Farther Afield
topHistoric Buildings
The Pentagon
1000 Defense Pentagon, Hwy I-395
Arlington, VA
(703) 697-1776
Metrostop: Pentagon
Headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon is one of the world's largest office buildings, with approximately 23,000 employees. Free guided tours are conducted Mon-Fri from 9am-3pm with advance reservations – tour schedules can fill up quickly, so it is advisable to book well ahead. Reservations may be booked from 8 to 90 days in advance. U.S. Residents can reserve a tour through the Pentagon website or by contacting their Congressional or Senate Representative. Foreign nationals/non-U.S. citizens must contact their embassy in Washington D.C. to reserve a tour.
topMonuments
Arlington National Cemetery
McNair Road
Arlington, VA
(877) 907-8585
Daily Apr-Sep 8am-7pm; Oct-Mar 8am-5pm
Metro stop: Arlington National Cemetery
For three decades, Confederate General Robert E. Lee lived at the Arlington House. When he left his home to lead Virginia’s armed forces in the Civil War, the Union confiscated the estate for a military cemetery. Today, more than 300,000 servicemen and women and their families are buried at the site. More than four million people visit Arlington National Cemetery annually, many coming to pay final respects during the 100 graveside services conducted each week, Mon-Sat. Some especially important sites within the cemetery are the Arlington House, the grave of John F. Kennedy and the Tomb of the Unknowns, which honors the thousands of unidentified soldiers who died in battle.
Iwo Jima Statue
1400 North Meade St
Arlington, VA
(703) 289-2500
Daily: 6am-12am
Metrostop: Rosslyn
The United States Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue) stands as a symbol of America's gratitude and to honor those Marines who have died. The statue depicts one of the most famous incidents of World War II: five Marines and a Navy Corpsman raising the American flag on a small Pacific island. Tuesday evening during the summer, the Marines host free Sunset Parades on the Parade Deck of the Memorial. During the one hour performance, the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps presents music from "the Commandant's Own" and the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon showcases precision drills.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave NE
Washington D.C.
(202) 526-8300
Daily Apr-Oct 7am-7pm, Nov-Mar 7am-6pm
Metrostop: Brookland-CUA
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and North America, and is one of the ten largest churches in the world. Visited by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, and Mother Teresa, among others, the Basilica, though distinctly American, rivals the great sanctuaries of Europe and the world.