Rochambeau statue, Washington DC

Atlas ObscuraApr 10

These Historic D.C. Spots Tell America’s Story

This year, the United States celebrates a major milestone: 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was signed and America became an independent nation. The country’s Semiquincentennial is an important time to reflect on the people, ideals, and events that have shaped it, as well as what the future holds. And what better place to celebrate the U.S. than its capital city? D.C. is home to…

18 things in this story

U.S. National ArboretumParkTry our interactive map and living plant database search, and plant browser, the Arboretum Botanical Explorer (ABE),…
National Herb GardenGardenExtensive collection tracing herbs' roles in culture and history.
USS MainePlaceFour ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Maine, named for the 23rd state:USS Maine (ACR-1), was a…
Arlington National CemeterySightMore than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres in Arlington County, Virginia.
Frederick Douglass’s GrowlerySightReconstruction of reformer's favorite place to read and write.
Zero MilestoneSightMarker intended to show highway distance measurement origin.
Statue of General Comte de RochambeauSightErected to affirm positive Franco-American relations.
Peirce Mill Spy StationSightAttic space used for intelligence officers during Cold War.
Art BarnSightAlternative art collective on ground floor of Peirce Mill.
Douglass’s Cedar Hill homeSight
Herb Society of AmericaPlace
Lafayette ParkSight
President Theodore RooseveltPlace
Rochambeau statueSight
Cedar HillSight
USS Maine mastSight
MilestoneSight
USS Maine Memorial (Mast of the Maine)Sight

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Rochambeau statue

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These Historic D.C. Spots Tell America’s Story