|Marine Barracks]] near [[Capitol Hill]] houses the [[United States Marine Band]]; founded in 1798, it is the country's oldest professional musical organization.<ref>{{cite web |title=Who We Are |url=http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/WHO_WE_ARE/ensembles/marine_band/index.htm |publisher=United States Marine Band |access-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019060441/http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/WHO_WE_ARE/ensembles/marine_band/index.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2012}}</ref> [[American march music|American march composer]] and Washington-native [[John Philip Sousa]] led the Marine Band from 1880 until 1892.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Davison |first=Marjorie Risk |title=Excerpts from the History of Music in the District of Columbia |journal=Records of the Columbia Historical Society |year=1969 |volume=66–68 |page=183 |jstor=40067254}}</ref> Founded in 1925, the [[United States Navy Band]] has its headquarters at the [[Washington Navy Yard]] and performs at official events and public concerts around the city.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=http://www.navyband.navy.mil/History.shtml |publisher=United States Navy Band |access-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716081210/http://www.navyband.navy.mil/History.shtml |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> Founded in 1950, [[Arena Stage]] achieved national attention and spurred growth in the city's independent theater movement that now includes organizations such as the [[Shakespeare Theatre Company]], [[Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company]], and the [[Studio Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Studio Theatre]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilmeth |first=Don B. |title=The Cambridge history of American theatre |year=2000 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=232 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mnRa7u3-T2IC |author2=C.W.E. Bigsby |isbn=978-0-521-66959-7 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906002902/https://books.google.com/books?id=mnRa7u3-T2IC |url-status=live }}</ref> Arena Stage reopened after a renovation and expansion in the city's emerging [[Southwest Waterfront, Washington, D.C.|Southwest waterfront area]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kravitz |first=Derek |title=The emerging Southwest: Transformation underway |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092307325.html |access-date=April 2, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 26, 2010 |archive-date=February 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216174004/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/23/AR2010092307325.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[GALA Hispanic Theatre]], now housed in the historic [[Tivoli Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Tivoli Theatre]] in [[Columbia Heights (Washington, D.C.)|Columbia Heights]], was founded in 1976 and is a National Center for the Latino Performing Arts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gala Theatre History |url=http://galatheatre.org/history.php |publisher=GALA Hispanic Theatre |access-date=April 2, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830222103/http://www.galatheatre.org/history.php |archive-date=August 30, 2009}}</ref> Other performing arts spaces in the city include the [[Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium]] in [[Federal Triangle]], the [[Atlas Performing Arts Center]] on [[H Street (Washington, D.C.)|H Street]], the [[Carter Barron Amphitheater]] in [[Rock Creek Park]], [[DAR Constitution Hall|Constitution Hall]] in [[Downtown, Washington, D.C.|Downtown]], the [[National Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|National Theatre]] in Downtown, the [[Keegan Theatre]] in [[Dupont Circle]], the [[Lisner Auditorium]] in [[Foggy Bottom]], the [[National Sylvan Theater|Sylvan Theater]] on the [[National Mall]], and the [[Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Warner Theatre]] in [[Penn Quarter]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The [[U Street Corridor]] in Northwest D.C., once known as "Washington's Black Broadway", is home to institutions like [[Howard Theatre]] and [[Lincoln Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Lincoln Theatre]], which hosted music legends such as Washington-native [[Duke Ellington]], [[John Coltrane]], and [[Miles Davis]].<ref name=ustreet>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Levin |title=Lights Return to 'Black Broadway' in Northwest Washington, D.C. |date=September 10, 2006 |url=http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/travel/10surfacing.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=June 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610144435/http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/travel/10surfacing.html?ref=travel |archive-date=June 10, 2011}}</ref> Just east of U Street is [[Shaw (Washington, D.C.)|Shaw]], which also served as a major cultural center during the [[jazz age]]. Intersecting with U Street is [[Fourteenth Street (Washington, D.C.)