Welcome to Washington DC, where every street echoes the footsteps of history, and every monument stands as a testament to the nation’s enduring spirit. Find the perfect words for your beautiful photos and social media posts with these Washington DC captions and quotes.
Growing up in a military family, I called the Washington DC metro area home on three different occasions. Now, as an adult who visits often, the city continues to hold a special place in my heart. Its rich history and iconic landmarks beckon me to return, and each visit is as impressive as the last. From the awe-inspiring collections at the Smithsonian museums to the majestic monuments along the National Mall, Washington DC is truly a city unlike any other.
The charm of Washington DC isn’t just in its historic sites — it’s also in how the city keeps pace with the modern world while maintaining its unique character. Whether I’m walking through the corridors of power on Capitol Hill or wandering the lively streets of Georgetown, I always find something new and thrilling. Join me as we explore the quotes and captions that capture this dynamic city as a place rich with history but also vibrating with contemporary life.
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Table of Contents
Have You Visited Washington DC?
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Presidential Reflections
Ever wonder what was going through the minds of America’s presidents as they led the country? These thought-provoking quotes from former commanders-in-chief give us a candid peek behind the curtain of the Oval Office.
“Washington is a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.”
— John F. Kennedy
“You want a friend in Washington? Get a dog.”
— Harry S. Truman
“Any man who does not like dogs and want them about does not deserve to be in the White House.”
— Calvin Coolidge
“I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.”
— John F. Kennedy
“Sometimes I wake at night in the White House and rub my eyes and wonder if it is not all a dream.”
— Grover Cleveland
“Washington, DC is 12 square miles bordered by reality.”
— Andrew Johnson
“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
—John F. Kennedy
“I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
A First Lady’s Perspective
Behind every president stands a first lady whose grace, poise, and intelligence shape the fabric of our nation. (Well, until we have a first gentleman standing behind our first female president.) From Eleanor Roosevelt’s impassioned advocacy for freedom and equality to Michelle Obama’s poignant reflections on the legacy of slavery in America, these quotes capture the amazing women who have left an indelible mark on Washington DC and the world.
“True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom, and equality not only for Americans but for all people on earth.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
“It is true that when you are in the White House alone, it is a lonely place. Big and lonely.”
— Nancy Reagan
“Never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.”
— Hillary Clinton
“I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, and I watch my daughters — two beautiful, intelligent black young women — playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.”
— Michelle Obama
Visions of Liberty and Justice for All
As the capital of a nation founded on the principles of freedom and democracy, Washington DC serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for people around the globe. These Washington DC quotes remind us of the ideals that unite us as Americans and the ongoing quest for a more just and equitable society.
“I say to you that our goal is freedom, and I believe we are going to get there, because however much she strays away from it, the goal of America is freedom.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.
“It’s important that we establish that we are a country that has open arms and not closed borders for people. It’s important because we let people know why America is what it is. It’s about an ideal, and that ideal is freedom for everybody.”
— Oprah Winfrey
“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”
— Benjamin Franklin
“One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore!”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes
“America is a tune. It must be sung together.”
— Gerald Stanley Lee
“America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.”
— Paul Tsongas
“America is another name for opportunity.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Washington DC Quotes About Politics
In a city where politics permeates every aspect of life, it’s no surprise that Washington DC has inspired its fair share of political commentary and satire. From Amanda Gorman’s call to action for future leaders to Sandra Bullock’s lighthearted take on growing up in a politically divided household, these quotes offer a diverse array of perspectives on the political landscape of the nation’s capital.
“You don’t have to be a poet, you don’t have to be a politician or be in the White House to make an impact with your words. We all have this capacity to find solutions for the future.”
— Amanda Gorman
“In Washington, DC, politics dominate even the most casual conversations.”
— Armstrong Williams
“Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.”
— William E. Simon
“I was raised in Washington, DC in a household where one parent was a Republican and the other was a Democrat, so I got both sides.”
— Sandra Bullock
“Hardly anybody tells the truth these days. For the truth I have to go to Washington DC, and whatever a politician says, interpolate the opposite.”
— Jarod Kintz
“Washington is dominated by big money.”
— Bernie Sanders
Other Washington DC Quotes
Beyond the halls of power and the corridors of government, Washington, DC is a city of culture, creativity, and diversity. This collection of quotes captures the essence of Washington, DC as a place where history is written.
“Washington is a city of spectacles. Every four years, imposing Presidential inaugurations attract the great and the mighty. Kings, prime ministers, heroes, and celebrities of every description have been feted there for more than 150 years. But in its entire glittering history, Washington had never seen a spectacle of the size and grandeur that assembled there on August 28, 1963.
― Martin Luther King Jr. in Why We Can’t Wait
“They treat colored people like kings and queens in Washington, cause that’s where the president lives. Would they treat colored people anything but good in a city where the president hangs his hat and pets his dog and snores besides Mrs. President every night? Now would they?”
― Edward P. Jones in All Aunt Hagar’s Children: Stories
“History has its eyes on you.”
— Lin Manuel Miranda in Hamilton
“I’ve been invited to the White House about five times. I think the greatest thing would be if they actually invited everybody to the White House every night … they’d just take about 500 people a night. Everybody would just love this country because it’s so thrilling to go there. It really is.”
— Andy Warhol
“Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.”
— John McCain
“Washington, DC, has everything that Rome, Paris, and London have in the way of great architecture — great power bases. Washington has obelisks, pyramids, underground tunnels, great art, and a whole shadow world that we really don’t see.”
