Information about Washington DC
Preface: I hope each of you are looking forward to the Washington, D. C. trip as much as I
am. Mr. Fifer and I have prepared this pamphlet in order you may get the most of your trip.
The preparation prior to the trip is what sets your trip apart from many other so that you may
reflect, enjoy, and experience our nation's capital.
The City Today: The city of Washington takes up the entire District of Columbia, so they are
essentially the same thing. DC is not state so it does not to send any Representatives or
Senators to Congress, but it is worth three Electoral votes in the Presidential election.
Washington, DC has a population of approximately 560,000 people, making it smaller
than Columbus, Ohio. This is very misleading however. Counting the suburbs in Maryland and
Virginia, DC has a metropolitan area of over 5 Million, fifth largest in the country, compared to
1.5 million for Columbus.
You won't see any skyscrapers in DC, although you will see them across the Potomac
River in Virginia. There is a height restriction in DC so that the Capitol Building and the
Washington Monument are never overshadowed by other buildings. You will see statues;
hundreds of statues of famous people are all over the city.
History of DC: A site on the Potomac River for a new capital city was selected in 1788
as a compromise between the Northern and Southern states. The site was picked because it
was on the "fall line" of the Potomac. Ships from the sea could get to DC on the wide, slow
river, but just upstream there are rapids and the Great Falls of the Potomac that block water
transportation.
A small town called Georgetown, named after the King of England, not George
Washington, already existed when DC was established. Georgetown was several miles away
from the new White House. Today, Georgetown, better known for its shops, restaurants, and
townhouses, has been absorbed into Washington, DC. It is also the home of Georgetown
University which was founded in 1789, and is the oldest Jesuit and Catholic University in the
United States
Another town, Alexandria, was a thriving port on the Virginia side of the river. It is also
known for fine shops and restaurants in old, restored buildings. Alexandria was once part of
DC, but it was returned to Virginia in 1846.
In the beginning, around d 1800, Washington Dc was a swampy area with a few farms,
lots of mosquitoes and snakes, and sweltering summertime heat. Even as late as the Civil War,
our 165th President, Abe Lincoln, reported that the city had only 60,000 people, unpaved
streets that were either too muddy or dusty, and farm animals running around everywhere.
In 1814, during the War of 1812, British forces captured Washington, DC and burned
the Capitol Building and the White House. Only the stone walls were left standing. Both, of
course, were rebuilt.
The Potomac River used to be wider, with a lot of mud flats. When it was first built, the
Washington Monument was actually right next to the Potomac River. The river has been filled
in to create a lot of new land. The Lincoln Memorial would have been far out into the river
originally. The land around the Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial is all manmade.
Arlington National Cemetery: Directly across the Potomac River from Washington, Dc is the
Curtis-Lee Mansion on 210 acres owned by Robert E. Lee and his wife, Mary Anna (Custis) Lee,
a great grand-daughter of Martha Washington. He was the most respected officer in the US
Army when the Civil War started, and he was offered command o fall the Union (Northern)
forces. However, Lee was a native Virginian, so he resigned from the US Army and became a
genera in the Confederate (Southern) Army. Lee's house was confiscated by the Union. In 1864
a union general had his men bury dead soldiers nest to the house. This was the beginning of
Arlington National Cemetery, named for a nearby town. Today, nearly 200,000 American
military men and women and their families are buried here. Only a special act of congress can
permit a non-veteran to be buried at Arlington. John F. Kennedy is buried here not because he
was a President, but because he was a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II.
Medal of Honor winners have gold lettering on their gravestones with an emblem of the
medal. Confederate soldiers have pyramids on top of their gravestones. In addition to the
thousands of simple graves, there are numerous monuments and memorials. Arlington National
Cemetery is a place for quiet, respectful behavior. During the daytime, there is almost always a
funeral in process. Keep your eyes open for signs of one.
Only two presidents are buried in Arlington
National Cemetery. One is William Howard Taft of
Ohio, who was also Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. The other is John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was
assassinated in 1963. Kennedy's grave is marked by an
Eternal Flame fueled by gas. other family members are
buried alongside, including a baby who did not live long.
Near the graves you will find a curved wall overlooking
the Potomac River and the city of Washington. On this
wall are famous quotes from some of Kennedy's
speeches. About 100 feet away from John Kennedy's
grave you will find the simple, white cross of Robert Kennedy's resting place, the brother of the
president. Robert was running for president and probably would have won when he too was
assassinated in 1968. He wanted to help the poor people of our nation, so his family chose a
simple, but beautiful white cross. The youngest of the Kennedy brothers, Edward
"Ted" Kennedy, who served in the senate for nearly 47 years is also buried
On the hill directly above the Kennedy graves is the Custis-lee Mansion once lived in by
Robert E. lee. It is open to tourists. In front of this house is the grave of Pierre L'Enfant, the
architect who designed the layout of Washington, DC. He was placed on this hill so his remains
could overlook his city. This a great view of all of DC; you will probably want to take pictures
at this location.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier: Located at Arlington
National Cemetery, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is
marked by a fifty ton block of white marble on which are
carved the words, "Here Rests In Honored Glory An American
Soldier Known But To God." An unidentified soldier from
World War I was brought home from France and buried here.
