Museums, monuments, & memorials

Monuments, memorials, and government

The Lincoln Memorial and the White House are both only a few blocks from GW's Foggy Bottom campus. Also nearby are the National WWII Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Wall. The U.S. Capitol is on the other end of the Mall, and between them is the Washington Monument. The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery are just across the Potomac. Outdoor art and points of interest (by neighborhood) can be found here.
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Smithsonian Museums

The bulk of the Smithsonian complex (including the National Gallery of Art, the Natural History Museum, the American History Museum, the Hirshorn, the Freer Gallery, the Air & Space Museum, the Smithsonian Castle, and other attractions) is located on the National Mall just east of the GWU Foggy Bottom Campus (Smithsonian station on the Blue and Orange lines). Admission to all museums is free, though a few special exhibits require that tickets be picked up in advance.  Read more »

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum is located at 800 F St. NW, (between 8th & 9th on F), near the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro station (Green, Yellow, and Red lines). General admission is $18.  Read more »

National Cryptologic Museum

The National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum is located about 25 miles north of downtown Washington, D.C., near the NSA headquarters at Ft. Meade. Admission is free.  Read more »

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is located near the National Mall, just south of Independence Ave., SW, between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place in Washington, D.C. Passes are required to visit the permanent exhibit, but are free and may be reserved online or picked up at the museum.   Read more »


Performing arts

The John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center is located on the Potomac River, a short walk from the GWU Campus. A free shuttle is available from the Foggy Bottom Metro station. The Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Washington National Opera. The Washington Ballet gives regular performances at the Eisenhower Theater, and the Millenium Stage offers free daily performances.  Read more »

Other Venues

The Washington Metropolitan Area is home to hundreds of venues offering thousands of performances every year. A few are listed below, and both the CityPaper's CityList and the Washington Post's Going Out Guide are excellent resources for finding out about everything, including choir performances at the National Catherdral or live jazz (at, say, HR-57) in U St.

Historic neighborhoods & shopping

In Foggy Bottom, GWU is located within walking distance of Georgetown. Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Capitol Hill, Gallery Place, Chinatown, Penn Quarter, and the U Street District are all just a few stops away on Metro, and all are worth strolling through. For shopping, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and Adams Morgan are densely packed with opportunities, and Eastern Market in Capitol Hill is a must.  Read more »