Cherry blossom season in DC is one of those trips that rewards getting it right. The peak lasts a week at most, often less, but the full blossom season runs two to three weeks and the window is still spectacular throughout. Where you stay changes everything. That means peak bloom timing, a hotel close enough to walk everywhere, and somewhere worth coming back to at the end of the day. Hotel Washington delivers on all three, and it does so at a level that genuinely justifies the category it is in.
We have been to DC before. We thought we knew what to expect. Cherry blossom season at peak bloom, with the right hotel behind you, turns out to be an entirely different city. Two days, thousands of steps, one unforgettable rooftop dinner, and we left already planning next year.
Hotel Washington DC entrance at night during cherry blossom season | Photo: Better Living
Hotel Washington has been a DC landmark since 1917, hosting world leaders, celebrities, and dignitaries across more than a century of American history. Elvis stayed here on his way to meet President Nixon at the White House. Harrison Ford reportedly bought drinks for the entire rooftop bar. That same rooftop was also featured in The Godfather Part II.
Today, it’s a Forbes Verified Luxury, 5-star property with 326 rooms and suites, three distinct dining destinations, a full-service spa, and one of the most coveted rooftop views in the country. If you follow our luxury hotel reviews, this one belongs on your radar. The reputation is well earned.
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Hotel Washington at a Glance
Location: 515 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20004
Rating: Forbes Verified Luxury · 5-Star Hotel
Price Range: $$$–$$$$
Rooms: 326 rooms and suites, including Monument view options
Parking: Valet via LAZ Parking, $80/night plus tax, with in and out privileges
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Destination Fee: $42/night plus tax — includes fitness center, Wi-Fi, $15 Fireclay dining credit, and more
Dining: VUE Rooftop, Fireclay Restaurant and Lobby Bar, The Patio
Amenities: Full-service spa, 24/7 fitness center, in-room Nespresso, rainfall showers, 12,000 sq ft event space
Best For: Cherry blossom season, romantic getaways, DC exploration, food lovers
Worth Knowing: All dining includes a 20% gratuity. Fireclay table seating may be limited during off-peak hours.
The lobby lounge at Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
We pulled up around 2 p.m., two hours ahead of the standard 4 p.m. check-in. Valet was fast and genuinely friendly, and the front desk held our bags without hesitation and offered to alert us the moment the room was ready. Most hotels make early arrivals feel like an imposition. This one did not. We dropped our bags and headed straight out to start exploring, which felt like exactly the right way to begin a cherry blossom trip.
Walking into the lobby for the first time, the immediate impression is space and light. More open and airy than you might expect from a historic downtown property, with generous seating throughout and an energy that feels welcoming rather than intimidating. The design reveals itself gradually. Black and white checkerboard marble floors. Glowing brass wall panels etched with graphic motifs. Custom illustrations at the front desk that feel equal parts playful and sophisticated.
During cherry blossom season, a full floral installation with a neon Hotel Washington sign takes over one corner of the lobby and becomes an immediate focal point. We stopped to take it in before we had even found the elevator.
The Hotel Washington DC check-in lobby and front desk | Photo: Better Living
The design rewards anyone who pays attention. The lobby arches represent the interest groups commonly lobbied for in the nation’s capital. The constellations inside the elevators map the night sky as it appeared on significant dates in American history, from July 4, 1776 to January 20, 2009. The spiral staircase chandeliers are original to the 1917 opening. Both evenings, stepping outside to find the entrance lit up at night, the floral installation glowing against the dark facade and a cherry red Ferrari parked out front, we stopped and just took it in. Some hotels are just a place to stay. This one is a scene.
💡 Arrival Tip
Check-in is at 4 p.m. but arriving earlier is worth it. Valet is fast, the front desk holds your bags without issue, and they will alert you the moment your room is ready. You can be out exploring within minutes of pulling up.
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Cherry Blossom Season: Why This Is the Right Base
Cherry blossom season at the Tidal Basin, Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
We timed this trip for peak bloom, and peak bloom it was. The Tidal Basin was genuinely packed, more crowded than we anticipated, but the energy of that crowd was something we were not prepared for in the best possible way.