Later, unknown soldiers from World War II, the Korean War,
and the Vietnam were added. A few years ago, using DNA
testing, the Vietnam War soldier was identified. His remains were removed from the Tomb and
returned to his family, who made their own burial arrangements. Look for the three rectangular
stone slabs in form of the main Tomb; this where the other soldiers were laid to rest.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is very symbolic. It
really represents all the military men and women, known and
unknown, who have ever given their lives fighting for the
freedoms we Americans enjoy. The Tomb is guarded 24 hours a
day by specially selected soldiers who feel it is a great honor to
be assigned to this duty. A Changing of the Guard Ceremony
occurs every hour during the daytime. At night, the soldier on
duty is replaced every two hours. The Ceremony is very
impressive. A Sergeant instructs the crowd to be silent and
respectful and for men to remove their hats in respect. You
may take pictures and video. He then brings out a fresh soldier
and carries out a very thorough inspection. This soldier then
replaces the one who has been on duty. In an hour, he will
march past the Tomb 42 times, using 27 steps of exactly 30
inches each. The pauses before turning around are precisely
timed to represent a 21 gun salute, a high military honor. The
soldier's rifle, with bayonet attached, is always carried on the
shoulder away from the Tomb. Often, wreath laying ceremonies arranged by school groups or
other organizations are carried out, with the playing of Taps, between the Changing o the
Guard Ceremonies.
Behind the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a 4,000 seat amphitheater. Special
ceremonies occur here on Memorial day and veterans day. Mr. fifer was able to attend a
veterans day ceremony here in 1989 that featured very patriotic music played by military
musicians. Colin Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, walked right past Mr. fifer
and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Near the amphitheater is the tall, white mast of the Battleship USS Maine, which
mysteriously blew up in Havana, Cuba in 1898 and trigger the Spanish-American War. Also
nearby is a small monument that marks the braves of seven astronauts who died in 1986 when
the space shuttle Challenger exploded. This a special place for Mr. fifer because he was involved
in the NASA Teacher Program and he met Christa McAuliffe, the Teacher in Space whose
remains are here.
The Mall: This is not a shopping mall. The National Mall is a long, grassy, park area in the heart
of the city. It was designed by Pierre L'Enfant to be a focal point. On either side of the Mall are
the Smithsonian and other important buildings. From spring to fall there is almost always some
kind of special event or activity happening on the Mall. Sometimes the grass is even spray
painted to make sure it is green. When Washington was a new city a creek ran through the
Mall down to the Potomac River. This was made into a strait canal that became nothing more
than an open sewer. In the 1800s and early 1900s railroad tracks and stations. Army barracks
and grazing cows dotted the Mall before city planners got back to L'Enfant's original intention.
Marine Corps Memorial: One of the most famous
battles ever fought by the US Marines was in 1945,
during World War II, when they captured a small
Japanese held island called Iwo Jima. 5,000 Marines
died in this battle and 17,000 were wounded. the
key to taking the island was storming to the top of
heavily defended Mount Suribachi. A Pulitzer Prize
winning photo was taken of Marines and one US
Navy corpsman (medic) raising a US flag on the
mountain peak. This is represented in the Marine
corps memorial, dedicated in 1954 and located next to Arlington National Cemetery. The
statue is 32 feet high with a 60 foot flagpole. It is allowed to be more than 19 feet tall because it
is in Virginia. not in the District of Columbia. At the vase of the memorial are the words,
"Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue." Around the base are also carve the names of all
the important battles from all the wars in which the Marines have fought.
Nearby is the 127 foot tall Netherlands carillon which contains 49 bells. they range in
size from 41.8 to 12,654 pounds. They chime every afternoon except Sunday at 3:45. This
memorial was a gift of The Netherlands (Holland) for our help in liberating hem from German
rule in World War II.
Capitol Building: The cornerstone of the Capitol was laid in 1793 after the winning design had
been selected from competing architects. The original building was about one tenth its present
size. In 1800 the Federal Government moved from Philadelphia and occupied the new Capitol
building. It was really two small, separate buildings connected by a covered walkway. The whole
center section where the dome is located was missing. In 1825, this center section was filled in
to make one continuous building, but there was only a very low, wooden dome.
During the 1850s and 1860s the large chambers currently used by the Senate and House
were added at the ends of the Capitol. Work also started on a much taller cast iron dome.
