Washington DC on Film

Washington DC with all its grand monuments and stately architecture has always been a preferred setting for films over the decades. Over 200 movies of various categories, not simply political and historic films, have chosen to include much of the city's landmarks in their renowned scenes. For many, their first take a look at the United States capital is through a movie. Though much of the scenes in these movies were shot on sets recreating the exteriors of the country's capital and the interior of its structures, any movie enthusiast will still marvel and be surprised seeing the actual structures that made a few of these movie scenes remarkable. Chasing these sites seen in motion pictures and recreating a few of the scenes can be an enjoyable activity for your next family reunion in Washington DC.

Here are some of DC's landmarks that became the settings of many of our favorite films.

1. White House

Any political, historic, disaster or action-thriller film set in DC is not total without a shot of the White House - whether it's the front lawn, the south portico, the offices, or the Oval Office. Who would not recognize the renowned shot southern portico being blown out by aliens in the 1996 hit motion picture Independence Day? Maybe every film studio has their variation of what the Oval Office looks like. The action-horror movie Abraham Lincoln" Vampire Hunter which fictionalized the life of the 16th President illustrates a Civil War-time White House in a number of its scenes. Sci-fi apocalypse motion pictures like 2021 and The Day After Tomorrow have revealed government officials preparing to face disaster and making important choices in one of their many offices. Although the Oval Office and the rest of the West Wing are not accessible to the public, a trip inside the White House is possible by asking for through your agent in Congress or your embassy if you are a foreign national. The trip takes you to the public places in the East Wing of the Presidential Home and enables you to take a look at its well known Rose Garden. But if any possibility a tour of the White House is not approved, guests can still get a glance of what the White House resembles through the White House Visitor Center. The center homes show related to the history of the White House and its residents, the Presidents, and the First Ladies. It likewise has a large scale model of the White House complex.

2. Lincoln Memorial

If you matured in the 90s or just a fan of 90s traditional movies, you will most likely recognize the Lincoln Memorial Reflective Pool in the award-winning film Forrest Gump during the scene when Gump was going through the length of the pool towards the love of his life, Jenny. The National Treasure franchise includes many DC landmarks. On its first installment, it is on the Lincoln Memorial actions where the character Benjamin Franklin Gates chose that the only way to safeguard the Declaration of Independence is to take it. Likewise, in the second Night at the Museum film, the great statue of Abraham Lincoln in its chambers came to life and did a terrific help during the end of the world of the Smithsonian.

3. National Archives

Speaking of National Treasure and the Declaration of Independence, the National Archives building is highly featured in the first film of the franchise. He first saw the facade of the structure when the character of Ben Gates and Riley Poole, met Archives curator Abigail Chase to tip her about the danger to steal the Declaration of Independence. Later on in the motion picture, we are taking a trip of the building as the two main protagonists discuss their strategy to take the document to protect it. Aside from the Declaration of Independence, the National Archives also keeps important historical files on the country's founding such as the Bill of Rights, the original copy of the Constitution, the Louisiana Purchase among others. Simply do not try to steal any of those during your go to. There are not any recognized covert maps on their reverse side. These documents are nationwide treasures as they exist.

4. The Smithsonian Museums and Galleries

If you point out Smithsonian and motion picture in one sentence, possibly the first thing that comes to mind is the second installment of the Night at the Museum trilogy. Appropriately subtitled The Battle of Smithsonian, the movie focuses on the adventures of the main characters as the museums around the National Mall come to life when the magical tablet of Ahkmenrah is brought to the Smithsonian archival storage. The building plainly depicted in the movie were the Smithsonian Castle where the villains set their headquarters and the end of the world happened, the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery where the interesting chase for the tablet of Ahkmenrah from painting to painting took place, the National Air and Space Museum where we saw characters Larry Daley and the came-to-life wax figure of Amelia Earhart satisfied the Tuskegee Airmen and flew the Wright Flyer to get away the opponents. The giant octopus that came to life and swam the Lincoln Memorial Reflective Pool is fictional but it was influenced by the giant squid specimen kept at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Also, you may find the Einstein bobblehead figures cute however they are also simply an enjoyable addition to the exhibitions. However, you can find a larger-than-life bronze statue of the fantastic researcher at the National Academy of Science's Einstein Memorial

5. The US Capitol

The other dominant feature of Washington DC's horizontal horizon, aside from the Washington Memorial, is the large dome of the US Capitol building. Being such an icon of the city, it also became its metonym. Even if the movie is shot outside the federal district, the dome of the Capitol is frequently included digitally on the background to indicate that the scene is set in DC. In the funny movie, Evan Almighty where the main character played a congressman who was chosen by God to build a Biblical ark, the 'Great Flood' triggered by a dam collapse went all the way through the National Mall with the ark stopping right in front of the Capitol. In the duration film, Wild West, we saw the dome being built as the primary characters rode horses towards it. It also ended up being the sign of rebirth in the film Deep Impact as the very first stones of restoring were laid on a ruined Capitol structure after the Earth was devastated by asteroids from deep space. When it's not flooded or blown out by area rocks, you can visit the US Capitol through the Capitol Hill Visitor Center located at the lower levels of the structure. If you are fortunate, you may also get seats on a session of the Senate or your home of Representatives and witness how the unwritten laws are enacted.

6. Library of Congress

If the National Archives was prominent at the first installment of the National Treasure motion pictures, the Library of Congress plays an important role in the follow up. After 'kidnapping' the President in Mount Vernon, the lead character Ben Gates proceeds to the Library of Congress to have a look at the President's Book, the secret book by presidents, and for the President's eyes only. As released by the President, Ben, Riley, and Abigail searched for the book in the restricted section of the Library. They found the book of secrets in a secret compartment in among the shelves of the section. The book is said to include the country's biggest secrets such as the Watergate scandal, Area 51, and the movie's primary plot arc - location of the city of gold, among other conspiracy theories. Even if the President's Book is true or not, a visit to the Library of Congress is still worthwhile. It is the greatest library worldwide, and who knows what 'tricks' you can find in the pages of its books and manuscripts.

7. Jefferson Memorial.

Located outside the National Mall, the memorial to Thomas Jefferson is hardly ever seen in films. However, this enforcing Pantheon-inspired structure at the banks of the Potomac River had actually made quite a few cameo appearances. In Captain America: Winter Soldier, we see Steve Rogers running in addition to the columns of the front portico of the building. In National Treasure: The Book of Secrets, the conversation between Ben Gates and FBI special agent Sadusky confirming the presence of the President's Book took place outside the Jefferson Memorial while feeding ducks. Whether or not you are having a private discussion with a federal representative, the Jefferson Memorial is a good location to hang out by the Potomac River, especially in spring when the cherry blossom trees around remain in maturity.

8. Washington Memorial

This memorial standing at 550-feet tall is the highest structure in Washington DC, a fitting homage to the country's very first president. We have most likely all seen this enforcing obelisk through a flyby scene of the National Mall in lots of motion pictures. It is likewise one of the very first ones to be destroyed in catastrophe motion pictures. In the film 2012, we saw the Washington Memorial broken in half and crashed at the refugees collected at the White House front yard after a strong earthquake struck the city. In Spiderman: Homecoming, we saw the titular character scale its height to rescue caught tourists inside its elevator. The memorial might be often included in a bad light but the elevators going up are completely safe. It just recently underwent repair and upkeep, so there will be no requirement to fret if you want to go up the observation gallery on top for an amazing view of the National Mall and the Federal City.