Arlington National Cemetery

The land on which Arlington National Cemetery is located used to be the home of General Robert E. Lee. When Lee went off to fight for the South in the Civil War, Union forces took over the land and used Lee’s house as headquarters and as a temporary hospital. Brigadier General Montgomery Meigs declared the grounds to be used as a military cemetery, so that it could never again be used as Lee’s beloved estate if he ever returned to Arlington. Today, Arlington is the burial grounds for America’s military personnel and their families.

Did you know?

• With more than 270,000 graves and over 5,400 burials each year, the cemetery will be full by the year 2060.

• The Tomb of the Unknowns used to hold the remains of unidentified soldiers from World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Recently, the body of the unknown soldier who fought in Vietnam was exhumed and identified.

Famous people buried at Arlington include:
John and Robert Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
William Howard Taft (our 27th President)
Joe Louis (World Heavyweight Boxing Champ)
Lee Marvin (actor)
Pierre Charles L’Enfant (designer of Washington, D.C.)
Admiral Robert E. Peary (explorer of the North Pole)
Parke Custis and Mary Custis (builders of Arlington House).

Did you know?

• FDR Memorial is the first memorial also dedicated to a First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.

• This is the second memorial dedicated to FDR. The first is located behind the National Archives.

The Holocaust Museum

In the early 1930’s, Adolf Hitler, Fuhrer of Germany, began enforcing his anti-Semitic ideology. Six million Jews and millions of others were targeted in systematic, state-sponsored genocide. The Holocaust Museum stands as a living memorial to those victims. It presents a narrative history using over 900 artifacts, videos, and eyewitness accounts. The exhibit is divided into three sections: Nazi Assault, Final Solution, and Last Chapter.

Daniel’s Story is a special exhibit which tells the story of a 12-year old Jewish boy who survived the Holocaust. It takes you through Daniel’s house, to the walls of a ghetto, and finally to the fences of a concentration camp. With the help of diary entries displayed on the walls, you are able to follow the child’s thoughts through the happy, playful times, then to the fear of being murdered in a camp.

Jefferson Memorial

The circular, colonnaded structure of the Memorial is a copy of Jefferson’s favored Pantheon in Rome. Jefferson used this style in his home at Monticello. The 19-foot bronze statue in the center of the Memorial looks out across the Tidal Basin at the White House. On the walls surrounding the statue are five inscriptions taken from Jefferson’s writings, illustrating the principles with which he dedicated his life. The excerpts are taken from the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom, Notes on the State of Virginia, as well as letters to James Madison, George Wythe, and George Washington.

Did you know?

• In order to see the 19-foot statue of Jefferson from the White House, President Roosevelt had several trees cleared from the front of both buildings.

• To protest the removal of many cherished cherry trees during the construction of the memorial, protestors tied themselves to the cherry trees to disrupt the builders.

• For the official dedication, a plaster statue was installed in the memorial due to a metal shortage during World War II. It wasn’t until four years later that the final bronze statue was completed and installed.

• Enclosed in the memorial’s cornerstone is a copy of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the U.S., a copy of each of the four major Washington newspapers of the day, and other documents inspired or written by Jefferson.

Korean Veterans Memorial

Located directly across the Reflecting Pool from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Korean Memorial is dedicated to honor the thousands of Americans who served in the Korean conflict to try and keep Communist North Korea from overtaking South Korea. What was envisioned as a short war became a prolonged, bitter, and frustrating. The fighting raged for three years, killing over four million people.

19 soldiers are arranged around strips of granite and juniper bushes to imitate the rice paddies of Korea. This symbolic patrol brings together members of the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Navy, and portrays servicemen from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. When seen reflected on the wall, there appear to be 38 men on patrol, representing the 38th parallel that divided Korea.

Did you know?

• The Korean Memorial is the first stainless steel memorial ever erected in D.C.

• To make the 164-foot-long wall, a computer-generated stencil guided the sandblasting that carved the images in stone.

Lincoln Memorial

One of the best known and most visited monuments in D.C., the Lincoln Memorial stands as a tribute to our 16th President. The seated Lincoln, with the intense look of a President during the Civil War, faces the Reflecting Pool and Washington Monument. On each wall beside the President are inscribed two of his most famous speeches: the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address.

Did you know?

• The statue of Lincoln is 19 feet high seated (he would be 28 feet high if he were standing) and is made up of 28 separate blocks of Georgia White marble.