When the Civil War started, President Lincoln ordered the work to be continued as a sign that
our nation was strong and would not be torn into two parts. The Statue of Freedom was put in
place on top of the new dome in 1863. The cast iron dome can expand and contract by as
much as four inches on days of extreme heat or cold. During the Civil War the center section
under the dome was used as a barracks for 3,000 Union soldiers and as a hospital for thousands
of wounded soldiers. One of the nurses was Clara Barton, who later went on to found the
American Red Cross.
The Statue of Freedom on top of the dome is 19
1/2 feet tall, weighs 7 1/2 tons, and is 287 feet above the
ground. She wears a hat of feathers that makes her look
like a Native American woman, but that was not the
intention. Originally she was to wear a "Liberty Hat"
that symbolized the freedom of slaves in ancient Rome.
However, politicians in the Southern slave states
objected to this because they did not want American
slaves to be free. By law, no statue in DC is allowed to
be taller than Freedom's 19 1/2 feet.
The Senate Chamber seats 100 Senators, two from each
The Metro: This is the
state, while the House Chamber seats 435 Representatives,
mass-transit rail system
based on population. Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, Guam,
for Washington, DC.
Samoa, and the District of Columbia get to send non-voting
The Metro, mostly
members to Congress. The entire capitol Building is 751 feet
underground, is
long, 350 feet wide, with 540 rooms and 139 chimneys. It
modern, clean, safe, and
contains more than 670 works of art such as portraits, paintings,
attractive. Maybe you've
statues, and busts (sculptures of heads only). More than 11,000
seen the New York City
bills are introduced to Congress each year, but relatively few of
subways on TV or a
them make it past committees to be voted upon by the whole
movie. The Metro is
congress. Two small underground subways carry members of
totally different. The
congress from their nearby office buildings to the Capitol so they
first four mile section
don't have to walk outside. The architectural details inside and
was opened in 1976, and
outside the Capitol are outstanding. Make sure you look up at
the entire 103 mile
the ceilings as you walk through the building.
system was finally
The Old House Chamber is now called Statuary Hall.
completed in 2001.
Each state is allowed to place two statues here. The ones form
Once you receive your
Ohio are James Garfield, one of the eight presidents from the
Metro ticket, hang onto
Buckeye State, and William Allen, who served as Governor of
it because you will need
Ohio, US Representative from Ohio, and Senator from Ohio.
it to get out at our
Not all the 100 statues can fit in the room, so some are in other
destination station.
parts of the capitol. Your capitol tour will probably show you an
Lights built into the edge
interesting acoustic trick caused by sound bouncing off the
of the platform will start
curved ceiling in Statuary Hall. Back when it was the House
flashing when a train
Chamber, a member of one political party would be pretending
approaches. Stay with
to sleep at his desk, but he was really listening to the quiet talk of
the group so that we all
rival politicians many feet away. Pay attention to this interesting
get on and off the train
demonstration.
together.
The Rotunda is the magnificent room under the dome. At the very
top is a huge,
classical style fresco featuring George Washington, painted by Constantino Brumidi in 1865.
Further down, look for the 300 foot frieze (relief) showing eighteen scenes from American
History starting with Columbus in 1492 to the Wright Brothers in 1903. At the floor level are
eight large, very famous scenes from American History and some statues of famous Americans.
Once in a great while, when a well known and respected government or military leader dies,
the body is placed in the Rotunda for several days in a ceremony called "Lying in State," this is
considered to be a great honor and tribute. Recently, Presidents Gerald Ford and Ronald
Reagan have lain in State as well as Civil Rights Activist Rosa Parks
The Crypt, in the basement directly below the Rotunda, was supposed to be George
Washington's final resting place, but he was buried at his Mount Vernon Plantation a few miles
down the Potomac River next to his wife Martha. The crypt is the place where Samuel Morse
sent the world's first telegraph message in 1844, "What hath God wrought?" This was the
beginning of texting. :)
Two of the smaller rooms, the Old senate Chamber, and the Old Supreme Court
Chamber, have been preserved to look as they did in the 1800s before these groups moved
into larger quarters.
The Capitol Visitors Center: When we enter the Capitol we will spend time in the visitors'
center. Take time to see the models of the various stages of the Capitol's construction with
the surrounding city--amazing. There are several statues including a large replica of the Statue
of Freedom. Take lots of pictures, since you cannot get that close a look at that statue from
outside. Another thing to note is a miniature of the dome with all its art work, once again take
a look at this so you can appreciate it better when you are in the Rotunda.
The White House: The White House, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, is the only residence of a
chief executive in the world open to the public, although you only get to see five rooms. It has
132 rooms, 28 fireplaces, 20 bathos or showers, and 18 acres of lawns and gardens. It is really
an office as well as a home and is toured by about 5,000 people per day when it is open.
