Top 10 Free Things To Do and Attractions in Gaithersburg

"The most visited of the memorials, the 19-foot seated figure of Abraham Lincoln dedicated in 1922, never fails to inspire. It is flanked by inscriptions of his Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address. The 39 columns on all four sides of the chamber represent the states that existed at Lincoln’s death."

"Allan Baxter / Collection: Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images. Many years went into planning the memorial to American's 16th president. An early proposal called for a statue of Abraham Lincoln surrounded by statues of 37 other people, six on horseback."

"The Lincoln Memorial sits on the opposite side of the reflecting pool from the Washington Monument. You can photograph Lincoln up close or get a distant view from across the reflecting pool (bring a long lens for this). Lincoln Memorial by Marc Andre"

"You will see the Capitol to the East and the Washington Monument to the West. The Smithsonian is comprised of 19 museums. Since you have limited time to tour the city, I would suggest that you pick just one museum to explore, either the National Museum of Natural History or the National Museum of American History. Both museums are located across the Mall (to the north of the Smithsonian Metro Station) There is so much to see and so little time--grab a museum map and spend an hour or two exploring the exhibits."

"Danita Delimont/Gallo Images Collection/Getty Images (cropped). Architect Robert Mills' initial design for the Washington Monument honored America's first president with a 600-foot tall, square, flat-topped pillar. At the base of the pillar, Mills envisioned an elaborate colonnade with statues of 30 Revolutionary War heroes and a soaring sculpture of George Washington in a chariot."

"The most iconic and recognizable building in DC is hard not to photograph since it’s DC’s tallest building. From the Tidal Basin, steps of the Lincoln Memorial or standing right next to it, the Washington Monument looks great from all angles. You can also get a unique angle of the Washington Monument from the POV bar at the W Hotel."

"United States Capitol Building, Washington, DC, Supreme Court (L) and Library of Congress (R) in Background. Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge Archive Photos/Getty Images (cropped). For almost two centuries, America's governing bodies, the Senate and the House of Representatives, have gathered under the dome of the US Capitol."

"It is hard to believe it, but the Capitol is among the free things to do in Washington DC!. There is a free tour of the building if you book in advance!. Even if you aren’t able to book in advance, you can go into the lower level behind the Capitol and visit the museum."

"Day or night, the US Capitol building is one of Washington, D.C.'s most monumental sights. The marble edifice is a symbol of American Democracy, and the giant dome is based on St. Peter's in Rome. Make sure to step inside and see the rotunda under the dome."

"Designed in the Beaux-Arts style with giant columns, open light, granite and bronze doors and marble floors, the library surpasses all other local institutions when it comes to its comprehensive cultural collections. The numbers speak for themselves. The print and photographs division holds 15 million visual images, while the publication department has the world’s largest collection of graphic novels and comic books, at 5,000 titles, and an extensive collection of works by political cartoonist Herbert L. Block, or “Herblock,” on public view since 2011."

"The Library of Congress is unlike any other library in the world. The world’s largest library, it is home to more than 100 million books, maps, recordings, manuscripts, films and photos including items from Thomas Jefferson’s personal collection. In fact, it was Jefferson who donated many items to the library after it was destroyed by a fire in 1814."

"When it was created in 1800, the Library of Congress was primarily a resource for Congressmen. The library was located where the legislators worked, in the U.S."

"The White House is the elegant mansion of America's president, but its beginnings were humble. Irish-born architect James Hoban may have modeled the initial structure after the Leinster House, a Georgian style estate in Dublin, Ireland. Made of Aquia sandstone painted white, the White House was more austere when it was first built from 1792 to 1800."

"After lunch, walk west on Pennsylvania Avenue and you will come to President’s Park and the White House. Take some photos and enjoy a view of the White House grounds. The seven-acre public park across the street is a popular site for political protests and a good place to people watch."

"Play image association with the words “ Washington, DC, ” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is likely to take your breath away the first time you see it,... Top ChoiceMuseum in Upper Northwest DC"

"Although Saint Patrick’s is the oldest Catholic church in D.C., the largest and most prominent is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, found in Northeast D.C. near The Catholic University of America. It is not a parish church but a national one, dedicated to the patron saint of the United States: Mary, the mother of Jesus, under her title of the Immaculate Conception."

"The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the largest Roman Catholic church in the United States and is one of the largest churches in the world. The National Shrine is designated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as a National Sanctuary of Prayer and Pilgrimage. It boasts the largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art in the world."

"With more than 30 acres of recreation and open space, Long Bridge Park is a new-school, distinctive showplace of environmentally sound redevelopment. The park has a central expanse of attractive public green spaces and high-quality outdoor facilities. It used to be an EPA SuperFund site, and now it’s entirely transformed — it just shows what can happen with the will and great planning."

"The Long Bridge Park is a state of the art location, sitting near the Potomac riverscape and the urban corridors. The park features modern recreation and outdoor sports facilities, and a wide stunning green spaces dominating its center. This park is an ideal place to spend quality time with your family."

"This park, located in Northeast DC, is actually shared between DC and Maryland. It covers 160 acres, has multiple trails, and is truly one of DC’s loveliest gems. Check out Little Falls Trail, a 3.5-mile trek for bikers and hikers that takes you to multiple views of Little Falls."

"I had the Pork with Black Bean Sauce and the Kung Pao Chicken, both of which were absolutely delicious!. The people who run the restaurant are so..."

"Our on-site chef creates unexpectedly good food, crafted to complement the nuanced flavors of our beer. Gordon Biersch beer is made with German precision brewing that meets American craft..."

"City-State Brewing is a newbie to our nation’s capital, and we should be seeing its big debut sometime around Memorial Day weekend of 2021. Not only will it offer a brewery with taproom, it will also be an arts venue and event space. It will offer five new brews, each inspired and named in honor of the District."

"Once you've finished shopping, sit down for a sandwich at Atwater's, or buy a quart of soup and a loaf of bread and eat it at home. Photo courtesy of DataAngel via Flickr"