FALL MEETING '89
A Capital Destination:
Washington, DC
ajestic Washington, DC, is an
exciting destination for the
ASCP/CAP Fall Meetingand
Exhibits, October 28-November 2,1989.
Where else can you hold a meeting in
sight of the US Capitol, take a moonlight
tour of the Washington monument, catch
a glimpse of the famous pandas, or visit
the home of the President of the United
States?
Planning your Washington experience
starts right now with some interesting
facts about this "capital" city. This information will help you plan a successful visit.
M
L
ocation
Washington, DC, was named after
the nation's founding father and
first president, George Washington. In
1790, Washington selected the city's site
beneath the fall-line of the Potomac River. A year later, the newly elected president commissioned Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a former member of his Continental
Army staff, to design the capital city.
Originally, the city occupied 100
square miles of land, donated by the
neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia. But Virginia's 31 square miles were
ceded back in 1846 and later became Arlington County. After the Civil War, government grew, businesses sprang up and,
by the turn of the century, this muddy
swampland turned into a thriving city.
Washington is situated at the edge of
the coastal plain. To the west are the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains; to
the east is the plain that stretches to the
Atlantic Ocean, 130 miles away. Chesapeake Bay, 30 miles to the east, is a haven for seafood lovers and summer resort
enthusiasts. The mountains, some as
close as 50 miles to the west, offer excellent facilities for skiing in winter.
I
ndustry
Tourism is Washington's second largest industry, following the federal government. It contributes $1.5 billion annually and approximately 45,000 jobs to
the local economy. Each year, 18.5 million travelers visit the nation's capital. Recently, hundreds of research and development firms, from data-collecting agencies
to scientific research specialists, are located in the metropolitan area.
limate
Washington has a moderate climate, typical of the eastern seaboard of the United States. Fall (September and October) is one of the most comfortable times of the year, although 50degree temperatures are not infrequent
during the winter months.
C
F
inding an Address
Finding an address is very simple if
you remember that the US Capitol is
the geographic center of Washington's
streets. The city is divided into four sections (northwest, northeast, southwest,
southeast) and the dividing lines are
North Capitol Street, South Capitol
Street, East Capitol Street, and the Mall,
radiating like the spokes of a wheel from
the Capitol itself.
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North-south streets are numbers. Eastwest streets are letters in alphabetical order (there are no J, X, Y, or Z streets).
Streets with state names such as Rhode Island and Pennsylvania are all diagonals.
Circles and squares occur at the intersections of diagonal avenues and at numbered and lettered streets.
Always check the quadrant indicator
of a local address before setting out to
find it (eg, NW, NE, SW, SE) since visitors
will find that 500 C Street (for instance)
can be found in four different locations,
in the N W, NE, SW, and SE quadrants of
the nation's capital. It is always best to
know the address of your hotel since this
city has, for example, two Ramada Re-
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naissance Hotels (the ASCP/CAP hotel is
the Ramada Renaissance-Techworld at
9th and K Streets, NW).
etrorail Service
The Metrorail system is an inexpensive, convenient way of getting around the nation's capital. The rail
system links the major commercial districts and neighborhoods, from the Capitol to the Pentagon and from the National Zoo to the National Airport. Metro
fares (bus and rail) range from $1.00 to
$2.75 depending on the distance traveled
and the rush-hour periods. Forschedule
information, call 202-637-7000.
ourist Information Services
Located one block from the White
House, the Tourist Information
Center is in the Great Hall of the Department of Commerce Building, between
14th and 15th Streets on Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW. The Center is open Monday- Saturday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm. You will
find a large, central information desk with
brochures and pamphlets about hotels,
restaurants, tours, and other leisure activities. For more information, write: Washington Convention and Visitors Association, 15751 Street, NW, #250, Washington, DC 20005 D