George Washington laid the cornerstone of the President's Palace or President's House,
the original names of the building, in 1792 but he never got to live in it. The second president,
John Adams, moved into the unfinished building in 1800. Only six of the original thirty rooms
had even been plastered at that time, but work continued. The president, along with everyone
else of
that time period, had to use an outhouse to relive
themselves. One of Thomas Jefferson's
grandsons, in 1806, was the first baby born in
the building. After the structure was
burned by the British in 1814 only the
stone walls remained standing. It was
rebuild and reoccupied in 1817 by
President James Monroe. The stone
exterior was painted white to hide
the smoke stains, so the President's
Palace became known as the White
House. Later, modern conveniences
such as indoor plumbing, toilets, and
gas lighting were added. The wings and
other features were added over the years,
including a pool, gym, movie theater, and
offices for the President's staff and Cabinet
Members.
From 1948 to 1952 the White House was totally gutted
and rebuilt to modern standards.
As you can imagine, security if very tight. Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995
the block of Pennsylvania Avenue that 2011. ran right behind the White House was closed to
traffic to prevent a car or truck bomb attack. Other precautions were taken after September
11. However, we live in a representative democracy, so you can usually see people protesting
some Presidential or government policy or decision outside the White House fences. There are
three flagpoles outside the White House facing Pennsylvania Avenue. If a foreign leader is in
town to visit the president, the US flag, the District of Columbia flag, and the national flag of the
visitor are flown. Otherwise, the flagpoles remain empty.
Across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House is Lafayette Square (Park). The
Marquis de Lafayette was a young French soldier and nobleman who came to America in the
1771s to help us fight against the British. Lafayette became practically a son to George
Washington, who had no sons of his own. Lafayette was a hero of the American Revolution and
when he visited America for its 50th anniversary he was treated
like a rock star.
The statue in the center of Lafayette Square is General
and President Andrew Jackson. In each of the corners of
Lafayette Square are four statues of Europeans that helped
America in the American Revolution: Lafayette, from France;
Baron Von Steuben, from Germany; Kosciusko, from Poland; and
General Rochambeau, from France. Nowhere in the world is
there an executive mansion that gives honor to foreign assistance.
Near the White House On Pennsylvania Avenue is Blair
House. It has a green awning and a black wrought iron fence. In
1942 this house was purchased by the US government as a place
for visiting foreign leaders to stay. A national flag of the visitor's nation flies at the Blair House
when it is in use. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, got the idea for
buying Blair House because Sir Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, used to
keep her husband up all night when he stayed at the White House.
Also nearby is the very large and fancy Old Executive Office Building. It contains the
Office of the Vice President, the National Security Council, and the Office of Management and
Budget. This building was started in 1872 using a style of architecture then very popular in
France. However, by the time the Old Executive Office Building was completed in 1888 not
even the French were using the style any longer. It was considered too fancy and expensive by
most critics. In fact, it was almost torn down during the 1940s but was saved because it is
unique. Some people like it and some people think it is the ugliest building in DC.
Lincoln Manorial: The Lincoln Memorial was completed in 1922, build on brand new, filled in
land where the Potomac River had been. Fifty-six steps, one for each year of Lincoln's life, take
you to the 19 foot statue of a seated Lincoln. If he were
standing the statue would be twenty eight feet tall, Why
could the statue not be standing? There are 36 columns
surrounding the memorial, representing the 36 states of the
US during Lincoln's presidency. To the sides of the statue
are Lincoln's most famous speeches carved into the walls.
The Gettysburg Address is to the left and begins, "Four
score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on the
continent a new nation" and ends, "This government of the
people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish
from the Earth." A score means 20. It had been 87 years
since 1776 when Lincoln made his speech in 1863. To the
right is his Second Inaugural Address. Both speeches were made during the Civil War, which
threatened to tear our nation apart. At night, from behind the Lincoln Memorial, you can look
across the Potomac River and see the Eternal Flame at John F. Kennedy's grave in Arlington
National Cemetery. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. made his famous " I have a Dream"
speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He chose this spot for a good reason: MLK
speech connects the Declaration of Independence and the Gettysburg Address with what he
was saying. The long pool in front the Lincoln Memorial is the famous Reflecting Pool.
National Archives: Archives
Washington Monument: At
means records and documents.