• The 36 columns represent the number of states at the time of the Civil War.

National Archives

On September 18, 2003, the National Archives re-opened its doors to the public after extensive renovations had closed the building for several years. Visitors now have access to the “Charters of Freedom”, which include the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Now, for the first time, visitors are able to view all four pages of the Constitution. Further expansion of the Archives building will include a new 294-seat William G. McGowan Theater, an “inside the stack” area called the Public Vaults, a Learning Center, and a new Special Exhibition Gallery.

Did you know?

• The two bronze doors at the main entrance to the Archives are believed to be the largest in the world.

• The Archives’ collection includes three billion pages of text, six million still photos, 91 million feet of motion picture film, 70,000 sound recordings, and nine million aerial photographs.

National Cathedral

The official name of the National Cathedral is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter and St. Paul. Although it is an Episcopal Church, the Cathedral’s constitution states that it be a “house of prayer for all people, forever free and open to all who may enter its doors.”

Did you know?

• President Wilson, buried in the Cathedral, is the only President to be laid to rest in the District.

• The Cathedral is a 14th Century Gothic-style structure, shaped like a Latin Cross, and is the sixth largest church in the world.

• The west Rose window contains over 10,000 pieces of glass, and the Space Window has a piece of the moon in it!

• Darth Vader, from Star Wars fame, is one of the gargoyles located on the northwest corner of the west tower.

• The Central tower is 676 feet above sea level, making it the highest point in the District of Columbia

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon was passed on to George Washington from his older half-brother, and at one time included 8,000 acres. George Washington built five complete farms and a fishery on the property; each farm had its own buildings, livestock, foremen, and workers. Approximately 150 slaves operated the five farms, and an additional 90 took care of the main house, referred to as the Mansion. The 14 rooms in the mansion that are open for viewing have been restored to their original colors, and contain a number of the original furnishings. You can see the large dining room, where Washington was officially notified that he had been elected the first President of the United States, and see the bed in which he died on December 14, 1799.

Did you know?

• During the Civil War, Mount Vernon was considered neutral ground by both sides.

• In honor, whenever Navy ships sail past Mount Vernon along the Potomac River, flags are lowered to half-mast, and the crew stands to attention.

• Not only is there a family grave site at Mount Vernon where George and his wife Martha are buried, but right next door is a slave burial ground, where 50-100 of Washington’s slaves are laid to rest.

Museum of American History

The Museum of American History opened in 1964 as the sixth Smithsonian building on the Mall. The museum focuses on the history of transportation, agriculture, communication, medicine, science and technology in the United States.

Did you know?

When Francis Scott Key saw the American Flag flying over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, it inspired him to write “The Star Spangled Banner.” The song became popular during the Civil War, and in 1931, by act of Congress, it was officially designated the national anthem of the United States. The flag that inspired the song was donated to the Smithsonian in 1912.

Be sure to see:

• The Star Spangled Banner
• Eli Whitney’s cotton gin (original)
• Thomas Edison’s light bulb (original)
• A 1913 Model-T Ford
• Hands-On-History Room
• First Ladies
• The American Presidency

Natural History Museum

More than 81 million objects are stored and displayed at the Natural History Museum, the third oldest Smithsonian building on the Mall. This museum researches and collects material to trace the evolution and development of man and of the world in which he lives, with exhibits that include Native American, Pacific, and Asian Cultures, dinosaurs, fossils, gems and minerals.

Did you know?

• The museum is home to the Hope Diamond which, at 44.5 carats, is the largest deep-blue diamond in the world.

• It took 16 bullets to kill the great African bush elephant on display in the main lobby. The elephant is 13 feet tall and weighs 12 tons. Its skin alone weighs 2000 pounds.

Be sure to see:

• The 92-foot model of a blue whale
• The Insect Zoo
• Egyptian mummy coffins
• Moon rocks

All of the aircraft and spacecraft on display in the Air & Space Museum were flown or were used as backup vehicles. The 23 exhibits in the museum house artifacts including airplanes & spacecraft, missiles & rockets, engines, propellers, models, uniforms, instruments, and flight equipment.

Did you know?

• The Air & Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world.

