Architecture in Washington DC
8 places · Historic buildings & remarkable streetscapes
Washington DC, DC
Eastern Market
DC's oldest continuously operating public market, with a vibrant outdoor flea market on weekends, fresh produce stalls, and colorful street life on Capitol Hill.
Washington DC, DC
Smithsonian Sculpture Garden
Contemporary sculpture set around a central fountain and skating rink on the National Mall - Claes Oldenburg's Typewriter Eraser and Louise Bourgeois's Spider are highlights.
Washington DC, DC
National Cathedral
The sixth-largest cathedral in the world crowns the highest point in DC. Gothic spires, intricate stonework, and stained glass make it a paradise for architectural photography.
Washington DC, DC
Library of Congress - Great Hall
The most ornate interior in Washington - a Beaux-Arts explosion of marble, mosaics, gilded arches, and a painted dome that rivals European opera houses.
Washington DC, DC
Union Station
Daniel Burnham's Beaux-Arts masterpiece features a 96-foot barrel vault ceiling, arched windows, and a grand concourse that feels more Roman bath than train station.
Washington DC, DC
National Building Museum Interior
The Great Hall of this 1887 Pension Building soars 159 feet with the largest Corinthian columns in the world - a cavernous interior that has hosted presidential inaugurations.
Washington DC, DC
Kogod Courtyard
A stunning undulating glass canopy by Norman Foster shelters the courtyard of the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. The wave-pattern roof casts extraordinary moving shadows throughout the day.
Washington DC, DC
Basilica of the National Shrine
The largest Catholic church in North America combines Romanesque and Byzantine architecture in a breathtaking mosaic-covered interior. The Great Dome and 329-foot bell tower anchor a campus of extraordinary spiritual and photographic interest.