The National Archives has enough
important archives from our
nation's history to fill 600,000
filing cabinet drawers. The most
important, of course, are the
original Declaration of
Independence from 1776, the
Constitution from 1787, and its
first ten amendments, the Bill of
Rights, which were
555 feet, 5 1/8 inches, this is
the world's tallest
masonry(stone or brick)
structure. A 3,300 pound
aluminum cap at the top
serves as a lightening rod.
there are 987 steps, now used
for emergencies only. The
original steam powered
elevator was considered to be
so slow (five minutes) and so
dangerous that only men
were allowed to use it.
added to the Constitution in 1791. These three
Women and children had to use the
precious documents are kept in a helium filled case stairs. A modern elevator now takes only
to prevent oxygen form causing further fading or
70 seconds to ascend and 60 seconds to
decaying. The case can be lowered into a special
descend. The Washington Monument was
underground bunker in case of emergency, No
started in 1848 to honor our first
flash photos are allowed because the flash will fade president. It was only 150 feet tall when
the ink even further. The guards may confiscate
funds ran out in 1859. so, during the Civil
your camera if it flashes. Look for John Hancock's
War it was just a stub compared to what
large signature on the Declaration of
it looks like today. When work resumed
Independence. He did this as an act of defiance to
in 1876 the color of the stone then
King George III of Great Britain.
available did not match the first 150 feet.
The National Archives also has one of the
Look for the place where it changes
earliest copies of the Magna Carta, the document
color, between1/4 and 1/3 of the way up.
that started England toward democracy in AD
The Washington Monument was finally
1215. As you walk along the curving hallway behind completed in 1878. The small windows at
the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the top offer great views of the city, but is
bill of Rights, you will see many other documents
crowded, so visitors are not allowed to
and letters written by famous Americans
stay long at the windows.
throughout history.
The National Museum of American History: Another Smithsonian highlight, this museum
features the original Star Spangled Banner flag that flew over Fort McHenry in Baltimore during
the War of 1812. The huge flag is very faded and worn, and has recently undergone a high tech
restoration project. Look for the large, seated, statue of George Washington wearing a Greek
style robe. Washington hated this sculpture and refused to have it on display. This museum has
an amazing collection of items from our nation's past, including a display of gowns worn by
various First Ladies. The cars, trains, weapons, and machines or all kinds are interesting, too.
This building also has a snack bar and a very nice gift shop. History is not just about general and
wars it is also culture, so there are cultural items as well on display. Have you ever seen The
Wizard of Oz? The ruby slippers that Dorothy wears are on display.
Vietnam War Veterans' Memorial: 1,421 artists and architects submitted designs for this
memorial; the one chosen belonged to Maya Lin, a 21-year old Asian-American student at Yale
University in Connecticut. This turned out to be a controversy, but many people now
understand that everything about the unusual design was symbolic of the Vietnam War in some
way. The Wall, as it is called, seems to be coming out of the earth. Like the war, it starts low,
gradually rises to a height of 10 feet in the middle, and tapers away again in the other direction.
One part of the Wall points to the Lincoln Memorial while the
other pointes to the Washington Monument. There are more
than 58,000 names of dead American military personnel on the
Wall, including some women. As you look at the black, polished
granite you can see your own reflection, symbolizing that the
Vietnam War had and affect on all Americans. Many soldiers
returning from Vietnam were treated horribly by American
college students and others, the reflection shows that we are all
part of America. By the way, Maya Lin also turned in her design
to her art professor at Yale--she received a grad of B-.
The names on the Wall, which was completed in 1982,
are arranged in chronological order according to when they
were killed, from 1959 to 1975. Diamonds net to the names
indicates the deaths were confirmed. Crosses indicate missing
in action (MIA). The Wall can be a very emotional place since
many veterans and family members that lost loved ones are
still alive. Every day, medals, photos, letters, poems, flowers,
patches, flags, wreaths, and other items are left at the Wall to
honor the dead. Every night, the National Park Service rangers
place the items in a dated box and take it to a warehouse. Feel
free to pick up items and look at them, but make sure you put them back where you got them.
If you want to find a specific name on the wall there are books available at the ends of
the Wall that will tell you where to look. Many visitors use paper and pencil to make tracings of
names.
Many people wanted a more traditional memorial, so two works of art are now located
near the Wall. One shows thee life-size soldiers from the Vietnam War. The other shows a
group of nurses taking cared of wounded and dying soldiers, this is to celebrate the
contributions of the 7,484 women who served during the war, 6,250 were nurses.
National Museum of
American Indian: This Is the
newest o f the Smithsonian's
20 museums location. It
opened in 2004 and features
exhibits about the various
tribes in North and South
America. there is a focus on
what their modern lives are
like as well as how they lived
long ago.
This museum, run by
Native Americans, is home to
one of the largest and most
diverse collections of Native
art and historical and cultural
objects; exhibitions are
designed in collaboration with
Native communities from
across the hemisphere. Some
of the exhibits are Who We
Are, introductory film, in the
Lelawi Theater; wall of gold
objects; Geronimo’s rifle in
Our Peoples gallery; Mitsitam
Cafe featuring a Nativeinspired menu. As we pass by
this structure notice the
unique cliff-looking design.