Everyone there, and there were thousands of people from what felt like every corner of the world, was simply happy to be exactly where they were. On a perfect spring day, at full bloom, sharing something beautiful with strangers who all showed up for the same reason. It was one of those rare public experiences where the crowd becomes part of what makes it special rather than something to navigate around.
The cherry blossoms bring a particular kind of joy to the people who come to see them, and being in the middle of that is something worth experiencing at least once.
Why Location Makes All the Difference
Hotel Washington DC entrance with spring floral arch | Photo: Better Living
Traffic in and out of DC during blossom season is not easy to navigate, which is exactly why where you stay matters so much.
Having a hotel you can simply arrive at, hand off the car, and begin walking from changes the entire experience. The Washington Monument is a five-minute walk from the front door. The Tidal Basin is about twenty minutes on foot, with the walk there winding through additional bloom and past several of the city’s most significant memorials. There is no rental car to worry about, no parking situation to solve, no transit to figure out. You are just there, in the middle of it, which is the whole point.
Hotel Washington leans fully into the season and it works. The Cherry Blossom package, available through mid-April, includes a welcome basket with Sakura tea, Japanese Kit Kats, Sakura Mochi candies, and a commemorative magnet, along with a $25 daily dining credit and a $10 donation per booking to the Adopt a Cherry Tree project. It is a rare hotel package where every element makes genuine sense for the moment.
Among the luxury options within walking distance of the Tidal Basin, nothing matches this combination of location, design, and dining.
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🌸 Cherry Blossom Tips
Wear comfortable shoes. Plan on two or more hours of walking to do the full Tidal Basin loop and take in the memorials. Sneakers are the right call, full stop. Check our city trip packing tips if you are still putting your bag together.
Bring water and a real camera. The light through the blossoms at the Tidal Basin is worth the extra effort beyond your phone.
Take an Uber to the Jefferson Memorial and walk back. Start at the most iconic view and let the full loop bring you home. Hotel Washington is waiting at the other end.
Go early. Peak bloom lasts only four to seven days. Watch the National Park Service forecast at nps.gov and hit the Tidal Basin before 9 a.m. if you want breathing room. The hotel’s walkability makes the early start genuinely easy.
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Book early for rates, not just bloom timing. Spring rates at Hotel Washington reflect the season. The earlier you book, the better your options on both room category and price.
The Monument View King Spa Suite
Monument View King Spa Suite bedroom at Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
Our room was ready by mid-afternoon and walking into the Monument View King Spa Suite for the first time, it delivered immediately. The suite has a separate living area, a full bedroom, and an oversized marble bathroom, and it is designed with genuine conviction. The coffee and seating area features a floor-to-ceiling mural by artist Amit Greenberg, layered and detailed and the kind of work you keep finding new things in. This suite is fun, comfortable, and stylish.
The Monument View King Spa Suite living room at Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
The living room television takes up the entire wall. It’s huge. The bedroom has a second screen, and the red lacquered bar area holds the Nespresso machine and glassware with seating for four.
Monument View King Spa Suite bedroom with Washington Monument view, Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
But the moment that stayed with us was simpler than any of that. Waking up the first morning and looking up to find the Washington Monument perfectly framed in the bedroom window. That view, with a Lavazza espresso in hand and nowhere to be for another hour, is the kind of thing a hotel room almost never actually delivers. This one did.
The Bathroom
The marble bathroom in the Monument View King Spa Suite at Hotel Washington DC. | Photo: Better Living
The bathroom was a genuine delight. Full marble surround, a deep freestanding soaking tub that earned its place after a full day of walking the city, a rainfall shower that was as good as it looked, and spa-weight robes waiting on the hook. After two days of covering serious ground on foot, coming back to that bathroom was pure luxury. We slept exceptionally well both nights, which in a downtown city hotel is its own kind of achievement.
Where to Eat and Drink at Hotel Washington
Yellowfin Tuna Crudo at VUE Rooftop, Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
Hotel Washington has two dining experiences worth knowing well. The kitchen across both is led by Executive Chef Jerome Grant, whose approach is rooted in his DMV upbringing and refined through celebrated kitchens. His commitment to Mid-Atlantic ingredients and genuinely intentional cooking shows in every dish. A 20% gratuity is included across all dining, which is worth knowing when you sit down.
