Washington DC is filled with history. There is no doubt about that. As a frequent location for school trips or family vacations, DC is often characterized only by its monuments and landmarks. People’s perceptions are also likely shaped by the politics of the city, be it the White House or the January 6th attacks.
In reality, DC is a bustling city of 700,000 people with a distinct culture sprawling across 8 wards. The city's metropolitan area encompasses unique communities in Maryland and Northern Virginia into a region known colloquially as the DMV. Whether it be listening to gogo or eating a half-smoke, there is a lot more to DC than museums and landmarks.
I have lived in a residential neighborhood on Capitol Hill for my entire life. Being near the center of DC meant I had access to a lot of things around me. It is a very walkable city, and metro stations connect what is harder to reach. This meant that I could easily get to my friends that lived all across the DMV and walk to parks or grab food from Chinatown. The metro also served as my way to get to high school every morning. A citywide building height limit makes DC feel less imposing than other capitals.
Capitol Hill itself, aside from the titular monument and other historic buildings, is a very residential neighborhood. It is home to lots of families of government employees of all forms, not just political officials. This means it has a lot of neighborhood amenities that are often missed on tours. I would frequently ride my bike to pick up food at Eastern Market or Pennsylvania Avenue and go to my friends’ houses.
One of my favorite DC areas is Cardozo, a neighborhood centered around U Street in Northwest DC. The neighborhood was largely destroyed in riots after the death of MLK but has since been rebuilt into one of the city's most culturally important neighborhoods. It is home to the original Ben’s Chili Bowl, a famous DC chain, and many other great restaurants. I often take the train to go get food and buy from local shops.
Lots of DC has changed in my lifetime. Historically, the majority of DC’s residents have been black. Like many other cities in the nation, gentrification has increased the cost of living in DC significantly, forcing lots of families to move to other parts of the DMV. This has led neighborhoods like Cardozo to lose a lot of their cultural flair and be replaced with sterile apartment complexes and expensive grocery stores. This issue was amplified in the pandemic with lots of locals being unable to work.
While DC is by no means a perfect city, there is a depth to the region and its culture that goes beneath what is apparent as a tourist. Anyone who has the chance should visit and explore so they can experience it.