Popular Attractions in Washington: Much to Do Along the Real Mall of America!
The number of popular attractions in Washington just rose by one with the addition of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial. Now there are more new and popular attractions than ever in the nation’s capital from which to choose. Choose wisely! Here are a few of the most memorable and popular attractions in Washington:
United States Capitol
Home to the U.S. Congress – and once even home to the U.S. Supreme Court -- the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., is an emblem of the American populace and their government, the gathering place of the nation's elected representatives. It also houses an important compilation of American art and it is an architectural accomplishment in its own right. It is a working office and a sightseeing attraction visited by millions annually.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
To commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. a number of well-known, and not-so-well-known civic and cultural leader led a collaborative endowment, design and building process that resulted in the creation of a memorial to honor his national and international role in furthering world peace through non-violent social change. The Memorial’s address, 1964 Independence Ave, SW, is a living reference to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a milestone in which Dr. King played an integral role in achieving. Even more fitting is that is it located along the northwest corner of the D.C. Tidal Basin, in a line right between the Lincoln Memorial to the northwest and the Jefferson Memorial to the southeast.
Washington Monument
Both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, the Washington Monument for 125 years has served as the primary memorial to America’s Founding Father and first president. (At the time of this writing, the monument is currently closed indefinitely to inside visitors for repairs due to the mid-2011 earthquake.) Standing at 555 feet five and a half inches – the tallest structure in the District of Columbia – the Washington Monument was started in 1848 but due to various political obstacles, including the Civil War, was not finished until 1884. The delay is physically evident. The monument exhibits two shades of quarry stone – the original stone could not be found when construction on the structure resumed in 1879 after a 25-year hiatus.
Jefferson Memorial
Built on a man-made peninsula just south of the National Mall area of downtown Washington, D.C., the Jefferson Memorial is an open-air tribute to the nation’s third president – the only president to never veto an act of Congress. The neoclassical building was designed by John Russell Pope, who also developed such noted sites as the National Archives along the mall, and National City Christian Church, on Thomas Circle near the White House.
Posted on Oct 7, 2011 by Jim Brown
