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

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

An overlooked memorial honoring the local Washington residents who died in World War I.

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

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

This unassuming passageway played a key role in one of the most important events in U.S. history.

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

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

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

The unique traffic pattern named for an influential urban planner is also known as the Pedestrian Scramble.

Decades before the scandal, this staircase on the river was a literal "water gate."

The most accurate timepiece in the world.

The national park was once a plantation estate.

A rotating cast of guys and dolls in front of a Washington, D.C. building.

The beloved statue at the National Academy of Sciences is oh so inviting to sit on.

At 207 feet, one of the world's longest continuous escalators.

A former major munitions plant that has been converted into a sprawling art space.

This rare triple-jurisdiction drawbridge passes through Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

The 72-foot giant escaped confinement in a large patch of mulch only to be reburied in the sandy shores of the Potomac River.

Once forgotten and built over, this historic Black cemetery now houses a poignant memorial.

A unique bridge with an equally unique view.

This massive statue is the personification of Bavaria and the first colossal statue of the modern period composed of bronze.

The prototype for all Nazi concentration camps.

A small but immensely extravagant palace built by the "Night King."