The Lincoln Memorial, dedicated in 1922, honours Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. Designed like a Greek Doric temple, it houses a 5.8-metre seated statue of Lincoln by Daniel Chester French. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech on its steps in 1963. It overlooks the Reflecting Pool.

The Washington Monument is a 169-metre marble obelisk honouring George Washington, completed in 1884. It was the world's tallest structure until the Eiffel Tower surpassed it. A visible change in stone colour about a third of the way up marks a pause in construction. An elevator takes visitors to an observation level at the top.

The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall holds the world's largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft. Exhibits include the Wright Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Apollo 11 command module. Like all Smithsonian museums, it is free to visit.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History on the National Mall is one of the most visited museums in the world. It displays the Hope Diamond, a vast fossil hall with dinosaurs, an African elephant in the rotunda and the Ocean Hall. Admission is free.

The United States Capitol is the seat of Congress and an icon of American democracy, standing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1793, and its famous cast-iron dome was completed in 1866. Visitors can tour the Rotunda, National Statuary Hall and the Crypt from the Capitol Visitor Center.

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with over 170 million items. Its Thomas Jefferson Building, opened in 1897, is a masterpiece of Beaux-Arts architecture with a richly decorated Great Hall and Main Reading Room. Treasures on display include a Gutenberg Bible and Jefferson's personal library.

The White House has been the official residence and workplace of every US president since John Adams in 1800. The neoclassical mansion at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was designed by James Hoban. Visitors can view it from Lafayette Square and the Ellipse, and public tours are available by advance request.

The Jefferson Memorial honours Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence and third US president. Dedicated in 1943, the domed neoclassical building houses a 5.8-metre bronze statue of Jefferson. It overlooks the Tidal Basin, which is ringed by cherry trees that bloom spectacularly each spring.

Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is the resting place of more than 400,000 American service members and veterans. It includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with its round-the-clock guard and changing of the guard ceremony, and the grave of President John F. Kennedy with its eternal flame.

Georgetown is one of Washington's oldest and most charming neighbourhoods, founded in 1751. Its cobblestone streets are lined with Federal-style row houses, boutiques and restaurants along M Street. The historic C&O Canal, the waterfront park and Georgetown University's Gothic campus are local highlights.