Fireclay Restaurant and Lobby Bar
Duck Confit Bao Buns at Fireclay Lobby Bar, Hotel Washington DC. | Photo: Better Living
Fireclay is the hotel’s all-day restaurant and lobby bar, and it served us well across two meals. One thing worth knowing: after 2pm the main dining room table seating may be closed, and you will be directed to the bar or high-top tables near the bar instead. We did not know that going in and it was mildly unexpected, though not a problem once we settled in. The bar area is relaxed and comfortable, and for a late afternoon meal after a long day of walking it turned out to be exactly the right energy.
The food at Fireclay is best understood as a genuine hotel restaurant that happens to be very good rather than a destination dining experience in its own right. There are exceptional restaurants all around this hotel, but if you want the full Hotel Washington experience, a signature cocktail and a few dishes at Fireclay is worth doing. The $15 nightly Fireclay credit from the destination fee helps make that easy.
Spicy Shrimp Bucatini at Fireclay Restaurant, Hotel Washington DC. Fair warning: the heat is real. | Photo: Better Living
The Spicy Shrimp Bucatini was rich and satisfying, but fair warning: the heat is real. More kick than we expected, which we loved and would order it again without hesitation. The Duck Confit Bao Buns were tender with bright red pepper and cilantro cutting through the richness cleanly. The Hot Crispy Chicken Sandwich arrived sliced, which made sharing easy, and disappeared just as fast, crunchy and saucy with a genuine kick and a sesame bun that held up to all of it. We split everything on that meal and it was exactly the right amount of food. We finished with the Cherry Blossom Shortcake, a seasonal special that was light, creamy, and cooled down the heat.
Breakfast at Fireclay
Mixed Berry Yogurt Bowl at Fireclay Restaurant, Hotel Washington DC. The breakfast that sets the tone for the whole day. | Photo: Better Living
Breakfast on checkout morning was a different experience entirely, and a better one. We sat in the dining area and our server Omar set the tone for the whole meal. Coffee was never less than hot, refills arrived before we thought to ask, and his suggestions when we were undecided turned out to be exactly right. The Mixed Berry Yogurt Bowl with Greek yogurt, seasonal berries, house-made granola, bee pollen, and honey struck a rare balance between indulgent and genuinely nourishing. The Fireclay Omelet with charred tomato, mushrooms, spinach, and cheddar alongside Chef’s potatoes and crispy bacon was a hearty and proper send-off. The Bread Board gave us a few treats to take home. Breakfast here, with the right server and nowhere to rush, is one of those meals that makes a hotel stay feel complete.
Spicy Shrimp Bucatini · Duck Confit Bao Buns · Hot Crispy Chicken Sandwich · Cherry Blossom Shortcake
VUE Rooftop
Crispy Branzino at VUE Rooftop, Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
VUE Rooftop is consistently ranked among the best rooftops in Washington, DC, and after one dinner here we understand why completely.
We arrived around 6 p.m. to take our time with drinks and appetizers before the sunset, and that timing turned out to be exactly right. The rooftop was buzzing with packed, electric energy, the kind of room where you feel like you are somewhere. Reservations are essential here, particularly during cherry blossom season, and not something to leave until the last minute.
VUE Rooftop is the rare restaurant where the vibe and the food are worth the trip, and the presentations are as stunning as the views.
The view is one of those things that is genuinely difficult to oversell because photographs do not fully prepare you for it. The Washington Monument directly ahead, the White House visible to the right, and then the sky starts to shift color behind everything and the whole city looks like it was arranged just for you.
Washington DC at sunset with the Washington Monument | Photo: Better Living
Every dish had a flavor profile that pleasantly surprised us, more layered and considered than we expected going in. Good portions, beautiful presentations, and nothing that missed. The Yellowfin Tuna Crudo was elegant, fresh, and deliciously colorful. The Coastal Fritto, cornmeal-crusted shrimp and calamari with Calabrian chili mayo was perfectly fried and completely addictive. The Crispy Branzino arrived with the skin still crackling in a light broth with citrus and fennel.
