Nestled in a peaceful grove of trees among other attractions in DC on the National Mall, the intense and solemn Vietnam Veteran War Memorial finally opened in 1982. The dramatic Maya Lin Vietnam memorial was conceived through a competition, which was funded via The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., an organization initiated as a non-profit charity. This was to fulfill the vision of Jan Scruggs, who had served in Vietnam as an infantry corporal. A physical statement of respect and acknowledgement from the American people honor the leaders of this effort wanted veterans of Vietnam. Ultimately, they sought to draw a distinction between those who served in Vietnam and the unpopular U.S. policy that sent them there.
By day or night, this Vietnam Veteran War Memorial remains one of the most popular and powerful attractions in DC. Survivors of the war and loved ones of the deceased often come here as a sort of pilgrimage of homage: they make rubbings from the names of their fallen, and they meet and reminisce with other veterans and their families.
Vietnam veteran memorial architect Maya Lin's famous design for this moving tribute was chosen in a national competition, which kicked off a process of American cultural reconciliation. Her memorial comprises two black granite walls angled into a "V" containing over 58,000 names of soldiers who died or went missing during the nation"s longest war. Heightening the poignancy of the Maya Lin Vietnam memorial are two statues. The first one, depicting three servicemen, was completed in 1984, two years after the unveiling of the memorial. The other sculpture, added significantly later in 1993, portrays three servicewomen tending a wounded soldier.
Entering the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, visitors are greeted by the American flag and an accompanying statue of three service men, sculpted by Frederick Hart to create a moving evocation of the experience and service of the Vietnam veteran. As Hart describes it, "There is about them the physical contact and sense of unity that bespeaks the bonds of love and sacrifice that is the nature of men at war." The flag flies from a sixty-foot staff. The base contains the emblems of the five services. Together they form an entrance plaza for The Wall.
Vietnam Veteran Memorial architect Maya Lin conceived her design for The Wall as a park within a park, a quiet, protected place harmonious with the tranquil setting in which it was placed. The solid, somber black granite walls have a reflective sheen, which mirrors the area's woods, grass expanses, memorials, and the faces of people seeking veteran names. The memorial points to the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The 58,209 names are inscribed in chronological order of death, showing the war as a collection of individual human sacrifices, and honoring each person with a unique place in American history.
Not until recently did the Vietnam Veterans Memorial pay tribute to the women who served. The Vietnam Women's Memorial, which opened in 1993, pays tribute to the military women who participated in the fighting. Sculptor Grenna Goodacre portrays three women helping a wounded serviceman. It brings to mind and honors the bravery and dedication of all the women who made sacrifices for this war.
Planted around the memorial are eight yellowwood trees - a living tribute to the eight servicewomen killed in action while in Vietnam. Just as this memorial evolved organically, so does its place in history as women become more active in war service.
Thursday, 28 April 2011
The United States Capitol
The United States Capitol is one of the most majestically designed and meaningful of all tourist attractions in Washington DC. It has housed the Senate and House of Representatives for almost two centuries. The Washington DC capitol building is located at the eastern end of the National Mall on a plateau 88 feet above the Potomac River, with an imposing view encompassing the Capitol Reflecting Pool and other attractions in DC, namely the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. In addition to its active use by Congress, the Capitol is a museum of American art and history.
Before 1791, the federal government had no permanent site. The early Congresses convened in eight separate locations: New York City, York, Lancaster, Baltimore, Annapolis, Trenton, Princeton, and Philadelphia. The subject of a permanent capital city for the government of the United States was first raised by Congress in 1783. Built in 1793, the US Capitol has been constructed, consumed by fire, repaired, enlarged, and refurbished; today, it stands as a monument to the American people and their government.
Just as the American government continues to evolve, so does the Capitol in which it is housed. Currently, a new visitor center is under construction, finally begun after the events of 9/11 caused a security overhaul. The Capitol Visitor Center is intended to increase the US Capitol's usability, comfort, safety, and educational value for millions of people who visit the attractions in DC each year. Preliminary building commenced in late 2001, and involved moving the screening facilities for visitors, as well as an initiative to preserve trees. Primary construction started in summer of 2002, and the visitor center is expected to be finished by the end of 2006. The entire facility is located underground, for security, and so as to not disrupt the tranquility of the grounds surrounding the Capitol.
The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park. In juxtaposition to the edifice's grand, classic design, the US Capitol Grounds offer almost 60 acres of natural, wooded park ambience with multitudes of cultivated flowers. Memorial trees have been planted throughout the grounds over the years, honoring leading citizens, groups, and national events. Also, the official trees of over thirty American states have been donated to the gardens at the US Capitol.
The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excepting Christmas and Thanksgiving. Complimentary tour tickets are distributed each day starting at 9 a.m., and can be obtained at the Guide kiosk near Independence and First, S.W. If Congress is in session, visitors may wish to make arrangements to witness government in action. The third floor of the Washington DC Capitol building allows access to the galleries from which visitors may watch the proceedings of the House and the Senate when Congress is in session. To witness a congressional session, contact your representatives or senators. International visitors may acquire tickets by showing their passports at the House or Senate appointment station on the first floor. Of all the tourist attractions in Washington DC, visiting the United States Capitol reveals the most about the workings of our government.
Before 1791, the federal government had no permanent site. The early Congresses convened in eight separate locations: New York City, York, Lancaster, Baltimore, Annapolis, Trenton, Princeton, and Philadelphia. The subject of a permanent capital city for the government of the United States was first raised by Congress in 1783. Built in 1793, the US Capitol has been constructed, consumed by fire, repaired, enlarged, and refurbished; today, it stands as a monument to the American people and their government.
Just as the American government continues to evolve, so does the Capitol in which it is housed. Currently, a new visitor center is under construction, finally begun after the events of 9/11 caused a security overhaul. The Capitol Visitor Center is intended to increase the US Capitol's usability, comfort, safety, and educational value for millions of people who visit the attractions in DC each year. Preliminary building commenced in late 2001, and involved moving the screening facilities for visitors, as well as an initiative to preserve trees. Primary construction started in summer of 2002, and the visitor center is expected to be finished by the end of 2006. The entire facility is located underground, for security, and so as to not disrupt the tranquility of the grounds surrounding the Capitol.
The grounds were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed New York's Central Park. In juxtaposition to the edifice's grand, classic design, the US Capitol Grounds offer almost 60 acres of natural, wooded park ambience with multitudes of cultivated flowers. Memorial trees have been planted throughout the grounds over the years, honoring leading citizens, groups, and national events. Also, the official trees of over thirty American states have been donated to the gardens at the US Capitol.
The Capitol is open to the public for guided tours only. Tours will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excepting Christmas and Thanksgiving. Complimentary tour tickets are distributed each day starting at 9 a.m., and can be obtained at the Guide kiosk near Independence and First, S.W. If Congress is in session, visitors may wish to make arrangements to witness government in action. The third floor of the Washington DC Capitol building allows access to the galleries from which visitors may watch the proceedings of the House and the Senate when Congress is in session. To witness a congressional session, contact your representatives or senators. International visitors may acquire tickets by showing their passports at the House or Senate appointment station on the first floor. Of all the tourist attractions in Washington DC, visiting the United States Capitol reveals the most about the workings of our government.
Verizon Center, Washington DC
The Verizon Center offers a diverse schedule of special events, including professional sports, top-tier college events, and big-name concerts. Just minutes from downtown Washington DC, and easy to access from the Metro, the special events center is one of the most popular draws in the city once the sun has set. Fans of basketball, hockey, and pop music all enjoy the Verizon Center events that take place on most days of the year.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment took over ownership of the Verizon Center Washington DC in 2010. In addition to taking care of the event center, the company also manages the three professional sports teams that call it home—the Washington Wizards of the NBA, hockey's Capitals, and the Mystics of the the WNBA. The $200 million Verizon Center, which debuted in 1997, welcomes more than 2 million people for sporting events and concerts each year. Its opening sparked a revitalization of its home neighborhood, the Seventh Street District.
Growing more popular every year, the Verizon Center has hosted some of the top events in America, as diverse of the WNBA/NBA All-Star games, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the World Figure Skating Championships. Several different NCAA basketball tournaments have been held at this event center close to the White House. The Georgetown Hoyas play their home basketball games here, bringing top-tier college games in season from November through March. The schedule of Verizon Center events is planned far in advance, so you could check what's in town during your upcoming DC vacations. Tickets can be purchased in any number of ways, including right here on Destination360, for all of these events.
After the tip-off, the puck has dropped, or the first note has played, the Verizon Center springs to life with a full complement of visitor amenities Whether you're coming to enjoy a basketball game or any of the Verizon Center events, you'll enjoy a state-of-the-art facility jam-packed with dining options, executive suites, and an HD scoreboard. An hour before the events begin, you'll have the chance to enjoy a cocktail, appetizers, and dinner at Dewar's 12 Clubhouse. The restaurant is easy to find by F Street entrance of the Verizon Center Washington DC.
The Green Turtle Sports Bar & Grille was a Maryland-only option before it opened in 2007 at the Verizon Center Washington DC. This landmark restaurant, already a favorite along the shore in Ocean City, features great food served in a fun atmosphere. The family-friendly Turtle specializes in American food, especially hot wings, sliders, and burgers crafted from Angus beef. Many Verizon Center visitors make time for a bite to eat before and after the game.
Visitors to the Verizon Center also have the chance to do some shopping with the Team Store. Easy to access from F Street, the shop carries jerseys and souvenirs from all of the teams that call the VC home.
If your favorite team leaves you frustrated, you might want to make an appointment at the Vida Fitness and Bang Salon. Designed for wellness and relaxation, this space offers yoga, facials, and other ways to catch your breath and feel wonderful. You can make an appointment even if you don't plan on seeing one of the Verizon Center events. Other Vida spas can be found at the Renaissance Hotel and on 15th Street.
Monumental Sports & Entertainment took over ownership of the Verizon Center Washington DC in 2010. In addition to taking care of the event center, the company also manages the three professional sports teams that call it home—the Washington Wizards of the NBA, hockey's Capitals, and the Mystics of the the WNBA. The $200 million Verizon Center, which debuted in 1997, welcomes more than 2 million people for sporting events and concerts each year. Its opening sparked a revitalization of its home neighborhood, the Seventh Street District.
Growing more popular every year, the Verizon Center has hosted some of the top events in America, as diverse of the WNBA/NBA All-Star games, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the World Figure Skating Championships. Several different NCAA basketball tournaments have been held at this event center close to the White House. The Georgetown Hoyas play their home basketball games here, bringing top-tier college games in season from November through March. The schedule of Verizon Center events is planned far in advance, so you could check what's in town during your upcoming DC vacations. Tickets can be purchased in any number of ways, including right here on Destination360, for all of these events.
After the tip-off, the puck has dropped, or the first note has played, the Verizon Center springs to life with a full complement of visitor amenities Whether you're coming to enjoy a basketball game or any of the Verizon Center events, you'll enjoy a state-of-the-art facility jam-packed with dining options, executive suites, and an HD scoreboard. An hour before the events begin, you'll have the chance to enjoy a cocktail, appetizers, and dinner at Dewar's 12 Clubhouse. The restaurant is easy to find by F Street entrance of the Verizon Center Washington DC.
The Green Turtle Sports Bar & Grille was a Maryland-only option before it opened in 2007 at the Verizon Center Washington DC. This landmark restaurant, already a favorite along the shore in Ocean City, features great food served in a fun atmosphere. The family-friendly Turtle specializes in American food, especially hot wings, sliders, and burgers crafted from Angus beef. Many Verizon Center visitors make time for a bite to eat before and after the game.
Visitors to the Verizon Center also have the chance to do some shopping with the Team Store. Easy to access from F Street, the shop carries jerseys and souvenirs from all of the teams that call the VC home.
If your favorite team leaves you frustrated, you might want to make an appointment at the Vida Fitness and Bang Salon. Designed for wellness and relaxation, this space offers yoga, facials, and other ways to catch your breath and feel wonderful. You can make an appointment even if you don't plan on seeing one of the Verizon Center events. Other Vida spas can be found at the Renaissance Hotel and on 15th Street.
Union Station Washington DC
Union Station Washington DC is the first place many people experience America's capital city. A transportation hub, mall, and attraction wrapped into one, Union Station is an exciting place to visit. Just five blocks from United States Capitol, Union Station welcomes rail passengers as a Metro Station and Amtrak hub. However, not every visitor to the historic depot comes by train; more than 30 million people visit this full-service retail center every year.
Even though the depot serves a very practical purpose, it's also a place of beauty with an interesting history. This white beaux-arts building has been standing since the beginning of the twentieth century. Also showing elements of Classical design, Union Station Washington DC was designed by Daniel Burnham, who previously turned fire-ravaged Chicago into a world-class city. As happened with many rail stations, time was not kind as more and more people began traveling by air. A major transformation began in the 1980s with the arrival of the Union station stores and restaurants.
After this ambitious undertaking, the facility was restored to its former glory. In the years since, it has become one of the most popular attractions in Washington DC. Shopping enthusiasts can explore two levels of retail space occupied by a variety of upscale shops. You'll find boutiques, clothing stores, gift shops, and souvenir stores among the list of Union Station shops. Some have familiar names, while others are unique to the retail center.
When the weather is warm, the shopping opportunities expand with the Outdoor Market. You can take the escalators near the First Street Metro Station and make your way to the West Carriage Porch. These outdoor complements to the Union Station stores include all that you'd expect from a farmer's market, including fresh produce and fresh flowers. You'll also find organic items, tempting desserts, and jewelry. If you're staying at one of the hotels near Union Station DC, you can make a quick stroll to the market and pick up breakfast or some snacks to bring with on the day's adventures. Some of the hotels are so close you can walk there and relax in your room within minutes.
You also could venture into Union Station Washington DC at meal time. With fine restaurants, casual eateries, and a food court, the depot offers a cornucopia of meal and grazing options. You'll find places where you can linger over coffee or enjoy a romantic Saturday night meal under the roof of Union Station. The casual cafes are a great place to fuel up before you walk from Union Station to any of the nearby attractions. Just across the street, you can explore the surprisingly fascinating world of the National Postal Museum. Six more blocks will lead to the Folger Shakespeare Library. When you add in a ride on the Metro, you won't be far from any of the cool attractions in town. If you just want a quiet place to relax, you could hop in a taxi or make the short walk to any of the hotels near Union Station DC.
There are several hotels near Union Station that are worth considering. A five-block walk away, the Capitol Hill Suites is one of the most modern hotels in the city, even though its history stretches back more than two centuries. All of the 152 suites at renovated boutique hotel offer more space than a typical hotel room, while many of rooms features full kitchens. One of the Historic Hotels of America, the Phoenix Park Hotel, offers 150 welcoming guestrooms as well as all of the modern conveniences—all within a block of Union Station. Just two blocks away, the Washington Court Hotel offers a variety of vacation packages that take guesswork out what to do in such an exciting city.
Union Station is included on several tour company's itineraries, and several begin right at Union Station. Within in a few steps of the door, you can step aboard a trolley, bus, or some other form of transportation and start exploring the city right away. Many of the tours will even drop you off at one of hotels near Union Station DC, so you don't have to worry about traffic, parking, or any other transportation headaches. When it's time to go home, you can return to Union Station for a train to New York, Boston, or connections to about anywhere in America.
Even though the depot serves a very practical purpose, it's also a place of beauty with an interesting history. This white beaux-arts building has been standing since the beginning of the twentieth century. Also showing elements of Classical design, Union Station Washington DC was designed by Daniel Burnham, who previously turned fire-ravaged Chicago into a world-class city. As happened with many rail stations, time was not kind as more and more people began traveling by air. A major transformation began in the 1980s with the arrival of the Union station stores and restaurants.
After this ambitious undertaking, the facility was restored to its former glory. In the years since, it has become one of the most popular attractions in Washington DC. Shopping enthusiasts can explore two levels of retail space occupied by a variety of upscale shops. You'll find boutiques, clothing stores, gift shops, and souvenir stores among the list of Union Station shops. Some have familiar names, while others are unique to the retail center.
When the weather is warm, the shopping opportunities expand with the Outdoor Market. You can take the escalators near the First Street Metro Station and make your way to the West Carriage Porch. These outdoor complements to the Union Station stores include all that you'd expect from a farmer's market, including fresh produce and fresh flowers. You'll also find organic items, tempting desserts, and jewelry. If you're staying at one of the hotels near Union Station DC, you can make a quick stroll to the market and pick up breakfast or some snacks to bring with on the day's adventures. Some of the hotels are so close you can walk there and relax in your room within minutes.
You also could venture into Union Station Washington DC at meal time. With fine restaurants, casual eateries, and a food court, the depot offers a cornucopia of meal and grazing options. You'll find places where you can linger over coffee or enjoy a romantic Saturday night meal under the roof of Union Station. The casual cafes are a great place to fuel up before you walk from Union Station to any of the nearby attractions. Just across the street, you can explore the surprisingly fascinating world of the National Postal Museum. Six more blocks will lead to the Folger Shakespeare Library. When you add in a ride on the Metro, you won't be far from any of the cool attractions in town. If you just want a quiet place to relax, you could hop in a taxi or make the short walk to any of the hotels near Union Station DC.
