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Just steps from the White House, National Mall, and Dupont Circle, the Golden Triangle is home to historic museums, live comedy, fine art exhibits, and other well-known attractions.
Experience all the Golden Triangle has to offer, while exploring nearby Smithsonian museums, national parks, and DC memorials and monuments.
The Golden Triangle is just a quick walk up 16th Street from the most well-known residence in the United States. The White House is the epicenter for tourism and politics in Washington, DC. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House is steps away from Golden Triangle restaurants, hotels, and shops. The more-than-100-year-old home has hosted world leaders, state dinners, and other important events.
The White House is a must-see for any visitor traveling to the nation’s capital. Adjacent to the White House is the White House Visitor Center, which offers visitors a window view into the iconic home. The National Mall and DC monuments are all within walking distance of the White House.
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In the summer of 2020, nationwide protests against police brutality were initially sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Local protests in DC were held around the area now known as BLM Plaza.
BLM Plaza is located just north of the White House on 16th Street NW, between H and K Streets. In 2020, Mayor Bowser officially renamed this street “Black Lives Matter Plaza Northwest.”
A painted mural depicts “BLACK LIVES MATTER” with 48-foot yellow capital letters. The art was first painted in June 2020 and is now a permanent installation. BLM Plaza is open 24 hours and serves as an area for reflection on racial equality.
Photo credit: @falcicchio, Twitter; June 6, 2020.
The National Mall is a two-mile swath of land bound by the U.S. Capitol to the east and the Washington Monument to the west. It is only a short walk down 17th Street from the Golden Triangle. The National Mall welcomes millions of visitors every year and hosts many history-making events. Visitors to “the Mall” will find a wide, pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevard with monuments and memorials, world-famous museums, and impressive federal buildings along Constitution Avenue.
The National Mall is home to many well-known memorials, including those that remember Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The National Mall is a short walk from the Golden Triangle, and a direct ride on the Blue and Orange lines of Metrorail.
Located at 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, just a block from the White House, The People’s House offers an educational experience exploring the history of the nation’s Executive Mansion and its inhabitants.
Courtesy of the White House Historical Association
Developed by the White House Historical Association, the experience includes a large-scale White House model, a recreation of the Rose Garden, a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, and other immersive exhibits. Visitors can pose with the infamous Resolute Desk in the Oval Room, walk a presidential path along the West Colonnade, sit in on historic meetings in the Cabinet Room, and much more.
The experience is free and open to the public; a $15 donation is suggested. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Visit https://www.thepeopleshouse.org/ to reserve tickets and learn more.
The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and is located steps from the White House in an incredible historic building. With a focus on American craft and decorative arts from the 19th to the 21st century, the unique exhibitions are worth the trip.
In 2015, the Renwick reopened after a two year renovation that upgraded and repaired some of the building’s original infrastructure. The opening exhibition was a museum-wide takeover titled Wonder. With the popularity of Wonder, visitors to the Renwick have almost doubled.
The Renwick hosted another full takeover with No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man, bringing the art from the famed desert festival to the nation’s capital. In addition, the museum partnered with the Golden Triangle BID for a groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind outdoor extension of the exhibition. No Spectators: Beyond the Renwick brought six large-scale public artworks to the streets of the Golden Triangle until December 2018, with the indoor exhibition running through January 2019.
At National Geographic, past and current expeditions, adventures, and scientific research come to life. From lively concerts to thought-provoking presentations, captivating films, and engaging family events, National Geographic’s live programming brings you the world and all that’s in it. At the museum, enjoy a wide variety of changing exhibitions as well as permanent and interactive displays that reflect the richness and diversity of our world. Be sure to check out what’s for sale at the museum store while you’re there.
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Farragut Park is a U.S. National Park that acts as the town square of the Golden Triangle’s bustling commercial and business district. The Golden Triangle BID provides free Wi-Fi access in the park, which encourages people in this tech-savvy neighborhood to spend time working outdoors. Each spring and summer, the park is brought to life with numerous BID-hosted events like exercise classes, movies, lunchtime activities, and more. Farragut Park is bordered by K Street and Connecticut Avenue, and is surrounded by high-traffic Metrobus stops and two of the area’s busiest Metro Rail stations: Farragut West & Farragut North.
Farragut Park is named after the United States Navy’s first admiral, David G. Farragut, and has a large statue of him in the center that was completed and dedicated in 1881. Admiral Farragut fought in the Civil War, where he spoke the words of the familiar phrase, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
The DC Improv Comedy Club is DC’s #1 venue for all your comedy needs, featuring national touring headliners, local celebrities, a comedy school, two showrooms, plus a full restaurant and bar. The DC Improv first launched in 1992 showcasing newcomers Ellen DeGeneres, Dave Chappelle, and Brian Regan. Today, The DC Improv continues to house the best comedic talent in the business.
Step back in time in this uniquely intact late-Victorian home of German-American beer baron Christian Heurich. The Heurich House is a local landmark on the National Register of Historic Places and one of the most intact late Victorian homes in the country. Heurich was the city’s most successful brewer, and he ran the Christian Heurich Brewing Company until his death in 1945 at the age 102. His residence (1892-1894) still contains its original intricately hand carved woodwork, gas, and electric light fixtures, gilt furniture, musician’s balcony, marble & onyx staircase, bierstube (“beer room”) and more.
Dupont Circle is an iconic DC neighborhood that is situated north of the Golden Triangle (the heart of DC’s central business district). It is the residential area west of 16th Street between Swann Street and Florida Avenue. The Golden Triangle restaurants, retailers, and attractions are within a short walking distance for these residents.
Dupont Circle is served by the Dupont Circle Metro Station on the Red line. The Dupont Circle Park is one of the most popular meeting places in the area. On any given day, local area visitors and residents enjoy sitting on benches and playing chess. The park, which features a beautiful, historic fountain, is maintained by the National Park Service.
Discover local art and history in this landmark 1872 school building, which graduated the first high school class for African Americans in 1877. The Sumner School was named for US Senator Charles Sumner, an outspoken advocate for integration, especially in education. The Charles Sumner School also houses the DC Public School archives. Permanent exhibits include extensive DC public school memorabilia and sculptural vignettes that capture the life and times of Frederick Douglass.
The neighborhood is connected to every part of Washington, DC and the surrounding area with multiple modes of transportation. For more information on navigating to the Golden Triangle by bus, bike, foot, car, or air:
