As the capital city of the United States, there are so many amazing Washington DC souvenirs to choose from while visiting. It’s really no surprise, since there are tons of iconic places and impactful ideas in this monumental city.
From maps to ornaments to cookbooks, there are so many Washington DC souvenirs that you should take home with you. It’s honestly so hard to choose! Which ones will you decide to get?
When you are planning your DC itinerary, don’t forget to check out iconic things to do at night, the best tours of the city, plan for all the free things to do in DC, plan a DC date night with your partner, plan the best time to visit, and don’t forget these top tips for your visit to Washington DC!
The BEST Washington DC Souvenirs to Bring Home
Feel Patriotic With The Official White House Christmas Ornament
Each year, the White House releases an official Christmas ornament. All of these ornaments are meant to honor one of the past U.S. presidents.
The most recent ones have honored President Harry S. Truman, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and President John F. Kennedy. And all of them would look great sitting among the bright lights on your Christmas tree.
To buy these official White House Christmas ornaments as one of your Washington DC souvenirs, head to the White House Visitor Center Flagship Store or the White House History Shop. If you can’t find the ornament that you’re looking for, you can also buy it online.
Additionally, you can find them in gift shops that have been in the Reagan National Airport, Pentagon City Mall and in the city.
Decorate Your Home With DC Neighborhood Prints
One of the coolest Washington DC souvenirs to buy is a print of your favorite neighborhood.
While you will undoubtedly take a walking tour through one or more of these neighborhoods on your visit, allow yourself to fall in love with them like the locals.
While some artists highlight iconic buildings in each neighborhood, others go for a geometric aerial map. If you’re going for bright, bold, and beautiful, Anthony Dihle from Victory Dance Creative may have a pop art-style print that’s right up your alley.
If you’re hoping for something colorful yet calm, the prints from Cherry Blossom Workshop’s Neighborhood Maps Projects may be perfect.
So which neighborhood print are you thinking of getting? Georgetown? Dupont Circle? Foggy Bottom? If you simply can’t decide, both of the above artists have prints for all of Washington DC.
Buy Money With Money
Washington DC is home to one of only two places where U.S. currency is printed: the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
You can actually tour the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and, at the end, you’ll end up in a gift shop that sells all sorts of money-related souvenirs. (You can also visit the gift shop without a tour, but the tour makes the gift shop more enjoyable.)
While there are many money-themed trinkets in the gift shop that catch people’s attentions, you can actually buy an uncut sheet of authentic U.S. money. Essentially, you’ll be buying money with money. If this isn’t one of the funnest Washington DC souvenirs, we don’t know what is.
Plant Your Own Cherry Blossom Tree
Washington DC is home to thousands of cherry blossom trees. Each spring in DC, millions of visitors come just to see these blossoming trees around the city.
After seeing the stunning pink and white blossoms, many visitors wish that they could take a cherry tree home with them. Little do they know, you actually can!
You can purchase a small cherry blossom tree sapling as your Washington DC souvenir. Because a little tree would be quite difficult to take home on an airplane, you can also purchase a cherry blossom seed to plant at home instead!
Take Some Mambo Sauce To-Go
Mambo sauce (also known as mumbo sauce) is a popular DC condiment. This dark red sauce nicely balances smoky, sweet, and sour flavors, and it is sort of a cross between African American and Chinese flavors. DC locals put it on everything from chicken wings to fried rice. Why not take a bottle or two of this tasty sauce home with you as one of your Washington DC souvenirs?
If you’d like to try mambo sauce before you buy it, head to Yum’s Carryout or Henry’s Soul Café.
Don The Apparel Of Your Favorite DC Sports Team
Washington DC is home to nearly a dozen fantastic sports teams.
Are you a fan of the Washington Wizards? Or maybe the Washington Redskins? Nationals?
No matter which DC team is your favorite, you can find loads of sports apparel to support the team of your choice. Then, if you go to watch a game (which you definitely should), you’ll be appropriately dressed.
Carry Mini Monuments Around With You
The first thing that people see in Washington DC is the monuments.
There are dozens of them scattered all around the city honoring amazing heroes, such as President George Washington, President Abraham Lincoln, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., and the veterans of many U.S. wars.
