Away from the heat of politics, our nation’s capital is one cool city, with a hip culinary and nightlife scene now decidedly made over from blander years of the past. The metropolitan Washington, D.C., area is also a pantheon of historical and cultural treasures, which give serious notice of America’s strength and accomplishments as a nation.
The Washington Monument and the Washington Tomb at Mount Vernon. Arlington National Cemetery, eternal home of our everlasting gratitude. Lincoln’s perpetual watch over his Reflecting Pool and his haunting presence in Ford’s Theatre. The city’s memorials to war, arresting to behold. These and D.C.’s other monumental salutes tell the story of heroic departures that shaped, fortified and defended America, but somber and moving moments aside, the city’s historic and cultural stages are also a celebration of arrival, which for meetings, events and other group gatherings makes Washington, D.C., a capital choice indeed.
UNION STATION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.unionstationevents.com
Opened in 1908, architect and urban planner Daniel Burnham’s timeless Beaux Arts masterpiece remains one of the nation’s most iconic transportation hubs. As the signature construction of a master civic beautification plan to rid the Mall of ramshackle structures and rail yards, this grand terminal has been witness to and participant in over a century of American history.
“From commuters and tourists to politicians and diplomats, this is where everyone converges in Washington,” says Michele Jacobs, managing director of special events at Union Station. “If you’re holding an event in Union Station, then you’ve truly arrived.”
Synonymous with grand events for upwards of 6,000 guests, Union Station has hosted every presidential inaugural ball since 1988, when it debuted its Main Hall, Columbus Club and East Hall spaces.
“Hosting an average of 200 gatherings a year, we are also well known for political, corporate and social events,” Jacobs says.
NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.press.org
Few venues can command the spotlight like this celebrated haunt, also founded in 1908 and perched atop the National Press Building since 1927. Continuing to welcome a Who’s Who of famous faces through its doors, “The Place Where News Happens” is virtually unmatched for history, prestige and excitement.
“The National Press Club, a private club for journalists and communications professionals, has been a Washington institution for more than a century,” says Joshua Funk, the club’s director of business development. “It is also a world-class conference and meeting facility that hosts thousands of events each year for sophisticated clients from around the globe.”
Running the gamut from banquets and receptions to news conferences, meetings and symposia, club events also include functions for up to 36 guests in its acclaimed public-accessible Fourth Estate restaurant.PageBreak
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.ngmuseum.org
Since 1888, the National Geographic Society has been “inspiring people to care about the planet” through scientific research, fieldwork and expeditions to the far corners of the Earth. Located on the first floor of its centrally located headquarters in downtown D.C., the society’s high-tech museum is an engaging showcase of discoveries from around the globe.
“With a wide variety of changing exhibitions that reflect the richness and diversity of our world, the National Geographic Museum is the ideal setting for entertaining up to 300 guests in a distinctive setting,” says Rita Dooley, special events manager for National Geographic.
Currently featuring Titanic: 100 Year Obsession, the museum’s exhibitions and the fieldwork and expeditions on which they are based are supported by National Geographic’s Mission Programs, which are generously funded by corporations, foundations and individuals.
INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.spymuseum.org
Ingenious deceptions. Double agents. Code-breaking masterminds. Located in the revitalized Penn Quarter arts and entertainment district, this award-winning museum traces the evolution of espionage through the intelligence profession’s notable figures and their exploits.
Equally the stuff of cold reality and celluloid fantasy, interactive exhibits ranging from ingenious disguise techniques developed by Hollywood for the CIA to KGB spy technology provide definitive “behind the scenes” experiences.
With flexible space for after-hours events, customization options include espionage experts, exclusive museum tours, scavenger hunts and other interactive engagements. Groups can also book private guided Spy City bus tours, which explore the sites of notorious spy cases in the nation’s capital.
FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.folger.edu
Opened in 1932 as a gift to the American nation from Henry Clay Folger and his wife Emily Jordan Folger, this Capitol Hill institution houses the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare materials and major collections of other rare Renaissance books, manuscripts and works of art.
As a world-renowned research center on Shakespeare (and on the early modern age in the West), the library, also a leader in the preservation of rare materials, offers public programs including plays, concerts, literary readings, family activities and exhibitions. While not accommodating wedding-related events, the library, naturally popular for book launches and other inaugural events, also hosts private special events such as receptions, dinners and other functions. Spaces include the Elizabethan Theatre, evoking an innyard theater from Shakespearean times, and the marvelous book-lined Old Reading Room. PageBreak
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, WASHINGTON, D.C.
www.mnh.si.edu
Opened in 1910 as part of the globally preeminent Smithsonian museum and research complex, this National Mall anchor is popular with local and visiting corporations and associations for holiday parties, inaugural events and other special celebrations.
“The Museum is one of Washington’s treasured historical buildings, uniquely offering guests access to its exhibits in an extraordinary Beaux Arts setting,” says Gwen Neild, special events coordinator. “We can accommodate groups ranging from dinners for 50 around the legendary Hope Diamond to buffet receptions for 2,500 featuring nearly all of the exhibit halls.”
A 565-seat auditorium offers space for awards ceremonies and presentations, while an IMAX theater is available for an additional fee.
Corporate, association and other planners should check with the museum’s events office regarding its specialized requirements for booking space.
TORPEDO FACTORY ART CENTER, ALEXANDRIA, VA
www.torpedofactory.org
Originally built to manufacture torpedoes at the end of World War I, the sprawling factory complex on the Potomac River underwent several subsequent incarnations, including service as a munitions warehouse and then as a repository for Smithsonian artifacts. In 1974, artists gave it their own renaissance, transforming the complex into studios and galleries and in the process creating a world-renowned art center.
An anchor in Old Town, Alexandria (the nation’s third-oldest historic district), TFAC’s post-industrial chic serves as an evocative backdrop for bringing creative gatherings to life. “During the day, TFAC is a canvas for artists, while at night, it can flexibly transform into whatever the client desires, from an urban martini bar to the setting for a demure garden wedding,” says Tara Zimnick-Calico, TFAC’s director of special events.
WOODEND SANCTUARY AND MANSION, CHEVY CHASE, MD
www.audubonnaturalist.org
Predating (and not affiliated with) the National Audubon Society, the Audubon Naturalist Society (ANS), founded in 1897, is the D.C. area’s oldest independent environmental organization. Historic, too, is Woodend Mansion, gifted by the family of its original owners to the society in 1968. Set on 40 acres, this Georgian Revival treasure, designed in the 1920s by noted architect John Russell Pope, is an elegant stage for weddings, retreats and other special events.
“There is no place like Woodend inside the Washington, D.C., beltway,” says ANS Deputy Director Linda Alexander. “Sharing its provenance with the Jefferson Memorial, National Gallery of Art and other Pope-designed landmarks, the mansion sits within a private sanctuary of sweeping lawns, meadows and woodlands where guests can unplug and connect with nature.”
Interior spaces include the Great Hall, accommodating up to 70 guests theater-style, while outdoor options include the terrace and tree-lined wedding grove.
Regular Meetings Focus East contributor Jeff Heilman dedicates this story to his love and muse Beth, born in D.C., and her late father Don, also from D.C. and one of its most devoted treasure seekers.
