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Union Station, Washington, DC

Photo: VeggieGarden, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicHistory BuffFree

Union Station

50 Massachusetts Ave NE · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

Union Station is a working rail terminal near the U.S. Capitol, designed by Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907. The Main Hall has a 96-foot ceiling, finishes of marble, gold leaf and white granite, and 46 plaster centurion statues by Louis St. Gaudens. Shops and restaurants fill the station, and Amtrak, MARC, VRE and the Metro Red Line all stop here. Six colossal figures called The Progress of Railroading stand above the main cornice.

  • #train station
  • #beaux-arts architecture
  • #historic landmark
  • #shopping
  • #dining

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Union Station, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Tours
    Family Favorite

    Old Town Trolley Tours of Washington DC

    $50+

    Hop on, hop off at stops across the city while conductors dish DC history, the easiest first-day overview in town.

    Right next doorSwitch it up: Tours

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Supreme Court of the United States

    Free

    Climb the marble steps under the words Equal Justice Under Law, then explore exhibitions and hear a Courtroom Lecture inside.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    U.S. Capitol & Capitol Visitor Center

    Free

    Free guided tours under the Rotunda's frescoed dome, the heart of American democracy, up close.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Folger Shakespeare Library

    Free

    See Shakespeare First Folios, manuscripts and costumes in the exhibition halls, then visit the gardens and Elizabethan Theatre.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Hidden-in-plain-sight

    Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building

    Free

    The world's largest library, and arguably DC's most beautiful interior, the Great Hall, the Main Reading Room, and a Gutenberg Bible.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The White House

    Free

    Tour the State Floor rooms of the president's home, including the Blue, Red and Green Rooms, on a free tour requested ahead of time.

    1.6 mi awayMore like this