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Secrets of the City: D.C.

Revealing all the untold stories of our Nation’s Capital. From all the best local spots to where we got our beloved Cherry Blossoms, check out the stories that make the District unique!

The Best Beer in D.C. 

In the early days, Washington, D.C. was a town of beer brewing. Our very first brewery opened in 1796 with a very creative name: The Washington Brewery. Beer was so popular in D.C. that years later, Heurich Brewing became the biggest employer in town (if you don’t count the Federal Government). Unfortunately, neither historic brewery…

The Tallest Building in D.C.

While you’re visiting, you might hear someone ask, “What is the tallest building in D.C.?” People will debate about the city’s building height regulation, the definition of a building, whether we should account for sea level… The list goes on. While there may not be a right answer, there certainly is a common wrong answer….

The Best Speakeasies in D.C.

Prohibition does not sound like a good time, but there was one good thing to come out of that mess: Speakeasies! From secret underground nightclubs to bars full of hooch disguised as barbershops, for 16 years, D.C. residents found creative ways to defy the government and keep the party going. Prohibition started in D.C. three…

Which Smithsonian Museums Serve Beer?

You can’t visit Washington, D.C., without going to a museum! Thanks to a British guy, our nation’s capital is full of free museums. In 1829, James Smithson, a scientist, left his entire fortune of $500,000 (about $15 million today) to the people of the United States. Of course, such a generous donation was not without…

A Local’s Guide to the Cherry Blossoms

The true sign of spring in the District is coming, Cherry Blossoms. Any other time of the year, they look like regular trees, but from March to April, the pink flowers on the Cherry Trees surrounding the Tidal Basin draw millions of visitors to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.  Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore Photo from the…