A cluttered and astounding collection of antiquities and curiosities.

Traveling collection of amazing automata.

The John Snow Memorial marks the epicenter of London's 1854 cholera epidemic.

A 1,100-ton train fell through the floor in 1953. Workers got it patched up in just 72 hours.

The bank that helped fund the Mexican-American War and the purchase of Alaska met its downfall after helping Augusto Pinochet launder money.

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

It was once the base for a series of domestic terror attacks.

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.

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

The grand marble structure next to the White House is Andrew Carnegie's temple to Pan-American diplomacy.

An ear-piercing buzzer calls lawmakers to a vote with a series of long and short rings to form coded messages.

A line of blue paint marks the route of the inaugural parade.

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

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

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

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

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

This unique museum cafeteria showcases the history and regional diversity of African American cuisine.

The preamble to the U.S. Constitution written entirely from vanity license plates hangs in the Smithsonian museum.

A tiny monument to the unsuccessful attempt by Thomas Jefferson to place the prime meridian in Washington.

Architecture lovers won’t stop touching the National Gallery's 19.5 degree marble prow.

A much-maligned monument to teetotalism.

The most accurate timepiece in the world.

Members of Congress have traveled between the buildings on Capitol Hill for a century hidden from tourists, press, and storm clouds.