48-Hour Smoked Short Rib at VUE Rooftop, Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
The 48-Hour Smoked Short Rib was the dish of the evening: deeply glazed, fork-tender, with white sweet potato and broccolini and a finish of pickled mustard seed and chives that pulled the whole plate together. The VXB Chocolate Bar with pistachio nougat, date caramel, and pistachio gelato was a showstopper. Do not skip dessert at VUE.
Power to the Peaches cocktail at VUE Rooftop, Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
VUE has an impressive cocktail selection and we both ended up ordering the Power to the Peaches with Grey Goose Essences Vodka, Cointreau, Chandon Garden Spritz, chamomile, honey, and lemon. The menu calls it a VUE staple, and that is accurate. It’s refreshing, light, colorful, and paired with everything. Don’t miss it.
We were warmly greeted before we were even seated, and the front desk had set the tone with a table offering an unobstructed view and a welcome that made us feel expected rather than just accommodated. Multiple staff tended to us throughout the evening, which meant someone was always nearby without ever hovering. Every dish that came to the table had been steered by a recommendation, and every recommendation landed.
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What We Ordered at VUE Rooftop
To Share
Yellowfin Tuna Crudo · Coastal Fritto
Mains
Crispy Branzino · 48-Hour Smoked Short Rib
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Dessert
VXB Chocolate Bar
Cocktails
Power to the Peaches · we both ordered one. Start here.
📋 VUE Reservation Note
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Book via OpenTable before you arrive, ideally at the same time you reserve the room. During cherry blossom season this rooftop fills completely. Ask for a window or terrace table and plan to arrive around 6 p.m. to catch the cocktail hour and the sunset in the same sitting.
Day Two: Monuments, Blossoms, and a French Brasserie Around the Corner
Cherry blossoms framing the Washington Monument at the Tidal Basin, Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
Our second day followed a looser rhythm, which is exactly what a good location makes possible. We headed toward the Capitol in the morning, visible straight down Pennsylvania Avenue from the hotel’s corner, one of the great urban walks in America in spring.
From there we moved through the Mall, took an Uber to the Jefferson Memorial, and walked the full Tidal Basin loop back. Starting at the Jefferson and working back is the route we would recommend to anyone. You begin at the most dramatic view, walk with the blossoms the whole way, and the hotel is at the other end waiting.
Lunch at La Grande Boucherie
La Grande Boucherie DC interior, a three minute walk from Hotel Washington | Photo: Better Living
For lunch we stepped into La Grande Boucherie, a French brasserie around the block from the hotel at 14th and G Street NW.
The space stopped us at the door. Art Nouveau styling, mahogany and glass, a soaring gilded ceiling, and a massive curved bar with a metal top imported from France. It feels like a room from another era, which is entirely the right energy when you are spending two days in a city steeped in history since 1776.
We loved that a restaurant this beautiful is just a three-minute walk from the hotel and transported us right to Paris.
Le Croque Monsieur at La Grande Boucherie DC. Around the block from Hotel Washington and transported to Paris. | Photo: Better Living
We had the Soupe à l’Oignon, the Croque Monsieur on brioche with Gruyère, and a Steak Sandwich with hand-cut steak, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, and pommes frites. A thoroughly satisfying midday stop before heading back out.
🥐 Nearby Dining
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La Grande Boucherie DC is at 699 14th Street NW, a three-minute walk from Hotel Washington. No reservations needed for weekday lunch. One of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city and a natural stop between blossom walks.
The Spa at Hotel Washington
The Spa at Hotel Washington DC entrance | Photo: Better Living
At Hotel Washington, the spa is a chic and cozy retreat for face, body, and beauty treatments when you need a little pampering before or after a day of sightseeing.
I booked the Joy of Beauty Signature Facial on our first morning before heading out to explore the cherry blossom hot spots, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions of the trip.
Check-in was friendly and effortless. Comfortable spa flip flops, a locker, and a plush robe waiting to change into. The women’s lounge is modern and genuinely stylish, the kind of space where you feel your shoulders drop the moment you settle in.
Arriving early to spend time there before the appointment, with fruited water and tea and no agenda, was its own quiet pleasure.
