Whether it’s your first (or fifth) time at the nation’s great capital, there’s sure to be a monument or historical landmark you’ve never seen before. From the lesser-known but equally fascinating Titanic Memorial to all the nooks and crannies waiting to be discovered during a Capitol building tour—there’s much to see and do.
But did you know that underneath all those perfectly sculpted lawns and national monuments lies an entire city of underground tunnels?
Approximately 15,000 staff members of the capitol have access to these tunnels so they can easily travel around Capitol Hill. The tunnels are even outfitted with their very own subway system and feature a few underground bodegas for quick afternoon snacks.
This begs the question—what other fun facts about Washington, DC, don’t I know?
We’ve done the research for you and are here to divulge 10 interesting facts about Washington, DC you’ve probably never heard.
#1 There Are Marble Bathtubs in the Capitol Building
To the naked eye, the Capitol building probably seems like a formal place where members of congress work to establish new laws. Business as usual, right?
While that is true now, it wasn’t always the case. In 1859, plumbers installed six tubs in the basement room of the senate wing. Although it may sound odd to have tubs in an official government work building, it made perfect sense then.
Back then, senate members often lived in houses that didn’t have running water. So, to prevent unwanted body odors from giving the Capitol building a unique smell, marble tubs were installed for senator use.
#2 There’s a Family Theater in the White House
There are 132 rooms in the White House, so it was only a matter of time before one of those rooms became a theater for the president and his family to enjoy. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt converted a coat room into what is now known as the Family Theater.
In the years since, presidents, their families, and their guests have enjoyed countless films in the 42-seat theater. Here are a few other notable facts about the White House’s Family Theater:
- In 2004, First Lady Laura Bush renovated the theater to give it a more glamorous look. She chose ravishing red walls with gold molding and red carpeting to achieve an elegant and classic aesthetic.
- President Jimmy Carter watched approximately 480 movies in the theater room, holding the crown for watching the most movies there during his time in office.
- In 2010, President Barack Obama utilized the theater room to watch the WWII series, The Pacific, with Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and members of Congress.
#3 A President Kept an Alligator as a Pet
An alligator probably isn’t what first comes to mind when you hear the word “pet.” But in 1825, during John Quincy Adams’ presidency, the French revolutionary Marquis de Lafayette brought President Adams a rather peculiar pet—an alligator.
According to legend, Adams kept the alligator in the tub of an unfinished bathroom. On occasion, he would take unassuming guests to the bathroom and shock them with the sight of the alligator.
There have been a few other noteworthy animals inside the walls of the White House over the years, as well, including:
- President Jackson’s pet parrot, who was said to have learned some of the president’s more colorful vocabulary.
- Two tiger cubs, which were gifted to President Van Buren from the Sultan of Oman. Evidently, Van Buren loved the cubs and wanted to keep them in the White House, but members of congress argued that they were gifts to the United States, not the president personally. Eventually, congress won their argument, and they moved the tigers to a zoo in Washington, DC, for everyone to enjoy.
#4 The White House Wasn’t Always “The White House”
If you mention the White House to almost anyone, they’ll likely envision the large and luminous white Palladian mansion where the president and his family live. But the building didn’t always hold that title. Until 1901, everyone referred to it as one of the following:
- The President’s Palace
- The President’s House
- The Executive Mansion
During President Theodore Roosevelt’s time in office, he officially changed its moniker to the one we’re all familiar with—the “White House.”
#5 President Washington Never Lived in the White House
While the first president of the United States approved the blueprints and oversaw the construction of the White House, he never actually lived there. To this day, George Washington is the only president to never reside in the White House.
Instead, President Washington lived in New York and then moved to Philadelphia, the nation’s capital at the time. During that time, builders were working on constructing the White House in Washington, DC, a city that government officials named for the first president.
In 1800, construction was nearly complete, at which time the second President, John Adams, and his wife, Abigail, moved in and became the White House’s first residents.
#6 Washington, DC is Home to the World’s Largest Obelisk
An obelisk is a four-sided monument with a pyramid-shaped top. In Egyptian times, people would erect them to celebrate and honor their rulers.
Located at the center of the nation’s capital is the obelisk we all know colloquially as the Washington Monument. It was created to commemorate George Washington, the nation’s first commander-in-chief. At its completion in 1884, it was the tallest structure in the world.
To this day, all 555 feet and 5 and 1/8th inches make it the tallest obelisk on the globe.
