Book excerpt: A Darth Vader grotesque on a church, a giant chair, the longest escalator in the western hemisphere, a faithful replica of the Holy Land for those who cannot make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a fence forged from War of 1812 muskets, a yet uncracked cryptographic sculpture ... Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, Washington D.C. is a reserve of well-concealed treasures only revealed to those who know how to wander off the beaten track, whether residents or visitors. An indispensable guide for those who thought they knew Washington D.C. well, or who would like to discover the hidden face of the city.