The women’s relaxation lounge at The Spa at Hotel Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
My esthetician Zoraya delivered the best facial I have had in a decade. After a long winter, skin tired and dull and in genuine need of hydration, I was ready for something that actually worked. Facials here are bespoke, fully tailored to your individual skin rather than following a set protocol.
Zoraya analyzed quickly, recommended a microdermabrasion treatment followed by a hydrating mask, and it was exactly the right call. Using Comfort Zone products, made in Italy and formulated for visible results, she left my skin looking and feeling more hydrated than it had in months. Zero irritation, zero downtime, and the facial included a hand, neck, and arm massage that made the whole experience feel genuinely restorative.
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Afterward, mint water and a chocolate-covered strawberry arrived in the lounge. That simple touch ended the visit perfectly. I left feeling like a million dollars and would book here again without a second thought.
✨ Spa Tips
Request Zoraya for your facial. She is a genuine skin whisperer and the best I have encountered in years.
Arrive early and complete the emailed intake form in advance so you can focus entirely on relaxing. The lounge time before your treatment is worth building in.
Ask about the Trager Method. Hotel Washington is the only property in DC with a certified practitioner of this full-body tension release treatment. Worth booking if you have the time.
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Is Hotel Washington Worth It for Cherry Blossom Season?
Washington Monument surrounded by cherry blossoms in spring, Washington DC | Photo: Better Living
Yes. DC during peak bloom rewards getting it right. The blossoms wait for no one, traffic is a genuine obstacle, and the difference between staying in the right place and the wrong one is the difference between a stressful sightseeing day and a trip you actually enjoy. Hotel Washington eliminates the friction entirely. You arrive, you hand off the car, and you start walking. That alone elevates the whole experience.
What Stood Out Most
The suite was genuinely comfortable and full of artistic intention. The rooftop is among the best in the city, full stop, and the dining across both VUE and Fireclay is worth your time rather than just your convenience. The spa delivered one of the most memorable facials we have had anywhere. And the details, Omar keeping the coffee hot at breakfast, Zoraya knowing exactly what our skin needed, the valet having the car ready before we finished checking out, are where this hotel earns its Forbes rating. None of it happened by accident.
There are fees to know going in, all detailed in the at-a-glance box above. None of it felt unreasonable at this level, and the destination fee in particular returns genuine value. Go in clear-eyed and checkout will feel like the right end to a very good trip.
If you want to visit DC to see the cherry blossoms, this truly is the place to do it. You are right in the heart of everything, the hotel makes a meaningful celebration of the season, and having a beautiful room and an exceptional rooftop waiting for you at the end of a long day of walking makes the whole trip feel more special. This is the right hotel for couples who want to be in the middle of the experience rather than adjacent to it. If you have been thinking about a city weekend as a wellness reset, cherry blossom season in DC with a stay like this is exactly that. We are already talking about coming back. Probably for the same suite. Definitely for VUE. And almost certainly for one more Power to the Peaches at sunset.
The Bottom Line
Hotel Washington is the right place to experience cherry blossom season in DC. Forbes Verified Luxury, 5-star service, a history stretching back to 1917, and a location that puts the entire city within walking distance. The suite, the rooftop, the spa, and the staff all deliver at the level the rating promises. Factor in the destination fee, valet, and included gratuity when budgeting. Go in prepared and you will leave the way we did: already planning the next visit.
Worth knowing:$42/night destination fee, $80 valet, 20% gratuity on all dining, Fireclay table seating limited during off-peak hours
Book your stay: thehotelwashington.com | (202) 661-2400
Hotel Washington DC: Frequently Asked Questions
When is peak cherry blossom bloom in Washington DC? Peak bloom typically falls between late March and early April, though exact timing varies by year and weather. The National Park Service tracks blossom development in real time at nps.gov and publishes forecasts as the season approaches. Peak bloom lasts roughly four to seven days, so timing matters. Book early and watch the forecast.
Do you need reservations for VUE Rooftop at Hotel Washington? Yes, particularly during cherry blossom season. VUE fills completely during peak bloom. Book via OpenTable before you arrive, ideally at the same time you reserve your room. Ask for a window or terrace table and plan to arrive around 6 p.m. to catch both the cocktail hour and the sunset.