Be sure to see:

• Wright Brothers’ original 1903 Flyer
• Apollo Lunar module
• Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis
• Aircraft from World Wars I and II, and Vietnam
• The moon rock

The Smithsonian Institution

The Smithsonian Institution, with 16 museums and the National Zoo, is the world’s largest museum complex. It was established with a $500,000 gift given to the American people by James Smithson, an English scientist. It holds some 134 million artifacts and specimens, although only about three percent are displayed at any one time.
Nine of the sixteen Smithsonian Museums are located on the Mall between the Capitol and the Washington Monument:

• Museum of American History
• Museum of Natural History
• Air and Space Museum
• Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
• Hirshhorn Museum
• Arts and Industries
• National Museum of African Art
• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
• Freer Gallery of Art

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Its primary job is to interpret the laws and Constitution of the United States. The Court consists of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The nine justices are appointed by the President for life, but they must be approved by the Senate.

Did you know?

• Justice William Douglas holds the distinction of having served on the Court the longest: 36 years and 6 months.

• The “Conference handshake” has been a tradition since the late 19th century, where each justice shakes hands with each of the other eight before they assemble at the Bench each day.

• The Supreme Court Building is now located where the Old Capitol Prison used to be.

• You don’t have to be a lawyer to be on the Supreme Court.

Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, only 1,000 survived. The United States forces lost 6,821 of its 75,000 soldiers. The intense resistance shown by the Japanese soldiers shocked even the most venerable Marines. Capturing this tiny island in the Pacific allowed for the safe passage of the B-29 bombers which carried the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, ending the war.

Did you know?

• There were actually two flag raisings on Iwo Jima. The first flag raised was not large enough to see. The memorial is designed after the second flag raising.

• Iwo Jima is the largest bronze statue ever cast; the soldiers are 32 feet high, and the total height of the memorial is 78 feet.

• As you drive around the memorial, you can observe the flagpole being raised

The US Capitol

The main purpose of the legislative branch is to make the laws that govern the people. There are 100 Senators (two from each state) and 435 members of the House of Representatives (based on the population in each state). The Senate meets in the north wing of the Capitol, and the House of Representatives meets in the south wing. A flag flies over each wing of the Capitol when that part of Congress is in session.

Did you know?

• The flag flying over the entrance to the Capitol is one of several flags authorized by Congress to remain raised 24 hours a day.

• Below the Rotunda, there is an empty crypt that was built to hold the body of George Washington. It remains empty today, as Washington’s body is buried at his home, Mt. Vernon.

• The cast-iron dome atop the Capitol is the fourth largest in the world, rising 180 feet above the floor and weighing almost nine million pounds.

• In 1864, Congress passed a law stating “The President is hereby authorized to invite each state to provide two statues, in marble or bronze, of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious of their historic renown or for distinguished civil service or military services, such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration.” These statues are on display in Statuary Hall and throughout the Capitol.

• The Capitol has remained open all night long only once in history. This was when John F. Kennedy was laid in state in the Rotunda, prior to his funeral.

Vietnam Veteran Memorial

In 1979, a Vietnam veteran named Jan Scruggs made up his mind to insure that there would be a special memorial for those who fought in the Vietnam conflict. It would list the names of every man and woman who went to Vietnam and never returned. He decided to hold a contest for everyone over the age of 18 to submit a design for the new memorial. Over 1,400 entries from around the country were submitted. The winning design was submitted by a 21-year old college student from Yale named Maya Ying Lin. To create her design, she visited Washington, D.C. on a gray November day. She imagined a black wall, cut in the earth, a barrier between the sunny world of the living and the great dark world of the dead.

The black wall would have the names inscribed on it. It was a homework project that turned out to be the most visited memorial in D.C. By the way, she got a “B” on her homework assignment.

Did you know?

• There are almost 60,000 names engraved in The Wall.

• Every day family members and friends leave mementos and tokens of remembrance at the foot of The Wall. Over 50,000 objects have been collected by Park Rangers, including flowers, flags, medals, dog tags, letters, photos, teddy bears, Christmas Trees, and even Purple Hearts.

About 1,500 of these objects can be seen on display at the National Museum of American History.

Washington Memorial

The most visible memorial in D.C., the Washington Monument rises 555 feet above the Mall. It is not only the tallest structure in D.C. it is the tallest stone monument in the world.

Did you know?

• The color of the marble changes part way up. When construction resumed after the Civil War the marble was mined from a different part of the quarry.

• The monument’s elevator travels 500 feet in just under 70 seconds.