|Fourteenth Street]], which was an extension of the U Street cultural corridor during the 1920s through the 1960s. The collection of Fourteenth Street, U Street, and Shaw was the location of the [[Black Renaissance in D.C.]], which was part of the larger [[Harlem Renaissance]]. Today, the area starting at Fourteenth Street downtown going north through U Street and east to Shaw boasts a high concentration of bars, restaurants, and theaters, and is among the city's most notable cultural and artistic areas.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]] (WAFCA), a group of more than 65 film critics, holds an annual awards ceremony.<ref name="aboutwafca">{{cite web|title=About|url=http://www.wafca.com/about/index.htm|website=www.wafca.com|publisher=Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association|access-date=March 11, 2024|archive-date=December 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209235303/http://www.wafca.com/about/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> === Music === {{Main|Music of Washington, D.C.}} [[File:Chuck Brown (5318700369).jpg|thumb|left|[[Chuck Brown]] performing [[go-go]] music]] [[Columbia Records]], a major music record label in the US, was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1889.<ref name="IEEE Easton">{{cite web|title=Edward Easton|url=http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Edward_Easton|publisher=IEEE|access-date=January 22, 2014|archive-date=February 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202110636/http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Edward_Easton|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bilton|first=Lynn|title=Hail, Columbia: A fresh book at last gives Edward Easton and his Graphophone company their due|url=http://www.intertique.com/Hail%20Columbia.htm|access-date=January 22, 2014|year=1998|archive-date=May 16, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516015848/http://www.intertique.com/Hail%20Columbia.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The city grew into being one of America's most important music cities in the early [[jazz age]]. [[Duke Ellington]], among the most prominent jazz composers and musicians of his time, was born and raised in Washington, and began his music career in the city. The center of the city's jazz scene during those years was [[U Street (Washington, D.C.)|U street]] and [[Shaw (Washington, D.C.)|Shaw]]. Among the city's major jazz locations were the [[Lincoln Theatre (Washington, D.C.)|Lincoln Theatre]] and the [[Howard Theater]]. Washington has its own native music genre called [[go-go]]; a post-funk, percussion-driven flavor of rhythm and blues that was popularized in the late 1970s by D.C. band leader [[Chuck Brown]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Alona |last=Wartofsky |title=What Go-Goes Around ... |date=June 3, 2001 |newspaper=The Washington Post |page=G01}}</ref> The district is an important center for [[indie music scene|indie culture and music]] in the United States. The DC-based label [[Dischord Records]], formed by [[Ian MacKaye]], frontman of [[Fugazi]], was one of the most crucial independent labels in the genesis of 1980s punk and eventually indie rock in the 1990s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Constantinou |first=Costas M. |title=Cultures and politics of global communication |year=2008 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpJ0_WQIbZoC |isbn=978-0-521-72711-2 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=September 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905235914/https://books.google.com/books?id=xpJ0_WQIbZoC |url-status=live }}</ref> Modern [[Alternative rock|alternative]] and indie music venues like [[Black Cat (Washington, D.C. nightclub)|The Black Cat]] and the [[9:30 Club]] bring popular acts to the U Street area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Black Cat: A changing club with a changing scene in a changing city |date=September 9, 2001 |url=http://www.georgetownvoice.com/2004/09/09/black-cat-a-changing-club-with-a-changing-scene-in-a-changing-city/ |work=The Georgetown Voice |access-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513133855/http://georgetownvoice.com/2004/09/09/black-cat-a-changing-club-with-a-changing-scene-in-a-changing-city/ |archive-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> The hardcore punk scene in the city, known as [[Washington, D.C. hardcore|D.C. hardcore]], is an important genre of D.C.'s contemporary music scene. Starting in the 1970s and flourishing in the [[Adams Morgan]] neighborhood, it is considered to be one of the most influential punk music movements in the country.<ref name="SG_13DCHC">{{cite web |last=Norton |first=Justin M. |date=October 17, 2012 |url=http://www.stereogum.com/1179562/13-essential-dc-hardcore-albums/franchises/list/ |title=13 Essential DC Hardcore Albums |website=[[Stereogum]] |access-date=April 11, 2016 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022183326/https://www.stereogum.com/1179562/13-essential-dc-hardcore-albums/franchises/list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> === Cuisine === {{See also|List of Michelin starred restaurants in Washington, D.C.}} [[File:Ethiopian vegetarian sampler.jpg|thumb|[[Yetsom beyaynetu]] at Das Ethiopian Cuisine, one of D.C.'s many Ethiopian restaurants.]] Washington, D.C., is rich in fine and casual dining; some consider it among the country's best cities for dining.