Korean War Veterans' Memorial: From 1950 to 1953 the US,
South Korea, and the United Nations forces fought the North
Koreans and Chinese to
keep South Korea from
being conquered by the
communists. before the
war, North and South
Korea were divided along
the
38th Parallel (line of
latitude). As the war ended
after alternating advances in both directions, the armies faced
each other again roughly along the 38th parallel. The war,
ironically, lasted 38 months. Long after he Vietnam Veterans
memorial was completed, veterans of the earlier Korean War,
which cost America almost as many lives as Vietnam, started
pushing for a memorial for their war. The Koreans War
Veterans Memorial was finally completed in 1995.
Originally, there were to have been 38 statues in the
Koreans War Veterans Memorial, but it was felt that the space
available was not large enough. So, there are 19 seven foot high
soldiers, but their reflections can be seen on a dark, granite
wall, making it still add up to 38. The wall contains 2,400 photos
and other images from the Korean War. An American flag flies
over the Pool of Remembrance. A peninsula, symbolizing the
Korean Peninsula, juts into the pool. Look for the words,
"Freedom Is Not Free" and statistics on the number of dead,
wounded, captured, and missing from the war. On the curb of
the walkway are the names 22 nations that fought as part of the
United Nations during the war.
The National Cathedral: It was
decided that the US should have a
cathedral that could rival the great
Gothic cathedrals of Europe.
Construction began in 1907 and is
still not quite complete. the
National cathedral's gothic
architecture features spires that are
300 feet high, which were allowed
because it is miles from the
Washington Monument. The
National Cathedral has been financed entirely through private
donations.
World War II Memorial: It seems odd that
veterans of WWII did not have their own
memorial like the Korean and Vietnam veterans.
Unfortunately, our WWII veterans, mostly in their
late 80s and 90s, are rapidly dying. The idea for this
memorial came in 1987, World War II veteran
Roger Durbin approached Representative Marcy
Kaptur, from Ohio, to ask if a World War II
memorial could be constructed; she introduced
the World War II Memorial Act to the House of
Representatives that year.
Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and others were involved in a fundraising campaign and
the memorial was completed in 2004. The memorial is located at the end of the reflecting pool
between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. This very prominent location
symbolizes the importance of WWII. The two tall towers,
Atlantic and Pacific, represent the two main theaters of the
war. At the bases of these towers are the names of the
various battles of the war. There are 56 columns labeled
for all the states, territories, districts, and possessions
that made up the US during the war. The Freedom
Wall has 4,048 gold stars, each representing 100
Americans who died in the war. In front of the wall lies the
message "Here we mark the price of freedom". Set into walls on
both
sides of the entrance area are 24 bronze relief sculptures showing various scenes from the war.
Library of Congress: This is the world's largest library. Its purpose is to have all the
information that members of Congress might possibly need to research in order to govern our
country. The Library of Congress is housed in three large buildings. During the Civil War
President Lincoln went to the library to get books on military strategy so he could better
manage the war. The oldest, the Thomas Jefferson Building, is across the street from the
Capitol Building, and now has an inside walkway from the two buildings. The design of the
Jefferson building is the look of a famous Paris Opera House. When the British invaded and
burned Washington DC in 1814, the original Library of Congress was destroyed. Thomas
Jefferson, a tremendous scholar, sold his personal library of 6,487 books to the government to
get the library started again.
The Library of Congress has more than 80 million books, 4 million musical scores,
including some written by Mr. Fifer's mother, and musical recordings. They process 400 new
books daily and subscribe to over 500 US and 1,000 foreign newspapers. The Library tries to
copy of each book, magazine, newspaper, movie, CD, DVD, etc. that is produced in the US.
There are more than 550 miles of shelves to hold this huge collection. The Library's most
prized possessions are a copy, in Jefferson's handwriting, of the Declaration of Independence,
Abraham Lincoln's handwritten Gettysburg Address, and one of Johann Gutenberg's original
Bibles. If you recall from 7th grade history Gutenberg was the German inventor of the movable
type printing press (cir, 1450)--in 2000 this invention was voted as the most important in the
millennium.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial: This memorial, completed in1997, is located next to the
Tidal Basin. In 1932 Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) was elected president as the nation was
suffering through the massive unemployment of the Great Depression. He started many new
government programs, including Social Security, in his New Deal that brought hope to the
American People. very popular, FDR was reelected in 1936, 1940, and 1944 making him our
longest serving president in the days before the two-term limit was established in the 22nd
Amendment. FDR is also the president who guided us through World War II
(WWII), dying in 1945 just before the end of the war.
