Top Rated Attractions in Washington DC

If reading is your passion and books are your prized possessions, then the National Geographic Society (NGS) Library is the place to be. Housed within the reputed National Geographic Society (NGS), the library is as praise-worthy as its mother-organization. From books, maps, magazines and journals to photos and films, you have a lot to choose from. Information on diverse fields like like travel, history, natural science, geography and so on are available here. The staff is friendly and helpful while the services are very efficient. So come here and delve into the pleasures of reading. Call ahead for more information.

If you are looking for a spooky time during your visit to the United States' capital, look no further than DC Ghost Tours. The tour company specializes in the hauntings of Lafayette Park and Capital Hill, and revels in scarring and engaging their audience with stories of murder, intrigue, and the paranormal. The tours generally last 90 minutes and are predominantly outside, so bring a jacket for those cooler evenings. Be sure not to wander too far off from the group... or you might find yourself face-to-face with one of Washington DC's infamous ghosts.

This palatial townhouse on Embassy Row is a showpiece of the collections, interests, and lavish decor of Ambassador Lars Anderson and his heiress wife, Isabel. Housing an exhibit of revolutionary artifacts, the museum also offers some quirkier displays such as murals of Anderson's favorite motorcar tours of the city. But the biggest draw is the decor, which, from the grand ballroom to the original furnishings, gives a clear sense of the life and times of people during this period. Free chamber recitals are performed weekly.

The monumental cornerstone of the United States presidency, the White House is the formal abode and headquarters of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, this gleaming neoclassical structure was originally referred to as the Presidential Mansion, before Theodore Roosevelt lovingly bestowed upon it the moniker of 'White House' - a name that would go on to signify not only the physical structure, but the entire collective unit that comprised of the President and his advisers. While John Adams was the first incumbent of this official home, several leaders that followed added their own elements to its interiors, the most noteworthy being the comprehensive redecoration carried out by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of erstwhile President John F. Kennedy. Today, the central building of the White House comprises of the Executive Residence, while the rest of this colossal structure consists of a total of 132 rooms, a tennis court, a putting green, 35 bathrooms, a cinema and a bowling alley named after Harry S. Truman.

One of the most beautiful buildings in the nation's capital is the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Built in 1888, it was known as the Old Executive Office Building. Today the building holds many of the offices that support the White House, including that of the Vice President. Historic meetings have taken place here, including talks between Secretary of State Cordell Hull and Japanese emissaries after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Tours are available Saturday mornings by advance reservation.

Located on the historic Mount Vernon Square, The Carnegie Library of Washington D.C. is a prestigious public library. It was gifted by British business Andrew Carnegie on January 7, 1903. Built on the designs by the renowned architectural firm Ackerman & Ross, the grand library building flaunts Beaux-Arts inspired architecture. Touted to be the first library open to public, its premise area availed by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. and Events DC.