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/dining/best-restaurants-in-dc.html |title=10 Reasons Washington Is a Great Restaurant City |author=Anderson, Brett |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 29, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123020212/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/dining/best-restaurants-in-dc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The city has a diverse range of [[restaurant]]s, including a wide variety of international cuisines.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://jetsettimes.com/countries/usa-countries/washington-dc/dc-foodie/a-guide-to-washington-d-c-s-international-food-scene/ |title=A Guide To Washington D.C.'s International Food Scene |author=Vivian Bauer |newspaper=Jetset Times |date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220211231214/https://jetsettimes.com/countries/usa-countries/washington-dc/dc-foodie/a-guide-to-washington-d-c-s-international-food-scene/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's [[Chinatown (Washington, D.C.)|Chinatown]], for example, has more than a dozen Chinese-style restaurants. The city also has many Middle Eastern, European, African, Asian, and Latin American cuisine options. D.C. is known as one of the best cities in the world for [[Ethiopian cuisine]], due largely to [[Ethiopians in Washington, D.C.|Ethiopian immigrants]] who arrived in the 20th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/dining-out/ethiopian-food-restaurants-washington-dc |title=The Best Ethiopian Restaurants in Washington, D.C. |author=Hutcherson, Aaron |date=October 10, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2022 |archive-date=September 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909014815/https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/dining-out/ethiopian-food-restaurants-washington-dc |url-status=live }}</ref> A part of the [[Shaw (Washington, D.C.)|Shaw]] neighborhood in central D.C. is known as "Little Ethiopia" and has a high concentration of Ethiopian restaurants and shops.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/22/little.ethiopia.washington/index.html |title=Inside Washington, D.C.'s "Little Ethiopia" |author=Showalter, Misty |website=[[CNN]] |date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030164404/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/10/22/little.ethiopia.washington/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The diversity of cuisine is also reflected in the city's many [[food truck]]s, which are particularly heavily concentrated along the [[National Mall]], which has few other dining options.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Kelley |date=July 9, 2021 |title=10 Places to Eat on the National Mall |url=https://daycationdc.com/food-national-mall/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030162814/https://daycationdc.com/food-national-mall/ |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |access-date=October 30, 2022 |website=daycationdc.com}}</ref> Among the most famous Washington, D.C.-born foods is the [[half-smoke]], a half-beef, half-pork sausage placed in a [[hotdog]]-style bun and topped with onion, chili, and cheese.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://washington.org/visit-dc/dc-signature-half-smoke-all-you-need-to-know|title=Everything You Need to Know About DC's Signature Dish: The Half-Smoke|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=February 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209041338/https://washington.org/visit-dc/dc-signature-half-smoke-all-you-need-to-know|url-status=live}}</ref> The city is also the birthplace of [[mumbo sauce]], a [[condiment]] similar to [[barbecue sauce]] but sweeter in flavor, often used on meat and [[french fries]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/mumbo-mambo-sauce-washington-dc-article|title=This Secret Sauce From D.C. Belongs on Everything|work=Epicurious|access-date=February 14, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=February 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215084228/https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/mumbo-mambo-sauce-washington-dc-article|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Ashlie D. |last=Stevens |date=January 17, 2021 |url=https://www.salon.com/2021/01/17/the-story-of-mambo-or-mumbo-sauce-the-condiment-that-likely-fueled-the-civil-rights-movement/ |title=The Story of Mambo (or Mumbo) Sauce, the Condiment That Likely Fueled the Civil Rights Movement |website=Salon.com |access-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118000230/https://www.salon.com/2021/01/17/the-story-of-mambo-or-mumbo-sauce-the-condiment-that-likely-fueled-the-civil-rights-movement/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Washington, D.C. is known for popularizing the [[jumbo slice]] pizza, a large [[New York-style pizza]]<ref name="Barrett">{{cite book |title=Pizza, A Slice of American History |author=Liz Barrett |year=2014 |publisher=Quarto Publishing group |location=Minneapolis |isbn=978-0-7603-4560-3 |page=135 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vPCuBAAAQBAJ&q=jumbo+slice&pg=PA135 |access-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208222232/https://books.google.com/books?id=vPCuBAAAQBAJ&q=jumbo+slice&pg=PA135#v=snippet&q=jumbo%20slice&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Stern">{{cite book |title=Lexicon of Real American Food |author1=Jane Stern |author2=Michael Stern |year=2011 |publisher=Lyons Press |location=Guilford, Connecticut |isbn=978-0-7627-6094-7 |page=163 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0nCFBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT169 |access-date=January 13, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://wamu.org/story/19/09/26/jumbo-slice/ |title=Jumbo Slice |date=September 26, 2019 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209041325/https://wamu.org/story/19/09/26/jumbo-slice/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with roots in the [[Adams Morgan]] neighborhood.