Washington, D.C.: Portrait of a City

Washington D.C. is a unique city because it was established by the Constitution of the United States to serve as the Nation's capital. Built on the Potomac River, the city is composed of government buildings, monuments, parks, museums, performing arts venues, embassies, and numerous office buildings as well as eight professional sporting teams, shopping districts and over 500,000 citizens who make the District of Columbia their home.

The District of Columbia's most popular attractions are pictured here from the White House, the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian's museums to performances at The Kennedy Center and giant pandas at the National Zoo. Besides all the top tourist destinations, you will see the Declaration of Independence inside the National Archives, gaze into a handmade outrigger canoe in the National Museum of the American Indian and explore the neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.