Things to see in Washington DC

The Jefferson Memorial is a 5.8m (19ft) statue of the third US president, Thomas Jefferson. Surrounded by passages from the 1776 Declaration of Independence, his memorial was not erected until over 100 years after his death. Built in a neo-classical style and framed by the cherry trees along the Tidal Basin, it is one of the most attractive monuments on National Mall, especially at night.

Housing the world's largest library containing collections of rare American history materials and more than 144 million items, including copies of the Gutenberg Bible and a copy of the musical score of the ‘Star Spangled Banner', the library itself is embellished with murals, stained glass windows and statuary. Exhibitions change regularly. There are daily guided tours of the 19th-century Thomas Jefferson Building. Public tours of the library are available Mon-Sat (1030, 1130, 1330, 1430 and 1530). On Saturday there is no 1530 tour.

The most popular of all the Smithsonian Museums, the National Air and Space Museum traces the development of air and space travel. It is home to the original Wright Brothers' 1903 Flyer, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis, the Bell X-1 (the plane that broke the sound barrier in 1947), the Apollo 11 lunar command module and a vast collection of aviation and space technology memorabilia. Free 90-minute tours trace the history of air and space at 1030 and 1300. The museum also houses an IMAX film theatre and the Albert Einstein Planetarium. A second vast NASA museum next to Dulles airport houses historically significant craft including Space Shuttle Enterprise and the Enola Gay (www.nasm.si.edu/udvarhazy).

Many of Washington's most important monuments and institutions, described individually, are located in the National Mall, a green park area extending 3km (2 miles) from the US Capitol to the Washington Monument. Major Pierre L'Enfant originally planned the Mall as a grand avenue lined with mansions, but lack of funds meant that the site was just left as an open area used for grazing animals. It was not until the beginning of the 20th century, when many more public institutions and monuments had been constructed in the immediate area (including the White House), that they were linked with the series of gardens that now make up the Mall.

NMAI is a tribute to Native Americans. The impressive structure is circular and faces east in accordance to American Indian traditions. Decorated in earthy tones, it is designed to reflect indigenous aesthetics. The museum is divided into four sections: ‘Our Universe' focuses on Native philosophies related to creation and the relationship between man and the universe; ‘Our Peoples' relates the life of Native Americans via videos; ‘Our Lives' focuses on the contemporary life and identities of eight Native Communities; and there is also a changing contemporary exhibit. In the Lelawi Theater, the audience is put in the middle of a unique multi-media presentation about tribal life.

The Newseum highlights the history of the media. Visitors can visit more than a dozen galleries to learn the history of news and how the past century's important world events have been reported. A broadcast studio, an interactive newsroom and the largest section of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany along with an East German guard tower are exhibits worth exploring. Some of the dramatic events in journalism are recreated in A4-D Time Travel Adventure film.

US legislative policy is shaped under the magnificent 55m (180ft) white dome of the US Capitol, home to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The white-painted dome is visible from all parts of the city and is topped by the 5.8m (19ft) Statue of Freedom. Several areas of the building are open to the public, including Statuary Hall, the Rotunda and the Crypt (the intended burial place of George Washington and his wife). The Capitol Visitor Center opened in December 2008 and is now the main entrance, located on First Street, between Independence and Constitution avenues.

Dedicated to the first president of the United States, the Washington Monument dates from 1885 and is 169m (555ft) tall. A lift takes visitors to the top to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding area. The 193 restored Memorial Stones, which have been donated over the years (from July 1848) by states, cities and foreign countries, pay tribute to George Washington. There are also exhibits about the monument's history and the nation's Founding Father.