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pie Fight; Pizza signs try to top each other. |last1=Jamieson |first1=Dave |url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/26773/pie-fight |newspaper=Washington City Paper |date=July 25, 2003 |access-date=May 1, 2016 |archive-date=October 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006031227/http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/26773/pie-fight |url-status=live }}</ref> [[File:2020.03.19 DC People and Places, Washington, DC USA 080 30017 (49679399691).jpg|thumb|[[Ben's Chili Bowl]], known for its [[half-smoke]], a historic staple of the city's cuisine]] Among the city's signature restaurants is [[Ben's Chili Bowl]], located on [[U Street (Washington, D.C.)|U Street]] since its founding in 1958. The restaurant rose to prominence as a peaceful escape during the violent [[1968 Washington, D.C., riots|1968 race riots]] in the city. Famous for its [[chili dog]]s and half-smokes, it has been visited by numerous presidents and celebrities over the years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/01/10/dc-diner-adds-obama-to-list-of-famous-patrons|title=Diner adds Obama to list of famous patrons, Reuters Blogs|publisher=Blogs.reuters.com|date=January 10, 2009|access-date=July 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124165931/http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/01/10/dc-diner-adds-obama-to-list-of-famous-patrons/|archive-date=January 24, 2009}}</ref> The [[Georgetown Cupcake]] bakery became famous through its appearance on the reality T.V. show [[DC Cupcakes]]. Another culinary hotspot is [[Union Market]] in [[Northeast D.C.]], a former farmer's market and wholesale that now houses a large, gourmet [[food hall]].<ref name="Lerner">{{Cite news |date=2021-12-05 |title=Food-oriented apartment complex to open near D.C.'s Union Market |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/where-we-live/wp/2017/05/11/food-oriented-apartment-complex-to-open-near-d-c-s-union-market/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=August 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824022855/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/where-we-live/wp/2017/05/11/food-oriented-apartment-complex-to-open-near-d-c-s-union-market/ |url-status=live }}</ref> D.C.'s fine dining restaurants have received more [[Michelin Guide|Michelin stars]], as of 2023, than any other U.S. city except [[New York City]] and [[San Francisco]]. Several celebrity chefs have opened restaurants in the city, including [[José Andrés]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mashed.com/210675/the-untold-truth-of-jose-andres/ |title=The Untold Truth Of José Andrés |author=Furdyk, Brent |date=May 19, 2020 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209041322/https://www.mashed.com/210675/the-untold-truth-of-jose-andres/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Kwame Onwuachi]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/dining/kwame-onwuachi-leaving-kith-and-kin.html |title=Kwame Onwuachi Is Leaving Kith and Kin in Washington |author=Wells, Pete |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 6, 2020 |access-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-date=February 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209041325/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/dining/kwame-onwuachi-leaving-kith-and-kin.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gordon Ramsay]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/05/24/gordon-ramsay-is-opening-an-all-you-can-eat-slice-joint-in-downtown-dc/ |title=Gordon Ramsay Is Opening an All-You-Can-Eat Slice Joint in Downtown DC |author=Spiegel, Anna |newspaper=The Washingtonian |date=May 24, 2022 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026032929/https://www.washingtonian.com/2022/05/24/gordon-ramsay-is-opening-an-all-you-can-eat-slice-joint-in-downtown-dc/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://dc.eater.com/2022/10/25/23422763/celebrity-chef-gordon-ramsay-wharf-sea-of-fish-and-chips-dc-restaurant-openings|publisher=Eater DC|title=Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay Pulls Up to the Wharf With a Sea of Fish and Chips|author=Plumb, Tierney|date=October 25, 2022|access-date=October 26, 2022|archive-date=October 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026013345/https://dc.eater.com/2022/10/25/23422763/celebrity-chef-gordon-ramsay-wharf-sea-of-fish-and-chips-dc-restaurant-openings|url-status=live}}</ref> and previously [[Michel Richard]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} === Museums === {{See also|List of museums in Washington, D.C.