Exploring the Foundations of America in Washington, D.C.

Posted - June 6, 2018

The National Mall is where the past, present and future come together. The monuments and memorials in this park honor American forefathers and heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to this country. Honoring the lives lost in war are the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial.
   
On the westernmost side of the Washington Mall complex, an impressive Greek Doric temple grandly commemorates the 16^th president of the United States. Inside, a commanding marble statue of a seated Abraham Lincoln accompanies inscriptions of two of his famous speeches, The Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. On the other side of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool lies the Washington Monument. Sharing an axis with Lincoln, Washington’s obelisk is one of the most recognizable structures in the entire city. Upon completion in 1888, it became the world’s tallest structure.
  
East of the Washington Monument you will find world-class museums, including the newest addition, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Smithsonian Institution, as it is known collectively, is a world-renowned museum and research complex that consists of 19 museums and galleries in Washington, D.C., as well as the National Zoo. The museums collectively contain 154 million objects, works of art and specimens. One of the most popular museums is the National Air and Space Museum, where visitors can learn about the future of space travel. At the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, pause for remembrance and learn about the fragility of freedom.
  
A trip to the nation’s capital might also afford to Ford’s Theatre, the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. Take a step back in time at this popular tourist destination, where visitors learn about the events of April 14, 1865, and the lasting impact of Lincoln’s assassination on our nation.
  
Just steps from D.C., and across the Potomac River, Arlington National Cemetery sits upon 624 acres of land. The cemetery serves as the final resting place for more than 400,000 military veterans and their immediate family from the fronts of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as World Wars I and II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, the Cold War and America’s Civil War.
  
Tours of the White House are also available to visitors who plan ahead for tickets.