2700 F St NW
A living cultural memorial to our 35th president, this arts venue hosts ballet, music, theatre, jazz and music performances on a regular basis, including those of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. If you can’t make it to a show, free hour-long guided tours of the Hall of States, Hall of Nations, theaters and art displays are available every 10 minutes. Try to make the 4:30 p.m. tour. It is followed by a free daily performance on the Millennium Stage at 6 p.m. Then take the elevator to the Kennedy Center’s Roof Terrace Restaurant for a sunset views of the Potomac River. Though it’s a 10 minute walk from the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, a complimentary Kennedy Center shuttle is available at the Metro Station exit.
2900 K St NW
The House of Sweden, which houses the embassies of Sweden and Iceland, joins several other international organizations nearby like the International Monetary Fund, Department of State and the World Bank. The building’s minimalist, glass exterior symbolizes transparency and democracy, but has also won Sweden’s prestigious Kasper Salin Architecture Award. Rotating exhibitions include art displays, readings and short plays, but with panoramic views of the river, Kennedy Center, Air Force Memorial and Watergate.
700 New Hampshire Ave NW
This is where a scandalous break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters eventually forced President Richard M. Nixon to resign. The building’s curvy designs, by famed Italian architect Luigi Moretti, make up a six-building complex that includes a hotel, apartments and offices. When completed in 1971, it was an experiment in urban planning – a “city within a city.
1849 C Street NW
The Department of Interior wants you to know how it manages and sustains America’s lands, wildlife and energy resources. To meet this objective, 1,500 handicrafts and artifacts from insular U.S. territories are available for viewing at the Interior Museum. Reservations are required for a free, hour-long murals tour in the C Street lobby. You’ll learn about the art and architecture that made this building a “symbol of a new day” during the Great Depression, with works by Ansel Adams, Maynard Dixon and Allan House.