The story behind this beloved toy—named for Theodore Roosevelt and owned by his grandson—is more complicated than you might guess.

Railroad officials in the early 1900s sought to spare travelers the sight of Roman soldiers’ private parts.

This statue of the "father of television" stands prominently in the United States Capitol.

An echo chamber with a waterfall wrapped around its base at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C.

The 5.5-mile ring of steel posts around the Capitol Building is one of the largest (and most uniform) of its kind in the world.

An amazing example of early-20th-century architecture, this church features marble transported from Utah.

The National Park Service’s best-kept secret with views that rival any in D.C.

The innocent intentions of this monument are somewhat lost in the sculpture's muscled imagery.

This mysterious structure by the Washington Monument is a flood barrier designed to protect the White House against rising waters.

One of the most influential presidents in U.S. history wanted only this plain, elegant monument as his lasting memorial.

A derelict bit of infrastructure from the canal that once ran through D.C. is landlocked in the heart of the city.

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.

While most wind tunnels test scale models, the "Cave of Winds" was large enough for actual airplanes.

The first memorial dedicated solely to the Black troops who fought for the Union.

The only National Monument ever to go missing for nearly 50 years then resurface in a dump.

A bas relief commemorates the "Nuns of the Battlefield" who cared for soldiers on both sides of the conflict.

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

Art deco landmark on the outskirts of Washington, D.C.

When it comes to handsignals (and colonialism) rock always beats scissors.

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

A much-maligned monument to teetotalism.

Go take a picture with the inventor of the daguerreotype photographic process.

A gorgeous mural outside a beloved D.C. restaurant pays homage to famous Black Americans.