On a personal note, my dad was just a kid when FDR
was elected and was serving in the Navy during WWII
when FDR died--that is a long time! FDR was also
disabled, having been stricken with polio when he was
younger. He could walk only for short distances with
crutches or canes, and spent much time in a
wheelchair. However, in the days before television,
many Americans did not even know their president
was disabled. There was a huge controversy over the
statue of FDR at this memorial. Some wanted the
wheelchair to be obvious while other people wanted to
hide his disability. A compromise was reached;
Roosevelt is shown seated with a cape around him.
There is much symbolism in the open air FDR Memorial.
Walls divide it into rooms that tell parts of the FDR story. There are
six waterfalls, each representing something important. The largest
one symbolizes America's joy at winning World War II. Water is also
representative as he loved swimming and he was the under-secretary
of the Navy. Look for the words, "I see One-Third of a nation IllHoused, ILL-Clad, Ill-Nourished" and other columns which list FDRs
many New Deal programs. Look for a seated figure listening to an old
fashioned radio; this represents the "Fireside chat" radio broadcasts
mad by FDR to tell the American people that everything would be
fine. Look for some of FDR's most famous words, "We have nothing
to fear but fear itself." Also, look for the statue of FDR's wife, Eleanor, a First Lady who was
very active in the affairs of our nation. This a beautiful memorial and is hands-on, there are
statues of men standing in soup lines. Feel free to take plenty of pictures with your friends.
The National Museum of Natural History: This Smithsonian museum is dominated by the
huge African elephant in its rotunda and is devoted to the scientific, cultural, social,
technological, and political development of the United States. All the animals displays are very
well done. The gems and minerals are interesting. Many people what to see the 45.5 carat
Hope diamond, the world's largest blue diamond. there is a fascinating insect zoo. and a well
stocked gift shop. Some of the features are dinosaurs; history and culture of Africa; hall of
Geology, Gems, and Minerals; Hope diamond; Hall of Mammals; the Ocean Hall; the Hall of
Human Origins; and Butterfly Pavilion.
Jefferson Memorial: The Jefferson Memorial was dedicated
in 1943 on Thomas Jefferson's 200th birthday. It is located at
the edge of the Tidal Basin where the famous Japanese cherry
trees are located. The Memorial features the classic Greek
style that Jefferson was so fond of when he made his own
architectural designs. The bronze statue of our third
president in the middle of the memorials 19 feet tall so it
does not exceed the statue of Freedom on the Capitol dome.
On the walls are words from four of Jefferson's most famous
writings. The Declaration of Independence, The Virginia
Statute (Law) for Religions Freedom, an essay on slavery, and
an essay on government. Jefferson was a scientist, architect,
lawyer, educator, and author who considered being President
of the United States to be one of his least important
accomplishments.
Old Post Office: This really was the main Post Office building
Union station: This is still a
working Amtrak (passenger
train) station, but it only gets a
fraction of the trains that once
stopped here before the age
of airliners and interstate
highways. Now, much of
Union Station has been
renovated into a shopping mall
with gigantic food court. The
architecture of the building is
impressive. In front of Union
Station is a statue of
Christopher Columbus; the
word Columbia comes from a
derivation of Columbus.
for DC. It now has shops, a food court, and a stage for
special events. A glass elevator in the impressive atrium takes
you to the base of the bell tower. There, another elevator
you up to the top of the tower where you can get great
views and photos of the city. Only the Washington
Monument and the Capitol Building are taller. This upper
portion of the Old Post Office is run by the National Park
Service, and they will not permit students into the tower
unless accompanied by an adult. In front of this building is a statue of Benjamin Franklin, why?
The Smithsonian "Castle" Building: This is the oldest of the Smithsonian Institution
buildings. It was finished in 1852 and rebuild after a devastating fire in 1865. It looks like a red
castle at the edge of the Mall. It is now used as an information center about the Smithsonian
and contains the tomb of James Smithson. He was a wealthy Englishman who had never been to
the US but admired our country because of the freedoms and rights enjoyed by our citizens. In
his will, Smithson left his money to a grandson IF the nephew had a child of his own to continue
the family line. Otherwise, the money would go to the US to be used for educational purposes.
You can figure out what happened. Smithson died in1829, without ever setting foot in the US,
but his body was late brought here and placed into the Castle. Today, the Smithsonian
Institution has 20 different museums and attractions.