To remember your visits to these towering monuments, consider buying miniature versions of them. You can buy miniature replicas for a souvenir shelf, small keychains for your key ring, or glass etches as breathtaking pieces of décor.
Put On Some Beer-Related Gear
DC has a little bit of an obsession with beer. There are tons of local craft breweries in this city, including DC Brau Brewing Company, District Chophouse Brewery, and Right Proper Brewing Company. While you’re visiting, you should definitely visit a brewery or two.
But it’s a little difficult to take beer home as a souvenir from Washington DC, no matter how much you’d like to. Instead, consider taking home some beer-related gear. For example, there are tons of DC Brau memorabilia pieces, such as graphic tees and engraved glasses.
Cuddle With A Stuffed Panda
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo is one of the most popular places to visit in Washington DC for both adults and kids alike. One of the most popular exhibits at the National Zoo is the giant panda habitat. These cute, rare creatures usually create a line of visitors who just want to take a peek at them!
If the giant pandas are the highlight of your trip to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, consider purchasing a stuffed giant panda to take home with you! Then, every time you see your stuffed panda, you’ll be reminded of the lovely time you had watching the cuddly-looking giant pandas at the National Zoo.
Splurge On Supreme Court Cuff Links
If you’re looking to splurge on your Washington DC souvenirs, consider purchasing Supreme Court cuff links.
These cuff links are adorned with the official Supreme Court seal and are available in both gold and silver. They’ll definitely be a conversation starter at any posh event that you wear them to. To purchase this unique Washington DC souvenir, head over to the Supreme Court gift shop.
Learn How To Bake The Perfect Cupcake With The Cupcake Diaries
One of the most contentious topics in DC isn’t politics. It’s cupcakes.
Just about every DC local has a cupcakery that they’re committed to: Baked & Wired, Magnolia Bakery, The Cakeroom, Sprinkles, or Red Velvet Cupcakery. But the one that seems to have the edge is Georgetown Cupcake.
And you can learn how to bake cupcakes just like the owners of Georgetown Cupcake with a copy of The Cupcake Diaries: Recipes and Memories from the Sisters of Georgetown Cupcake. This 240-page book has some of the most amazing sweet treats, from sweet caramel apple cupcakes to tropical mango hibiscus cupcakes to decadent chocolate “goo-nache” cupcakes.
Buy A LEGO White House Set For The Kids
From cuff links to cookbooks, many of the Washington DC souvenirs on this list are primarily for adults. But what about the souvenirs for kids? DC is full of things to do with kids, so why not commemorate it?
A LEGO White House Set would be perfect. This 560-piece set is an architectural replica of the real-life building. So while your little ones are testing their architectural skills, they’ll also be learning a little bit about U.S. politics and history. Do know that this LEGO set is much more difficult than others, so the kids may need some adult help to put it together.
Be A Little Humorous With An FBI Souvenir
Washington DC serves as the home base of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, also known as the FBI.
Obviously, those who are part of the FBI must keep a low profile. Why not a get a souvenir that’s a little ironic, like a t-shirt, hat, or patch clearly marked “FBI.” While wearing these souvenirs, you might see people doing double takes to decide if you’re actually part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Pretend To Travel The World With Souvenir Passports From Passport DC
During the first two Saturdays in May, many of the embassies in Washington DC open up their doors to the public as part of an event known as Passport DC. In a way, you’ll be able to travel the world and experience different cultures without ever leaving the boundaries of Washington DC.
Just like real-life travel, you can get a souvenir passport and collect stamps at each of the participating embassies. Imagine having a little booklet filled with stamps of dozens of countries, including Cameroon, Costa Rica, and Cote D’Ivoire!
Show Off Your Inner History Buff With A Copy of the Constitution
“We, the people of the United States” are the famous words that start the U.S. Constitution, which was written in 1787. This single document serves as the basis of all of the laws in the United States. Why not purchase a copy of this historic document? Or, because it’s a little long, you could get a miniature version of it.
Washington DC Souvenir Shop Locations
Washington DC souvenir shops are all over the city!
If you are around the National Mall, there will be vendors lined up everywhere ready to sell you goods. Alternatively, a lot of places have souvenirs of some sort. You can check out the Museums as well as they are usually stocked on stuff for the museum and local items to take home.
The airport and Pentagon City Mall have several places to get last minute Washington DC souvenirs before you leave and the selection is plentiful!
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