A Travel Guide to Washington D.C.’s Museums, Monuments and Memorials
My first stop in the capital was the National World War II Memorial. The Memorial consists of an oval pond with several fountains, surrounded by 50 pillars that represent each state. There are several quotes ingrained in the structure, adding to the heavy vibe that permeates the air around the Memorial and the capital in general.
The Vietnam Memorial, also known as “The Wall,” is a huge structure of black granite with the names of about 58,000 servicemen who died in Vietnam. The wall has a V-shaped cleft that many say represents the gash of a deep cut, connoting the open-wound pain of the horrific war. What’s particularly moving about the memorial is watching someone locate the name of a loved one, and then gently touch the engraved letters. For those who want a keepsake, there are volunteers nearby who will etch a name onto a piece of paper for anyone who asks.
The Lincoln Monument is impressive, as a pensive President peers out over Washington, effectively keeping an eye on the capital. This is perhaps the best view of the capital, as a great deal can be seen from the top of the monuments steps. A few of Lincoln’s most memorable speeches decorate the walls around the monument, and reading them you get a sense of the enormous magnitude of his words. This was back when President’s actually wrote their own speeches, and Lincoln was called on to define a crucial moment in history, which he did with eloquence.
At the bottom of the Lincoln Monument’s steps is where the Reflecting Pool begins. For those of you in my generation, it’s that watery rectangle thing that Jenny ran across to get to Forrest Gump after his unplugged speech at the Vietnam protests. At the other end of the Reflecting Pool is the Washington Monument. Standing in the middle of the capitol, the Washington Monument shoots up from the ground with symbolic force and power, and is surrounded by a circle of American flags that serve as a patriotic fence.
Taking a tour of the Capitol Building is both impressive and disappointing. Its’ architecture and design is remarkable, and the statues and murals that decorate the Capitol’s interior are also definitely worth seeing. However the tour is surprisingly brief and disappointingly limited to only a couple rooms, making it more a tour of the Capitol’s foyer than the Capitol Building.
There are fifteen separate museums in the capital that constitute the Smithsonian Institution, so unless you have a couple weeks to spend, it’s impossible to see them all. I split my time between the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of American History. The former houses several centuries of masterpieces, including works by such notable artists as Rembrandt, Renoir, Monet, and Goya. A couple of pieces that stand out include Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait,” and a sketch done by Picasso.
The Museum of American History has one of the more modern selection of exhibits in Washington; ranging from pop culture, (Lance Armstrong’s bicycle, Muppets), to culinary history, (Julia Child, the evolution of the kitchen). Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the museum is the “American Soldiers” exhibit; which contains letters written by soldiers at war, a helicopter from Vietnam, and pieces of the Berlin Wall and the World Trade Center.
It is difficult to see everything in the capital thus my exclusion of such notable attractions as the Holocaust Museum and the Jefferson Monument. Point being, there are weeks worth of attractions in the nation’s capital, so if you’re looking for an eventful and educational trip, Washington D.C.’s the place to go.
