GENERAL INFORMATION WASHINGTON, D.C. ("DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA") is the capital of the United States of America and located on the eastern banks of the Potomac River, which separates it from Virginia to the southwest, its boundaries make it a 68-square-mile, 177-square-kilometer, enclave carved from Maryland. GEORGETOWN, Washington's most exclusive and picturesque residential area, laid out in 1750, pre dates the formation of the district. Located northwest of the junction of the Potomac River and Rock Creek, 1 mile (.6km) northwest of the the White House. In 1871 it was merged into the District, and in 1878 it was annexed to the city. Georgetown is designated a national historic district. Population: Washington D. D., 606,900; Washington Metropolitan Area, 3,923,574. Flight times: : Chicago-2 hrs., London-6.5 hrs., NY.-.75 hrs., Miami-2 hrs., San Francisco 5.5 hrs., Tokyo-15 hrs. WEATHER Average mean temperature: 55 F (14° C), Days of sunshine: 200 days, Annual precipitation: 39.5 inches. Average Daily High/Low Temperature: • March - May: 66°f / 45°f, 19°c / 9°c • June - Aug.: 87°f / 67°f, 30°c / 19°f • Sept. - Nov.: 69°f / 50°f, 20°c / 11°c • Dec. - Feb.: 45° / 29°f, 9°c / -1°c Click for a current weather forecast for Washington DC. VISITOR INFORMATION 800 368 9000 www.dcconvention.com 900 9th St. NW, Washington D.C. 20001. TRANSPORTATION Wahington is served by 3 major airports: Ronald Reagan National Airport http://www.metwashairports.com/National Washington Dulles International Airport http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles The Baltimore Washington International Airport http://www.bwiairport.com Airport Shuttle service: curbside pick-up at all area airports – continuous service to/from most airports in the D.C. /Baltimore Area. Washington D. C Center to: Ronald Reagan National Airport - 15 minutes, Dulles International - 45 minutes (depending on traffic). Public Transportation Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, The Metro, www.wmata.com Public buses, subways & Light Rail (excellent direct to Reagan Nat. Airport) that serve D.C. & the neighboring suburbs in Maryland and Virginia. Amtrak: 800 USA-RAIL (371-5465). www.amtrak.com. Greyhound: 800 231-2222. ATTRACTIONS MOST POPULAR MONUMENTS AND SITES: Arlington National Cemetery, On the Virginia north of the Pentagon Washington Monument, On the Mall Vietnam Veterans Memorial, On the Mall Lincoln Memorial, West end of the Mall Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, South of the Mall Mount Vernon (Home of George Washington), 10 miles south of Alexandria, Va. U.S. Capitol, East end of the Mall White House, Pennsylvania Ave, North of the Mall Jefferson Memorial, Southeast of the Mall Washington National Cathedral, Upper Northwest U.S. Supreme Court, East of the Capitol Building U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum National Zoological Park in Rock Creek Park MUSEUMS/ATTRACTIONS MOST of the national attractions are Free THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (www.si.edu) The Smithsonian is governed by a board of regents (The U.S. vice president, the chief justice, three senators, three representatives, and three non-officials). Smithsonian Institution Building houses the Smithsonian Information Center, open daily 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., features two orientation theaters and numerous interactive information components. Reception Desk in the Great Hall. 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW Washington, D.C. 202-357-2700 voice, 202-357-1729. THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION administers these entities: Archives of American Art Cooper-Hewitt Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Freer Gallery of Art Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden The International Exchange Service The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts National Air and Space Museum National Armed Forces Museum Advisory Board National Gallery of Art National Museum of American Art National Museum of History and Technology National Museum of Natural History National Museum of African Art National Museum of the American Indian National Portrait Gallery The National Zoological Park The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (for Asian and Middle Eastern art) Most of the above are open Monday - Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5.p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed Christmas and New Years Day. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Radiation Biology Laboratory The Science Information Exchange RESEARCH CENTERS (www.si.edu) Archives of American Art Center for Folklife Programs and Cultural Heritage Conservation and Research Center Marine Station at Fort Pierce National Zoological Park Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Smithsonian Center for Latino Initiatives Smithsonian Center for Materials Research and Education Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Smithsonian Institution Archives Smithsonian Institution Libraries Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Of Special Interest: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts The center for: The Washington Opera, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington Ballet. The Millennium Stage concert series are FREE concerts given every night of at 6:00 in the Grand Foyer. New Hampshire Ave., Washington, DC 20566. 202 467-4600. National Museum of American Art http://nmaa-ryder.si.edu/ Smithsonian Institution Building (the Castle) 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery 1050 Independence Ave, SW and Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive at 12th Street, SW. 202 357-4880 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden http://library.advanced.org/17188/hirshhorn.html The National Air and Space Museum http://www.nasm.edu On the National Mall at 7th and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, D.C., close to L'Enfant Plaza or Smithsonian Metro Stations. Open every day 9:45 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. except December 25. Tours/Reservations: 202 357-1400. Free. OTHER SITES Pentagon The world’s largest office building (3.7 million square feet). A 90-minute guided tour departs every half-hour (9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.) Monday-Friday. Closed weekends & federal holidays. Interstate-395 South at Boundary Rd. Arlington, VA. 703 695-1776 Fax: 614-1642. Metro Station: Pentagon. Free. The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington at 16th St. 202 456-1414. E-mail :president@whitehouse.gov">president@whitehouse.gov NON GOVERNMENT ATTRACTIONS The Corcoran Gallery of Art www.corcoran.org Located at 17th & New York Avenue, NW The museum's main entrance on 17th Street. 500 17th Street, NW Wash., DC 20006. Toll Free: 888-Corcoran, Fax: 202 639-1768. George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Garden www.mountvernon.org George Washington Parkway Box 110, Mount Vernon , VA 22121. 703 780-2000, Fax:703 799-8609, 800-429-1520. Lisner Auditorium Entertainment from Eddie Murphy to opera. 730 21st St. NW on The George Washington University Campus Washington, DC 20052. 202 994-6800 Six Flags America www.adventure-world.net Largo, MD 20775-4210. 301 249-1500 Fax:249-8853. THEATRE Ford’s Theatre www.fordstheatre.org 511 10th St. NW, Washington DC 20004. 202 638-2941. National Theatre 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington. 202 628-6161 F AX:202 638-4830. The Shakespeare Theatre 450 7th St. NW, Washington 202 547-1122. The Studio Theatre www.studiotheatre.org 1333 P St., NW Washington, DC 20005. 202 332-3300.