There are several hotels near Union Station that are worth considering. A five-block walk away, the Capitol Hill Suites is one of the most modern hotels in the city, even though its history stretches back more than two centuries. All of the 152 suites at renovated boutique hotel offer more space than a typical hotel room, while many of rooms features full kitchens. One of the Historic Hotels of America, the Phoenix Park Hotel, offers 150 welcoming guestrooms as well as all of the modern conveniences—all within a block of Union Station. Just two blocks away, the Washington Court Hotel offers a variety of vacation packages that take guesswork out what to do in such an exciting city.
Union Station is included on several tour company's itineraries, and several begin right at Union Station. Within in a few steps of the door, you can step aboard a trolley, bus, or some other form of transportation and start exploring the city right away. Many of the tours will even drop you off at one of hotels near Union Station DC, so you don't have to worry about traffic, parking, or any other transportation headaches. When it's time to go home, you can return to Union Station for a train to New York, Boston, or connections to about anywhere in America.
Shakespeare Theater in Washington DC
Washington DC Shakespeare Theater breathes new life in the Bard's work and other classics. While things have changed a lot in the centuries since Shakespeare penned his plays, the poetic language and universal themes of love, loss, and power still ring true today. With a modern and accessible theater complex in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC adds to the vibrant cultural scene.
The 2007/2008 season was a momentous season in the history of the Washington DC Shakespeare Theater. The debut of the Sindey Harman Hall added another stage and 775 more seats to the company's complex. Together with the already standing Lansburgh Theatre, the new addition created the Harman Center for the Arts. The new theater fills five stories of a DC skyscraper; this building is co-owned by the theater company and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. The architecture is quite spectacular here, and includes a glass facade that towers over the sidewalk, making the marquee truly one-of-a-kind. If you're walking by, you'll be afforded views of the people in the lobby and all the hustle and bustle before a show and during intermission.
The various Shakespeare classics and others plays are performed at both theaters of the Harman Center for the Arts. Over the course of the season, the company will stage a mix of Shakespeare, works by his contemporaries, and other productions that illustrate the influence of the great playwright. All of the works underscore the mission to create imaginative productions that honor the poetic language while viewed through the lens of the 21st century. Most of the works by the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC are suitable for family vacations, especially the weekend matinees.
Whether you're planning to see a show on Saturday afternoon or a Tuesday night, you'll see a mix of top talent and up-and-comers. The technical aspects of the show are superb. Besides the production, theater goers also can enjoy a light meal in the lobby. If you'd like to avoid the line at intermission, you can order your food ahead of time and have it waiting when the time comes. You'll also have the chance to do some shopping as you're enjoying the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC, as both theaters offer a gift shop. The shops are open before the show and during intersession, and the Harman Hall store keeps regular hours during the week.
Over the years, the Shakespeare Theater in DC has sponsored one of the most popular things to do in the summer, the Free For All. This beloved tradition makes Shakespeare accessible to everyone, as long as they're willing to make their way to Sidney Harman Hall. The theater on F Street is easy to access from the Metro station at Gallery Place and Chinatown. These performances of a select Shakespeare classic take place at the end of summer, usually the middle of August until Labor Day weekend. Tickets are required and only available the day of performance at the Harman Hall box office.
The Penn Quarter Neighborhood, where the Washington DC Shakespeare Theater is located, had grown into one of the most exciting cultural centers in America since the 1990s. Within a short walk of the theaters, you'll find restaurants serving up nearly any flavor you crave as well as upscale hotels and movie theaters. The Verizon Center hosts major sporting events and concerts at night, while the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian Museum of American Art attract visitors during the day.
The 2007/2008 season was a momentous season in the history of the Washington DC Shakespeare Theater. The debut of the Sindey Harman Hall added another stage and 775 more seats to the company's complex. Together with the already standing Lansburgh Theatre, the new addition created the Harman Center for the Arts. The new theater fills five stories of a DC skyscraper; this building is co-owned by the theater company and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers. The architecture is quite spectacular here, and includes a glass facade that towers over the sidewalk, making the marquee truly one-of-a-kind. If you're walking by, you'll be afforded views of the people in the lobby and all the hustle and bustle before a show and during intermission.
The various Shakespeare classics and others plays are performed at both theaters of the Harman Center for the Arts. Over the course of the season, the company will stage a mix of Shakespeare, works by his contemporaries, and other productions that illustrate the influence of the great playwright. All of the works underscore the mission to create imaginative productions that honor the poetic language while viewed through the lens of the 21st century. Most of the works by the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC are suitable for family vacations, especially the weekend matinees.
Whether you're planning to see a show on Saturday afternoon or a Tuesday night, you'll see a mix of top talent and up-and-comers. The technical aspects of the show are superb. Besides the production, theater goers also can enjoy a light meal in the lobby. If you'd like to avoid the line at intermission, you can order your food ahead of time and have it waiting when the time comes. You'll also have the chance to do some shopping as you're enjoying the Shakespeare Theater Company in DC, as both theaters offer a gift shop. The shops are open before the show and during intersession, and the Harman Hall store keeps regular hours during the week.
Over the years, the Shakespeare Theater in DC has sponsored one of the most popular things to do in the summer, the Free For All. This beloved tradition makes Shakespeare accessible to everyone, as long as they're willing to make their way to Sidney Harman Hall. The theater on F Street is easy to access from the Metro station at Gallery Place and Chinatown. These performances of a select Shakespeare classic take place at the end of summer, usually the middle of August until Labor Day weekend. Tickets are required and only available the day of performance at the Harman Hall box office.
The Penn Quarter Neighborhood, where the Washington DC Shakespeare Theater is located, had grown into one of the most exciting cultural centers in America since the 1990s. Within a short walk of the theaters, you'll find restaurants serving up nearly any flavor you crave as well as upscale hotels and movie theaters. The Verizon Center hosts major sporting events and concerts at night, while the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian Museum of American Art attract visitors during the day.
Smithsonian Institution Museums in Washington DC
"The Nation's Attic," the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC, is the world"s largest museum complex and research organization. Composed of 17 museums and the National Zoo in metropolitan Washington DC, and two New York facilities, the Smithsonian Institution museums offer visitors a window on its enormous holdings, including in excess of 142 million artifacts. The Smithsonian Institution museum's holdings are so vast that exhibitors display only about 1% or 2% of the collection's holdings at any given time.
The Smithsonian institute in Washington DC's holdings range every area of human interest, from a 3.5-billion-year-old fossil to part of a 1902 Horn & Hardart Automat. The Smithsonian has funded countless exploratory projects for science, increasing our knowledge of the furthest reaches of civilization. The Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington DC include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Museum of American History, the American Museum of African Art, among others. Somewhat prominent is Smithsonian Institution Building.
This red, nineteenth-century palace of sandstone, commonly referred to as the "Castle," is the national mall's oldest structure, nonetheless it houses the high-tech comprehensive Smithsonian Information Center. Its Great Hall shows a half hour film summarizing the institution for visitors, which runs regularly all day. There are also enormous electronic maps and models depicting the national mall. Extensive interactive exhibits and videos allow tourists to find almost 100 popular destinations, as well as their respective public transportation stops.
The castle makes a good first stop, as you wander through the ten museums on the National Mall. Enter through the gardens, and pay attention to the beautiful entrance hall, which has been restored to its late nineteenth century appearance. It was originally designed to display exhibits at a child's eye level. The ceiling, gilded with gold, depicts a lush arbor of grapes with royally plumed birds, and cobalt sky peeping through trelliswork. There is a coffee kiosk outside near the Enid A. Haupt Garden, where you can settle on a bench and plan your day. On Sundays, start to your Washington DC Smithsonian adventure at the Castle, which serves a fabulous brunch from 11 am until 2pm in the Commons Room.
Since it is impossible to visit all of the fifteen fascinating museums in a single visit, it's best to pick a few, and save the rest for your next trip. Most of the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC are located within a one-mile region between Independence and Constitution Avenues downtown. Admission is free for all Smithsonian museums in Washington DC, so walk at leisure but wear comfortable shoes. The easiest way to enjoy getting to the museums on the National Mall is to avoid parking if possible. Take a cab, or better, experience Washington's Metrorail, which has several stops of use, the most central being the one bearing the name Smithsonian. Who knows what you will enjoy most, but everyone finds something interesting at the Washington DC Smithsonian. An ongoing celebration of our national and world cultures, the Smithsonian institute in Washington DC represents for Americans the treasured icons of our past, the vibrant art of our present, and the scientific promise of our future.
The Smithsonian institute in Washington DC's holdings range every area of human interest, from a 3.5-billion-year-old fossil to part of a 1902 Horn & Hardart Automat. The Smithsonian has funded countless exploratory projects for science, increasing our knowledge of the furthest reaches of civilization. The Smithsonian Institution museums in Washington DC include the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the National Museum of American History, the American Museum of African Art, among others. Somewhat prominent is Smithsonian Institution Building.
This red, nineteenth-century palace of sandstone, commonly referred to as the "Castle," is the national mall's oldest structure, nonetheless it houses the high-tech comprehensive Smithsonian Information Center. Its Great Hall shows a half hour film summarizing the institution for visitors, which runs regularly all day. There are also enormous electronic maps and models depicting the national mall. Extensive interactive exhibits and videos allow tourists to find almost 100 popular destinations, as well as their respective public transportation stops.
The castle makes a good first stop, as you wander through the ten museums on the National Mall. Enter through the gardens, and pay attention to the beautiful entrance hall, which has been restored to its late nineteenth century appearance. It was originally designed to display exhibits at a child's eye level. The ceiling, gilded with gold, depicts a lush arbor of grapes with royally plumed birds, and cobalt sky peeping through trelliswork. There is a coffee kiosk outside near the Enid A. Haupt Garden, where you can settle on a bench and plan your day. On Sundays, start to your Washington DC Smithsonian adventure at the Castle, which serves a fabulous brunch from 11 am until 2pm in the Commons Room.
Since it is impossible to visit all of the fifteen fascinating museums in a single visit, it's best to pick a few, and save the rest for your next trip. Most of the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC are located within a one-mile region between Independence and Constitution Avenues downtown. Admission is free for all Smithsonian museums in Washington DC, so walk at leisure but wear comfortable shoes. The easiest way to enjoy getting to the museums on the National Mall is to avoid parking if possible. Take a cab, or better, experience Washington's Metrorail, which has several stops of use, the most central being the one bearing the name Smithsonian. Who knows what you will enjoy most, but everyone finds something interesting at the Washington DC Smithsonian. An ongoing celebration of our national and world cultures, the Smithsonian institute in Washington DC represents for Americans the treasured icons of our past, the vibrant art of our present, and the scientific promise of our future.
7th Street Washington DC
The Seventh Street District, the downtown area surrounding the Washington Convention Center and the Verizon sports complex, is also known as the Washington DC Chinatown and shopping district. Here you will find everything from fine Washington DC restaurants serving Chinese and diverse ethnic cuisines, to great museums and theaters and movie houses. Close by is the recently developed Verizon Center, where DC's basketball and hockey teams, the Wizards and the Capitals, host their home games. Here, also, concert fans convene for major tours, spilling over into several breweries, restaurants and sports bars that have developed in the area. The Washington DC art gallery has found a home in the Seventh Street District too, as its nightlife burgeons.
There is an interesting fusion of contemporary American culture and international exploration here. Within a few blocks of the Verizon Center, you can stroll under the enormous intricate Friendship Arch and find yourself immersed in the sounds, smells, and tastes of Chinatown. Considered Chinatown's "gateway," Friendship Arch is a vibrantly colored landmark, replete with thousands of glazed tiles, and giant panels with carved golden dragons. Featured in the center is a marble panel inscribed with characters from the Chinese language, which read "zhongguo cheng," meaning Chinese city.
After the DC riots of 1968, Chinatown deteriorated quickly, as did many other areas of Washington DC. With increasing taxation and crime, and a general decline in business, many of the Chinese residents, along with other DC natives, moved to the suburbs. In 1976, when Washington Metro opened a subway stop in the area, they named it "Gallery Place," acknowledging its artistic makeup but ignoring ethnic Chinatown completely. In 1986, the city dedicated the Friendship Arch, and it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood's Chinese character. Each winter, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in grand fashion, and people from all over the Washington Metropolitan region gather for its fireworks and colorful parade. The neighborhood is now served by the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop, in keeping with it dual identities.
In 2004, the Seventh Street District underwent a $200 million renovation, transforming the area into a bustling scene for nightlife, shopping and entertainment with high-end restaurants, a deluxe movie theater and exclusive department stores. Visitors to Washington DC enjoy the new Gallery Place, a complex with business, shopping, dining, and a 14-screen stadium-style movie theater, all within walking distance to many of DC's tourist attractions. Among the shops at Gallery Place, you will find Urban Outfitters, Aveda, Thai Chili, Ann Taylor, Clyde's, Benetton, Miso Hungry, Washington Sport and Health Clubs, just to name a few.
In addition to great Washington DC restaurants, Washington DC Chinatown and shopping, the Seventh Street District has nurtured many a Washington DC art gallery. The 7th Street Arts District and Gallery Row provide refreshingly cool respite during DC's sweltering summers, and hot art indoors when it"s cold in the city, so you can't go wrong! Discover a whole host of treats for the senses and the soul in this four-block area, where urban renovation is itself a thing of ongoing beauty.
There is an interesting fusion of contemporary American culture and international exploration here. Within a few blocks of the Verizon Center, you can stroll under the enormous intricate Friendship Arch and find yourself immersed in the sounds, smells, and tastes of Chinatown. Considered Chinatown's "gateway," Friendship Arch is a vibrantly colored landmark, replete with thousands of glazed tiles, and giant panels with carved golden dragons. Featured in the center is a marble panel inscribed with characters from the Chinese language, which read "zhongguo cheng," meaning Chinese city.
After the DC riots of 1968, Chinatown deteriorated quickly, as did many other areas of Washington DC. With increasing taxation and crime, and a general decline in business, many of the Chinese residents, along with other DC natives, moved to the suburbs. In 1976, when Washington Metro opened a subway stop in the area, they named it "Gallery Place," acknowledging its artistic makeup but ignoring ethnic Chinatown completely. In 1986, the city dedicated the Friendship Arch, and it was hoped the arch would reinforce the neighborhood's Chinese character. Each winter, the Chinese New Year is celebrated in grand fashion, and people from all over the Washington Metropolitan region gather for its fireworks and colorful parade. The neighborhood is now served by the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro stop, in keeping with it dual identities.
In 2004, the Seventh Street District underwent a $200 million renovation, transforming the area into a bustling scene for nightlife, shopping and entertainment with high-end restaurants, a deluxe movie theater and exclusive department stores. Visitors to Washington DC enjoy the new Gallery Place, a complex with business, shopping, dining, and a 14-screen stadium-style movie theater, all within walking distance to many of DC's tourist attractions. Among the shops at Gallery Place, you will find Urban Outfitters, Aveda, Thai Chili, Ann Taylor, Clyde's, Benetton, Miso Hungry, Washington Sport and Health Clubs, just to name a few.
In addition to great Washington DC restaurants, Washington DC Chinatown and shopping, the Seventh Street District has nurtured many a Washington DC art gallery. The 7th Street Arts District and Gallery Row provide refreshingly cool respite during DC's sweltering summers, and hot art indoors when it"s cold in the city, so you can't go wrong! Discover a whole host of treats for the senses and the soul in this four-block area, where urban renovation is itself a thing of ongoing beauty.
Phillips Collection, Washington DC
The Phillips Collection was one of the first modern art museums in the world. Located in a thriving neighborhood, Dupont Circle, this intimate museum has transformed a family home into a showplace for creative vision. You'll recognize the names of many artists on display here, including Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent van Gogh, and Mark Rothko are all represented, as are others who have yet to find fame.
Since the museum opened in 1921, the Phillips Collection has grown and expanded, adding new artists and pieces of art. Unlike other arts attractions, the Phillips focuses primarily on art from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as some 19th-century works of art. Throughout the year, the museum stages special exhibits, some focusing on a single artists, others exploring a theme. If you're following a guide or exploring on your own, you'll find some amazing works of art among the Phillips Collect art exhibitions.
Today, the Phillips Collection is a full-service museum, but it never feels cavernous or overwhelming to visit. The original Phillips family home, a handsome example of Georgian Revival architecture, now forms the southern portion of the building. The Phillips Collection Washington DC has been expanded many times over its history—a modernist wing was added in 1960, which was renovated 30 years later.
The Phillips Collection Washington DC is open every day of the week with the exception of Monday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Evening tours are an option on Thursday and Sunday. The first Thursday evening of the month, you'll have the chance to hear live music, attend a gallery talk, or join in one of the special events sponsored by the Center for the Study of Modern Art.