#7 You Can Find the Oldest Fish Market in the Country in DC
You might already have gone to several farmers markets in DC but have you been to the oldest fish market in town? Situated between the Potomac River and the National Mall, the Municipal Fish Market at the Wharf has been in operation for over 200 years. Established in 1805, it’s home to a variety of seafood and produce vendors, bait and tackle shops, and lumber distributors.
If you’re craving a fresh catch of the day while you’re here, you’re in luck. Whether you’d rather have it already prepared or want to take it home and cook it yourself, the wharf has an array of freshly caught seafood delicacies to choose from, including (but definitely not limited to):
- Oysters
- Fish of all kinds
- Crabs
- Shrimp
- Lobsters
- And more
#8 The Lincoln Memorial Originally Contained a Typo
There’s generally a low probability that something as permanent as a Lincoln memorial would contain a typo. But that didn’t stop one from occurring in the original etching of the Lincoln Memorial.
Although no one is exactly sure how it happened, it appears that the worker responsible for stenciling Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address into the memorial grabbed the wrong stencil and created an “E” where there should have been an “F” in the word “Future”.
Before long, someone noticed that “Future” had mistakenly become “Euture”. While they quickly fixed the misspelling, if you look closely enough, you might still be able to notice remnants of the original E.
#9 The Library of Congress is the Largest Library in the World
Established in 1800, the Library of Congress has grown its collection exponentially in the past 200 years. To date, it holds more than 173 million items, including:
- Books
- Manuscripts
- Photographs
- Films
- Video and audio recordings
- Drawings
Not only does the Library of Congress have more items than any other library in the world, but it also touts these other impressive factoids:
- It offers materials in over 470 languages.
- It holds the largest rare-book collection in North America with over 700,000 rare books.
- The smallest book in the library is the size of the period at the end of this sentence.
- The largest book in the library is five feet by seven feet, and it contains color pictures of Bhutan, a country in South Asia.
#10 The White House is Impressively Massive
While we already mentioned that the White House has 132 rooms, we left out some of these other Washington DC facts you might not know about the home and its surrounding grounds:
- It requires 570 gallons of paint to cover the exterior surface.
- It has six floors, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases.
- In addition to the movie theater, the White House offers plenty of forms of entertainment, like a tennis court, swimming pool, jogging track, and bowling lane.
Find Your Next Home in the Surprising City of DC
Ready to start living in DC? With so many surprising Washington, DC facts waiting to be found, you’ll have plenty to discover during your next trip to the capital. And if you also happen to discover that Washington state is the next place you want to call home, Common is here to provide the most comfortable and affordable living arrangements around, with 10 coliving apartments to choose from in the DC area.
For instance, Common Clover, located at the Parks at Walter Reed in Takoma, offers easy access to parks, entertainment, and the best of city living right outside your door. There’s also Common at National Landing, which is only a short drive from downtown DC. No matter your neighborhood preferences, every Common apartment includes countless amenities, like high-speed Wifi, utilities, regular cleanings, and more.
Book a tour of our DC apartments to discover your next home today.
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Untapped Cities. The Underground Tunnels Beneath the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress. https://untappedcities.com/2021/01/06/underground-tunnels-beneath-the-u-s-capitol-library-of-congress/
Senate. United States Senate. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/image/Senate_Bathtubs.htm
The White House. The White House Building. https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/the-white-house/
National Archives. Movie Screenings at the White House. https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/research/topic-guides/movie-screenings-white-house
University System of Georgia. The Rylander Theatre Collection Brings Viewers to Cinephile Jimmy Carter’s Childhood Landmark. https://blog.dlg.galileo.usg.edu/?p=8129
The White House President Barack Obama. The Family Theater. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/interactive-tour/family-theater
Business Insider. An alligator, tiger cubs, and a dog named Satan — these are the weirdest presidential pets in history. https://www.businessinsider.com/weird-presidential-pets-include-alligator-tiger-cub-dog-named-satan-2019-12#an-alligator-in-the-bath-tub-2
White House History. Q & A. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/did-any-presidents-live-elsewhere-during-their-administrations
My Modern Met. Discover the History Behind the Obelisk, the Ancient Precursor to the Skyscraper. https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-an-obelisk/
District Wharf. The Municipal Fish Market. https://www.wharfdc.com/fish-market/
History. 10 Things You May Not Know About the Lincoln Memorial. https://www.history.com/news/lincoln-memorial-facts
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The White House. White House Facts. https://www.loc.gov/about/fascinating-facts/