}} [[File:National Gallery of Art.jpg|thumb|The [[National Gallery of Art]] was the [[List of most-visited museums in the United States|most visited art museum in the United States]] in 2022.]] Washington, D.C. is home to many of the [[List of most-visited museums in the United States|country's most visited museums]] and some of the [[List of most-visited museums|most visited museums in the world]]. In 2022, the [[National Museum of Natural History]] and the [[National Gallery of Art]] were the two most visited museums in the country. Overall, Washington had eight of the 28 most visited museums in the U.S. in 2022. That year, the National Museum of Natural History was the fifth-most-visited museum in the world; the National Gallery of Art was the eleventh.<ref name=teacom>TEA-AECOM Museum Index 2022, published June 2023</ref> ==== Smithsonian museums ==== {{See also|List of Smithsonian museums}} [[File:Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History (7508870948).jpg|thumb|The [[Smithsonian Museum of Natural History]] was the [[list of most-visited museums in the United States|most visited museum in the U.S. in 2022]], with 3.9 million visits.]] The [[Smithsonian Institution]] is an educational foundation chartered by Congress in 1846 that maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in Washington, D.C. It is the world's largest research and museum complex.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2012 |title=Top 10 Museums and Galleries |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/museum-galleries/ |website=National Geographic |access-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032056/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/museum-galleries/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The U.S. government partially funds the Smithsonian, and its collections are open to the public free of charge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.si.edu/about/ |title=About the Smithsonian |access-date=May 27, 2008 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617164004/http://www.si.edu/About |url-status=live }}</ref> The Smithsonian's locations had a combined total of 30 million visits in 2013. The most visited museum is the [[National Museum of Natural History]] on the National Mall.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsdesk.si.edu/about/stats |title=Visitor Statistics |access-date=February 20, 2014 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |archive-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208195916/http://newsdesk.si.edu/about/stats |url-status=live }}</ref> Other Smithsonian Institution museums and galleries on the Mall include the [[National Air and Space Museum]]; the [[National Museum of African Art]]; the [[National Museum of American History]]; the [[National Museum of the American Indian]]; the [[Arthur M. Sackler Gallery|Sackler]] and [[Freer Gallery of Art|Freer]] galleries, which focus on Asian art and culture; the [[Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden]]; the [[Arts and Industries Building]]; the [[S. Dillon Ripley Center]]; and the [[Smithsonian Institution Building]], which serves as the institution's headquarters.<ref name="SI">{{cite web |url=http://newsdesk.si.edu/factsheets/ |title=Museum and Program Fact Sheets |access-date=August 13, 2011 |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |archive-date=August 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826102406/http://newsdesk.si.edu/factsheets |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Smithsonian American Art Museum]] and the [[National Portrait Gallery (United States)|National Portrait Gallery]] are housed in the [[Old Patent Office Building]] near Washington's [[Chinatown, Washington, D.C.|Chinatown]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Goodheart |first=Adam |title=Back to the Future |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/back-to-the-future-122460718/ |work=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=September 9, 2012 |year=2006 |archive-date=May 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520013421/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/back-to-the-future-122460718/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Renwick Gallery]] is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and is located in a separate building near the [[White House]]. Other Smithsonian museums and galleries include [[Anacostia Museum|Anacostia Community Museum]] in Southeast Washington, the [[National Postal Museum]] near [[Union Station (Washington, D.C.)|Union Station]], and the [[National Zoological Park (United States)|National Zoo]] in [[Woodley Park, Washington, D.C.|Woodley Park]].<ref name="SI" /> ==== Other museums ==== [[File:National law enforcement officers memorial.jpg|thumb|The [[National Building Museum]]]] The [[National Gallery of Art]] is on the National Mall near the Capitol and features American and European artworks. The U.S. government owns the gallery and its collections. However, they are not a part of the Smithsonian Institution.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/about.html |title=About the National Gallery of Art |access-date=April 28, 2013 |publisher=National Gallery of Art |archive-date=September 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922015956/http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/about.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[National Building Museum]], which occupies the former Pension Building near [[Judiciary Square, Washington, D.C.|Judiciary Square]], was chartered by Congress and hosts exhibits on architecture, urban planning, and design.