If you'd like a closer look at the Phillips Collect art exhibitions, consider joining one of the gallery tours or talks. Like many museums, the Phillips offers in-depth opportunities to learn about the art and the people who created it. Reservations are not needed unless you're planning on visiting in a large group. Tuesday through Friday, noontime spotlight tours provide an excellent overview. When noon arrives on Saturday, the guides will lead a tour of the whatever special exhibit is on display at the time.
Tickets are required for general entry to the Phillips Collection and some of the special exhibits. If you're looking around for vacation deals, you'll be glad to know that general admission is free for anyone under the age of 18, and entry to special exhibits is discounted for students and seniors. During the work week, you can visit the permanent collection by donation; all contributions are welcome.
Along with touring the Phillips Collect art exhibitions, you'll have the chance to enjoy a meal at the museum. Its cafe, FoodArts, offers pleasant dining experiences whether you're looking for a quick lunch or coffee break. When the weather is nice, you can choose to dine outside on the terrace. The enclosed space, which opened in 2006, also can be reached from the galleries—it's home to a bronze sculpture by Ellsworth Kelly, simply called Untitled.
Like the White House, the Phillips Collection Washington DC has an address of 1600. Rather than Pennsylvania Avenue, the art museum is located along 21st Street NW, close to the Dupont Circle Metro station.
Since the museum opened in 1921, the Phillips Collection has grown and expanded, adding new artists and pieces of art. Unlike other arts attractions, the Phillips focuses primarily on art from the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as some 19th-century works of art. Throughout the year, the museum stages special exhibits, some focusing on a single artists, others exploring a theme. If you're following a guide or exploring on your own, you'll find some amazing works of art among the Phillips Collect art exhibitions.
Today, the Phillips Collection is a full-service museum, but it never feels cavernous or overwhelming to visit. The original Phillips family home, a handsome example of Georgian Revival architecture, now forms the southern portion of the building. The Phillips Collection Washington DC has been expanded many times over its history—a modernist wing was added in 1960, which was renovated 30 years later.
The Phillips Collection Washington DC is open every day of the week with the exception of Monday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Evening tours are an option on Thursday and Sunday. The first Thursday evening of the month, you'll have the chance to hear live music, attend a gallery talk, or join in one of the special events sponsored by the Center for the Study of Modern Art.
If you'd like a closer look at the Phillips Collect art exhibitions, consider joining one of the gallery tours or talks. Like many museums, the Phillips offers in-depth opportunities to learn about the art and the people who created it. Reservations are not needed unless you're planning on visiting in a large group. Tuesday through Friday, noontime spotlight tours provide an excellent overview. When noon arrives on Saturday, the guides will lead a tour of the whatever special exhibit is on display at the time.
Tickets are required for general entry to the Phillips Collection and some of the special exhibits. If you're looking around for vacation deals, you'll be glad to know that general admission is free for anyone under the age of 18, and entry to special exhibits is discounted for students and seniors. During the work week, you can visit the permanent collection by donation; all contributions are welcome.
Along with touring the Phillips Collect art exhibitions, you'll have the chance to enjoy a meal at the museum. Its cafe, FoodArts, offers pleasant dining experiences whether you're looking for a quick lunch or coffee break. When the weather is nice, you can choose to dine outside on the terrace. The enclosed space, which opened in 2006, also can be reached from the galleries—it's home to a bronze sculpture by Ellsworth Kelly, simply called Untitled.
Like the White House, the Phillips Collection Washington DC has an address of 1600. Rather than Pennsylvania Avenue, the art museum is located along 21st Street NW, close to the Dupont Circle Metro station.
Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC
Pennsylvania Avenue is among the world"s most famous streets, containing several of the must-see Washington DC tourist attractions. The avenue runs for seven miles inside Washington, but the stretch from the White House to the United States Capitol building is considered the most important - effectively the heart of the city. Throughout history, Americans have gathered to rally, protest and parade on the Avenue, and can always be found opinionating in Lafayette Park, also known as "Presidents Park," across from The White House. Every four years the nation celebrates inauguration with a grand promenade down the Avenue, while other national heroes and foreign leaders have been honored with parades and motorcades there as well. It is no wonder that Pennsylvania Avenue is called the "Avenue of Presidents" and "America's Main Street," becoming one of the most popular Washington DC tourist attractions. Whether celebrating or mourning, the Avenue of Presidents is the place where the people of the nation gather to commemorate their wins and losses.
Pennsylvania Avenue has gone through a remarkable physical evolution over its two centuries of history. The Avenue of Presidents, like many other Washington DC tourist attractions, was the brainchild of Pierre L'Enfant, who was presidentially appointed in 1791 by George Washington to plan the new Nation's capital city. Connecting Jenkins Hill and a ridge north of Tiber Creek, L"Enfant linked the houses of Congress and the President with a bold diagonal avenue, not unlike the Champs Elysees.
Today, the Treasury Building, designed by Robert Mills, is one of Pennsylvania Avenue's historic structures. Considered by many to be the most spectacular Greek revival building in the United States, it is surpassed in age only by the White House and the Capitol among the federal buildings that are Washington DC tourist attractions. Another historic treasure is the Post Office Pavilion. Designer Willoughby J. Edbrooke completed the building in the Romanesque Revival style by 1899. Its skyrocketing tower clock remains a current Avenue of Presidents landmark. This building was followed in 1909 by the completion of the District Building. Designed in the Beaux Arts style, the building was constructed to house the District of Columbia government. Still in use by the District's government today, it too remains an Avenue landmark.
Not just the scene of official functions, Pennsylvania Avenue is the traditional parade and protest route of ordinary citizens. For instance, in the depression era, 500 protesting supporters of Jacob Coxey rallied down Pennsylvania Avenue to insist on federal provision of unemployment benefits. The night before Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated in 1913, Alice Paul brilliantly led a march empowering the suffragette movement for women. Citizens today still come here from all over the world, to let their voices be heard in Lafayette Park, a seven-acre park across from the White House also known as the "Presidents Park." The noble statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback commands the Square, while in each corner a hero of The Revolutionary War is honored. This public forum for opinionating is a resounding reminder of the democratic revolution that gave rise to the splendor of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Pennsylvania Avenue has gone through a remarkable physical evolution over its two centuries of history. The Avenue of Presidents, like many other Washington DC tourist attractions, was the brainchild of Pierre L'Enfant, who was presidentially appointed in 1791 by George Washington to plan the new Nation's capital city. Connecting Jenkins Hill and a ridge north of Tiber Creek, L"Enfant linked the houses of Congress and the President with a bold diagonal avenue, not unlike the Champs Elysees.
Today, the Treasury Building, designed by Robert Mills, is one of Pennsylvania Avenue's historic structures. Considered by many to be the most spectacular Greek revival building in the United States, it is surpassed in age only by the White House and the Capitol among the federal buildings that are Washington DC tourist attractions. Another historic treasure is the Post Office Pavilion. Designer Willoughby J. Edbrooke completed the building in the Romanesque Revival style by 1899. Its skyrocketing tower clock remains a current Avenue of Presidents landmark. This building was followed in 1909 by the completion of the District Building. Designed in the Beaux Arts style, the building was constructed to house the District of Columbia government. Still in use by the District's government today, it too remains an Avenue landmark.
Not just the scene of official functions, Pennsylvania Avenue is the traditional parade and protest route of ordinary citizens. For instance, in the depression era, 500 protesting supporters of Jacob Coxey rallied down Pennsylvania Avenue to insist on federal provision of unemployment benefits. The night before Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated in 1913, Alice Paul brilliantly led a march empowering the suffragette movement for women. Citizens today still come here from all over the world, to let their voices be heard in Lafayette Park, a seven-acre park across from the White House also known as the "Presidents Park." The noble statue of Andrew Jackson on horseback commands the Square, while in each corner a hero of The Revolutionary War is honored. This public forum for opinionating is a resounding reminder of the democratic revolution that gave rise to the splendor of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington DC
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park Washington DC is a great place to explore, find and learn about diverse and exotic creatures, whether giant giraffes or miniscule leaf-cutter ants. Learning about other species by watching their behavior can offer us new insight into ourselves. Finding out about the survival strategies that different animals have stretches the imagination. Seeing young animals learning to adjust to their new environment and interacting with their mothers can be a life-affirming experience. The animal youngsters at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park are irresistible and entertaining. While visiting DC, discover the baby gorillas, the cubs of pandas and cheetahs, a young elephant from Asia, and other animals recently born at the Zoo.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park was founded in 1889. Its mission is to study, celebrate, and protect the diversity of animals and their habitats. About 2,400 individuals of 400 different species are in the animal collection. The Zoological Park's principle purpose was not to amuse people, but to save endangered animals native to the United States. The Zoo was birthed during an era when American people were concerned about reaching the end of the frontier, and the emerging power of urban industry in society. The animals at the Zoo reminded visitors of the tragically diminishing American Wilderness.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park has two installations, one of which is devoted to research. The public zoo is a beautiful 163-acre urban park located in Northwest Washington DC, 20 minutes from the National Mall by subway. While visiting DC, come to the zoo free of charge, and discover life in the world of cheetahs, zebras and even the scimitar-horned oryx. Witness an eagle feeding, and learn about other majestic birds of flight like hawks and falcons. Watch a mother elephant and her calf being bathed. Or, attend a bird house indoor flight exhibit, where you can watch birds forage and catch their food mid-flight, as a keeper and a volunteer narrate.
While visiting the National Zoological Park Washington DC learn about our giant pandas, and pandas in the wild. The National Zoo has been the home to giant pandas for more than 30 years. First Hsing Hsing and Ling Ling in 1972, and, since 2000, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, have symbolized the Zoo's efforts to celebrate, study, and protect endangered species and their habitats. The July 9, 2005, birth of giant panda Tai Shan underscores these efforts.
Food is plentiful at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. When visiting the pandas, you can try the Panda Cafe. When exploring Lion/Tiger Hill, don't miss Mane Restaurant. There is also an Express Grill at Panda Plaza, and near the small mammals you will find a seasonal Popstop. You can also bring your own picnic. Coolers are permitted, but not grills or other cooking devices. There are picnic areas throughout the Zoo, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Zoo sits adjacent to Rock Creek Park and can be entered at 3001 Connecticut Ave., on Harvard St. and on Beach Dr. It is easily accessed from the Metro stop Woodley Park/Zoo. It is open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm between April 15th and October 15th. The rest of the year it is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is free, since the zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution. As the National Zoological Park Washington DC celebrates the 117th anniversary of its establishment in 1889, its mission to study, celebrate, and protect animals and their habitats is as vital as ever, if humankind is to save what remains of the Earth's biological diversity.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park was founded in 1889. Its mission is to study, celebrate, and protect the diversity of animals and their habitats. About 2,400 individuals of 400 different species are in the animal collection. The Zoological Park's principle purpose was not to amuse people, but to save endangered animals native to the United States. The Zoo was birthed during an era when American people were concerned about reaching the end of the frontier, and the emerging power of urban industry in society. The animals at the Zoo reminded visitors of the tragically diminishing American Wilderness.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park has two installations, one of which is devoted to research. The public zoo is a beautiful 163-acre urban park located in Northwest Washington DC, 20 minutes from the National Mall by subway. While visiting DC, come to the zoo free of charge, and discover life in the world of cheetahs, zebras and even the scimitar-horned oryx. Witness an eagle feeding, and learn about other majestic birds of flight like hawks and falcons. Watch a mother elephant and her calf being bathed. Or, attend a bird house indoor flight exhibit, where you can watch birds forage and catch their food mid-flight, as a keeper and a volunteer narrate.
While visiting the National Zoological Park Washington DC learn about our giant pandas, and pandas in the wild. The National Zoo has been the home to giant pandas for more than 30 years. First Hsing Hsing and Ling Ling in 1972, and, since 2000, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, have symbolized the Zoo's efforts to celebrate, study, and protect endangered species and their habitats. The July 9, 2005, birth of giant panda Tai Shan underscores these efforts.
Food is plentiful at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. When visiting the pandas, you can try the Panda Cafe. When exploring Lion/Tiger Hill, don't miss Mane Restaurant. There is also an Express Grill at Panda Plaza, and near the small mammals you will find a seasonal Popstop. You can also bring your own picnic. Coolers are permitted, but not grills or other cooking devices. There are picnic areas throughout the Zoo, available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Zoo sits adjacent to Rock Creek Park and can be entered at 3001 Connecticut Ave., on Harvard St. and on Beach Dr. It is easily accessed from the Metro stop Woodley Park/Zoo. It is open every day from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm between April 15th and October 15th. The rest of the year it is open daily from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Admission is free, since the zoo is part of the Smithsonian Institution. As the National Zoological Park Washington DC celebrates the 117th anniversary of its establishment in 1889, its mission to study, celebrate, and protect animals and their habitats is as vital as ever, if humankind is to save what remains of the Earth's biological diversity.
National WWII Memorial, Washington DC
The National WWII Memorial was the first monument dedicated to all of America's veterans who served fought in the Pacific, Europe, and on the home front during World War II. In total, more than 16 million men and women served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and 400,000 of these people gave their lives. One of the monuments on the National Mall, the WWII Memorial honors the spirit, courage, and commitments of Americans from towns large and small who served their county.
The roots of the National WWII Memorial Washington DC may not stretch back as far as you might think. It wasn't until the 1990s7mdash;when many of the veterans were entering their golden years—:that President Clinton authorized the creation of the monument. This WWII Memorial officially joined the Washington DC monuments scene in 2004. At this time, the American Battle Monuments Commission transferred the oversight to the National Park Service. Before this, the ABMC was instrumental in all that it did to create the monument, from the fundraising stage to construction.
Even if you're just driving by, the WWII Memorial Washington DC will catch your attention. Standing proud at the corner of 17th Street and Independence Avenue, the memorial is hard to miss. A mix of marble, bronze, and trees, the monument is a fitting tribute to the brave servicemen and women who answered the call of duty. Not far from the Washington Monument, the National WW II Memorial is worth a visit when you're exploring America's capital city.
Like the major monuments, you do not need to pay a penny to experience the WWII Memorial. As you step up to the park-like plaza, you'll sure to be inspired. Flanked by towering elm trees, the monument was designed to be at once grand and respectful of nature. As one of the free things to do in DC, you won't have to worry about purchasing tickets or standing in a line to see the WWII Memorial Washington DC.
Veterans and civilians alike are awed by this massive monument-the most striking element is are the twin arches, which tower 43 feet high. Each state or territory (as of the World War II era) is represented by a seventeen-foot-tall pillar, while a sea of gold stars to honor those who perished. Bronze relief panels tell the story of America during the war, and the seals of each branch of service are found at the base of the bronze and granite. You'll also find waterfalls and a reflecting pool. As you take the time to overlook the site, you can view the Lincoln Memorial in the distance, and you can ponder what it took for all of these Americans who went to war around the world some two generations after Lincoln lead the Union in the Civil War.
Limited parking is available between the Lincoln and the Jefferson Memorial, which fills up quickly. Handicapped parking can be found at the lot between the WWII Memorial and the FDR Memorial. If you don't want to worry about parking, consider hopping aboard public transportation. The closest Metro stop, 12th Street and Independence, is a ten- or fifteen-minute walk away. Many bus tours and trolley tours include the monuments on their schedule, with narration that fills you in on the creation of this stirring memorial.
The roots of the National WWII Memorial Washington DC may not stretch back as far as you might think. It wasn't until the 1990s7mdash;when many of the veterans were entering their golden years—:that President Clinton authorized the creation of the monument. This WWII Memorial officially joined the Washington DC monuments scene in 2004. At this time, the American Battle Monuments Commission transferred the oversight to the National Park Service. Before this, the ABMC was instrumental in all that it did to create the monument, from the fundraising stage to construction.
Even if you're just driving by, the WWII Memorial Washington DC will catch your attention. Standing proud at the corner of 17th Street and Independence Avenue, the memorial is hard to miss. A mix of marble, bronze, and trees, the monument is a fitting tribute to the brave servicemen and women who answered the call of duty. Not far from the Washington Monument, the National WW II Memorial is worth a visit when you're exploring America's capital city.
Like the major monuments, you do not need to pay a penny to experience the WWII Memorial. As you step up to the park-like plaza, you'll sure to be inspired. Flanked by towering elm trees, the monument was designed to be at once grand and respectful of nature. As one of the free things to do in DC, you won't have to worry about purchasing tickets or standing in a line to see the WWII Memorial Washington DC.
Veterans and civilians alike are awed by this massive monument-the most striking element is are the twin arches, which tower 43 feet high. Each state or territory (as of the World War II era) is represented by a seventeen-foot-tall pillar, while a sea of gold stars to honor those who perished. Bronze relief panels tell the story of America during the war, and the seals of each branch of service are found at the base of the bronze and granite. You'll also find waterfalls and a reflecting pool. As you take the time to overlook the site, you can view the Lincoln Memorial in the distance, and you can ponder what it took for all of these Americans who went to war around the world some two generations after Lincoln lead the Union in the Civil War.
