Holocaust Remembrance: Monday, Jan. 27 was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. As the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, take a day this week to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and honor the survivors. Watch the 2025 Commemoration online, visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum downtown and visit the statue of Jan Karski – a Polish World War II hero, spy and diplomat who provided some of the earliest reports on Nazi atrocities to the Western Allies and taught International Relations at Georgetown for more than 40 years — in front of White-Gravenor Hall.
Historic Houses: If you’re looking to explore past the Georgetown bubble but still have a penchant for historic areas, try visiting a Historic House! You can tour the Anderson House, a National Historic Landmark in Dupont, the Decatur House just north of the White House, or the Old Stone House on M St. if you want to take a quick stroll. Learn about the historic significance of each house while appreciating the beautiful architectural components.
Historic Stairways: Recognized as a Washington, D.C. landmark by Mayor Bowser (officially, since 2015) and as a Georgetown University iconic landmark by students (unofficially, since forever), the Exorcist Steps featured in the 1973 film “The Exorcist” is a good place to start. The Watergate Steps, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Potomac River, historically served as a ceremonial entrance to the city and orchestra seating for summertime concerts. The Spanish Steps in the Kalorama neighborhood are by far the most romantic of this trio, constructed as part of the “City Beautiful” movement in D.C. They are also a part of the Decatur Terrace Steps and Fountain, the only D.C. public park that occupies a street!
Auto Show: From Jan. 31 to Feb. 9, 2025, immerse yourself in one of the “top auto shows in the United States” in D.C.! From seeing the newest cars on the market to innovations in electric vehicles and autonomous driving to historical vehicles to the live Art-Of-Motion visual and custom auto exhibition, it might be time to learn something new about cars that wasn’t covered in the Pixar movie!