• There are 898 steps to the top of the monument, and 193 memorial stones line the inside of the monument as gifts from the 50 states and many foreign governments. The steps are closed to the public.

The White House

Not only does the White House serve as the home of the President and his family, it also serves as the official office for the Executive Branch of our government, whose job is to execute or carry out the laws of our nation. Working from the Oval Office located in the West Wing, the President helps make the decisions that govern and protect our nation.

Since the President not only works out of the White House but resides there as well, many presidents have made changes to the building to accommodate their tastes: John Quincy Adams had a billiard table put in; President Fillmore’s wife started the official library of the Executive Mansion; President Coolidge brought in an electric hobby horse; Teddy Roosevelt had the tennis courts placed on the south lawn; Franklin D. Roosevelt added a swimming pool (which was later filled in); President Truman provided three pianos; and President Gerald Ford had a new swimming pool put in.

Did you know?

• There are 134 rooms in the White House, 32 of which are for the President’s residential/private quarters.

• The White House operator receives thousands of calls each day. The incident that caused the highest number of phone calls in White House history was…..the death of Elvis Presley.

• The White House holds an Easter Egg hunt annually on the South Lawn. Children from all over the country come to hunt for the hidden treasures. But don’t worry, there’s no fear of a food fight starting…the eggs are wooden!

World II Memorial

Located at the end of the Reflecting Pool opposite the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial is the first memorial dedicated to those who served our country during the Second World War. Established by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the memorial will “honor all military veterans of the war, citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation’s call to arms.” The memorial consists of a plaza and rainbow pool flanked by two Memorial Arches, one marked Pacific and one marked Atlantic. Circling the plaza are 56 granite pillars – one for each of the states, territories, and the District of Columbia – connected by a bronze sculpted rope celebrating the unity of the nation.

Did you know?

• On the floor of the Memorial Arches is the WWII victory medal surrounded by the years “1941-1945″ and the words “Victory on Land,” “Victory at Sea,” and “Victory in the Air.”

• The field of 4000 sculpted gold stars on the freedom wall commemorates the more than 400,000 Americans who gave their lives during the war.

• The memorial’s chairman is Senator Bob Dole, and several celebrities helped raise funds for the memorial’s construction, including actor Tom Hanks and television news anchor Tom Brokaw.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

The presses at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are male money 24 hours a day in order to keep up with the Federal Reserve’s orders for new paper currency. The Bureau also prints postage stamps, military certificates, Treasury notes, and invitations to the White House. When you visit you can see the presses in action and learn how our money is made.

Did you know?

• The Bureau uses 4.8 million pounds of paper each year.

• The life expectancy of a $1 bill is 18 months.

• $22.5 million in paper currency is printed each day, six days a week every week

• Our paper money is really made of 75% cotton and 25% linen.

Ford’s Theatre

On the evening of April 14, 1865, President and Mrs. Lincoln went to the theater to see the play “Our American Cousin.” They were seated in Box 7, overlooking the stage.

At a little past 10:00 PM, John Wilkes Booth slipped into the hall outside the President’s box. During the third act, Booth entered the President’s box, pulled out a .44 caliber, single shot derringer, and from a range of about ten inches away from Lincoln’s head, pulled the trigger.

Booth then jumped to the stage 12 feet below, catching his boot spur in the flag draped over the box. He landed heavily on his left foot, breaking a small bone above his ankle. Limping across the stage, Booth shouted “Sic semper tyrannis” (“Thus always to tyrants”), before running out the stage door to his horse to escape.

Realizing that Lincoln’s wound was mortal and that getting him back to the Executive Mansion was out of the question, surgeon Dr. Charles Leale had Lincoln carried across the street to William Petersen’s boarding house. He was stretched diagonally across a bed in one of the back rooms. Leale stayed with Lincoln throughout the evening, monitoring his pulse and breathing, but at 7:22 AM the following morning, Lincoln breathed his last.

On April 26th, Booth was found hiding in a barn in Virginia, where he was shot and killed. It later was revealed that Booth had co-conspirators who were supposed to assassinate Secretary of State William Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson on the same evening.

One of the newest memorials located in D.C., the FDR Memorial is divided into four “rooms,” one for each of FDR’s terms in office. Each of the rooms has familiar quotations from his fireside chats, inaugural addresses, and other speeches, including one of his most famous sayings: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”