The oldest building in the District of Columbia was preserved because of a mistaken connection to George Washington.

The beloved statue at the National Academy of Sciences is oh so inviting to sit on.

The hidden offices underneath Memorial Bridge have been locked up since 1976.

A derelict bit of transportation infrastructure hidden in the woods.

In what is rumored to be an intentional act of spite, this memorial almost completely obscures the nearby grave of a senior officer.

Before Nixon, "watergate" meant canals.

A gift from Scotland to the United States in memory of the 270 lives lost when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie due to a terrorist bombing.

This seemingly out-of-place gas station by the Watergate hotel was once described as the most expensive gas station in the world.

The word "Watergate" will forever be associated with the infamous scandal in 1972, but this fountain is famous in its own right.

Decades before the scandal, this staircase on the river was a literal "water gate."

The rogue roots are gradually consuming some of the historic marble grave markers.

Recorded as the first person buried in Arlington Cemetery.

This stately mansion, built in 1787 by America's first Secretary of the Navy, is rumored to be one of the most haunted buildings in Washington, DC.

Before Metro, Washington had a robust streetcar network—and you see the remains of this infrastructure if you know where to look.

The site of the climactic scene from the classic horror film is now a historic landmark.

This historic boathouse was constructed using salvaged lumber from burned barns.

The national park was once a plantation estate.

An oft-overlooked, magically musical monolith that stands majestically between Arlington Cemetery and the Iwo Jima Memorial.

This church built atop a gas station promises to "equip you for the next stage in your life’s journey."

This unique historical monument features large concrete spheres designed to resemble fallen stars.

This high desert botanical garden is a unique display of New Mexico’s ecology and culture.

A preserve with 75,000 ancient drawings remains the realm of public – not just scientific – exploration.

One man’s passion for gas stations is on display along the Rio Grande in northern New Mexico.

This highest peak in New Mexico is named after an explorer who had a habit of lending his moniker to peaks.