Washington, D.C. Monuments
Washington, D.C. is home the nation's most renown and remarkable monuments. No visit to the capital is complete without paying homage to some of our contry's greatest leaders and heros.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: This monument is not only a memorial to the nation's 32nd president, but also to the people of his time. The monument stretches along the Tidal Basin with four outdoor gallery rooms and is connected by granite passageways. Each room exhibits aspects of Franklin D. Roosevelt's terms in office. The second room, for example, depicts the Great Depression with statues waiting in a bread line. Another room contains a statue of Eleanor Roosevelt, the only memorial to honor a First Lady. The monument also features waterfalls and pools.
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass purchased this 21-room home, making him the first African-American to buy a home in an area then restricted to whites. Known as Cedar Hill, the home became the nation's first Black National Historic Site. The original furnishings are in large part the ones Douglass himself owned. They include the 1200-volume library of this self-taught man. Also on display are gifts given to Douglass by such contemporaries as Mary Todd Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Lincoln Memorial: Located at the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is a principal landmark of the city. It offers magnificent views of the city from several vantage points. Daniel Chester French's 19-foot (5.7-meter) statue of Lincoln seated and deep in thought, along with the carved text of the Gettysburg Address, provides a glimpse into a weighty period of American history. The 36 Doric columns represent the number of states in the union at the time of Lincoln's death. Go at night for much lighter crowds.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial: This memorial is the latest addition to Washington, D.C. monument landscape. The monument is located on the four-acre tract south of the Mall and features a granite statue of Dr. King. The design, which was inspired by MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech has already drawn much critical and popular acclaim.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Designed by John Russell Pope, this Roman-style monument to Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, is elegant and simple. Jefferson's 19-foot statue stands within, surrounded by some of his most inspirational writings. This is a perfect after-dinner destination. At night, the view of the Washington Monument across the tidal basin is one of the most attractive in Washington, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: When it was unveiled in 1982, nothing but controversy met the design of Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War or remain missing in action. Maya Ying Lin may have been no more than a 21-year-old graduate student when she won the design contest for this memorial, but her work is now etched in the memories of countless visitors who have walked along this black granite wall filled with names.
Washington Monument: a memorial to George Washington, our nation's first president, this obelisk is the most prominent landmark in Washington, DC and stands as the centerpiece of the National Mall. It is the tallest structure in the capital measuring 555 feet 5 1/8 inches. Fifty flags surround the base of the Washington Monument symbolizing the 50 states of America.