Main hall
Gilded vault.
Martin Kraft — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA — CC BY 2.0 · Gryffindor — Public domain · Chris Light — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ramakrishna Gundra — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kurt Kaiser — CC0 · Gryffindor This panoramic image was created with Panorama Perfect (stitched images may differ from reality). — Public domain · Brian Sherin — CC BY-SA 4.0
A historic railway station, transport hub and shopping destination near Capitol Hill, designed by the architect Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907. It is Amtrak's second-busiest station and the southern end of the Northeast Corridor linking Washington with New York and Boston. The station is known for its massive white marble facade with tall classical arches, its vast main hall under a gilded coffered vault, and its long arcaded colonnades. At the height of the Second World War as many as 200,000 passengers passed through in a single day. In front lies Columbus Circle with its fountain and flags and a view to the nearby Capitol dome; inside are shops and restaurants, with connections to the Washington Metro and intercity buses. Entry is free, and the main hall alone is worth a visit even if you are not travelling. It is a handy starting point if you arrive by train from New York, a journey of about three hours, and the Capitol is an easy walk away.
Gilded vault.
Long and arched.
White marble.
Massachusetts Avenue, near Capitol Hill, Washington
United States CapitolThe seat of both houses of the United States Congress, on Capitol Hill at the ea11 minutes walk4.8
Library of CongressThe de facto national library of the United States and the research library of C12 minutes walk4.7
United States Botanic GardenThe oldest continually operating botanic garden in the United States, at the foo15 minutes walk4.9
National Gallery of ArtOne of the foremost art museums in the United States, on the National Mall, foun17 minutes walk4.9
National Air and Space MuseumThe Smithsonian museum of human flight and space exploration, whose main buildin20 minutes walk4.7About three hours, arriving at Union Station near the Capitol.