Is parking available at Hotel Washington DC? Yes. The hotel offers valet parking through LAZ Parking with in and out privileges, billed directly to your room folio. The garage has a height restriction so confirm in advance if you are driving an oversized vehicle.
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Is the spa at Hotel Washington open to non-guests? Yes. The Spa at Hotel Washington welcomes both hotel guests and locals. Reservations can be made online through the hotel website. If you are booking a facial, request Zoraya specifically.
What else is there to do beyond cherry blossom season in Washington DC? Quite a lot. From history, dining, museums there are many things to do in Washington DC. Also see our guide to day trips from Washington DC which covers the best options if you are extending your stay or planning a visit outside of blossom season.
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Washington, D.C. (7News) — Have you ever heard of a “Boodle Fight”? It’s a Filipino Traditional feast centered around community and celebration.
In honor of AAPI month, DC’s Hook Hall is hosting the feast on May 31st. Patrick and Daniel from the restaurant explained what attendees can expect on Friday.
US President Donald Trump’s proposal to build a 250ft-tall arch on Memorial Circle in Washington, DC, was approved by a the US Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) on Thursday (21 May) in a vote that leapfrogged the usual review process and largely disregarded the public comments, which were “99.5%” in opposition to the project, according to a staff report. While the arch’s design still lacks some key details, including additional sculptures and reliefs to fill its niches, the CFA’s chairman, Rodney Mims Cook, Jr, put forward a motion for final approval, which was passed by the four present commissioners. (National Endowment for the Arts chair Mary Anne Carter, who attended the first portion of the meeting, did not return after a break was called before the vote.)
During the CFA’s previous review of the conceptual designs for the arch, panel members recommended excluding gold statuary from the top of the arch to reduce its overall height from 250ft to 166ft. But Trump rejected this suggestion, “while respectfully noting the differences of aesthetic opinion that may exist on the subject”, according to Nicolas Charbonneau, a principal at Harrison Design, the architects working on the project.
“The intent of the arch is a celebration in America of 250 years of greatest freedom and posterity, for which we can only thank the wisdom of our founders and God’s providence,” Charbonneau added. “While it may celebrate the victories of America in various theories of war and the sacrifice of our fallen heroes, it is not primarily a monument dedicated to the dead, but to the living, to this free country, and its perseverance.” (Memorial Circle is located near the main entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, the country’s most important military cemetery.)
The design discussed on Thursday eliminates an eight-foot platform on which the arch was previously shown standing as well as a collection of gold lions on plinths surrounding it. It also does away with a proposed tunnel that visitors would use to reach the arch, instead relying on traffic lights and pedestrian walkways across the busy traffic circle. Most of the CFA panellists seemed satisfied with these changes and to have forgotten their previous reservations about the arch’s size, insisting that the main structure was actually 166ft high.
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Carter was the sole panellist suggesting any further reduction in the arch’s decorative elements, drawing a comparison to the simplicity of the white stone markers at soldiers’ graves in Arlington Cemetery, where both her parents are buried. Memorial Circle “is between what was a historical part of this country and on one side really is hallowed ground”, she told the architects, “so I appreciate what you’ve done, and as you continue moving forward, just keep in mind how simple those gravestones are to the south”.
The arch could ultimately be even more heavily decorated than the current designs show, since its currently blank wall surfaces are intended to feature a series of “narrative sculptures”, Charbonneau said during his presentation of the updated design. When asked if work was already underway or when further details would be ready, the architect said: “I can’t give you an exact date, but the administration is working on developing a scheme.”
The most recent rendering of the Triumphal Arch, seen in situ from Memorial Bridge Courtesy Harrison Design
The hearing was then opened to public comments, which included statements from representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the DC Preservation League and the Cultural Landscape Foundation, as well as Washington residents.