Limited parking is available between the Lincoln and the Jefferson Memorial, which fills up quickly. Handicapped parking can be found at the lot between the WWII Memorial and the FDR Memorial. If you don't want to worry about parking, consider hopping aboard public transportation. The closest Metro stop, 12th Street and Independence, is a ten- or fifteen-minute walk away. Many bus tours and trolley tours include the monuments on their schedule, with narration that fills you in on the creation of this stirring memorial.
National Theater Washington DC
The National Theater Washington DC is one of the many places in the city where you can celebrate the arts. The venue hosts a wide array of stage shows, movies, and free events, along with boasting a deep history and even a ghost story or two.
Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Theater DC has earned the nickname the Theater of Presidents. Its strategic location, just three blocks away from the White House, is part of the reason. When it opened in 1835, Andrew Jackson held the highest office in the land and Pennsylvania was a muddy road in a capital that was at the beginning of a growth spurt. Since then, presidents and average people alike have enjoyed the National Theater events.
Over the years, the theater has welcomed stars of stage and screen, while surviving fires, scandals, and hauntings. If you're interested in knowing more about this one-of-a-kind history, consider taking one of the backstage tours. Available during the day, as long rehearsals are not taking place, these tours are led by volunteer guides who know the ins and outs of the National Theater Washington DC. You'll hear about the familiar names who graced the stage—Helen Hayes, Cab Calloway, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn have all appeared in works here. Before the brother-and-sister team of Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine were famous, each worked at the theater—Warren as a stage doorman and Shirley as an usher.
On these tours of the National Theater DC, one of the lesser-known fun things to do in the capital, the guide will also talk about the aspects that going into staging a production. It takes a lot of people working together to stage a Broadway-style production, including actors, directors, lighting technicians, and other experts who make the National Theater events success. The tour guide also tells a ghost story about the actor John McCullough who met an untimely end backstage. Shot by a fellow actor after an argument, McCullough is rumored to roam the theater to this day, in spirit at least, and has been seen in the audience on opening nights.
After dark, you'll have the chance to see a professional, full-scale production while you're enjoying the nightlife at the National Theater DC. This elegant theater, with orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony seating, is both a comfortable and elegant setting to see a show. The most popular and exciting shows take to the stage, including Dreamgirls, Les Miserables, and Doubt in the past. The schedule of National Theater events also includes entertaining community Vaudeville shows and summertime cinema events. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the box office.
On Monday evenings and Saturday mornings, you don't need a ticket to enjoy the entertainment at the National Theatre Washington DC—and who isn't looking for some free things to do? After the first business day of the week, people gather at the National Theatre to enjoy a dance performance. Saturday morning events are much more eclectic. Marimba players, snake trainers, magicians, and folk singers are just some of the performers who have taken to the stage on Saturday morning. Although these shows are free, tickets are still required. Seating can fill up quickly, so you will want to arrive at the theater in plenty of time to pick up tickets.
Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Theater DC has earned the nickname the Theater of Presidents. Its strategic location, just three blocks away from the White House, is part of the reason. When it opened in 1835, Andrew Jackson held the highest office in the land and Pennsylvania was a muddy road in a capital that was at the beginning of a growth spurt. Since then, presidents and average people alike have enjoyed the National Theater events.
Over the years, the theater has welcomed stars of stage and screen, while surviving fires, scandals, and hauntings. If you're interested in knowing more about this one-of-a-kind history, consider taking one of the backstage tours. Available during the day, as long rehearsals are not taking place, these tours are led by volunteer guides who know the ins and outs of the National Theater Washington DC. You'll hear about the familiar names who graced the stage—Helen Hayes, Cab Calloway, Spencer Tracy, and Katharine Hepburn have all appeared in works here. Before the brother-and-sister team of Warren Beatty and Shirley MacLaine were famous, each worked at the theater—Warren as a stage doorman and Shirley as an usher.
On these tours of the National Theater DC, one of the lesser-known fun things to do in the capital, the guide will also talk about the aspects that going into staging a production. It takes a lot of people working together to stage a Broadway-style production, including actors, directors, lighting technicians, and other experts who make the National Theater events success. The tour guide also tells a ghost story about the actor John McCullough who met an untimely end backstage. Shot by a fellow actor after an argument, McCullough is rumored to roam the theater to this day, in spirit at least, and has been seen in the audience on opening nights.
After dark, you'll have the chance to see a professional, full-scale production while you're enjoying the nightlife at the National Theater DC. This elegant theater, with orchestra, mezzanine, and balcony seating, is both a comfortable and elegant setting to see a show. The most popular and exciting shows take to the stage, including Dreamgirls, Les Miserables, and Doubt in the past. The schedule of National Theater events also includes entertaining community Vaudeville shows and summertime cinema events. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the box office.
On Monday evenings and Saturday mornings, you don't need a ticket to enjoy the entertainment at the National Theatre Washington DC—and who isn't looking for some free things to do? After the first business day of the week, people gather at the National Theatre to enjoy a dance performance. Saturday morning events are much more eclectic. Marimba players, snake trainers, magicians, and folk singers are just some of the performers who have taken to the stage on Saturday morning. Although these shows are free, tickets are still required. Seating can fill up quickly, so you will want to arrive at the theater in plenty of time to pick up tickets.
National Gallery of Art Washignton DC
The National Gallery of Art Washington DC is home to one of the most spectacular assemblies of art in existence, displaying significant accomplishments in art and sculpture, from the fifth century to contemporary times. The West Wing of this DC attraction features a collection of international masterpieces from the 13th to the 19th century, while the East Wing of the Washington DC art museum houses a modern collection of 20th century art. Most people don't realize it, but unlike many of the history and art museums in DC, the National Gallery of Art is not part of the Smithsonian complex.
The National Gallery of Art Washington DC has a dual personality. John Russell Pope was the architect who conceived its original West Building, the same neoclassical master who designed the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives. The West gallery is magnificent and marble, featuring a domed roof above a columned fountain, and hallways with vaulted ceilings, opening on charming courtyard gardens. The West building was donated to the country by Andrew Mellon, along with the core of its original collection of art. Several masterpieces from the Hermitage are among them, including two Raphael's.
The extremely contemporary East Building, by contrast, is made of adjacent glass triangles, featuring airy pyramid-like skylights soaring above. Inside this wing is a showcase for the museum's collection of 20th-century art, including works by Picasso, Miró, Matisse, Pollock, and Rothko; this is also the home of an art history research center. The pink Tennessee marble from which both buildings were constructed was taken from the same quarry; it forms an architectural link between the two seemingly different art museums in DC.
A visit to the National Gallery of Art Washington DC is made even more enjoyable when visitors take time to wander or rest outdoors near the Sculpture Garden. Located in a prime position on the National Mall, the National Gallery Sculpture Garden is a favorite outdoor DC attraction, year-round. The Garden proudly displays seventeen sculptures from the Gallery's collection, and often exhibits works on loan, too. Located in the 6.1-acre block adjacent to the West Building, the stately yet casual Sculpture Garden houses sheltering trees of many native species. Floral trees, elegant shrubs, and multitudes of perennials contribute to the riotous color in the gardens, as well.
In the middle of the Sculpture Garden lies a splendid fountain, where visitors to this Washington DC art museum can go walking or sit and relax. In warm weather, people sit on the wide rim of the pool and cool their feet in the streams of cold water whilst picnicking or taking in one of the Friday night open-air jazz concerts the Gallery hosts. During the winter, people enjoy outdoor ice-skating amidst the sculpture, while resting or warming in The Pavilion Café.
The Pavilion Café offers year-round service, along with indoor seating. In addition to sandwiches, pizzas and salads, the Cafe serves wine and beer, and hot chocolate, coffee and tea. Skaters use this place to rest and refuel. The café view allows visitors to watch the skaters, which is entertaining in itself. The National Gallery of Art Washington DC remains one of the most popular DC attractions since it offers something for everyone, in an artistic environment encouraging exploration.
The National Gallery of Art Washington DC has a dual personality. John Russell Pope was the architect who conceived its original West Building, the same neoclassical master who designed the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives. The West gallery is magnificent and marble, featuring a domed roof above a columned fountain, and hallways with vaulted ceilings, opening on charming courtyard gardens. The West building was donated to the country by Andrew Mellon, along with the core of its original collection of art. Several masterpieces from the Hermitage are among them, including two Raphael's.
The extremely contemporary East Building, by contrast, is made of adjacent glass triangles, featuring airy pyramid-like skylights soaring above. Inside this wing is a showcase for the museum's collection of 20th-century art, including works by Picasso, Miró, Matisse, Pollock, and Rothko; this is also the home of an art history research center. The pink Tennessee marble from which both buildings were constructed was taken from the same quarry; it forms an architectural link between the two seemingly different art museums in DC.
A visit to the National Gallery of Art Washington DC is made even more enjoyable when visitors take time to wander or rest outdoors near the Sculpture Garden. Located in a prime position on the National Mall, the National Gallery Sculpture Garden is a favorite outdoor DC attraction, year-round. The Garden proudly displays seventeen sculptures from the Gallery's collection, and often exhibits works on loan, too. Located in the 6.1-acre block adjacent to the West Building, the stately yet casual Sculpture Garden houses sheltering trees of many native species. Floral trees, elegant shrubs, and multitudes of perennials contribute to the riotous color in the gardens, as well.
In the middle of the Sculpture Garden lies a splendid fountain, where visitors to this Washington DC art museum can go walking or sit and relax. In warm weather, people sit on the wide rim of the pool and cool their feet in the streams of cold water whilst picnicking or taking in one of the Friday night open-air jazz concerts the Gallery hosts. During the winter, people enjoy outdoor ice-skating amidst the sculpture, while resting or warming in The Pavilion Café.
The Pavilion Café offers year-round service, along with indoor seating. In addition to sandwiches, pizzas and salads, the Cafe serves wine and beer, and hot chocolate, coffee and tea. Skaters use this place to rest and refuel. The café view allows visitors to watch the skaters, which is entertaining in itself. The National Gallery of Art Washington DC remains one of the most popular DC attractions since it offers something for everyone, in an artistic environment encouraging exploration.
National Mall in Washington DC
The National Mall is usually the center of every visitor's trip to Washington DC. This tree-lined parkland stretches two and a half miles from the Potomac River to the United States Capitol, and is adjoined by the White House. At one end of the National Mall, known as West Potomac Park, the Lincoln Memorial stands majestically over its Reflecting Pool, offering a stunning view of the Washington Monument, the Tidal Basin, Constitution Gardens and the Memorial Bridge. In addition to showcasing the Washington DC national monuments, the Mall is home to a number of museums and galleries, including the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum and many of the Smithsonian Institution buildings.
The Mall is significant as the central axis of the Washington DC national monuments core area, as designed by Pierre L'Enfant in 1791. The Washington DC National Mall was to be the foremost avenue of the city, and was to be named "The Grand Avenue." It was expected to extend westward from the US Capitol building all the way south to the house of the president, where it would terminate with a splendid statue of George Washington on horseback.
During the 1800's, however, L'Enfant's ceremonious blueprint for the Mall was, for the most part, neglected. The Civil War had much to do with this, being that the Mall grounds were used for troop parades and encampments, and even for the slaughter of livestock and production of armaments. In 1872, fourteen acres of the Mall was given to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad for the building of a train depot. The railroad was also granted permission to lay tracks north to south across part of the Mall. In 1902, after the Union had been restored, "The Grand Avenue" vision put forth by L'Enfant was resurrected when the McMillan Commission formally called on Congress to restore and further develop the Mall. The railroad station was eventually removed from the area in 1909.
Today, the Washington DC National Mall is one of the most popular places in the city. At the heart of democracy, the mall is the site of many protests and demonstrations, such as the March on Washington in 1963 and the Million Man March in 1995. Every year on Independence Day, the US Capitol hosts a massive July Fourth celebration, with free performances by national entertainers and one of the most intense fireworks shows in the world.
The best way to enjoy the Washington DC National Mall is to take Metro to the Smithsonian stop, then walk from one monument, gallery or memorial to the next. In nice weather, walking the Mall is a favorite even for locals. If you"d rather, you can take a Tourmobile, which regularly shuttles visitors between the monuments in Washington DC on a daily basis.
Many believe the best time to visit the Washington DC national monuments is at night, when their beautiful white stone edifices are brilliantly floodlit and there are no noisy crowds to diminish their stately tranquility. It is at this time that the reflective nature of their design is evident. Try it -- all of the memorials are safe to visit after dark, and park rangers stay on duty until just before midnight, with the exception of the Washington Monument, where the close the doors at 5pm. You can still wander around the grounds and enjoy their ambience at any time, however. Early mornings are also beautiful and very peaceful, with sunrises reflecting color across the pools and the white stone of the memorials.
You don't have to tour anything to enjoy the National Mall in Washington DC, however. Locals and tourists alike gather here to picnic, fly kites, play volleyball, read on park benches, walk dogs, and to jog among the monuments in Washington DC. It really is the heart of the nation, and never stops pulsing with life!
The Mall is significant as the central axis of the Washington DC national monuments core area, as designed by Pierre L'Enfant in 1791. The Washington DC National Mall was to be the foremost avenue of the city, and was to be named "The Grand Avenue." It was expected to extend westward from the US Capitol building all the way south to the house of the president, where it would terminate with a splendid statue of George Washington on horseback.
During the 1800's, however, L'Enfant's ceremonious blueprint for the Mall was, for the most part, neglected. The Civil War had much to do with this, being that the Mall grounds were used for troop parades and encampments, and even for the slaughter of livestock and production of armaments. In 1872, fourteen acres of the Mall was given to the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad for the building of a train depot. The railroad was also granted permission to lay tracks north to south across part of the Mall. In 1902, after the Union had been restored, "The Grand Avenue" vision put forth by L'Enfant was resurrected when the McMillan Commission formally called on Congress to restore and further develop the Mall. The railroad station was eventually removed from the area in 1909.
Today, the Washington DC National Mall is one of the most popular places in the city. At the heart of democracy, the mall is the site of many protests and demonstrations, such as the March on Washington in 1963 and the Million Man March in 1995. Every year on Independence Day, the US Capitol hosts a massive July Fourth celebration, with free performances by national entertainers and one of the most intense fireworks shows in the world.
The best way to enjoy the Washington DC National Mall is to take Metro to the Smithsonian stop, then walk from one monument, gallery or memorial to the next. In nice weather, walking the Mall is a favorite even for locals. If you"d rather, you can take a Tourmobile, which regularly shuttles visitors between the monuments in Washington DC on a daily basis.
Many believe the best time to visit the Washington DC national monuments is at night, when their beautiful white stone edifices are brilliantly floodlit and there are no noisy crowds to diminish their stately tranquility. It is at this time that the reflective nature of their design is evident. Try it -- all of the memorials are safe to visit after dark, and park rangers stay on duty until just before midnight, with the exception of the Washington Monument, where the close the doors at 5pm. You can still wander around the grounds and enjoy their ambience at any time, however. Early mornings are also beautiful and very peaceful, with sunrises reflecting color across the pools and the white stone of the memorials.
You don't have to tour anything to enjoy the National Mall in Washington DC, however. Locals and tourists alike gather here to picnic, fly kites, play volleyball, read on park benches, walk dogs, and to jog among the monuments in Washington DC. It really is the heart of the nation, and never stops pulsing with life!
National Cathedral Washington DC
The National Cathedral Washington DC welcomes people of all faiths. People gather in this place of worship when times are sad and when times are good, while others embark on tours to discover this history of this grand edifice. Still, others come to enjoy the music or connect with all things spiritual. As much an active church as one of the top things to do in America's capital, the Washington DC Cathedral serves as resource for tourism and spiritual matters.
Built over the course of the twentieth century, the official name of the church is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Nestled among some of the last remaining old-growth forests in the entire city, the National Cathedral Washington DC is located in Olmsted Woods on the highest point in the city. This landscape was designed by Frederick Law Olsted, who is best known for his designs of New York City's Central Park and the landscaping at the US Capitol. The Gothic Episcopal design, while reminiscent of grand European cathedrals, has many distinctive elements. The National Cathedral facade was crafted out of Indiana limestone, chosen for both its look and durability.
Open year-round for tours and special events, the Washington DC Cathedral attracts a lot of visitors. During a guided tour, you'll have the chance to learn about the building's unique history and some of the major events that occurred here, and how the idea that began with President Washington took centuries to come to fruition. Whether you choose a guided tour or explore on your own, you can see where then-president Teddy Roosevelt gave the inaugural speech, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final sermon, and where mourners gathered for Reagan's state funeral. An audio guide is also available for those who would like guided narration and music with the opportunity for touring at their own pace. A small suggested donation is welcome for each tour, as the cathedral is entirely supported by private funding.
