Smithsonian Magazine Just Released A List Of 250 Places Around The Country That Highlight America’s Spirit – Here’s Every Featured Location Near Washington, D.C.

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Alex Striano

 ·  February 28, 2026

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Most Washingtonians are quite familiar with the Smithsonian Institution because of its many fantastic and free-to-visit museums around the District.

However, the Smithsonian Institution also has its own highly reputable magazine that examines the same topics and subject matter you might see in one of its exhibits.

As part of Smithsonian Magazine’s latest project, in honor of the 250th anniversary of America gaining its independence, it launched an interactive map of the United States with 250 places across the nation that uniquely highlight America’s spirit!

What is Smithsonian Magazine’s ‘250 Places to Visit to Celebrate America’

Smithsonian Magazine listed a total of 250 places across the country that they considered uniquely significant to America’s cultural history.

In total, among the places listed, there were 10 categories with 25 places allocated to each of those categories.

Those 10 categories were:

1. Witness to History
2. Natural World
3. Oddball America
4. Food
5. Science & Ingenuity
6. Sounds of America
7. On the Screen
8. Architecture & Arts
9. Museums and Historic Homes
10. Culture & Community

Places near Washington, D.C. that the Smithsonian Institution believes highlight America’s spirit

There are around 20 unique locations that are just a roadtrip away from the District!

Here is a list of every featured place within driving distance of D.C.:

1. Mount Vernon – Museums & Historic Homes
2. Arlington National Cemetery – Culture & Community
3. Lincoln Memorial – Witness to History
4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial – Architecture & Arts
5. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History – Museums & Historic Homes
6. Gallaudet University – Culture & Community
7. National Archives – Museums & Historic Homes
8. U.S. Capitol – Witness to History
9. Great Stalacpipe Organ – Sounds of America
10. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center – Museums & Historic Homes
11. Green Bank Observatory – Science & Ingenuity
12. Appomattox Court House National Historical Park – Witness to History
13. Edgar Allen Poe House & Museum – Museums & Historic Homes
14. Fort McHenry – Witness to History
15. American Visionary Art Museum
16. Mother Seton House – Museums & Historic Homes
17. Johnson Victrola Museum – Odball America
18. Hagley Museum and Library – Science & Ingenuity
19. Gettysburg National Military Park – Witness to History
20. Hershey’s Chocolate World – Food