15 Instagrammable Spots in D.C.

Capitol Hill

Cutting an impressive silhouette at the eastern edge of the National Mall, Capitol Hill is home to the United States Congress and the legislative branch of the federal government. Aim your camera phones to capture a picture of the perfect symmetry of the Capitol Building’s neoclassical architecture with its stately portico and massive dome.

The National Mall

Here’s your chance to get artistic with your ‘gram. The National Mall spans roughly two miles between Capitol Hill and the Lincoln Memorial. Designed by French landscape architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the grand concourse encapsulates D.C.’s most famous museums and Smithsonian Institutions. What angle will you capture in your picture?

The White House

Home to the President and the executive branch of the federal government, an Instagram picture of the White House during a trip to D.C. is a no brainer.

Washington Monument

The Washington Monument obelisk in the center of the National Mall is one of D.C.’s most recognizable landmarks. Made of marble, granite and bluestone gneiss, it was designated on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. Try for a Dutch angle on your Instagram picture, which is diagonal to the horizon, for a dramatic effect.

56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial

A somewhat hidden memorial tucked away in the Constitution Gardens, search for the most famous signature of the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial—John Hancock. Get creative by framing the picture with the Washington Monument in the background.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Designed by architect Maya Lin to memorialize the service men and women who sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was erected in 1982. Built of reflective black gabbro rock, the memorial wall contains the names of more than 58,000 Vietnam veterans.

Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool

The figure of President Lincoln seated in contemplation inside a Greek Doric temple overlooking the Reflection Pool at the edge of the National Mall is one of the most iconic sights in Washington D.C. The sculpture, made of white Georgia marble, stands 19-feet tall and weighs 159 tons. What fresh vantage point can you bring to this legendary sight?

World War II Memorial

Built in 2004, the World War II Memorial is one of the National Mall’s newer memorials consisting of 56 pillars, representing U.S. states and territories, surrounding a plaza and fountain located on the opposite side of the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial. It’s a good site to pose the family in front of for a picture.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

With 19 stainless steel statues depicting a platoon on patrol in full combat gear amidst strips of granite and juniper bushes meant to represent Korea’s rugged terrain, the Korean War Veterans Memorial has a chilling effect upon first sight. Located at the southern edge of the Reflecting Pool, it was dedicated in 1995 by President Bill Clinton.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Unveiled in 2011, the centerpiece of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is the Stone of Hope, a 30-foot high relief sculpture of Dr. King carved into granite. The name refers to his “I Have a Dream” Speech when he says, “Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.”

Potomac River

This is where the fun kicks into high gear as your trolley tour bus turns into a tour boat cruising across the Potomac River. Get creative with your Instagram picture as you take in the sweeping picturesque vistas of D.C.’s iconic landscape.

Arlington Memorial Bridge

As you’re cruising down the Potomac, look back and snap an artistic interpretation of the steel and stone arched Arlington Memorial Bridge with its neoclassical masonry.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial looks out across the Potomac from the foot of the Tidal Basin. With four vignettes, it represents not only the 32nd President’s legacy, but also the Great Depression era that he led our country out of.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Tidal Basin

Overlooking the stunning Tidal Basin, beneath a great domed temple, the 19-foot bronze sculpture of Thomas Jefferson stands tall in all its grandeur. As one of America’s most important Founding Fathers, the Jefferson Memorial is a must ‘gram on your tour.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

One of the highlights of the tour is catching a glimpse of our first President’s historic home, Mount Vernon, from the Potomac. Get your camera phones ready to snap this privileged view for the ultimate Washington, D.C. Instagram picture.

See It All With Old Town Trolley Tours

With over 30 years as a valued member of the DC community, Old Town Trolley Tours knows the District inside and out. With over 100 points of interest on the itinerary, we’ll take you to the very best of DC from revered monuments to world-class museums. And the best part is you’ll be able to see it all at your own pace. Check out this video and see why our Hop-On, Hop-Off tours are considered among the best in the world.