As with other attractions, you could choose a quick tour or a more extended visit of the National Cathedral Washington DC, depending on your schedule and what piques your interest. If you're particularly interested in art and architecture, you'll want to spend time exploring the exhibits, which are found throughout the building. Each gives insight to as aspect of the cathedral's history, those who built it, or the important events that took place here over the years. At Christmastime, the annual creche exhibit draws from the collection of more than 500 Nativity sets.
Beyond the exhibits, you can simply look around to see the art, including the stained glass, sculptures, and other elements. The National Cathedral facade is known for its unique works of art, including a sculpture of Darth Vader (a youngster won a contest and chose the Star Wars character) and gargoyles. You'll also find windows, towers, and other elements, all with symbolic meaning at one of the Washington DC monuments dedicated to those of all faiths and viewpoints. Even if you never step inside, the National Cathedral facade will capture your attention as it's easy to spot from vantage points all around the city.
During events and holidays, as well as on ordinary days, you'll find music filling the soaring spaces of the Washington DC Cathedral. Organ recitals take place during average afternoons, while the organ is a centerpiece of Sunday worship services. The cathedral also is the only place in the United States (and the rest of North America) with both carillon and peal bells. Their dulcet tones can often be heard.
Built over the course of the twentieth century, the official name of the church is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Nestled among some of the last remaining old-growth forests in the entire city, the National Cathedral Washington DC is located in Olmsted Woods on the highest point in the city. This landscape was designed by Frederick Law Olsted, who is best known for his designs of New York City's Central Park and the landscaping at the US Capitol. The Gothic Episcopal design, while reminiscent of grand European cathedrals, has many distinctive elements. The National Cathedral facade was crafted out of Indiana limestone, chosen for both its look and durability.
Open year-round for tours and special events, the Washington DC Cathedral attracts a lot of visitors. During a guided tour, you'll have the chance to learn about the building's unique history and some of the major events that occurred here, and how the idea that began with President Washington took centuries to come to fruition. Whether you choose a guided tour or explore on your own, you can see where then-president Teddy Roosevelt gave the inaugural speech, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final sermon, and where mourners gathered for Reagan's state funeral. An audio guide is also available for those who would like guided narration and music with the opportunity for touring at their own pace. A small suggested donation is welcome for each tour, as the cathedral is entirely supported by private funding.
As with other attractions, you could choose a quick tour or a more extended visit of the National Cathedral Washington DC, depending on your schedule and what piques your interest. If you're particularly interested in art and architecture, you'll want to spend time exploring the exhibits, which are found throughout the building. Each gives insight to as aspect of the cathedral's history, those who built it, or the important events that took place here over the years. At Christmastime, the annual creche exhibit draws from the collection of more than 500 Nativity sets.
Beyond the exhibits, you can simply look around to see the art, including the stained glass, sculptures, and other elements. The National Cathedral facade is known for its unique works of art, including a sculpture of Darth Vader (a youngster won a contest and chose the Star Wars character) and gargoyles. You'll also find windows, towers, and other elements, all with symbolic meaning at one of the Washington DC monuments dedicated to those of all faiths and viewpoints. Even if you never step inside, the National Cathedral facade will capture your attention as it's easy to spot from vantage points all around the city.
During events and holidays, as well as on ordinary days, you'll find music filling the soaring spaces of the Washington DC Cathedral. Organ recitals take place during average afternoons, while the organ is a centerpiece of Sunday worship services. The cathedral also is the only place in the United States (and the rest of North America) with both carillon and peal bells. Their dulcet tones can often be heard.
National Archives in Washington DC
Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% is so important, for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever. By 1926, it was clear that a national storehouse was needed, so Congress authorized the Public Buildings Act to create the National Archives in Washington DC. Of all the Washington DC sights, none is more demonstrative of our beloved Freedom of Information.
The neoclassical structure of the US National Archives itself, is one of the most imposing Washington DC sights. Designed in the 1930s by John Russell Pope (also the architect of the National Gallery of Art and the Jefferson Memorial) it provides a striking architectural illustration of the style known as beaux arts. Over seventy Greek columns adorn its four sides, and enormous doors made of bronze open onto Constitution Avenue. A statue on a pedestal, signifying Heritage, The Past, Guardianship and The Future, marks each entrance.
As a government office, the National Archives in Washington DC is responsible for meticulously reviewing the ongoing documentation pertinent to our nation"s official business, deciding what to save and what to eliminate. The US National Archives is public; anyone may come here and conduct genealogical research, or any other historical inquiry. The famous "Roots" series began here, as author Alex Haley sifted through two centuries of documents pertaining to the census, military, immigration, customs and maps. Photos and films have also been donated throughout history, bringing the research alive.
A recent renovation, known as "The National Archives Experience," has transformed the great domed hall and added current exhibit spaces that make it much easier for children and wheelchair-bound visitors to see and appreciate the Charters of Freedom. These include the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Fourteen new document cases trace the story of the creation of the Charters and the ongoing influence of these fundamental documents on the nation and the world.
Millions come every year to use the National Archives in Washington DC"s public vaults, whether for genealogical purposes, to read presidential notes and journals, or to find military records for veterans, to prove their eligibility for benefits. Exhibits here feature interactive technology and displays of documents and artifacts to explain our country"s development in the use of records, from land records, from Indian treaties to presidential websites. The recently designed exhibit area includes a theater that, during the day, regularly shows theatrical movies showing the connection between democratic freedoms and archives in people"s lives.
When visiting Washington DC, the birthplace of democracy as we know it, visiting the US National Archives serves as a fascinating reminder that we live in an open society, where people who want answers are entitled to public information with which to find them.
The neoclassical structure of the US National Archives itself, is one of the most imposing Washington DC sights. Designed in the 1930s by John Russell Pope (also the architect of the National Gallery of Art and the Jefferson Memorial) it provides a striking architectural illustration of the style known as beaux arts. Over seventy Greek columns adorn its four sides, and enormous doors made of bronze open onto Constitution Avenue. A statue on a pedestal, signifying Heritage, The Past, Guardianship and The Future, marks each entrance.
As a government office, the National Archives in Washington DC is responsible for meticulously reviewing the ongoing documentation pertinent to our nation"s official business, deciding what to save and what to eliminate. The US National Archives is public; anyone may come here and conduct genealogical research, or any other historical inquiry. The famous "Roots" series began here, as author Alex Haley sifted through two centuries of documents pertaining to the census, military, immigration, customs and maps. Photos and films have also been donated throughout history, bringing the research alive.
A recent renovation, known as "The National Archives Experience," has transformed the great domed hall and added current exhibit spaces that make it much easier for children and wheelchair-bound visitors to see and appreciate the Charters of Freedom. These include the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Fourteen new document cases trace the story of the creation of the Charters and the ongoing influence of these fundamental documents on the nation and the world.
Millions come every year to use the National Archives in Washington DC"s public vaults, whether for genealogical purposes, to read presidential notes and journals, or to find military records for veterans, to prove their eligibility for benefits. Exhibits here feature interactive technology and displays of documents and artifacts to explain our country"s development in the use of records, from land records, from Indian treaties to presidential websites. The recently designed exhibit area includes a theater that, during the day, regularly shows theatrical movies showing the connection between democratic freedoms and archives in people"s lives.
When visiting Washington DC, the birthplace of democracy as we know it, visiting the US National Archives serves as a fascinating reminder that we live in an open society, where people who want answers are entitled to public information with which to find them.
National Aquarium in Washington DC
The Washington DC National Aquarium provides a splash of color in this town known for its white marble architecture. This interesting place, tucked in the lower level of the Commerce Building, is a popular stop on many trolley tours. However you arrive, you'll find a rainbow of marine life swimming through thousands of gallons of water. The Washington DC Aquarium exhibits are home to some amazing animals, including fish, reptiles, and other sea creatures.
This aquarium in DC traces its roots back to 1873, making it one of the oldest in the world. It all began with the Federal Fish Commission, which established the National Aquarium. Before the Washington Monument was built, the fish commission managed several holding ponds on those grounds, as well as managing a small aquarium in the heart of town. For generations, DC visitors enjoyed looking at the fish swimming around, but the aquarium or the ponds never attracted a lot attention. Everything changed in 2008 with the complete renovation that refreshed the Washington DC aquarium exhibits and expanded visitor amenities.
One of the fun things to do for people of all ages, the Washington DC National Aquarium takes most people between 45 minutes and an hour to explore. During your tours, you'll have the chance to see more than 250 different species of underwater creatures in naturalistic habitats. Besides providing a home to the animals, the Washington DC Aquarium exhibits provide information about the National Marine Sanctuaries as well as wildlife preserves and national parks throughout America. You'll feel like you're on a tour around the world as you make your way through the exhibits.
Every afternoon, the caretakers give talks and answer questions about the various animals, everything from the familiar frogs and alligators to exotic piranhas and the red lionfish. While Washington DC has long been known for its figurative sharks, actual sharks swim among the exhibits at the aquarium. Chain catsharks swim through the National Marine Sanctuary exhibit, while the spotted leopard sharks are found in the Channel Island exhibit. You'll also find that feeding time is one of the more interesting things to do at the aquarium in DC—the keepers turn it into a learning experience and a chance for fun.
After you've had a chance to see the poison dart frogs, the truly amazing Pacific octopus, and the others, you'll have a chance to do a little shopping. The gift shop is well-stocked with books, toys, and other items that will make great gifts and keep your memories long after your vacation has wrapped up.
Easy to find just two blocks from the White House, the aquarium in DC is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for closings on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last tours begin a half hour before closing time. Tickets are required to visit this nonprofit museum, and proceeds go towards the upkeep and care of the animals. Seniors, children, and military personnel all are charged reduced admission rates, while visitors under the age of 3 are free.
If you find yourself fascinated by the Washington DC National Aquarium, you might want to plan a visit to the sister aquarium not far away in Baltimore. A perfect place for a Washington DC day trip, the National Aquarium, Baltimore offers even more exhibits and animals (16,500 creatures large and small in total). You'll also have the chance to watch a charming dolphin show and thrill to a show in the 4-D immersion theater. Behind-the-scenes tours provide an even closer look at the underwater world.
This aquarium in DC traces its roots back to 1873, making it one of the oldest in the world. It all began with the Federal Fish Commission, which established the National Aquarium. Before the Washington Monument was built, the fish commission managed several holding ponds on those grounds, as well as managing a small aquarium in the heart of town. For generations, DC visitors enjoyed looking at the fish swimming around, but the aquarium or the ponds never attracted a lot attention. Everything changed in 2008 with the complete renovation that refreshed the Washington DC aquarium exhibits and expanded visitor amenities.
One of the fun things to do for people of all ages, the Washington DC National Aquarium takes most people between 45 minutes and an hour to explore. During your tours, you'll have the chance to see more than 250 different species of underwater creatures in naturalistic habitats. Besides providing a home to the animals, the Washington DC Aquarium exhibits provide information about the National Marine Sanctuaries as well as wildlife preserves and national parks throughout America. You'll feel like you're on a tour around the world as you make your way through the exhibits.
Every afternoon, the caretakers give talks and answer questions about the various animals, everything from the familiar frogs and alligators to exotic piranhas and the red lionfish. While Washington DC has long been known for its figurative sharks, actual sharks swim among the exhibits at the aquarium. Chain catsharks swim through the National Marine Sanctuary exhibit, while the spotted leopard sharks are found in the Channel Island exhibit. You'll also find that feeding time is one of the more interesting things to do at the aquarium in DC—the keepers turn it into a learning experience and a chance for fun.
After you've had a chance to see the poison dart frogs, the truly amazing Pacific octopus, and the others, you'll have a chance to do a little shopping. The gift shop is well-stocked with books, toys, and other items that will make great gifts and keep your memories long after your vacation has wrapped up.
Easy to find just two blocks from the White House, the aquarium in DC is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for closings on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last tours begin a half hour before closing time. Tickets are required to visit this nonprofit museum, and proceeds go towards the upkeep and care of the animals. Seniors, children, and military personnel all are charged reduced admission rates, while visitors under the age of 3 are free.
If you find yourself fascinated by the Washington DC National Aquarium, you might want to plan a visit to the sister aquarium not far away in Baltimore. A perfect place for a Washington DC day trip, the National Aquarium, Baltimore offers even more exhibits and animals (16,500 creatures large and small in total). You'll also have the chance to watch a charming dolphin show and thrill to a show in the 4-D immersion theater. Behind-the-scenes tours provide an even closer look at the underwater world.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History displays treasures of nature and of humankind. More than 81 million artifacts are presented, including dinosaur skeletons, an enormous collection of natural gems and minerals, exhibits on early man, an insect zoo, a live coral reef and much more. They tell of forces that generate, shape, and sustain natural and cultural diversity. More than a century of careful collecting and research by scientists has resulted in an unsurpassed world collection of more than 120 million natural and cultural objects. While sightseeing in DC, visit these exhibit halls and discover the joys of natural history.
Before you step inside the museum, stop outside first, on the 9th Street side of the building, to visit the extensive butterfly garden. The garden is at its best in warm weather, but it's open year-round, like most of the museums in Washington DC. Once inside, you won"t want to miss Dinosaur Hall, which displays giant skeletons of creatures that dominated the earth for 140 million years before their extinction about 65 million years ago. Hanging from the rafters above Dinosaur Hall are models of prehistoric birds, among them a full scale replica of a pterosaur, which boasted a wingspan of 10 meters. Another popular exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is the O. Orkin Insect Zoo, where visitors can have fun examining centipedes, tarantulas, and other insects, as well as crawling through a model of an African termite mound.
Some exhibits are ongoing, and others stay only a few weeks. Recent exhibits included "The Spirit of Ancient Colombian Gold." For millennia, shamans in the region that is now Colombia used gold in their religious rituals to see the world through different eyes - as a bird, jaguar, or other animal. A different culture was represented in the recent :"Frost: Life and Culture of the Sámi - Reindeer People of Norway," a photo journal of the Sámi people, the tribes indigenous to the Scandinavian region. Also exhibiting currently is the timely "Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab," which explores the culture, art, history and beliefs of the Sikh people, who originally lived in the Punjab, an area now part of Pakistan and northern India.
Don"t miss this treasure trove while sightseeing in DC. Free weekday highlight tours of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History are available beginning in the Rotunda. Whether self-guiding or with a group, leave time for the Discovery Center, funded by the Discovery Channel, featuring the Johnson IMAX theater with a six-story-high screen for 2-D and 3-D movies. Recent shows included Space Station, Fighter Pilot, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Roving Mars. There is also a cavernous, airy food court around the Atrium Cafe, and gift shops that have recently been enlarged. The museum also offers the small Fossil Café, located within the dinosaur exhibit on the first floor. Here, the fifty tables are really display cases full of fossils you can study whilst enjoying the cafe fare. According to adults and children alike, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is one of the most fun museums in Washington DC!
Before you step inside the museum, stop outside first, on the 9th Street side of the building, to visit the extensive butterfly garden. The garden is at its best in warm weather, but it's open year-round, like most of the museums in Washington DC. Once inside, you won"t want to miss Dinosaur Hall, which displays giant skeletons of creatures that dominated the earth for 140 million years before their extinction about 65 million years ago. Hanging from the rafters above Dinosaur Hall are models of prehistoric birds, among them a full scale replica of a pterosaur, which boasted a wingspan of 10 meters. Another popular exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is the O. Orkin Insect Zoo, where visitors can have fun examining centipedes, tarantulas, and other insects, as well as crawling through a model of an African termite mound.
Some exhibits are ongoing, and others stay only a few weeks. Recent exhibits included "The Spirit of Ancient Colombian Gold." For millennia, shamans in the region that is now Colombia used gold in their religious rituals to see the world through different eyes - as a bird, jaguar, or other animal. A different culture was represented in the recent :"Frost: Life and Culture of the Sámi - Reindeer People of Norway," a photo journal of the Sámi people, the tribes indigenous to the Scandinavian region. Also exhibiting currently is the timely "Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab," which explores the culture, art, history and beliefs of the Sikh people, who originally lived in the Punjab, an area now part of Pakistan and northern India.
Don"t miss this treasure trove while sightseeing in DC. Free weekday highlight tours of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History are available beginning in the Rotunda. Whether self-guiding or with a group, leave time for the Discovery Center, funded by the Discovery Channel, featuring the Johnson IMAX theater with a six-story-high screen for 2-D and 3-D movies. Recent shows included Space Station, Fighter Pilot, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Roving Mars. There is also a cavernous, airy food court around the Atrium Cafe, and gift shops that have recently been enlarged. The museum also offers the small Fossil Café, located within the dinosaur exhibit on the first floor. Here, the fifty tables are really display cases full of fossils you can study whilst enjoying the cafe fare. According to adults and children alike, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is one of the most fun museums in Washington DC!
Museum of American History in Washington DC
When you visit Washington DC don"t miss the chance to visit the National Museum of American History. Full of treasures that bring to life our nation"s past, this American history museum in DC inspires a broad understanding of our nation and its many peoples. The Museum collects and preserves more than three million artifacts, including all kinds of things important to our people, from President Lincoln"s top hat to the historic Star Spangled Banner, to the magic ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in the original Wizard of Oz. The collections reflect the breadth, depth, and complexity of the experiences of the American people, from social and cultural history to the history of science, medicine, and technology.