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nbm.org/about-us/about-the-museum/ |title=About the National Building Museum |publisher=National Building Museum |access-date=November 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104214726/http://www.nbm.org/about-us/about-the-museum/ |archive-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> The [[United States Botanic Garden|Botanic Garden]] is a [[botanical garden]] and museum operated by the U.S. Congress that is open to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usbg.gov/ |title=United States Botanic Garden |publisher=USBG |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=August 6, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020806200311/https://www.usbg.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There are several private art museums in Washington, D.C., that house major collections and exhibits open to the public, such as the [[National Museum of Women in the Arts]] and [[The Phillips Collection]] in [[Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.|Dupont Circle]], the first museum of modern art in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phillipscollection.org/about/about-the-phillips/index.aspx |title=About The Phillips Collection |access-date=December 2, 2012 |publisher=The Phillips Collection |archive-date=November 30, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130212702/http://www.phillipscollection.org/about/about-the-phillips/index.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other private museums in Washington include the [[O Street Museum]], the [[International Spy Museum]], the [[National Geographic Society]] Museum, and the [[Museum of the Bible]]. The [[United States Holocaust Memorial Museum]] near the National Mall maintains exhibits, documentation, and artifacts related to the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ushmm.org/research/library/faq/details.php?lang=en&topic=06 |title=Frequently Asked Questions |access-date=May 27, 2008 |date=January 14, 2008 |publisher=U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407224922/http://www.ushmm.org/research/library/faq/details.php?lang=en&topic=06 |url-status=live }}</ref> === Landmarks === {{See also|List of National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C.|National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington, D.C.}} ==== National Mall and Tidal Basin ==== [[File:Aerial view National Mall 12 2014 DC 711.JPG|thumb|[[National Mall]], a landscaped park extending from the [[Lincoln Memorial]] to the [[United States Capitol]]]] [[File:Vietnam Veterans Memorial reflection.jpg|thumb|The [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]], designed by [[Maya Lin]], was initially controversial for its lack of heroic iconography, a departure from earlier memorial designs.]] The [[National Mall]] is a park near [[Downtown (Washington, D.C.)|Downtown Washington]] that stretches nearly two miles from the [[Lincoln Memorial]] to the [[United States Capitol]]. The mall often hosts [[List of protest marches on Washington, D.C.|political protests]], concerts, festivals, and [[United States presidential inauguration|presidential inaugurations]]. The Capitol grounds host the ''[[National Memorial Day Concert]]'', held each [[Memorial Day]], and ''[[A Capitol Fourth]]'', a concert held each [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]]. Both concerts are broadcast across the country on [[PBS]]. In the evening on the Fourth of July, the park hosts a large [[fireworks]] show.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Washington, DC, Fourth of July Celebration (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/index.htm |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en |archive-date=March 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320154430/https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalmall4th/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Washington Monument]] and the [[Jefferson Pier]] are near the center of the mall, south of the [[White House]]. Directly northwest of the Washington Monument is [[Constitution Gardens]], which includes a garden, park, pond, and a [[Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence|memorial to the signers]] of the [[United States Declaration of Independence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/coga/index.htm|title=Constitution Gardens|access-date=September 9, 2022|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|archive-date=September 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921230547/https://www.nps.gov/coga/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Just north of Constitution Gardens is the [[Lockkeeper's House, C & O Canal Extension|Lockkeeper's House]], which is the second-oldest building on the mall after the White House. The house is operated by the [[National Park Service]] (NPS) and is open to the public. Also on the mall is the [[National World War II Memorial]] at the east end of the [[Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool]]; the [[Korean War Veterans Memorial]]; and the [[Vietnam Veterans Memorial]].