The greatest irony in D.C. is its lack of presidential history.
It seems like a total oxymoron: every president had to come here, live here and work here, so surely the streets should just be peppered with little anecdotes about their lives. But every presidential library and museum is found in the ex-commander-in-chief’s home state, and all historical sites pertaining to their childhood homes and birthplaces are, well, at their childhood homes and birthplaces.
But that doesn’t mean D.C. is without presidential historical sites. Two presidents are buried just outside the District in Arlington National Cemetery, for example, and there’s always the White House, perhaps the defining symbol of the American presidency.
Outside of those obvious examples, though, D.C. has its fair share of underground presidential history — you just need to know where to look. Check out some of these spots to celebrate President’s Day all week long:
Campaigns and Cutlery at the American History Museum
Recently, the National Museum of American History’s new exhibit on the history of American entertainment has seized headlines, while other visitors traverse to the National Mall-based museum to see iconic artifacts like the American flag which inspired the national anthem. But visitors would be remiss not to also check out the museum’s extensive collection of presidential history.
One exhibit, on the second floor, gives visitors a history of democracy — which means a whole lot of weird presidential campaign merch. Ever want to see a bobblehead of notorious political loser Barry Goldwater? A quilt made up of drawings of president-for-a-month William Henry Harrison? It’s possible no other place but the American History Museum can satiate both those cravings.
One floor up is a massive tribute to the presidency itself. Included within are more serious discussions of the president’s role in American history and politics, and some totally hilarious and weird examples of the place the president occupies in the American cultural mind.
My personal favorite? A board game from the 1960s called the “Exciting Game of the Kennedys” in which players each play as one member of the Kennedy family. Maybe it’s a game best left in the 1960s, as such a battle between the family might get extra contentious now. (Side note: I do own this game, but I’ve sadly never been able to play as we’re missing about half the pieces).
Another part of this top floor exhibit is devoted to the First Ladies, full of the fashionable dresses and high-end cutlery they used while at the White House.
If it all sounds a bit overwhelming, well, that’s where we come in. Book our American Unscripted or Smithsonian Highlights tours and let one of our expert guides show you the best these museums have to offer.
Dine Like an Executive
My favorite part about traveling is the food — eating dim-sum in San Francisco, pizza in New Haven or skyline chili in Cincinnati really lets you get a feel for how the locals of a city live their everyday lives. D.C. might not have one particular iconic food, but that hasn’t stopped two hundred years of presidents from treating themselves to a night out at places you can still dine at today.
Having recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown serves everything from local favorites like Chesapeake Fried Oysters to delicacies from across the Atlantic like Welsh Rarebit. Some presidents evidently appreciated this variety — John F. Kennedy supposedly proposed to Jackie within the tavern, and Richard Nixon was also a frequent patron. You can even sit in their go-to booths when you visit — number three for Kennedy, and two for Nixon.
As the oldest bar in the District, Old Ebbitt Grill has seen its fair share of presidents wandering in after a long day needing a drink (hey, we’ve all been there). The restaurant's website claims five presidents stopped in at some point, including notorious drunk Ulysses S. Grant.
Live Like Lincoln
One of two presidents for whom President’s Day exists, Abraham Lincoln made the most of his stint in the nation’s capital. But even before he was president, Lincoln was getting around to some of the District’s top sights — in 1848, while just a state senator in Illinois, he was at the Washington Monument when the first brick was laid down.
The former president also knew how to party. He threw his second inaugural ball at what you might think is an unusual sight for such a grand event — the patent office, possibly the most boring type of governmental work one can dream up. But Lincoln's decision to dance among copyright lawyers makes a whole lot more sense when you know what building the office was housed in: the goliath Romanesque structure downtown which now houses the National Portrait Gallery.
Lincoln, as many know for unfortunate reasons, had a taste for the theater. He visited Ford’s Theatre
10 different times as president, particularly enjoying their performances of Shakespeare. In 1863, he saw “The Marble Heart,” where the villain was played by a famed actor named John Wilkes Booth.
Of course, most know how the story of Lincoln and Booth ends — but you probably don’t know the full story. To learn all about the Lincoln assassination, including entry to Ford’s Theatre and the Peterson House, be sure to book our Lincoln Assassination Unscripted tour.
(Image via the Smithsonian under commercial & other licenses)
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