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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Washington, D.C.

286 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Washington, D.C.

Updated February 24, 2025

Thereʼs no better way to experience the history of the United States than through the hidden wonders of the capital. From the more unusual inclusions in the Smithsonianʼs collection to Americaʼs very own catacombs, we can help you get beneath the American project.

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Unusual Attractions in Washington, D.C.

See All 286 Things To Do in Washington, D.C.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Washington, D.C.

See all 11 Places to Eat in Washington, D.C.
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Explorer's Guide to U Street Corridor

Sponsored by Washington.org

The U Street Corridor is an epicenter of art and African American heritage in Washington, DC. Once known as “Black Broadway,” U Street was the center of Black culture in America. (It’s where Duke Ellington was born!) Though the neighborhood struggled in the years following the 1968 riots, it’s as vibrant as ever today. Start your day on U Street at a mural honoring Black Americans from Harriet Tubman to Dave Chapelle, and end at a beloved Ethiopian restaurant where you might be lucky enough to catch some live music and dancing. Along the way you’ll grab a drink, uncover forgotten history, and stand inside theaters where everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Nirvana have performed.

View Itinerary

Explore Washington, D.C.

History 92
Government 60
Architecture 59
Architectural Oddities 34
Memorials 29
Monuments 27
Military 26
Museums 25

Washington, D.C. Leaderboard

Recent Washington, D.C. Activity

Stories About Washington, D.C.

Shorter winters and fewer freezes give rats more time to feed and breed.

As Cities Get Warmer, Rat Populations Are on the Rise

New research shows that climate change is giving urban rats a boost, especially in Washington, D.C.
by Matt Simon
This pygmy hippo at the 1939 World’s Fair Firestone exhibit was probably Gumdrop I, Billy’s first surviving calf.

Before Moo Deng, There Was ‘William Johnson Hippopotamus’

During the Roaring ’20s, the American National Zoo welcomed the first pygmy hippo superstar.
by Andrew Coletti

Podcast: Rites of Passage

Time to go back to school to appreciate some unusual campus traditions with the Altas Obscura Places Team.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Spaces for Spies

Where real-world American espionage comes to life.
by The Podcast Team

Podcast: Man’s Best (Stiff) Friends

Two very special dogs lovingly preserved after death.
by The Podcast Team
Iron Horse grows pinot noir and chardonnay grapes.

At the White House, Toasts Call For Russian River Valley Wine

It's sparkling and comes from Sonoma.
by Noah Lederman
William Selig’s 1898 short film Something Good-Negro Kiss is considered one of the earliest black films depicting black intimacy on screen.

7 Unforgettable Stories for Black History Month

Meet some of the artists, archivists, students, and descendants rediscovering and preserving the past.
by April White
People spent significant time and effort making non-alcoholic drinks glamorous.

The Prohibition-Era Effort To Make Mocktails Fun

Socialites and social campaigners joined forces to create tempting temperance drinks.
by Kirstin Fawcett

Lists Featuring Washington, D.C.

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

You’ll never unsee it now.
Washington Monument Access Hatch
Alternate view of the pyramidion
Detail of the Mini Monument

6 Secrets of the Washington Monument

Lightning rods, hidden hatches, and more.

6

Including Washington Monument Marble Stripe, Washington Monument Access Hatch, and Washington Monument Lightning Rod

They were built in 1979.
Near the top of the stairs (January 2025)
Seward Street Slides

When Stairs and Slides Are Hiding in Plain Sight

Play real-life Chutes and Ladders at these obscure thruways.

9

Including Secret Tiled Staircase, Esmeralda Slide Park, and Howe Street Stairs

Yellow dashes mark the old tunnel
Dashes mark the old tunnel, solid lines are the newer ones
Los Angeles Tunnels
The tunnels all look slightly differiently

7 Hidden Tunnels Under Government Buildings

The literal underbelly of public agencies.

6

Including FDR's Bomb Shelter, Steam Tunnels Under Capitol Hill, and Underground Tunnels of Los Angeles

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