Here you can see the original congressional appointment for George Washington to command the Continental Army, and the military uniform worn by Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. Also on display here are domestic items of everyday life (such as the first hand-powered vacuum cleaner) to iconic items of American entertainment, such as the original Kermit and Archie Bunker"s chair from the TV series All in the Family. Among those exhibits featuring popular culture, a recently added favorite is Julia Child"s kitchen.
The latest permanent exhibition installed at the Museum of American History in Washington DC is The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. It surveys the history of U.S. military conflicts, and examines ways in which wars have been defining episodes in American history. America on the Move takes visitors on a journey through the development of transportation in America, from the late nineteenth century onward. Countless tourists over the years have enjoyed the popular exhibits Field to Factory: Afro-American Migration 1915-1940, First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image, and The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden, Within These Walls. Some exhibits are ongoing; others travel, meaning there will be something new to see each time you visit Washington DC. Besides, the American history museum in DC also offers music programs, including jazz concerts, chamber music, gospel, blues and dance.
The National Museum of American History in Washington DC has been a landmark on the National Mall for more than four decades. In the past year, the Museum has embarked on an ambitious interior remodeling project. The changes will be made in phases, culminating in a dramatic transformation of the center into an elegant, broad space that is easy to navigate for all. The Star-Spangled Banner is the centerpiece of the second phase of the renovation, beginning in 2006. According to architectural plans, the central shaft of the museum"s structure will be dramatically opened, allowing an intense display, lit from above, of the first national flag. When you visit Washington DC, you may wish to check ahead with the museum or its website, to see that the renovations have not caused changes of which you should be aware. History is, after all, an ongoing work of understanding!
Here you can see the original congressional appointment for George Washington to command the Continental Army, and the military uniform worn by Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812. Also on display here are domestic items of everyday life (such as the first hand-powered vacuum cleaner) to iconic items of American entertainment, such as the original Kermit and Archie Bunker"s chair from the TV series All in the Family. Among those exhibits featuring popular culture, a recently added favorite is Julia Child"s kitchen.
The latest permanent exhibition installed at the Museum of American History in Washington DC is The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. It surveys the history of U.S. military conflicts, and examines ways in which wars have been defining episodes in American history. America on the Move takes visitors on a journey through the development of transportation in America, from the late nineteenth century onward. Countless tourists over the years have enjoyed the popular exhibits Field to Factory: Afro-American Migration 1915-1940, First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image, and The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden, Within These Walls. Some exhibits are ongoing; others travel, meaning there will be something new to see each time you visit Washington DC. Besides, the American history museum in DC also offers music programs, including jazz concerts, chamber music, gospel, blues and dance.
The National Museum of American History in Washington DC has been a landmark on the National Mall for more than four decades. In the past year, the Museum has embarked on an ambitious interior remodeling project. The changes will be made in phases, culminating in a dramatic transformation of the center into an elegant, broad space that is easy to navigate for all. The Star-Spangled Banner is the centerpiece of the second phase of the renovation, beginning in 2006. According to architectural plans, the central shaft of the museum"s structure will be dramatically opened, allowing an intense display, lit from above, of the first national flag. When you visit Washington DC, you may wish to check ahead with the museum or its website, to see that the renovations have not caused changes of which you should be aware. History is, after all, an ongoing work of understanding!
International Spy Museum Washington DC
When visiting Washington DC, check out one of its newest attractions, The International Spy Museum. This Washington DC spy museum is the only public museum in the world dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage. The Washington DC Spy Museum offers programs and displays on the vocation of spying, through individuals" recounting of their historic experiences, implements and methods. Displays present the world"s largest public collection of spying artifacts. These artifacts, combined with historic photographs, state-of-the-art audio visual programs, computer interactive displays and special effects, reveal the strategies and techniques of the people who undertook some of the most dangerous and covert missions in the history of mankind.
The International Spy Museum Washington DC"s speeches, classes, and symposia present highlights not only from spies, but from the researchers and writers who have brought the mystique of this profession alive for us. Programs at the spy museum in Washington DC take a thoughtful look at a wide range of historic and contemporary topics and issues. They provide "behind the scenes" information and new insights into world affairs. From former KGB agents, you can find out about how secret agents are selected, and the demands of undertaking the covert lifestyle of a spy. Discover for yourself how important analysts are to the policy process, and chat with the writers of the leading espionage novels.
In addition to playing surveillance games, International Spy Museum Washington DC visitors can see tools of the deception game, like a gun made to resemble a tube of lipstick, and a shoe that was actually a listening device for the Soviets. They can watch a video that shows individuals being made up for disguise, and can crawl on their bellies through ductwork in the ceiling overhead, like real spies. Visitors at the Spy Museum in Washington DC can meet real "spies," and find out how abilities like paying attention to details, analyzing large quantities of information, thinking critically and playing team are crucial, both in the spy trade and in living real life. Courses on undercover makeup, high-tech tools, cracking codes, and the science of espionage are offered on a regular basis, along with performance of spy magic, and overnight events called Operation Secret Slumber.
The gift shop at the spy museum in Washington DC is chock-full of toys for kids and adults alike. Here, you can pick up a secret agent kit, a fingerprinting kit, a pen that secretly records audio, and a houseplant that is actually a hidden camera! Spy City Cafe at 9th and F Streets is a great place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy a casual meal in a relaxed environment.
The International Spy Museum Washington DC has been all the rage since it debuted in 2002, so lines at the door can be long. When visiting Washington DC, consider purchasing tickets in advance through Ticketmaster, which you can pick up when you arrive at the museum. You can also purchase advance tickets, including those for tours later in the day, at the box office. The International Spy Museum is located at 800 F Street, NW, one block from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, which provides convenient access. Tickets are generally between $10-15, and children 4 and under are admitted free.
The International Spy Museum Washington DC"s speeches, classes, and symposia present highlights not only from spies, but from the researchers and writers who have brought the mystique of this profession alive for us. Programs at the spy museum in Washington DC take a thoughtful look at a wide range of historic and contemporary topics and issues. They provide "behind the scenes" information and new insights into world affairs. From former KGB agents, you can find out about how secret agents are selected, and the demands of undertaking the covert lifestyle of a spy. Discover for yourself how important analysts are to the policy process, and chat with the writers of the leading espionage novels.
In addition to playing surveillance games, International Spy Museum Washington DC visitors can see tools of the deception game, like a gun made to resemble a tube of lipstick, and a shoe that was actually a listening device for the Soviets. They can watch a video that shows individuals being made up for disguise, and can crawl on their bellies through ductwork in the ceiling overhead, like real spies. Visitors at the Spy Museum in Washington DC can meet real "spies," and find out how abilities like paying attention to details, analyzing large quantities of information, thinking critically and playing team are crucial, both in the spy trade and in living real life. Courses on undercover makeup, high-tech tools, cracking codes, and the science of espionage are offered on a regular basis, along with performance of spy magic, and overnight events called Operation Secret Slumber.
The gift shop at the spy museum in Washington DC is chock-full of toys for kids and adults alike. Here, you can pick up a secret agent kit, a fingerprinting kit, a pen that secretly records audio, and a houseplant that is actually a hidden camera! Spy City Cafe at 9th and F Streets is a great place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy a casual meal in a relaxed environment.
The International Spy Museum Washington DC has been all the rage since it debuted in 2002, so lines at the door can be long. When visiting Washington DC, consider purchasing tickets in advance through Ticketmaster, which you can pick up when you arrive at the museum. You can also purchase advance tickets, including those for tours later in the day, at the box office. The International Spy Museum is located at 800 F Street, NW, one block from the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station, which provides convenient access. Tickets are generally between $10-15, and children 4 and under are admitted free.
Washington DC Museums
Washington DC museums are regarded by many as the best in the nation. Without leaving the city limits, you'll have the chance to see priceless works of art, treasures from history, and exhibits celebrating famous Americans. With so many options available, you could spends weeks exploring every museum the city has to offer. While most people do not have the luxury to see everything, visits to the best museums in DC are easy to work in, from Washington DC art museums to science, nature, history, and more. No matter your interests, you'll find a museum to fill you with wonder and make your vacation more interesting.
The city has a thriving arts scene, and the collection of Washington DC art museums is part of what makes this happen. A wide array of these celebrate artists past and present, some with names everyone knows and others with a small circle of admirers. The treasures contained at the National Gallery of Art include sculptures from Roy Lichtenstein and a mobile by Alexander Calder. In total, the collection spans the many years from the Middle Ages to the current time.
Of course the National Gallery is just the beginning of Washington DC art museums you could visit. Some have a broad collection like the National Gallery, while others are more focused. The Phillips Collection, tucked away in the lovely Dupont Circle neighborhood, focuses on modern art, while the Corcoran Gallery is loved for its collection of twentieth-century art, including favorites Claude Monet, Mary Casatt, and Edgar Degas. Yet another one of the Washington DC museums, the Textile Museum, proves that art does not have have a painting to be interesting.
Several of the art museums in DC are part of the network of Smithsonian Institution museums. Many of them are easy to find, a short walk from the National Mall, and every last one is free to enter. At the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, the exhibits focus on Asian art. You can continue your tour of world art at other Smithsonian Museums is DC, especially at the National Museum of African Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which shares space with the National Portrait Gallery. The smaller Renwick Gallery, with focuses on American crafts, is located in a beautiful old house designed by William Corcoran.
With no admission charges and close proximity, it's easy to visit several of the Smithsonian museums in DC all in one visit. Although each one is so interesting, you might find yourself staying the better part of the day. In one mile square bordered by Independence and Constitution Avenues between Third and 14th Streets, you'll find ten of the top museums in DC. With a few minutes' walk, you can soar to the stars at the National Air and Space Museum and then check out the Hope Diamond at the National History Museum. Next door, the renovated National Museum of American History is home to the flag that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child's kitchen, and lots of items from pop culture.
The rest of the Smithsonian Museums in DC are easy to reach by the Metro or the bus. One of the smaller Smithsonian museums, the Anacostia Community Museum, explores African American culture; it's just minutes from the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Park rangers led tours of the home where the abolitionist lived, and the visitor center shows an interesting movie throughout the day.
If you're looking for a chance to learn more about the Federal government, you'll find that many of the Washington DC museums fit the bill. The National Archives and Library of Congress each have interactive museums that bring history to life. A visitor center just outside the White House is one of the best places to learn about the American presidency. The Capitol Visitor Center, which opened to great acclaim and big visitor numbers at the end of 2008, is packed with exhibits exploring the Legislative Branch and other topics of American history.
The city has a thriving arts scene, and the collection of Washington DC art museums is part of what makes this happen. A wide array of these celebrate artists past and present, some with names everyone knows and others with a small circle of admirers. The treasures contained at the National Gallery of Art include sculptures from Roy Lichtenstein and a mobile by Alexander Calder. In total, the collection spans the many years from the Middle Ages to the current time.
Of course the National Gallery is just the beginning of Washington DC art museums you could visit. Some have a broad collection like the National Gallery, while others are more focused. The Phillips Collection, tucked away in the lovely Dupont Circle neighborhood, focuses on modern art, while the Corcoran Gallery is loved for its collection of twentieth-century art, including favorites Claude Monet, Mary Casatt, and Edgar Degas. Yet another one of the Washington DC museums, the Textile Museum, proves that art does not have have a painting to be interesting.
Several of the art museums in DC are part of the network of Smithsonian Institution museums. Many of them are easy to find, a short walk from the National Mall, and every last one is free to enter. At the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, the exhibits focus on Asian art. You can continue your tour of world art at other Smithsonian Museums is DC, especially at the National Museum of African Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which shares space with the National Portrait Gallery. The smaller Renwick Gallery, with focuses on American crafts, is located in a beautiful old house designed by William Corcoran.
With no admission charges and close proximity, it's easy to visit several of the Smithsonian museums in DC all in one visit. Although each one is so interesting, you might find yourself staying the better part of the day. In one mile square bordered by Independence and Constitution Avenues between Third and 14th Streets, you'll find ten of the top museums in DC. With a few minutes' walk, you can soar to the stars at the National Air and Space Museum and then check out the Hope Diamond at the National History Museum. Next door, the renovated National Museum of American History is home to the flag that inspired the Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child's kitchen, and lots of items from pop culture.
The rest of the Smithsonian Museums in DC are easy to reach by the Metro or the bus. One of the smaller Smithsonian museums, the Anacostia Community Museum, explores African American culture; it's just minutes from the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Park rangers led tours of the home where the abolitionist lived, and the visitor center shows an interesting movie throughout the day.
If you're looking for a chance to learn more about the Federal government, you'll find that many of the Washington DC museums fit the bill. The National Archives and Library of Congress each have interactive museums that bring history to life. A visitor center just outside the White House is one of the best places to learn about the American presidency. The Capitol Visitor Center, which opened to great acclaim and big visitor numbers at the end of 2008, is packed with exhibits exploring the Legislative Branch and other topics of American history.
Library of Congress Washington DC
The US Library of Congress is the oldest national establishment for culture in the country, and provides Congressional policymakers with research services, as well. With over 130 million pieces on over 500 miles of shelving, it is the most extensive library collection worldwide. The library"s purpose is to facilitate congressional and public access to its resources, and to maintain a comprehensive depository of learning and creativity for countless American generations to come. The majestic Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress Washington DC, with its Italian Renaissance design full of sculptures, mosaics, paintings and murals, is one of the US"s most distinguished accomplishments in architecture.
The history of the Library of Congress reflects the extent to which people of the time celebrated and preserved learning. After its founding in 1800, the Library was housed in a boarding house and later in the Capitol. Its first permanent building -- now called the Thomas Jefferson Building -- was opened in 1897. The John Adams Building was completed in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980. A true work of the people, over 50 talented Americans gave their artistic skills in sculpting, painting and mosaic to the structure. It was meant to showcase the culture and artistic style of the fledgling Republic, and is still today one of the most admirable buildings of that era.
Some of the most significant treasures and history of the Library of Congress" enormous holdings are exhibited in rotation at the recently added "Treasures Gallery," which is on the Great Hall"s second floor in the Southwest Gallery and Pavilion. Individual items will change from time to time for preservation reasons. Displays from Thomas Jefferson"s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence to the piano and other belongings used by American composers Ira and George Gershwin, can be enjoyed. Also, The Gutenberg Bible and the Giant Bible of Mainz are on permanent display on the first floor of the Great Hall. Other changing exhibits are mounted in public areas and reading rooms in the three buildings.
Today"s US Library of Congress is an unequalled world resource. Its collection of over 130 million items includes more than 29 million cataloged books and print materials in 460 languages; more than 58 million manuscripts; the most extensive collection of hard-to-find books in North America; and the biggest assembly in the world of audio recordings, films, music scores, maps and legal documents.
The best part of visiting the Library of Congress Washington DC is the spectacular Great Hall in the Thomas Jefferson Building, whose stained class ceiling soars 75 feet above its marble floor. Stairways and columns, also of marble, and beautiful paintings and mosaics make this one of America"s loveliest public buildings. Visitors may take one of several free guided tours offered daily and view a 12-minute film about the US Library of Congress in the Visitors" Center of the Jefferson Building. The Library of Congress Washington DC celebrates America"s gifts to the body of universal knowledge, and its buildings serve as monuments to the learned individuals who championed this cause.
The history of the Library of Congress reflects the extent to which people of the time celebrated and preserved learning. After its founding in 1800, the Library was housed in a boarding house and later in the Capitol. Its first permanent building -- now called the Thomas Jefferson Building -- was opened in 1897. The John Adams Building was completed in 1939 and the James Madison Memorial Building in 1980. A true work of the people, over 50 talented Americans gave their artistic skills in sculpting, painting and mosaic to the structure. It was meant to showcase the culture and artistic style of the fledgling Republic, and is still today one of the most admirable buildings of that era.
Some of the most significant treasures and history of the Library of Congress" enormous holdings are exhibited in rotation at the recently added "Treasures Gallery," which is on the Great Hall"s second floor in the Southwest Gallery and Pavilion. Individual items will change from time to time for preservation reasons. Displays from Thomas Jefferson"s rough draft of the Declaration of Independence to the piano and other belongings used by American composers Ira and George Gershwin, can be enjoyed. Also, The Gutenberg Bible and the Giant Bible of Mainz are on permanent display on the first floor of the Great Hall. Other changing exhibits are mounted in public areas and reading rooms in the three buildings.
Today"s US Library of Congress is an unequalled world resource. Its collection of over 130 million items includes more than 29 million cataloged books and print materials in 460 languages; more than 58 million manuscripts; the most extensive collection of hard-to-find books in North America; and the biggest assembly in the world of audio recordings, films, music scores, maps and legal documents.