<ref name=nama>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/nama/historyculture/index.htm |title=National Mall & Memorial Parks: History & Culture |access-date=February 18, 2012 |date=September 28, 2006 |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629074322/http://www.nps.gov/nama/historyculture/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> South of the mall is the [[Tidal Basin (District of Columbia)|Tidal Basin]], a human-made reservoir surrounded by pedestrian paths lined by Japanese cherry trees. Every spring, millions of cherry blossoms bloom, attracting visitors from across the world as part of the annual [[National Cherry Blossom Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Cherry Trees |url=http://www.nps.gov/cherry/cherry-blossom-history.htm |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805101552/http://www.nps.gov/cherry/cherry-blossom-history.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial]], [[George Mason Memorial]], [[Jefferson Memorial]], [[Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial]], and the [[District of Columbia War Memorial]] are around the Tidal Basin.<ref name=nama /> ==== Other landmarks ==== [[File:-i---i- (52380995447).jpg|thumb|Protesters in front of the [[United States Supreme Court Building|U.S. Supreme Court Building]]]] Numerous historic landmarks are located outside the [[National Mall]]. Among these are the [[Old Post Office (Washington, D.C.)|Old Post Office]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Old Post Office, Washington, DC |url=https://www.gsa.gov/historic-buildings/old-post-office-washington-dc |publisher=U.S. General Services Administration |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126033353/https://www.gsa.gov/historic-buildings/old-post-office-washington-dc |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Treasury Building (Washington, D.C.)|Treasury Building]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The Treasury Building: A National Historic Landmark |url=https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/301/web%20version%20Architectural%20History%20Treasury%20Building_0.pdf |publisher=The United States Treasury |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805214410/https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/301/web%20version%20Architectural%20History%20Treasury%20Building_0.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Old Patent Office Building]],<ref>{{cite web |title=The List: From Ballroom to Hospital, Five Lives of the Old Patent Office Building |url=https://www.gsa.gov/historic-buildings/old-post-office-washington-dc |publisher=Smithsonian Magazine |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=November 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126033353/https://www.gsa.gov/historic-buildings/old-post-office-washington-dc |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[National Cathedral]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Visiting the Washington National Cathedral |url=https://washington.org/visit-dc/washington-national-cathedral |publisher=Visit DC |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911040502/https://washington.org/visit-dc/washington-national-cathedral |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception |url=https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/basilica-national-shrine-immaculate-conception |publisher=Visit DC |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911182719/https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/basilica-national-shrine-immaculate-conception |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[National World War I Memorial (Washington, D.C.)|National World War I Memorial]],<ref>{{cite web |title=World War I Memorial |url=https://www.nps.gov/places/000/national-world-war-i-memorial-future-site.htm |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911163936/https://www.nps.gov/places/000/national-world-war-i-memorial-future-site.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Frederick Douglass National Historic Site]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Frederick Douglass National Historic Site |url=https://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926231249/https://www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Lincoln's Cottage]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Lincoln's Cottage |url=https://www.lincolncottage.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsrWZBhC4ARIsAGGUJuplaLQpGlwCftRBBte7eYxNVLBB4iHMpnwO5e7WXX07kmo4Xe7KOBgaAogOEALw_wcB |publisher=President Lincoln's Cottage |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923154420/https://www.lincolncottage.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsrWZBhC4ARIsAGGUJuplaLQpGlwCftRBBte7eYxNVLBB4iHMpnwO5e7WXX07kmo4Xe7KOBgaAogOEALw_wcB |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial]], and the [[United States Navy Memorial]].<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Navy Memorial |url=https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/us-navy-memorial |publisher=Visit DC |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911040502/https://washington.org/find-dc-listings/us-navy-memorial |url-status=live }}</ref> [[The Octagon House]], which was the building that President [[James Madison]] and his administration moved into following the burning of the White House during the [[War of 1812]], is now a historic museum and popular tourist destination.