Anyone who lives here will tell you that Washington DC can definitely be a strange place. However, you might not have ever realized just how strange. Secret subways, monuments that move whenever it’s windy outside, and empty crypts are just a few of the crazy, yet cool facts about Washington DC that are true. Listed below are 16 Washington DC facts that are probably some of the most interesting facts you’ll ever learn about our nation’s capital.

1. Nearly 1,500 items are lost on the Metro every month.
flickr/Ganesh
Over the years, thousands of keys, cellphones, and pairs of eyeglasses have been found on the Metro. One of the strangest things left on the Metro was a three-feet-long alligator head. Imagine finding that item during your ride.
2. There is no J Street.
Flickr/Keenan Pepper
The urban legend is that Washington DC designer Pierre L’Enfant hated John Jay, who was the nation’s chief justice, and therefore left out J Street. However, it’s really because the letters I and J were almost interchangeable in the 18th century,
3. Washington DC residents drink more wine per capita than residents of any of the 50 states.
Flickr/Ralf Smallkaa
If you saw the cost of rent in Washington DC today, you would drink, too. Trust us!
4. There is an empty crypt beneath the Capitol Building.
Flickr/Drew Geraets
George Washington was supposed to be buried inside the crypt. However, his wish was to be buried at Mount Vernon, so the crypt is empty.
5. The Capitol Building also has a nuclear fallout shelter underneath it.
Flickr/bobafred
In fact, it's beneath the empty crypt.
6. Three alligators have lived in the White House.
Flickr/Robert Berkowitz
The first alligator was owned by John Quincy Adams. The other two alligators belonged to Herbert Hoover’s son, Allan.
7. Washington DC residents could not vote for the President of the United States until 1961.
Flickr/JustGrimes
Washington DC still has no representation in the Senate.
8. Interestingly, Washington DC was built on a mosquito-infested swamp.
Flickr/Liz West
Considering 20% of Washington DC is park land, the city still has its fair share of nature.
9. You can find a top secret FBI interrogation manual at the Library of Congress.
Pixabay
For some odd reason, the person who wrote the manual decided to apply for a copyright and, by law, anything that is copyrighted must be made available to anyone with a library card who wants to read it at the Library of Congress.
10. There is a system of private subways that connect the Capitol buildings to the House and Senate office buildings.
Flickr/MoBikeFed
Since 9/11, access is only allowed for staff members.
11. Technically, the Washington Monument moves.
Flickr/Robert Lyle Bolton
Whenever the wind is at least 30 miles per hour, the Washington Monument will sway about .125th of an inch.
12. Washington DC is not only named after who you think it is.
Flickr/Bob Hall
Washington DC is technically named after George Washington, which is obvious. However, it's also named after Christopher Columbus (The District of Columbia).
13. The seventh inning stretch originated in Washington DC.
Flickr/Kelly Gifford
President William Howard Taft stood up to stretch his legs during a game. Everyone thought he was leaving, so they stood up out of respect. This is what began the seventh inning stretch. He probably never realized there would be a "President’s Race" many years later.
14. Washington DC averages 39 inches of rain each year. Surprisingly, this is more rainfall than Seattle receives.
Flickr/MadisonElizabethx
Again, pass the wine.
15. There is a marble bathtub in the basement of the Capitol Building.
Flickr/Dan Lundberg
Originally, there were four marble bathtubs installed in 1959 because most of the senators lived in boarding houses where they didn’t have running water.
16. The Library of Congress is the biggest library in the world.
Flickr/m01229
The Library of Congress has more than 162 million objects in its collection. So, whatever information you're needing, you'll likely find it at this library.

After reading these facts, I think it’s safe to say that you’re well on your way to becoming a Washington DC trivia expert. And if you’re finding it hard to believe these 16 Washington DC facts, then you will be really shocked after learning these 15 extremely weird laws in Washington DC.

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Jennifer Young | December 23, 2022

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