The best part of visiting the Library of Congress Washington DC is the spectacular Great Hall in the Thomas Jefferson Building, whose stained class ceiling soars 75 feet above its marble floor. Stairways and columns, also of marble, and beautiful paintings and mosaics make this one of America"s loveliest public buildings. Visitors may take one of several free guided tours offered daily and view a 12-minute film about the US Library of Congress in the Visitors" Center of the Jefferson Building. The Library of Congress Washington DC celebrates America"s gifts to the body of universal knowledge, and its buildings serve as monuments to the learned individuals who championed this cause.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Washington dC
The Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln and the nation he fought to preserve during the Civil War (1861-1865). "In this Temple, as in the hearts of the people, for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever". These words, carved high above the massive Lincoln memorial statue, reveal the sacred nature of an otherwise secular national memorial. Forever a symbol of unity and social justice, the Lincoln Memorial inspires millions of Washington DC sightseeing visitors each year.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial, standing at the west end of the National Mall, is a neoclassical monument built to resemble a Greek temple. It has 36 Doric columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln"s death. A sculpture by Daniel Chester French of a seated Lincoln commands the center of the memorial chamber. From his perch, Lincoln appears to be looking over the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument, a setting of intense visual power. So moving, as a symbol of freedom, that this shrine was also the setting of Martin Luther King"s famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial is perhaps the most deeply moving American icon celebrating democratic ideals in the world. It glorifies the colossal achievements that have kept the nation together for over two centuries. Inscribed in enormous letters on the south wall of the monument is the thought-provoking Gettysburg Address. Over that stretches a mural showing a slave being liberated by the angel of truth. This is one of two Jules Guerin paintings that grace the memorial. The other has North-South unity as its theme.
Modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial aspires to remind us of the tremendous ancient Greeks, the first modern culture to practice a form of democratic government. In addition, it serves as a national Civil War memorial, recalling the horrific violence and destruction the conflict reeked on the land and a whole American generation. The lessons it taught about our government, in its ability to weather a civil war and re-emerge a unified and improved democracy, have made the history Lincoln Memorial represents so important. The Memorial itself has become a dignified symbol of that democracy.
According to history, Lincoln Memorial planners originally intended the statue to be only ten feet high, but this was changed so the figure of Lincoln would not be dwarfed by the size of the chamber. A commission to plan a monument was first proposed in 1867, shortly after Lincoln"s death. The original concept was to build 37 enormous statues of horses and people, with a central 12-foot Lincoln memorial statue. That project was never started for lack of funds. Congress approved the bill to construct this memorial in 1910. Construction began in 1914, and the memorial was opened to the public in 1922.
Damaged over the years by heavy Washington DC sightseeing and environmental factors, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is currently undergoing a major restoration. This project includes roadway improvements, better lighting, new visitor facilities and a permanent vehicle barrier system to protect visitors and the memorial. The roadway improvements are expected to be completed by the summer of 2006, and construction of the new visitors center is expected to continue throughout 2006.
The Lincoln Memorial can be enjoyed during the day, of course, but is often quite crowded. Most visitors to Washington DC, as well as DC residents, agree that the best time to enjoy the tranquility and sacred ambience of this beautiful memorial space is by night.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial, standing at the west end of the National Mall, is a neoclassical monument built to resemble a Greek temple. It has 36 Doric columns, one for each state at the time of Lincoln"s death. A sculpture by Daniel Chester French of a seated Lincoln commands the center of the memorial chamber. From his perch, Lincoln appears to be looking over the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument, a setting of intense visual power. So moving, as a symbol of freedom, that this shrine was also the setting of Martin Luther King"s famous "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial is perhaps the most deeply moving American icon celebrating democratic ideals in the world. It glorifies the colossal achievements that have kept the nation together for over two centuries. Inscribed in enormous letters on the south wall of the monument is the thought-provoking Gettysburg Address. Over that stretches a mural showing a slave being liberated by the angel of truth. This is one of two Jules Guerin paintings that grace the memorial. The other has North-South unity as its theme.
Modeled after the Parthenon in Athens, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial aspires to remind us of the tremendous ancient Greeks, the first modern culture to practice a form of democratic government. In addition, it serves as a national Civil War memorial, recalling the horrific violence and destruction the conflict reeked on the land and a whole American generation. The lessons it taught about our government, in its ability to weather a civil war and re-emerge a unified and improved democracy, have made the history Lincoln Memorial represents so important. The Memorial itself has become a dignified symbol of that democracy.
According to history, Lincoln Memorial planners originally intended the statue to be only ten feet high, but this was changed so the figure of Lincoln would not be dwarfed by the size of the chamber. A commission to plan a monument was first proposed in 1867, shortly after Lincoln"s death. The original concept was to build 37 enormous statues of horses and people, with a central 12-foot Lincoln memorial statue. That project was never started for lack of funds. Congress approved the bill to construct this memorial in 1910. Construction began in 1914, and the memorial was opened to the public in 1922.
Damaged over the years by heavy Washington DC sightseeing and environmental factors, the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is currently undergoing a major restoration. This project includes roadway improvements, better lighting, new visitor facilities and a permanent vehicle barrier system to protect visitors and the memorial. The roadway improvements are expected to be completed by the summer of 2006, and construction of the new visitors center is expected to continue throughout 2006.
The Lincoln Memorial can be enjoyed during the day, of course, but is often quite crowded. Most visitors to Washington DC, as well as DC residents, agree that the best time to enjoy the tranquility and sacred ambience of this beautiful memorial space is by night.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts brings world-class ballet, orchestra, and arts education to Washington DC. The popularity of Kennedy Center tickets displays an appreciation and thirst for the arts in and around the United States capital, and since the center first opened in 1971 it has presented spectacular performances from both American and international talent. Founded to be a leader in arts education, the center fulfills a vision of President John F. Kennedy with its education initiatives in the community, and it's a great way to add culture to the historic attractions available around Washington, such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol Building.
There are many DC hotels near the Kennedy Center that will make attending a special performance hassle-free. Many patrons of the arts travel great distances to attend these events. Kennedy Center tickets for the Bolshoi Ballet, based in Moscow, for example, draws audiences from the Washington DC area and beyond. If you prefer the symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra performs a wide range of music. Opera fans will be delighted by both classic and new productions, and for families, there are special productions to keep kids entranced throughout the show.
Performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts can be broken down into a number of categories. Whether you prefer ballet, chamber music, dance, jazz, opera, or theater, there are a number of options every month to choose from. Kennedy Center tickets can conveniently be grouped by category, allowing you to browse through only those performances that would interest you. Have you been curious about how to provide your kids with a bit more culture? Then look at the array of designated family performances, and provide your kids with a foundation of love for the arts.
If you attend shows regularly at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, there are subscriptions and packages that could make your arts habit even more affordable. Available by category or in a gift pack of three performances, these subscriptions offer not only affordability, but a true glimpse into what is dominating and delighting in the arts today. There are several ways to purchase tickets, including online, at the box office, or by phone. One of the benefits of ordering online is the ability to see exactly where your seats will be located. All sales are final, so be sure you can attend the performance before you select what to purchase.
The Kennedy Center schedule offers a great diversity of performances each month. If you don’t live nearby, or want to make a real evening or getaway out of your tickets, there are hotels near the Kennedy Center that won’t break the bank. Options for different price points include the Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton, or Hotel Madera. If you’re looking for luxurious hotels near the Kennedy Center, the Four Seasons is an option along with the European-style Hotel Monticello. Tickets make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or other special celebrations, so why not plan a mini-vacation complete with dinner out and a night away from home? Performances at the Kennedy Center will leave you exhilarated and ready for an evening on the town.
There are many DC hotels near the Kennedy Center that will make attending a special performance hassle-free. Many patrons of the arts travel great distances to attend these events. Kennedy Center tickets for the Bolshoi Ballet, based in Moscow, for example, draws audiences from the Washington DC area and beyond. If you prefer the symphony, the National Symphony Orchestra performs a wide range of music. Opera fans will be delighted by both classic and new productions, and for families, there are special productions to keep kids entranced throughout the show.
Performances at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts can be broken down into a number of categories. Whether you prefer ballet, chamber music, dance, jazz, opera, or theater, there are a number of options every month to choose from. Kennedy Center tickets can conveniently be grouped by category, allowing you to browse through only those performances that would interest you. Have you been curious about how to provide your kids with a bit more culture? Then look at the array of designated family performances, and provide your kids with a foundation of love for the arts.
If you attend shows regularly at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, there are subscriptions and packages that could make your arts habit even more affordable. Available by category or in a gift pack of three performances, these subscriptions offer not only affordability, but a true glimpse into what is dominating and delighting in the arts today. There are several ways to purchase tickets, including online, at the box office, or by phone. One of the benefits of ordering online is the ability to see exactly where your seats will be located. All sales are final, so be sure you can attend the performance before you select what to purchase.
The Kennedy Center schedule offers a great diversity of performances each month. If you don’t live nearby, or want to make a real evening or getaway out of your tickets, there are hotels near the Kennedy Center that won’t break the bank. Options for different price points include the Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton, or Hotel Madera. If you’re looking for luxurious hotels near the Kennedy Center, the Four Seasons is an option along with the European-style Hotel Monticello. Tickets make great gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, or other special celebrations, so why not plan a mini-vacation complete with dinner out and a night away from home? Performances at the Kennedy Center will leave you exhilarated and ready for an evening on the town.
Korean War Memorial, Washington DC
The Korean War Memorial, a part of the National Mall, is a moving reminder that freedom comes at a cost. While this conflict may best be known as the setting of M*A*S*H, it was a very real and very trying time in American history. At this stirring site, nineteen bronze-cast soldiers look to be battle worn and walking next to a granite wall with a sea of sandblasted photographic images. The phrase "Freedom isn't free," inlaid in silver, is carved into another granite structure. There are soldiers from each branch of the Armed Services. On the whole, the monument honors the men and women who served their country, including the more than 50,000 making the ultimate sacrifice.
The Korean War Memorial facts are impressive, and even more amazing when seen in person, as is true for all of the Washington DC monuments. This particular memorial, in the shape of a triangle intersected by a circle, has 164 feet of eight-inch-thick walls and an excess of 100 tons of black granite that came from California. The statues, standing over seven feet a piece, were designed by Frank Gaylord. Each is dressed in combat gear, and the entire scene gives the appearance of a squad out on patrol. When the lighting is just right, the statues are reflected in the granite, giving the appearance of 38 soldiers, a nod to the 38th Parallel.
Behind the soldiers, a winding black wall, designed by Louis Nelson, features photo elements that reflect the people and other elements of the war. The statues are the first leg of the triangle of the Korean War Memorial, and the wall is the second. The third leg has not been closed in, giving an amazing vantage point for gazing at the Lincoln Memorial. You can follow a short path to the United Nations Wall, which recognizes the 22 countries, all members of the United Nations, who helped with personnel or medical care during the conflict.
In addition, the circular part of the Korean War Memorial in DC, is home to the Pool of Remembrance. Like the water elements at the nearby National World War II Memorial, this quiet place of reflection is moving, even if you weren't born when the conflict was raving. You'll also have the chance to see several Rose of Sharon plantings. If you're particularly interested in Korean War Memorial facts, you'll be interested in knowing this is the national flower of South Korea.
You don't have to worry about paying an entrance fee or making reservations to visit the Korean War Memorial in DC. If you're wondering when to go, you can visit the Korean War Memorial in DC any time it fits into your schedule. Access is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Park rangers are on duty from 9:30 in the morning to 11:30 p.m., available to answer any questions you may have, and to dish out Korean War Memorial facts from an expert's point of view.
Because parking is so limited, many times it's easier to take public transportation or one of the guided tours. Many, if not most, of the tour companies include a stop at the memorials in at least one of their city tours. The subway station at 12th and Independence, the closest to the Korean War Memorial and the other monuments, is about a ten- or fifteen-minute walk away.
The Korean War Memorial facts are impressive, and even more amazing when seen in person, as is true for all of the Washington DC monuments. This particular memorial, in the shape of a triangle intersected by a circle, has 164 feet of eight-inch-thick walls and an excess of 100 tons of black granite that came from California. The statues, standing over seven feet a piece, were designed by Frank Gaylord. Each is dressed in combat gear, and the entire scene gives the appearance of a squad out on patrol. When the lighting is just right, the statues are reflected in the granite, giving the appearance of 38 soldiers, a nod to the 38th Parallel.
Behind the soldiers, a winding black wall, designed by Louis Nelson, features photo elements that reflect the people and other elements of the war. The statues are the first leg of the triangle of the Korean War Memorial, and the wall is the second. The third leg has not been closed in, giving an amazing vantage point for gazing at the Lincoln Memorial. You can follow a short path to the United Nations Wall, which recognizes the 22 countries, all members of the United Nations, who helped with personnel or medical care during the conflict.
In addition, the circular part of the Korean War Memorial in DC, is home to the Pool of Remembrance. Like the water elements at the nearby National World War II Memorial, this quiet place of reflection is moving, even if you weren't born when the conflict was raving. You'll also have the chance to see several Rose of Sharon plantings. If you're particularly interested in Korean War Memorial facts, you'll be interested in knowing this is the national flower of South Korea.
You don't have to worry about paying an entrance fee or making reservations to visit the Korean War Memorial in DC. If you're wondering when to go, you can visit the Korean War Memorial in DC any time it fits into your schedule. Access is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Park rangers are on duty from 9:30 in the morning to 11:30 p.m., available to answer any questions you may have, and to dish out Korean War Memorial facts from an expert's point of view.
Because parking is so limited, many times it's easier to take public transportation or one of the guided tours. Many, if not most, of the tour companies include a stop at the memorials in at least one of their city tours. The subway station at 12th and Independence, the closest to the Korean War Memorial and the other monuments, is about a ten- or fifteen-minute walk away.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Statue, Washington DC
Thomas Jefferson memorial architecture is not confined to the monument honoring the third American president: it includes the very principles serving as the foundation for American democracy. Jefferson left to the future not only ideas but also a great body of practical achievements. President Kennedy recognized those accomplishments when he told a gathering of Nobel Prize winners that they were the greatest assemblage of talent in the White House since Jefferson had dinner there alone. With his strong beliefs in the rights of man and a government derived from the people, in the principle of a government free from religious imposition, and in equal access to educational resources, Thomas Jefferson took a powerful stand for humanitarian freedom over two centuries ago that still resonates with our people today.
Jefferson Memorial history is inextricably linked to the time in which it was created, when the world was at war and freedom was not taken for granted. By an Act of Congress in 1934, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission was created to erect the memorial and its accompanying Thomas Jefferson memorial statue. Their present-day location at the Tidal Basin was selected in 1937. Initially the public was critical of the choice of location, since it threatened some of the lovely Tidal Basin cherry trees. These beautiful trees were a gift to the United States from Japan, and have consequently been preserved as part of the site.
More controversy surrounded the selection of the design of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial architecture. The Commission of Fine Arts objected to the pantheon design because it would compete with the Lincoln Memorial. The Commission took the design controversy all the way to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who preferred the pantheon design, and gave permission to proceed. Architect John Russell Pope used Jefferson"s own architectural tastes in the memorial design. Upon the untimely death of Pope in August 1937, construction was accomplished under the leadership of architects Otto Eggers and Daniel Higgins. Finally, on November 15, 1939, President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Memorial.
The Thomas Jefferson memorial statue was commissioned from sculptor Rudolph Evans in 1941. He created a towering bronze statue of Jefferson standing 19 feet tall, boosted six feet higher by its black granite pedestal. Jefferson appears to be looking out from the memorial"s interior toward the White House. The sculpture was intended to represent the Age of Enlightenment, and pay tribute to Jefferson as philosopher and statesman. Jefferson Memorial history also lives in the powerful Weinman sculpture, this one of the five drafters of the Declaration of Independence, presenting to the fledgling Congress. Also noteworthy, adorning the interior of the Memorial, are five quotations taken from Jefferson"s writings, illustrating the principles to which he dedicated his life. Perhaps the most powerful is his candid pledge: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Today, the Jefferson Memorial is maintained by the National Park Service. Many annual celebrations are held there, the most popular of which are the Cherry Blossom Festival in early April and the sunrise service every Easter morning. Adults and children alike have strolled amidst the canopy of cherry blossoms by the water, and have enjoyed renting paddleboats on the Tidal Basin afterwards. On a summer day, the breezes over the water provide cooling relief for visitors from cooler climates. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is downtown in DC, and is easiest to access via the Smithsonian Metro stop. It opens every day at 8:00 am and closes just before midnight. Visiting the memorial is, of course, free.
Jefferson Memorial history is inextricably linked to the time in which it was created, when the world was at war and freedom was not taken for granted. By an Act of Congress in 1934, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Commission was created to erect the memorial and its accompanying Thomas Jefferson memorial statue. Their present-day location at the Tidal Basin was selected in 1937. Initially the public was critical of the choice of location, since it threatened some of the lovely Tidal Basin cherry trees. These beautiful trees were a gift to the United States from Japan, and have consequently been preserved as part of the site.
