A Guide to Washington, D.C., Via Science Fiction Films

As science fiction films often include dramatic discoveries or threats, our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., is often portrayed in them. This guide will point out some of the famous movie places in Washington DC as seen in 8 different science fiction films. In some films such as Armageddon (1998), Washington D.C. is a minor character and in others such as TheDay the Earth Stood Still (1951), it's the center of the universe, if you will. Visiting these famous locations with a science fiction movie in your head will give you a different perspective of the city.

National Archives and Records Adminstration
The Pennsylvania Avenue side of the National Archives and Records Administration building appears in Deep Impact (1998). Located at 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, in the Rotunda on the Constitution Ave side, you can see the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence. Admission is free. It is open daily from 10am to 7pm (March 15^th thru Labor Day) and 10am to 5:30pm (After Labor thru March 14^th). The museum is closed for Thanksgiving and Christmas Days.

Arlington Memorial Bridge
A view of the Arlington Memorial Bridge is seen during Armageddon (1998). The bridge crosses the Potomac River and leads to the Arlington National Cemetery on the Virginia side of the river.

Arlington National Cemetery
In the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Klaatu and Bobby visit Bobby's father's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. This famous military cemetery houses the Tomb of the Unknowns where an unknown soldier from World War I was buried. Later on tombs for unknown soldiers from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War were added. The cemetery has several memorials throughout; you can more information at the Visitor Center located at the entrance to the cemetery.

Arts and Industries Building
In the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), people stood at the Arts and Industries Building watching as the space ship landed at the Ellipse. This Smithsonian building, the original National museum is located at 900 Jefferson Drive, SW but is currently closed for renovations.

District Building
The District Building (also known as the Wilson Building) shown in Minority Report (2002) serves as the offices for the Council and Mayor of Washington, D.C. Located at 1350 Pennsylvania, NW, free guided tours are available daily Monday thru Friday at 10am and 2pm. Regular building hours are Monday thru Friday 9am to 5:30pm

Dupont Circle
In the X-Files (1998), the Syndicate informant, Dr. Kurtzweil's office is located off Dupont Circle. This famous traffic circle connects Massachusetts Ave, NW, Connecticut Ave NW, New Hampshire Ave, NW, P Street NW and 19^th Street, NW.

Ellipse
Klaatu's spaceship lands on the Ellipse in the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Located in the President's Park South, the Ellipse is an enormous circular expanse of green lawn enclosed by a pave road. There is no admission fee. The Ellipse Visitor Pavilion is located on the corner of 15^th and E Streets, NW. It is open daily from 8am to 3pm and can be reached by phone at 202-208-1631.

FBI Building
The FBI Building shown in the X-Files (1998) is also known as the J. Edgar Hoover Building. It's located at 935 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. Although you used to be able to tour the FBI Building, tours have been suspended indefinitely.

Federal Triangle Metro
The Federal Triangle Metro is featured in Minority Report (2002). The Federal Triangle is a cluster of federal buildings including the Ariel Rios Federal Building, (also known as the new Post Office), The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, The Department of Commerce Building (officially known as the Herbert C. Hoover Building), The National Aquarium, and the Department of Justice building.

Georgetown Harbor
Deep Impact (1998) includes a view of the Georgetown Harbor. The harbor is a great place to enjoy views of the Potomac River, the Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Roosevelt Island, and the Key Bridge. There are plenty of restaurants in the area to choose from.

Grant Memorial
Grant Memorial makes an appear in the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Deep Impact (1998) and Mars Attacks (1996). Part of the National Mall, it is open 24 hours daily. There are no entrance fees and rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Hotel Washington, 515 15^th Street
Hotel Washington, located at 515 15^th Street, was used for filming the party scenes in the movie, Contact. The rooftop terrace views offer extraordinary views of the White House and surrounding area. This historic hotel is less than 10 minutes from the White House.

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
The Department of Pre-Crime in Minority Report (2002) is the International Trade Center located at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW. Free guided tours are offered at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Self-guided tours are also available. You can reach them by phone at 202-312-1300 for more information.

Jefferson Memorial
Both Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) and Minority Report (2002) feature the tidal pool path at Jefferson Memorial Part of the National Mall, it is open 24 hours daily. There are no entrance fees and rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 11:30am.

Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was used in Deep Impact (1998). There are free guided tours every 10 minutes on weekends from 10am to 1pm and weekdays 10am to 5pm.

Key Bridge
The oldest existing bridge in Washington D.C., the Key Bridge makes an appearance in Deep Impact (1998). Built in 1923, this 6-lane bridge crosses the Potomac River between Arlington, Va and Georgetown (District of Columbia).

Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial appears in Armageddon (1998), the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Deep Impact (1998), Independence Day (1996) and Minority Report (2002). Part of the National Mall, it is open 24 hours daily. There are no entrance fees and rangers are on duty from 9:30am to 11:30am. Free guided cell phone tours are available by calling 202-747-3420. There are currently 10 different themes from which to choose.

Old Executive Office Building
The Old Executive Office Building (now called the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was used in the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). Located at 17th St. and Pennsylvania Ave., NW, it contains agencies such as the Office of the Vice President, the Office of Management and Budget, and the National Security Council. Tours can be arranged for Saturday mornings by advance reservation. Call the Preservation Office 202-395-5895 Tuesday or Wednesday between 9am and noon. You will need to provide the legal name, date of birth, country of citizenship and social security number for each visitor.

Smithsonian Castle
The spaceship flies over the Smithsonian Castle in the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). It is the starting point for touring the Smithsonian Museums and includes the Information Center. Located at 1000 Jefferson Dr., SW, it is open daily (except for Christmas Day) from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Treasury Building
The final scene at the Capitol Building in Contact (1997) involves a bit of trickery. You see, it's really the Treasury Building dressed up as the Capitol building through the use of computerized graphics. The Treasury Building is located at 1500 Pennsylvania, NW. Although not the site where US currency is produced, free guided tours are available Saturdays at 9am for US citizens and legal residents by advance reservation. You should contact your senator or representative to reserve a tour. See this website to learn more.

Union Station
Making an appearance in the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Union Station is the Head Quarters for Amtrak and a major station for the metro and commuter trains. It has over 100 shops and restaurants and many DC tours begin here.

U.S. Capitol
Not surprisingly, the U.S. Capitol building has been a filming location for the Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Deep Impact (1998), Independence Day (1996), Mars Attacks (1996), and the X-Files (1998). The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday thru Saturday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. It's closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Inauguration Day. Free tours are available between 8:50am and 3:20pm. They require advance reservation and can be booked online here.

Washington Monument
The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Deep Impact (1998), Mars Attacks (1996), and Minority Report (2002) all include scenes at the Washington Monument. Also part of the National Mall, it is open daily 9am to 5pm except on Christmas Day and July 4^th. Although no entrance fees are required, tickets are. Tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis from the Washington Monument Lodge (along 15^th Street) starting at 8am. During the summer, the line begins at 7am. For $1.50, you can also reserve your ticket in advance online at this website or by calling 1-877-44-6777.

The White House
Another favorite filming location is, of course, the White House. It was included in Armageddon (1998), Deep Impact (1998), Independence Day (1996), and Mars Attacks (1996). Groups of 10 or more may request tours of the White House. Tour reservations must be made through your Congress member. You can call the US Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Foreign visitors may make their request through their embassy. You will be required to provide the name, date of birth, social security number and country of citizenship for all participants over the age of 13. The self-guided tours are from 7:30am to 11am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays or from 7:30am to noon on Fridays or from 7am to 1pm on Saturdays.

Willard Hotel
In Minority Report (2002) the celebration of Pre-Crime going public was filmed in the Willard Room of the Willard Hotel. Located at 1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, this historic hotel is located 2 blocks from the White House and walking distance to the National Mall.

More information can be found by browsing the sources listed below.

Sources:
The National Archives Experience: Visit the National Archives Experience. < http://www.archives.gov/nae/visit/> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Arlington National Cemetery. < http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/index.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
The Smithsonian in the Movies.< http://siarchives.si.edu/exhibits/SIintheMovies/SI_movies_moviedatabase.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Council of the District of Columbia: Tour of the John A. Wilson Building. < http://www.dccouncil.washington.dc.us/tour_wilsonbuilding> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
President's Park (White House). < http://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Federal Bureau of Investigation: About Us-Tours. < http://www.fbi.gov/aboutus/tour/tour.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
National Mall & Memorial Parks. < http://www.nps.gov/nama/index.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
W Hotels Worldwide: W. Washington D.C. < http://www.starwoodhotels.com/whotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3279> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. < http://www.itcdc.com/index.php> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial. < http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
The Kennedy Center. < http://www.kennedy-center.org/> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Lincoln Memorial. < http://www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Washington DC A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. < http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/wash/dc32.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Smithsonian: Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle. < http://www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/sicastle.htm> Accessed on November 5, 2009.
Washington Monument. < http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm> Accessed on November 6, 2009.
President's Park: the White House. < http://www.nps.gov/whho/planyourvisit/white-house-tours.htm> Accessed on November 6, 2009.
Willard Intercontinental Washington Hotel. < http://www.washington.intercontinental.com/washa/index.shtml> Accessed on November 6, 2009.
WorldWide Guide to Movie Locations: Minority Report Film Locations. http://www.movie-locations.com/movies/m/minority.html> Accessed on November 6, 2009.