—Dan Brown
“All this came from a dream in Washington, DC.”
― Marvin Gaye
Funny Washington DC Quotes
Laugh along with these humorous takes on the quirks of life in the nation’s capital. These quotes share a lighter, more playful side of the often serious business of politics and everyday life in Washington, DC — making them all the more relatable and enjoyable.
“A short distance away is the Tidal Basin, ringed by cherry trees that every year produce flowers, an event to which Washingtonians react as though it were the Second Coming of Christ.”
― Dave Barry in Dave Barry Hits Below the Beltway
“Virginians don’t belong in Maryland for the same reason Marylanders don’t belong in Virginia. When we meet, it should be in DC where everyone is the same kind of nasty: feds.”
― Ian Kirkpatrick
“I’d rather go to the White House Correspondents’ dinner than any awards show.”
— Scarlett Johansson
“Do you think that when they asked George Washington for ID that he just whipped out a quarter?”
— Steven Wright
“You can practically smell the bills becoming laws. You can taste the sweet sugar of bureaucracy at work.”
— Leslie Knope in Parks and Rec
“Saw Washington Monument. Phallic. Appalling. A national catastrophe.”
— Arnold Bennett
“Washington, DC is to lying what Wisconsin is to cheese.”
— Dennis Miller
Best Washington DC Captions
Capturing the essence of Washington DC in a single Instagram caption can be a daunting task, but with the right words, you can convey the beauty, history, and excitement of the nation’s capital. Whether you’re exploring the historic landmarks of the National Mall, strolling through the historic streets of Georgetown, or admiring the cherry blossom trees in full bloom, you’re sure to find the perfect Washington DC caption below.
- A capital day in the Capital City
- A capital experience
- A city of stars and stripes
- Adventures are better when shared in DC
- An enchanting journey through the streets of DC
- A Supreme-ly amazing day
- A touch of pink to brighten up your feed
- A woman’s place is in the house — and the Senate
- A woman’s place is in the White House
- Bloom where you are planted, just like cherry blossoms
- Blossoming in the Capital City
- But first, let’s go sightseeing in DC
- Can’t be-leaf how gorgeous DC is!
- Captivated by the charm of Capitol Hill
- Capital adventures
- Capital-izing on the opportunity to visit DC
- Capturing the beauty and history of Washington DC
- Chasing cherry blossoms and capturing memories
- Cherishing these cherry blossoms
- Cherry blossoms and capital views
- Creating memories in the vibrant city of Washington DC
- DC: Just like my coffee, strong and full of history
- DC: Where even the squirrels are patriotic
- DC: Where even the pigeons have an opinion on politics
- DC: Where history meets politics
- DC: Where the monuments are larger than life and the politicians are smaller than you’d expect
- DC: Where the traffic is as slow as the political progress
- DC dreaming
- DC is pretty in cherry pink
- DC is the place to be!
- Discovering the hidden gems of Washington DC
- Don’t be surprised when your history book mentions me
- Embracing the charm of Washington DC
- Ever notice the Washington Monument looks absolutely nothing like George Washington?
- Everything in this city is a clue according to National Treasure
- Exploring the halls of history
- Exploring the iconic landmarks of Washington DC
- Exploring the nation’s capital, one monument at a time
- Feeling patriotic
- Feeling presidential
- Find me in DC
- Finding the soul of the nation
- Follow me to the Lincoln Memorial
- Following the cherry blossoms
- Following the footsteps of history
- Good morning, DC!
- Greetings from DC
- Has anyone else noticed the Washington Monument looks absolutely nothing like George Washington?
- I learned more about American history in one day in DC than in four years of high school
- I only have eyes for cherry blossoms
- I walked so much in DC I probably should have just run for office instead
- I’d rather be in Washington DC
- I’m having a monumentally good time in DC
- I didn’t come to DC to take sides, I came to take selfies
- If you want to feel small, try standing next to the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial
- Indulging in the rich culture of our nation’s capital
- It’s all Capitol Hill from here
- It’s cherry blossom season, people!
- It’s raining pink and white petals
- Living my best life in Washington DC
- Lost in DC
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Making history in DC
- Making history one step at a time
- Making monumental memories
- Marching through the monuments
- Meet me on Capitol Hill
- Monumental days and historic nights
- Monumental moments in DC
- My favorite color is cherry blossom
- My favorite season is cherry blossom
- Patriotic and powerful, the DC way
- Picture-perfect and patriotic
- Presidential photo-ops in DC
- Sipping coffee with a side of democracy
- Springing into season with the cherry blossoms
- Stars, stripes, and DC lights
- Star-spangled sightseeing
- Stop and smell the cherry blossoms
- Strolling down Penn Avenue
- Sweeter than a cherry blossom kiss
- The heart of the nation stole my heart
- Today’s forecast: 100% chance of museum tours
- Turns out the DC in Washington DC does NOT stand for “Da Capitol”
- Views in the red, white, & blue
- Visited DC and got a masters in political science just by walking around
- Washington, DC, I can’t stop Lincoln about you!
- Washington DC is always a good idea
- Washington DC is George-ous!
- Watching history come to life
- Where history meets politics
Have You Visited Washington DC?
Do you have a favorite quote or Washington DC caption that sums up your time in the nation’s capital? Is one of your favorites missing from this list? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
2 thoughts on “Snap and Share with These Washington DC Captions”
“I didn’t come to DC to take sides, I came to take selfies” Now that is a caption! This one’s perfect for my recent DC expedition lol
And people say America is more divided than ever. Turns out, selfies unite us! 🙂