More controversy surrounded the selection of the design of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial architecture. The Commission of Fine Arts objected to the pantheon design because it would compete with the Lincoln Memorial. The Commission took the design controversy all the way to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who preferred the pantheon design, and gave permission to proceed. Architect John Russell Pope used Jefferson"s own architectural tastes in the memorial design. Upon the untimely death of Pope in August 1937, construction was accomplished under the leadership of architects Otto Eggers and Daniel Higgins. Finally, on November 15, 1939, President Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Memorial.
The Thomas Jefferson memorial statue was commissioned from sculptor Rudolph Evans in 1941. He created a towering bronze statue of Jefferson standing 19 feet tall, boosted six feet higher by its black granite pedestal. Jefferson appears to be looking out from the memorial"s interior toward the White House. The sculpture was intended to represent the Age of Enlightenment, and pay tribute to Jefferson as philosopher and statesman. Jefferson Memorial history also lives in the powerful Weinman sculpture, this one of the five drafters of the Declaration of Independence, presenting to the fledgling Congress. Also noteworthy, adorning the interior of the Memorial, are five quotations taken from Jefferson"s writings, illustrating the principles to which he dedicated his life. Perhaps the most powerful is his candid pledge: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
Today, the Jefferson Memorial is maintained by the National Park Service. Many annual celebrations are held there, the most popular of which are the Cherry Blossom Festival in early April and the sunrise service every Easter morning. Adults and children alike have strolled amidst the canopy of cherry blossoms by the water, and have enjoyed renting paddleboats on the Tidal Basin afterwards. On a summer day, the breezes over the water provide cooling relief for visitors from cooler climates. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is downtown in DC, and is easiest to access via the Smithsonian Metro stop. It opens every day at 8:00 am and closes just before midnight. Visiting the memorial is, of course, free.
US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC
One of the newest DC sightseeing destinations, The Holocaust Museum DC is the United States" national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history, and serves as the national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
The experience of visiting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC was designed to be intensely moving. Everything down to the architectural details was created to evoke emotion. The outside of the building is meant to resemble a German industrial plant. Inside, James Freed"s design seems flawed: rooms do not always have right angles, and the windows are different sizes. The cracked floor, the uneven bricks used in construction, and variations in the color were all utilized to create the feel of a world gone mad, as in Nazi Germany.
At the holocaust museum DC, visitors travel aboard a cargo train, like the victims did, whilst listening to an audio montage of survivors" stories. Exhibits track the rise of the Nazi machine and, in a more positive display, the heroic efforts of others in Europe to save Jews from being caught up in the destruction. When you enter, you will be issued an identity card of an actual victim of the Holocaust; at several points in the tour, you can find out the location and status of person on your card -- by 1945, 66% of those whose lives are documented on these cards were dead.
The second floor is more upbeat: exhibits here show how non-Jews throughout Europe saved distressed Jews, often risking their lives to do so. Denmark -- led by a king who swore that if any of his subjects wore a yellow star, so would he -- managed to hide and save 90% of its Jews. Next, there are presentations on living conditions in the camps for Displaced Persons, the emancipation of the camps by the Allies, the exodus of Jews to Israel and America for new life, and the long-awaited trials for justice in Nuremberg. An outstanding part of the exhibit at the Washington DC Holocaust Museum is the film "Testimony" featuring storytelling by survivors of the camps. At the end of the tour, you can pause to reflect or light a candle in the six-sided Hall of Remembrance. The museum notes that most people take 2 to 3 hours on their first visit, which allows for more DC sightseeing in the area while you are there.
The Permanent Exhibition The Holocaust is the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC's main exhibition and spans three floors. It offers a complete holocaust history using relics, photos, films and stories from survivors and witnesses. The tour is self-guided, but with timed tickets allowing entrance every 15 minutes, to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and to increase the privacy of each person's experience. Every day starting at 10 a.m., tickets are distributed for the first 1500 visitors to arrive. Tickets are limited to ten per person.
The Museum is close to the National Mall, just south of the intersection of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, and is between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, a block away from the Washington Monument. The Washington DC holocaust museum offers no parking lot of its own, and street parking is increasingly limited on the mall around so many security-conscious federal buildings. The easiest way to get to the Museum is by cab or Metro (Washington's subway system). The closest Metro stop is Smithsonian.
The experience of visiting the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC was designed to be intensely moving. Everything down to the architectural details was created to evoke emotion. The outside of the building is meant to resemble a German industrial plant. Inside, James Freed"s design seems flawed: rooms do not always have right angles, and the windows are different sizes. The cracked floor, the uneven bricks used in construction, and variations in the color were all utilized to create the feel of a world gone mad, as in Nazi Germany.
At the holocaust museum DC, visitors travel aboard a cargo train, like the victims did, whilst listening to an audio montage of survivors" stories. Exhibits track the rise of the Nazi machine and, in a more positive display, the heroic efforts of others in Europe to save Jews from being caught up in the destruction. When you enter, you will be issued an identity card of an actual victim of the Holocaust; at several points in the tour, you can find out the location and status of person on your card -- by 1945, 66% of those whose lives are documented on these cards were dead.
The second floor is more upbeat: exhibits here show how non-Jews throughout Europe saved distressed Jews, often risking their lives to do so. Denmark -- led by a king who swore that if any of his subjects wore a yellow star, so would he -- managed to hide and save 90% of its Jews. Next, there are presentations on living conditions in the camps for Displaced Persons, the emancipation of the camps by the Allies, the exodus of Jews to Israel and America for new life, and the long-awaited trials for justice in Nuremberg. An outstanding part of the exhibit at the Washington DC Holocaust Museum is the film "Testimony" featuring storytelling by survivors of the camps. At the end of the tour, you can pause to reflect or light a candle in the six-sided Hall of Remembrance. The museum notes that most people take 2 to 3 hours on their first visit, which allows for more DC sightseeing in the area while you are there.
The Permanent Exhibition The Holocaust is the US Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC's main exhibition and spans three floors. It offers a complete holocaust history using relics, photos, films and stories from survivors and witnesses. The tour is self-guided, but with timed tickets allowing entrance every 15 minutes, to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and to increase the privacy of each person's experience. Every day starting at 10 a.m., tickets are distributed for the first 1500 visitors to arrive. Tickets are limited to ten per person.
The Museum is close to the National Mall, just south of the intersection of 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW, and is between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, a block away from the Washington Monument. The Washington DC holocaust museum offers no parking lot of its own, and street parking is increasingly limited on the mall around so many security-conscious federal buildings. The easiest way to get to the Museum is by cab or Metro (Washington's subway system). The closest Metro stop is Smithsonian.
Hillwood Museum in Washington DC
Hillwood Museum has opened one of the loveliest estates in entire city to public tours. As you explore, you'll find stunningly beautiful gardens and one of the most amazing collections of art from the Russian Imperial era, all set within a grand estate fit for an heiress. Hillwood Museum and Gardens opened in 1977 as a public institution, left to the people by social doyenne and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post.
The story of Ms. Post is as interesting as they come. Visitors to Hillwood Museum in DC experience her legacy and learn her history as they take tours of Post's grand estate. In an era when women were expected to stay out of the family business, she was running the well-known cereal company before she was 30. While in New York City, she spent time with the great industrialists with names such as Whitney, Frick, and Vanderbilt, learning even more about business. Long before Hillwood Museum opened, Post's vision led to the creation of General Foods, a company that still continues to feed America.
While Post's business career was important, her passion for art turned into a lifelong pursuit. She purchased the home in the nation's capital in 1955. Even then, she was dreaming up plans for the Hillwood Museum and Gardens. Like the Phillips Collection, this museum has turned a private residence into a museum.
As you walk stroll through this grand home, you'll be in the presence of some great works of art Post collected during her world travels and interesting history. When one husband served as an ambassador to Russia in the 1930s, the country's government was selling off treasures so it could pay industrialization. For the next four decades, Post continued to amass Russian art, as well as objets d'art from France, which form the basis of the Hillwood Museum in DC. Treasures in the collection include a diamond crown worn by Empress Alexandra when she married Nicholas II, Fabergé eggs, and clothing worn by Post and her family.
Even before you see the first piece of art, you'll be struck by the show nature is putting on. The Hillwood Museum is surrounded by 25 lovely acres filled with natural forests and landscaped gardens. In the spring and fall, you can sign up for one of the guided garden tours to learn more about the natural side of Hillwood Museum and Gardens. All throughout the year, with the exception of January, you can plan on adding a house tour to your Washington vacation package. All of the tours are free whether you choose a docent-led tour, an audio guide, or to just wander through on your own. Before you begin in the house, you can stop into the visitor center to watch an introductory movie.
Visitors to Hillwood Museum also can enjoy a meal at the onsite cafe. Simply called the Hillwood Cafe, the small restaurant is open at lunchtime from Tuesday through Sunday. After the lunch hour has closed, the cafe serves afternoon tea in a charming and elegant setting. Along with enjoying distinctive dining experiences, Hillwood visitors also can visit the museum shop.
Besides the daily operations, Hillwood Museum in DC has become a dynamic cultural presence in a city known for its art museums. The schedule of events includes concerts, lectures, and films, all continuing in tradition of fine hospitality and connecting with culture that was so important to Ms. Post.
The story of Ms. Post is as interesting as they come. Visitors to Hillwood Museum in DC experience her legacy and learn her history as they take tours of Post's grand estate. In an era when women were expected to stay out of the family business, she was running the well-known cereal company before she was 30. While in New York City, she spent time with the great industrialists with names such as Whitney, Frick, and Vanderbilt, learning even more about business. Long before Hillwood Museum opened, Post's vision led to the creation of General Foods, a company that still continues to feed America.
While Post's business career was important, her passion for art turned into a lifelong pursuit. She purchased the home in the nation's capital in 1955. Even then, she was dreaming up plans for the Hillwood Museum and Gardens. Like the Phillips Collection, this museum has turned a private residence into a museum.
As you walk stroll through this grand home, you'll be in the presence of some great works of art Post collected during her world travels and interesting history. When one husband served as an ambassador to Russia in the 1930s, the country's government was selling off treasures so it could pay industrialization. For the next four decades, Post continued to amass Russian art, as well as objets d'art from France, which form the basis of the Hillwood Museum in DC. Treasures in the collection include a diamond crown worn by Empress Alexandra when she married Nicholas II, Fabergé eggs, and clothing worn by Post and her family.
Even before you see the first piece of art, you'll be struck by the show nature is putting on. The Hillwood Museum is surrounded by 25 lovely acres filled with natural forests and landscaped gardens. In the spring and fall, you can sign up for one of the guided garden tours to learn more about the natural side of Hillwood Museum and Gardens. All throughout the year, with the exception of January, you can plan on adding a house tour to your Washington vacation package. All of the tours are free whether you choose a docent-led tour, an audio guide, or to just wander through on your own. Before you begin in the house, you can stop into the visitor center to watch an introductory movie.
Visitors to Hillwood Museum also can enjoy a meal at the onsite cafe. Simply called the Hillwood Cafe, the small restaurant is open at lunchtime from Tuesday through Sunday. After the lunch hour has closed, the cafe serves afternoon tea in a charming and elegant setting. Along with enjoying distinctive dining experiences, Hillwood visitors also can visit the museum shop.
Besides the daily operations, Hillwood Museum in DC has become a dynamic cultural presence in a city known for its art museums. The schedule of events includes concerts, lectures, and films, all continuing in tradition of fine hospitality and connecting with culture that was so important to Ms. Post.
U Street Stores in DC
If you want to enjoy Washington DC shopping, come to the 14th and U Street district. While exploring the U Street stores in DC, you can also experience the renaissance of the late Duke Ellington"s neighborhood. The historic heart of the city"s African-American community in the first half of the twentieth century, name entertainers, black-owned businesses, and grand movie theaters made 14th and U Street the place to be. Today, the 14th and U Street/Shaw community Washington is every bit as vibrant and colorful as it was then. Specialty shops and friendly cafes have opened up next to storied theaters and jazz clubs. Brightly colored row houses have become vintage Washington DC shopping boutiques, cozy restaurants and funky home furnishing stores. Fashionable hotels, bed and breakfasts, and nightclubs are just footsteps away from the familiar haunts of jazz legends.
Before the rise of Harlem in New York, this area of DC evolved as "the" gathering place for African Americans, a cultural haven. Slaves seeking their freedom during the Civil War era found sanctuary in Union Army encampments here. These freemen founded missionary churches that prosper still today. Intellectual and artistic elite from the black community began to gather here, attracted to Howard University at the north end of the neighborhood. By the early 20th century, the area was the nerve center of the city"s black community, home to businesses and places of entertainment, and the major social institutions of black Washington.
The Shaw Community Washington, the urban area around 14th and U Street, is rich in history and brimming with untold stories and legends. Shaw is a rare gem among American cities, having spawned a remarkable list of outstanding achievers, including Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. DuBois, Dorothy Height, Duke Ellington, Mary McLeod Bethune and Paul Laurence Dunbar. Also, the greatest names in entertainment played the neighborhood"s theaters, clubs, and after-hours hideaways. Appearing regularly at the Club Bali, the Crystal Caverns, the Lincoln Colonnade and the Howard Theatre were Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughn and Nat King Cole.
To experience something of this vibrant history today, take the self-guided walking tour, City Within a City, marked by engaging, highly illustrative signs along U Street and beyond. Visit the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, where restorations and historic displays recall the times when the promising poet Langston Hughes visited there. In the True Reformer Hall, make sure to check out the African American Civil War Memorial Museum.
If history doesn"t appeal to you, you can enjoy an outing at the U Street stores in DC, or one of the new restaurants, theaters and clubs that are reviving this area as a vibrant center of entertainment in the nation"s capital. Historic jazz venues like Bohemian Caverns that once hosted the biggest names in jazz welcome local and touring performers for special engagements. The majestically restored Lincoln Theatre showcases local dance, theatre, and music talents and hosts film festivals and screenings. Two of the city"s most popular venues for live music, the Black Cat and the 9:30 Club, are right around the corner. For a quieter night of mellow jazz or coffee, try U-topia or Sparky"s Café.
If Washington DC shopping is your kind of adventure, try the hip clothing at Aunt Neensie"s and shoes at Wild Women Wear Red. Goodwood is a favorite stop for antique hunters, where you can find bargains on 19th century furniture. Or, if you like brightly colored, inventive home décor, check out Home Rule, the name of which pokes fun at DC"s quest for statehood. Whatever you do, enjoy this neighborhood"s rich culture, which is bursting at the seams with life, jazz and color.
Before the rise of Harlem in New York, this area of DC evolved as "the" gathering place for African Americans, a cultural haven. Slaves seeking their freedom during the Civil War era found sanctuary in Union Army encampments here. These freemen founded missionary churches that prosper still today. Intellectual and artistic elite from the black community began to gather here, attracted to Howard University at the north end of the neighborhood. By the early 20th century, the area was the nerve center of the city"s black community, home to businesses and places of entertainment, and the major social institutions of black Washington.
The Shaw Community Washington, the urban area around 14th and U Street, is rich in history and brimming with untold stories and legends. Shaw is a rare gem among American cities, having spawned a remarkable list of outstanding achievers, including Thurgood Marshall, W.E.B. DuBois, Dorothy Height, Duke Ellington, Mary McLeod Bethune and Paul Laurence Dunbar. Also, the greatest names in entertainment played the neighborhood"s theaters, clubs, and after-hours hideaways. Appearing regularly at the Club Bali, the Crystal Caverns, the Lincoln Colonnade and the Howard Theatre were Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughn and Nat King Cole.
To experience something of this vibrant history today, take the self-guided walking tour, City Within a City, marked by engaging, highly illustrative signs along U Street and beyond. Visit the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, where restorations and historic displays recall the times when the promising poet Langston Hughes visited there. In the True Reformer Hall, make sure to check out the African American Civil War Memorial Museum.
If history doesn"t appeal to you, you can enjoy an outing at the U Street stores in DC, or one of the new restaurants, theaters and clubs that are reviving this area as a vibrant center of entertainment in the nation"s capital. Historic jazz venues like Bohemian Caverns that once hosted the biggest names in jazz welcome local and touring performers for special engagements. The majestically restored Lincoln Theatre showcases local dance, theatre, and music talents and hosts film festivals and screenings. Two of the city"s most popular venues for live music, the Black Cat and the 9:30 Club, are right around the corner. For a quieter night of mellow jazz or coffee, try U-topia or Sparky"s Café.
If Washington DC shopping is your kind of adventure, try the hip clothing at Aunt Neensie"s and shoes at Wild Women Wear Red. Goodwood is a favorite stop for antique hunters, where you can find bargains on 19th century furniture. Or, if you like brightly colored, inventive home décor, check out Home Rule, the name of which pokes fun at DC"s quest for statehood. Whatever you do, enjoy this neighborhood"s rich culture, which is bursting at the seams with life, jazz and color.
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