Downtown Washington – Photo supplied by Caroline Léna Becker
| Start/Finish | Category | Distance | Estimated Walking Time |
| Dupont Circle station / Metro Center | History and Architecture | 3.9 km | 1 hr * |
Summary
This walk explores some of the most iconic and culturally significant sites in Downtown Washington.
Public transport
Catch the metro to Dupont Circle station.
Directions
Starting point – Dupont Circle station
The Downtown Washington walk starts outside Dupont Circle station on 20th St NW. From here walk down 20 St NW in a southerly direction before turning down Massachusetts Ave NW. This will take you to Dupont Circle, which is a historic roundabout park located in the old city of Washington, dating back to 1871.
Walk through Dupont Circle and exit down Connecticut Ave NW. Further down Connecticut Ave NW turn left into Rhode Island Ave NW past the Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle. The Cathedral was constructed in 1893 and is made of red brick with sandstone and terra cotta trim. From the Cathedral continue along Rhode Island Ave NW and then turn right down 17th St NW heading in a southerly direction past the National Geographic Museum.
Continue south along 17th St NW, cross over I St NW and walk down Connecticut Ave NW. Here you will come to Lafayette Square Park. Lafayette Square is a seven-acre (30,000 m2) public park located within President’s Park. In the past the park has been the location for many protests, including mass demonstrations that erupted in 2020 as a result of the death of George Floyd.
From Lafayette Square turn left onto Pennsylvania Ave NW and walk in an easterly direction. This will give you views of the White House, which has been the official lodgings of the US President since 1800, when President John Adams and his wife Abigail took residence.
The White House
Image: The White House, photo supplied
From Pennsylvania Ave NW turn right down 15th st NW. This will take you past the US Treasury Building. From here turn left onto Pennsylvania Ave NW and E St NW, walking in an easterly direction.
From E St NW walk up 10 St NW to Petersen House. Petersen House, built in 1849, has served as a museum since the 1930’s. The building is best known as the location of Abraham Lincoln death in 1865 after being shot by John Wilkes Booth, a stage actor who supported slavery and the Confederates.
Just up from Petersen House turn right onto F St NW and Left down 9th St NW. This will take you past the Smithsonian Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery. The Art Museum is part of the Smithsonian Institute. Its history can be traced back to 1846 when James Smithson, a British scientist left his entire estate to the United States Government. The museum, holds one of the world’s largest collections of American art, from the colonial period to the present.The National Portrait Gallery focuses on images of famous Americans and opened in 1968.
Finish – Metro Center Station
From 9th St NW turn left down G St NW. This will take you to Metro Center Station where the journey ends.
Downtown Washington – GPX file
To access to the GPX file for this walk click on the download button below.
Information on GPX files and how to import them into Google maps on your phone can be found here.
Downtown Washington walk – Map
Start – Dupont Circle Metro Station
- Dupont Circle
- Cathedral of St Matthew the Apostle
- National Geographic Museum
- Lafayette Square Park
- White House
- Petersen House – (Place of where Abraham Lincoln died).
- Smithsonian Art Museum
- National Portrait Gallery
End – Metro Center Station