The National Air and Space Museum: This Smithsonian Museum is the number one tourist
attraction in all of DC. As you go into the main doors facing the Mall you can touch a Moon
Rock. Hanging from the ceiling is the Wright brothers' original plane from 1903. Also up there
is the original Spirit of St. Louis, the plane in which Charles Lindbergh made the first solo
crossing of the Atlantic Ocean McDonalds located in the museum. One popular gift item here
are custom made dog tags, used by the military for identification purposes.. Throughout the
building are a variety of displays from early aviation to the space age. Look for the Lunar
Landing Module at the end of one hallway. There are movie theaters, a snack bar, and a nice gift
shop. you will eat lunch here at a huge
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial: This is the latest site in DC. This memorial honors the
words, life, and accomplishments of Dr. King. It is located on the
Tidal Pool across from the Jefferson Memorial. There is an
unfinished statue of Dr. King carved out of a rock looking down
on attendees symbolizing that his work is not complete. On each
side of the statue are famous quotes of King.
In 1964, King became the youngest person to receive
the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end racial
segregation and racial discrimination through civil
disobedience and other nonviolent means. By the time of his
death in 1968, he had refocused his efforts on ending poverty and
stopping the Vietnam War. King was assassinated on April 4,
1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. His assassination led to a
nationwide wave of race riots in major cities around the country.
He was posthumously (after his death) awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian
honor in the United States, in 1977 and Congressional Gold
Medal in 2004. Most of you known Dr. because of his holiday and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day which was established in 1986 and his "I have a Dream Speech" given at the Lincoln
Memorial in 1963.
Ford's Theater and the Peterson House: On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln went
to see the popular comedy "Our American Cousin," at
Ford's Theater. The city was celebrating the end of the
Civil War. The president and his wife were sitting in a
private, second floor box. Mr. Lincoln was shot in the
head by John Wilkes Booth, and actor and Southern
sympathizer angry at the outcome of the war. Booth
jumped from the box to stage, breaking his leg, bet
escaped. He was eventually caught in Virginia and shot by
US Army soldiers. There was no hope for the president,
so it was decided to make him comfortable until he died. A door was taken off its hinges and
used to carry him across the street to the Peterson House, a small boarding house (rooms for
rent). at 7:22 AM Lincoln passed away.
Today, ford's Theater and the Peterson House are
run by the National Park Service. The theater is still used
for plays, but during the daytime rangers give a very
interesting talk about the events that took place here. you
can go upstairs to see the Presidential Box. In the Peterson
House you can see the actual bed in which Lincoln died.
They have the pillow case, with faded blood stains, on
which his head rested, but is not always on display. There is
an excellent museum at this location. Although not big in
size it is full of information. I strongly recommend spending
about 45 minutes in this museum before leaving for
shopping for souvenirs.
The United States Holocaust Museum: This museum is often selected by students on this trip
as the most impactful. Your eighth grade language arts teachers have prepared you well to get
the greatest out of this museum experience. The Holocaust occurred before and during World
War II when the Germans under Hitler executed millions of
Jewish citizens from many different European nations. In
1993 this powerful museum was completed. there are
artifacts, photographs, displays and areas designed for
contemplation of these dreadful events. There are two parts
of the museum, the main section which you need to allow a
lot of time to experience this and Daniel's Story, which shows
the Holocaust from the viewpoint of a child.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing: Each day more than
$100 million of paper money is printed in this remarkable
facility next to the Holocaust Museum. Most of this cash
replaces worn out bills that are taken out of circulation. You can watch some of this work
being done.
The Pentagon: The Department of Defense and
the Headquarters of the Army, Navy, Air Force,
and Marines are located in the World's largest
office building, the five-sided Pentagon, which is
only five stories tall. Ironically, the Pentagon had
more floor space than the two world Trade
center Towers which were destroyed on
September 11, 2001 when the Pentagon was
also struck by an airliner. Five rings of offices
surround a central courtyard. There are 17 1/2
miles of corridors (hallways), 150 stairways, 280
restrooms, 7,748 windows, 4,200 clocks, and 67 acres of parking. the Pentagon was built in oly
16 months during World War II, being completed in 1943. Despite its size, the building is very
crowded. Metro subway stations are located under the Pentagon and the nearby, upscale
Pentagon City shopping mall, which you will visit. We will dive by the Pentagon several times.
The first time Mr. Bonnell saw it he did not think it was that big until he realized that he was
only looking at one of five sides of the building--oops.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Perfuming Arts: In 1958 Congress voted to establish a
center for the performing arts (symphony, opera, dance, theater, film. etc.). It was in the
planning stages for years, but after President Kennedy, a supporter of the arts, was assassinated
in 1963, the project took his name and construction began. Opened in 1971, the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts routinely features some of the top performances in
the US. To honor Kennedy, many nations sent gifts of fancy artwork, furniture, doors,
chandeliers, marble, and other items that help make the building a truly special place. Events can
occur simultaneously in the 2,200 seat Opera House, 2,750 set Concert Hall, 1,100seat
Eisenhower Theater, and several smaller areas. two great halls feature hanging flags of all 50
states and all the nations that maintain diplomatic relations with the US. A famous bust of
President Kennedy is in the lobby.