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Octagon House |url=https://architectsfoundation.org/octagon-museum/ |publisher=Architects Foundation |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927141759/https://architectsfoundation.org/octagon-museum/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[National Archives and Records Administration|National Archives]] is headquartered in a [[National Archives Building|building]] just north of the National Mall and houses thousands of documents important to American history, including the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]], the [[Constitution of the United States|Constitution]], and the [[United States Bill of Rights|Bill of Rights]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/rotunda.html |title=Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom |access-date=June 28, 2008 |publisher=The National Archives |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828044549/http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/rotunda.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Located in three buildings on Capitol Hill, the [[Library of Congress]] is the largest library complex in the world with a collection of more than 147 million books, manuscripts, and other materials.<ref>{{cite web |title=General Information |url=https://www.loc.gov/about/generalinfo.html |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=July 9, 2011 |date=February 1, 2011 |archive-date=February 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140224004300/http://www.loc.gov/about/generalinfo.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[United States Supreme Court]] is located immediately north of the Library of Congress. The [[United States Supreme Court Building]] was completed in 1935; before then, the court held sessions in the [[Old Senate Chamber]] of the Capitol.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Court Building |url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/courtbuilding.aspx |publisher=Supreme Court of the United States |access-date=August 19, 2011 |archive-date=September 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110901235715/http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/courtbuilding.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Chinatown (Washington, D.C.)|Chinatown]], located just north of the National Mall, houses [[Capital One Arena]], which serves as the home arena to the [[Washington Capitals]] of the [[National Hockey League]] and the [[Washington Wizards]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], and serves as the city's primary indoor entertainment arena. Chinatown includes several Chinese restaurants and shops. The [[Friendship Archway (Washington, D.C.)|Friendship Archway]] is one of the largest Chinese ceremonial archways outside of [[China]] and bears the Chinese characters for "Chinatown" below its roof.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinatown's Friendship Archway |url=https://ggwash.org/view/8237/chinatowns-friendship-archway |publisher=Greater Greater Washington |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220911182732/https://ggwash.org/view/8237/chinatowns-friendship-archway |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Southwest Waterfront]] along the Potomac River has been redeveloped in recent years and now serves as a popular cultural center. [[The Wharf (Washington, D.C.)|The Wharf]], as it is called, contains the city's historic [[Maine Avenue Fish Market]]. This is the oldest fish market currently in operation in the entire United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Municipal Fish Market |url=https://www.wharfdc.com/fish-market/ |publisher=The District Wharf |access-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-date=September 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912223922/https://www.wharfdc.com/fish-market/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Wharf also has many hotels, residential buildings, restaurants, shops, parks, piers, docks and marinas, and live music venues.<ref name=wapo1 /><ref name="wtop1" /> Several other landmarks are located in neighboring [[Northern Virginia]]. Among these are [[Arlington National Cemetery]], including the [[Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington)|Tomb of the Unknown Soldier]], [[The Pentagon]], the [[Pentagon Memorial|9/11 Pentagon Memorial]], the [[United States Air Force Memorial]], [[Old Town Alexandria]], and [[Mount Vernon]], the former home of [[George Washington]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Washington DC Landmarks |url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28970-Activities-c47-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html |publisher=Tripadvisor |access-date=September 7, 2022 |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908031955/https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g28970-Activities-c47-Washington_DC_District_of_Columbia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[National Harbor]] in [[Prince George's County, Maryland]], and its [[Capital Wheel]], a [[ferris wheel]] providing riders with views of the D.C. area, are also notable landmarks. The [[National Spelling Bee]] is held annually since 2011 at the [[Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center]] in [[National Harbor, Maryland]].{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} As a result of its central role in United States history, the District of Columbia has many sites listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page