Decades before the scandal, this staircase on the river was a literal "water gate."

The Byzantine, pre-Columbian, and medieval art at this stately mansion are some of the most under-appreciated collections in D.C.

The final resting place of the great navigator, or maybe his brother.

Where the lovelorn find a home for their sentimental keepsakes.

Touching this 18th-century Scottish philosopher’s toe allegedly conjures good fortune.

A fitting attraction for the corn capital of the world.

Central America's deepest lake is actually a volcanic caldera, surrounded by three volcanoes.

The stoutest tree in the world.

This beautifully deceptive waterfall is something far different from what it appears to be.

A curious fountain that has no water and includes Satan, a crab, and 9 giraffes.

Visit the monolithic tomb of America's most famous general.

The "Seinfeld" diner.

This whimsical group of statues is a favorite of children who love to climb all over Lewis Carroll's beloved characters.

Elevated freight railway turned wildly successful urban park.

Look closely and you’ll notice that the color changes a third of the way up the tower.

A muscular Art Deco monument represents the struggle between regulators and unbridled markets.

An overlooked memorial honoring the local Washington residents who died in World War I.

The little-known, 300-year history of the area includes former lives as a bustling tobacco port, parking lot, and industrial dump.

Washington's iconic carousel has a nice piece of Civil Rights history.

The only Civil War battle in Washington D.C. took place near this highest natural point in the city.

An Industrial Revolution-era public work that purified water using nothing but sand.

The national park was once a plantation estate.

The first purpose-built art gallery in the United States is once again open as a center of craft arts.

A Civil War fort in the middle of Washington, D.C. has been swallowed by a forest.