The Old Post Office Pavilion050

The Old Post Office Pavilion, built in 1899, housed both the US and the DC post offices. Twelve stories tall, with an imposing clock tower, it was the District's first skyscraper. Somehow managing to avoid being torn down over the years, it now makes a wonderful resting spot during those whirlwind sightseeing outings. The main floor houses a wide variety of retail shops (including Ticketplace, where you can purchase same-day, half-price tickets for performances at local theaters), plus an international food court, which provides a welcome escape from some of the more expensive restaurants along Pennsylvania Avenue. It's also a great place for little ones, as there is usually some kind of live music playing at lunch time - they can work off some of that energy while parents sit and sip a coffee. The National Park Service offers free daily tours of the Clock Tower, Mon-Sat 9am-4:30pm and Sun 10am-5:45pm. For more information, please call 202.606.8691. A couple of city tour companies also operate from the building, ScootAround Inc., and Bike the Sites.