1. Renwick Chapel
The Renwick Chapel is a stunning example Gothic Revival architecture hidden in Oak Hill Cemetery Chapel. The church was built in 1850 by James Renwick and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
2. Lover’s Lane Pool
Lover’s Lane Pool is part of Dumbarton Oaks. It was modeled after an amphitheater in Rome and features fifty seats surrounding the pool and stone columns and gorgeous trellis.
3. Mary Livingston Ripley Garden
This tiny garden, which sits between two Smithsonian buildings right on the National Mall. This garden was conceived as a "fragrant garden" a lifelong plant collector, Mary S. Dillion Ripley. It is a peaceful hidden oasis.
4. East Potomac Park Mini Golf
Did you know that the oldest continually-operated mini golf course is located right in the middle of it all in DC? The East Potomac Park Mini Golf was built in 1931 and has three regular golf courses and a mini golf course, all open to the public.
5. Bonsai and Penjing Museum
The Bonsai and Penjing Museum, located inside the National Arboretum has one of the largest collections at of bonsai treats in North America. It began when Japan gave 53 Bonsai trees in 1976. It’s a quiet and beautiful to see the well cared-for masterpieces.
6. Sonny Bono Memorial Park
This tiny piece of land in Dupont Circle was established in 1998 after Sonny Bono’s death. Located in the park is a vault of Sonny Bono memorabilia, including the sheet music for "The Beat Goes On."
7. Bridge Tender's House
Bridge Tender’s House is an impressive art project commissioned by the DC Commission of the Arts and Humanities known as the Kaleidoscope Project. Located at the 14th Street Bridge Operator’s Tower, this amazing piece of art features reflective kaleidoscope cones in the windows creating a kaleidoscope effect.
8. Samuel Hahnemann Memorial
Located just off of Scott Circle, this memorial was dedicated to Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of homeopathy, in 1900.
9. Cuban Friendship Urn
The Cuban Friendship Urn has an interesting history. It commemorates the US sailors and Marines who lost their lives on the USS Maine when it snack in the Havana Harbor in 1898 and symbolized the friendship between Cuba and United States. Mysteriously, the urn disappeared after Fidel Castro rose to Power in 1959. The urn was "found" in 1992 and moved to its present site.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.