10 Lesser-Known Washington D.C. Landmarks to Add to Your Itinerary

Lincoln’s CottageFor more than a quarter of his presidency, Abraham Lincoln resided at this Gothic Revival cottage in D.C.’s Petworth neighborhood. During his time at the cottage, the president visited with wounded soldiers and developed the Emancipation Proclamation. Photo: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Einstein MemorialDesigned by sculptor Robert Berks, this tribute to the famed theoretical physicist is located in an elm and holly grove on the National Academy of Sciences campus. The four-ton sculpture depicts Einstein seated on a three-step bench, holding a paper with mathematical equations summarizing three of his most important scientific contributions.

Titanic MemorialThough the Titanic was headed for New York, there are several tributes to the ship and its passengers in the nation’s capital, the most recognizable being the Women’s Titanic Memorial at the foot of P Street, SW, in Washington Channel Park. It was created by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and erected in 1930. Photo: Linda Davidson/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Frederick Douglass’s Cedar HillNow a National Historic Site, this 21-room Victorian home is where famed social reformer, abolitionist, and statesman Frederick Douglass resided for the last 17 years of his life. The National Park Service oversaw the home’s restoration in the 1960s, and it first opened to the public in 1972.

The Octagon MuseumAfter the burning of the White House in 1814, James and Dolley Madison took up residence in this unusually shaped three-story brick house. President Madison is said to have signed the Treaty of Ghent—which ended the War of 1812—in the home’s circular study.

Arlington HouseOperated by the National Park Service, this Greek Revival mansion in Arlington was the home of Confederate general Robert E. Lee and his family before the Civil War. In addition to tours of the antebellum home, the site offers a glimpse into the life of enslaved people in the Lee household.

Carnegie LibraryOpened in 1902, this sprawling Beaux Arts building was donated to the public by Andrew Carnegie. For 70 years the site operated as the city’s central public library, until overcrowding necessitated the move to a larger home. Today the structure is used as an event space.

National ArboretumOccupying 446 acres in Northeast Washington, the National Arboretum was established by Congress in 1927. The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, the National Capitol Columns, and the Friendship Garden are some of the site’s most notable features.

The Spanish StepsConstructed during Washington’s City Beautiful movement, the Spanish Steps—formally named the Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain—were designed by architect Robert E. Cook. Since 1989, the steps have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hillwood EstateThe former home of philanthropist and collector Marjorie Merriweather Post, Hillwood now operates as a museum and gardens. The site boasts the most comprehensive collection of Russian imperial art outside Russia, a renowned 18th-century French decorative art collection, and 25 acres of pristinely groomed gardens.