“I’m here this morning because I am horrified by the speed with which the Triumphal Arch project is moving through the approval process,” said Susan Douglas. She outlined the public and legal objections to the project, including the fact that Congressional approval is not being sought, Trump’s own admission that the arch is being built for “him”, the lawsuits brought against it by veterans groups, the structural issues of building on a manmade island composed mainly of landfill dredged from the Potomac River and the necessary Federal Aviation Administration review since the structure would stand in the flight paths to and from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
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“There are myriad reasons for not allowing the construction of the ‘Arc de Trump’ to move forward,” Douglas said “Democracies do not build memorials to living presidents. Building this gaudy arch in a location that will overpower everything in its midst and interrupt the historically significant view between Lincoln Memorial and the Arlington National Cemetery is an affront to our history and to the men and women at Arlington National Cemetery who gave their lives in service to our country as well as to those who remember them. It is in fact arch insanity.”
Gary Langston, a veteran, spoke next and shared photos of the view across Memorial Bridge towards Arlington Cemetery that he took during a recent visit to the Lincoln Memorial with his son.
“One of the more breathtaking views is from the DC side looking across to Arlington House,” Langston said, adding that the commission should consider how this would be affected, especially at night if the arch is fully lit. “I seriously question the underlying purpose of the arch, which is a monument, as opposed to a memorial,” he added. “Those are hallowed grounds there. Anything that doesn’t respect that, anything that doesn’t help bring unity to the country, is in conflict with what I believe is the original intent.”
After several more members of the public spoke, Cook considered ending any further comments. Carter noted “a lot of the stuff that they’re talking about, we’re actually not the venue”, although she added: “I appreciate everyone talking. I appreciate everyone’s concerns. That’s what America’s about.”
One final speaker was allowed to take the microphone, John Ayers, a fourth-generation DC resident, who noted that since Memorial Bridge serves as the ceremonial entrance to Arlington Cemetery, serious thought should be put into anything on this route. He quoted a document issued in 1902 by the McMillan Commission, the group behind Washington’s urban design, which included the architects Daniel Burnham and Charles F. McKim, the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr and the sculptor Augustus Saint Gaudens.
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“A cemetery, they wrote, should be ‘a place to which one should go with a sentiment of respect and peace, as into a church or sacred place’,” Ayers said. “I have no objection to a monument for the living, I just don’t think it belongs here on our way to the cemetery.”
Cook then suggested the public’s opposition to the arch was due to a lack of understand about the history of such triumphal arches and said a document would be posted on the CFA’s website providing other historic examples.
The CFA’s vice chair, James McCrery, the original architect of Trump’s ballroom proposal to replace the White House’s demolished East Wing, suggested that people arguing that the arch’s design is too large “need to understand that if you make it smaller, it will block the view, and its current size, it doesn’t”. Rather, he argued, the arch in the current proposal will create a frame through which to view the capital’s landmarks. He added that the CFA is meant “to work with designs that are presented to us, to work on them as a forge, to make them better, to make them more appropriate, to make them more beautiful”.
After a brief break called by Cook due to a family emergency, the commission reconvened (sans Carter) and voted to approve the design, noting that they looked forward to seeing the additional sculptural components in the future. The arch will next go under review by the National Capital Planning Commission, which is also staffed largely by Trump appointees and loyalists, on 4 June.
DHS directs flights from Ebola affected countries to Dulles
The Secretary of Homeland Security is ordering all U.S.-bound flights carrying travelers who were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days to land only at Washington–Dulles International Airport following the discovery of a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.
DULLES, Va. – The Secretary of Homeland Security is ordering all U.S.-bound flights carrying travelers who were in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past 21 days to land only at Washington–Dulles International Airport following the discovery of a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak.
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The rule applies to flights departing after 11:59 p.m. on May 20, 2026, and remains in effect until canceled.
American doctor tests positive in Ebola outbreak that spurred global health emergency
Measures include screening, temperature checks, and contact tracing if needed.
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DHS directs flights from Ebola affected countries to Dulles
The Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus was confirmed in northeastern DRC on May 15.
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According to an Associated Press report on Thursday, 51 cases have been confirmed in Congo’s northern provinces of Ituri and North Kivu, and two cases in Uganda, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday. There are 139 suspected deaths and almost 600 suspected cases.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Department of Homeland Security, the Associated Press and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Hotel Washington DC entrance at night during cherry blossom season | Photo: Better Living
