Washington, D.C.: The Place to Be

Following a succession of lockdowns, many of us have a new-found appreciation for the delights of restaurants, cafés, historic sites, and museums. Luckily, Washington, D.C., and the surrounding area, has an abundance of places to visit during your time at the Annual Meeting.

The good news is that the city’s most-renowned tourist spots have reopened again either with modified operating hours or in full—with safety protocols—after pandemic-reduced closures. Make sure to check visiting hours before heading out.

And as Samuel Thomas, Jr., chief operating officer of Events DC (US), noted, “As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., has long been the gold standard for unmatched public safety practices. D.C. regularly hosts heads of state, global business leaders, top military officials, internationally renowned entertainers, and more than 20 million visitors from around the world each year. Health and safety are always the top priority.”

The Sights

Where to go to first? Obviously, there is the White House, the official residence of each U.S. President and the First Family since 1800. The 132-room building, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, can be admired from afar.

It is possible to join free public tours of the White House, which recommence from April 15 following a pandemic-induced break. Tours take place between 8:00 am and 12:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. U.S. residents must submit tour requests through a Member of Congress and their Congressional Tour Coordinator, while overseas visitors should contact their country's Embassy in Washington, D.C., for assistance in arranging a tour. Tours must be booked between 21 and 90 days prior to the visit.

If you are unable to arrange a tour, you can still stop by the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, open Wednesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 4.00 pm EDT. Operated by the U.S. National Park Service, this nearly 16,000 square foot center features interactive exhibits, artifacts from different presidential administrations, and the White House Historical Association retail shop.

Another obvious stop is the mammoth Lincoln Memorial, the most visited U.S. National Park Service attraction in the city. Within the 36-column structure sits the 19-foot marble homage to the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Read the stirring Gettysburg Address carved into the monument where President Lincoln, in his famous speech, talks about a new nation “dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” This iconic memorial can be found at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle, NW, overlooking the Reflection Pool on the western end of the National Mall across from the Washington Monument. It is open 24 hours every day and free to visit.

After being closed for several months due to the pandemic, the Washington Monument is now open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EDT (last tour time is 4:30 pm EDT). Constructed of granite faced with marble in an obelisk shape, this 555-foot tall landmark honors the first U.S. President, George Washington.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum complex, encompassing 23 museums and research centers, as well as the National Zoological Park. A visit to at least one of these tourist sights is essential—and free.

The National Museum of Natural History was one of the first Smithsonian museums and has the status of being the most popular. It houses a collection of over 126 million natural specimens, artifacts, and photographs. It can be found at 10th Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, and is open every day between 10:00 am and 5:30 pm EDT.

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum in the U.S. devoted to the African American experience. It can be found at 1400 Constitution Avenue, NW. Note that it is closed on Tuesdays, but is open between 10:00 am and 5:30 pm EDT for the remainder of the week.

The Smithsonian’s renowned museums also include the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. The American Art Museum is home to one of the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world. Located at 8th and G Streets, NW, visit the museums Thursday through Sunday, 11:30 am to 7:00 pm EDT. Of note, this impressive locale will be the venue for the Grand Finale at the Annual Meeting Live+, on Wednesday, May 4, 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm EDT.

In addition to the Smithsonian, the nation’s capital hosts dozens of other museums—about 75 in all, from the expansive to the unique.

For those interested in espionage and the Cold War, there is the International Spy Museum, which includes the four-rotor Enigma machine used by the Germans during the Second World War as a secure way to send messages. It took the British, including mathematician Alan Turing, one year to crack the code. The museum also houses other interesting artifacts such as a pigeon camera. During the First World War, pigeons were outfitted with tiny cameras and released over enemy territory. As the birds flew, the cameras clicked away, snapping photos. The entrance fee per adult is US $26.95, and the museum is open every day between 9:00 am and 6.00 pm EDT.

If you are longing to see the environs around D.C., there are historic sites in Virginia that are within short travel time. For example, Alexandria (about 10 miles from D.C.), is home to Carlyle House, a Georgian manor house built by John Caryle, a merchant and city founder. Visiting hours are between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm EDT Monday through Saturday (but closed on Wednesday), and between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm EDT on Sunday.

Further south, another eight miles following the Potomac River, you will reach Mount Vernon, President Washington’s historic home. Estate hours are between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm EDT; an adult ticket costs US $28.