Where to start in East D.C.
Each of D.C.’s districts offers something a little different for visitors. Downtown D.C. is perhaps the best known, being the home of the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, Chinatown, the Verizon Center, and many more. However, you shouldn’t miss the historic East District either. The following is a list of some of the locations you must add to your itinerary.Capitol Hill: You’ve heard the name, but what is it? Capitol Hill is a historic neighborhood located just east of the Capitol Building. You’ve probably already got that site on your list, but you should still head into the neighborhood to see where and how the political hotshots spend their time. Barracks Row, originally a section of 17th-century Marine barracks, has become a dining hotspot. Also make sure to check out Union Station and the impressive Eastern Market.Anacostia: This section’s bad reputation has been much exaggerated, and while you should be aware of the neighborhood’s history, don’t let it prevent you from visiting if you’re interested in history. Frederick Douglass, Ezra Pound, and Marvin Gaye are just a few of the famous personalities who have lived within its borders. You can learn more at the Smithsonian Anacostia Museum and the Frederick Douglass House.Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: This site is both a religious and historic landmarkthe largest Catholic Church in the U.S. and the tallest building in D.C. Make a day-trip to visit the site and enjoy the impressive Neo-Byzantine designs by architect John McShain.National Arboretum: This beautiful location is a bastion of botanical research, and boasts one of the most impressive botanical libraries in the nation with 10,000 volumes and almost 90 publications centered on the subject. It’s easy to spend a few hours in the gardens, which include an Aquatic Plants Collection, a Flowering Tree Collection, the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, and many more.Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens: Located on the banks of the Anacostia River, Kenilworth includes many varieties of rare waterlilies and lotuses as well as the only tidal marsh left in D.C. The gardens cover almost 700 acres and were established in 1938.