The following is a brief list of books you might want to read before or after your visit, if you found any history or lore of the capital particularly fascinating:

• Alexander, John. Ghosts: Washington Revisited. (1998, Schiffer Publishers Ltd.). This is a great guide to capital-city hauntings.

• Berman, Richard, and McBride, Deborah. Natural Washington: A Nature Lover's Guide to Parks, Wildlife Refuges, Trails, Gardens, Zoos, Forests, Aquariums, and Arboretums Within a Day's Trip of the Nation's Capital. (1998, Howell Press, 4th Edition). The subtitle tells it all — the great outdoors within 50 miles of the Washington Monument.

• Luria, Sarah. Capital Speculations: Writing and Building Washington D.C. (2005, University Press of New England). The connection of architecture, politics, and literature in designing Washington D.C. as America's grand new capital city.

• Svrluga, Barry. National Pastime: Sports, Politics and the Return of Baseball to Washington D.C. (2006, Bantam Dell). The fascinating story of the Washington Nationals and the Cinderella return of baseball to Washington D.C. after more than 30 years.

• Carey, Francine Curro. Washington Odyssey: A Multi-Cultural History of the Nation's Capital. (2003, HarperCollins). Check out this wonderful history of D.C.'s immigrant communities.

• Graham, Katherine. Personal History. (1998, Random House). You'll find this memoir by the former owner of The Washington Post both interesting and informative.

• Moore, John L. Speaking of Washington: Facts, Firsts and Folklore. (1993, CQ Press). You'll enjoy this fun book of facts and trivia about people, places, and things “inside the Beltway.”

• Whitman, William B. Washington D.C.: Off the Beaten Path: A Guide to Unique Places. (2007, Globe Pequot, 4th Edition). This great guide points out hidden treasures and unique places of interest.