Washington, DC: Fun Facts
The Walter E. Washington Convention Center Houses the Largest Public Art Collection in the City Home to more than 120 works of art, including sculpture, painting, photography, mixed media, and graphics, the Washington Convention Center Authority is the proud owner of the largest public art collection in Washington, DC. With help from the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Federal Commission of Fine Arts, and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Convention Center developed a lavish collection valued at more than $4 million. The collection, which primarily focuses on works from local artists, is a unique feature not found in most convention centers. (www.dcconvention.com) Visitors Flock to the Nation’s Capital Annually DC welcomes about 17 million visitors each year, generating an estimated $5.7 billion in visitor spending for the city alone. In 2011, DC hosted 808 conventions, meetings, and tradeshows, including 48 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. These meetings attracted more than 1 million attendees. About 1.7 million international visitors come to DC annually. Top countries of origin: United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, China, Italy, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands. Top Attractions National Air & Space Museum (7 million visitors) National Museum of Natural History (6.6 million visitors) Lincoln Memorial (5.4 million visitors) National Museum of American History (4.6 million visitors) World War II Memorial (4 million visitors) Vietnam Veterans Memorial (3.8 million visitors) Korean War Veterans Memorial (2.9 million visitors) FDR Memorial (2.3 million visitors) Rock Creek Park (2 million visitors) Thomas Jefferson Memorial (1.9 million visitors) National Zoological Park (1.9 million visitors) Restaurants There are more than 100 restaurants located in downtown Washington, DC, not including fast food, delis, and take out. Forty restaurants in the metropolitan region received Zagat scores of 25 or higher (out of 30). Called “one of the most exciting restaurant cities on the East Coast” by Travel + Leisure, DC’s culinary distinctions include James Beard award-winning chefs, AAA Five Diamond ratings, and restaurants included on Esquire’s list of the “Best New Restaurants in America.” More than 90 DC restaurants offer private dining space, including 10 within a few blocks of the convention center. Another 26 restaurants with private dining space are located within 1.5 miles of the convention center.

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center Houses the Largest Public Art Collection in the City
Home to more than 120 works of art, including sculpture, painting, photography, mixed media, and graphics, the Washington Convention Center Authority is the proud owner of the largest public art collection in Washington, DC. With help from the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Federal Commission of Fine Arts, and DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Convention Center developed a lavish collection valued at more than $4 million. The collection, which primarily focuses on works from local artists, is a unique feature not found in most convention centers. (www.dcconvention.com)
Visitors Flock to the Nation’s Capital Annually
DC welcomes about 17 million visitors each year, generating an estimated $5.7 billion in visitor spending for the city alone.
In 2011, DC hosted 808 conventions, meetings, and tradeshows, including 48 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. These meetings attracted more than 1 million attendees.
About 1.7 million international visitors come to DC annually. Top countries of origin: United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, China, Italy, Brazil, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands.
Top Attractions
National Air & Space Museum (7 million visitors)
National Museum of Natural History (6.6 million visitors)
Lincoln Memorial (5.4 million visitors)
National Museum of American History (4.6 million visitors)
World War II Memorial (4 million visitors)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (3.8 million visitors)
Korean War Veterans Memorial (2.9 million visitors)
FDR Memorial (2.3 million visitors)
Rock Creek Park (2 million visitors)
Thomas Jefferson Memorial (1.9 million visitors)
National Zoological Park (1.9 million visitors)
Restaurants
There are more than 100 restaurants located in downtown Washington, DC, not including fast food, delis, and take out.
Forty restaurants in the metropolitan region received Zagat scores of 25 or higher (out of 30).
Called “one of the most exciting restaurant cities on the East Coast” by Travel + Leisure, DC’s culinary distinctions include James Beard award-winning chefs, AAA Five Diamond ratings, and restaurants included on Esquire’s list of the “Best New Restaurants in America.”
More than 90 DC restaurants offer private dining space, including 10 within a few blocks of the convention center. Another 26 restaurants with private dining space are located within 1.5 miles of the convention center.