A forerunner to the UN, the OAS was founded in 1890 to promote cooperation among North and South American nations. Its main building on the corner of Constitution Ave NW and 17th St NW dates from 1910 and features a huge interior patio with a marble fountain adorned with Native American figures. Inside, the elegant Hall of the Americas sports columns, Tiffany chandeliers, and ornate stained-glass windows. A small building in the grounds houses the OAS-operated Art Museum of the Americas.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Art Museum of the Americas

0.06 MILES

The Organization of American States operates this small art museum in a separate building on its property. It features changing exhibits of modern and…

2. C&O Canal Lockkeeper's House

0.08 MILES

At the northeast corner of Constitution Gardens, this 1835 stone gatehouse is a remnant of the days when the Washington City Canal flowed through this…

4. Second Division Memorial

0.11 MILES

This memorial in the Ellipse honors the US Army Second Division's dead from WWI, WWII and the Korean War.

5. Department of the Interior Museum

0.16 MILES

Responsible for managing the nation’s natural resources, the Department of the Interior operates this small museum to educate the public about its current…

6. Signers' Memorial

0.18 MILES

Honoring those 56 visionary men who signed the Declaration of Independence, this memorial in Constitution Garden shows how diverse this group of signers…

8. Ellipse

0.22 MILES

The expansive, oval-shaped park on the White House's south side is known as the Ellipse. It's studded with a random collection of monuments, such as the…