Monuments and memorials, eclectic neighborhoods,
true local flavor – Washington, DC is a place unlike any other. It’s your home
away from home with free museums and America’s front yard. Plan your trip to
the nation’s capital by checking out all the things to do, places to eat and
ways to stay.
5 Must-See Memorials on the National Mall
According to the American Institute of Architects,
half of Americans’ top 12 favorite architectural gems line the National Mall.
There’s no denying the significance of the Mall for its symbols to American
history and for its uniquely designed marvels.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Frequently ranked by visitors as their favorite
piece of architecture on the National Mall, the Jefferson Memorial serves as
the site of many annual events and ceremonies including memorial exercises, an
Easter sunrise service and the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The memorial, which stands as a symbol of liberty,
was designed as a smaller version of the Roman Pantheon with marble steps and monumental
Ionic columns; its interior holds a bronze statue of Jefferson and the walls
are inlaid with excerpts from his letters, speeches and the Declaration of
Independence.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
This memorial honors members of the U.S. armed
forces who fought, died in service or were labeled MIA in the Vietnam War. It
is divided into three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam
Women’s Memorial and the well-known Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
Controversy surrounded the wall’s unconventional
design for its dark color and lack of decoration.
But the wall quickly became a place of grieving,
pilgrimage and healing; today it stands as one of the most visited and moving
memorials on the National Mall, as visitors have made a tradition of leaving
mementos, letters and photographs of loved ones lost in the war.
The memorial itself is based on a line from Dr.
King's famous "I Have a Dream” speech, which was delivered from the nearby
steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and
Freedom in 1963: "With this faith, we will be able to hew out of a mountain
of despair, a stone of hope." The memorial depicts King as the “stone of
hope” and the two pieces of granite placed near him as the “mountain of
despair."
World War II Memorial
The World War II Memorial, which honors the spirit
and sacrifice of the 16 million men and women who served overseas and the more
than 400,000 that perished, opened to the public in April 2004. The memorial
built to celebrate the the heroes of the Greatest Generation remains one of the
most visited sites on the National Mall, with more than 4.2 million visits in
2014.
Each year, more than 300 Honor Flights bring World
War II veterans, as well as those who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, to
the memorials dedicated to their service.
Washington Monument
This monumental obelisk was built to honor George
Washington, America’s first president, and stands today as the world’s tallest
freestanding stone structure.
Construction began in 1848, but a lack of funds, political
squabbling and the Civil War interrupted the work from 1854 to 1877. A clear
change in the color of the stones can be seen about one-third of the way up the
monument; the slightly darker stones at the bottom were placed before
construction paused, while the lighter stones above it were brought in from a
different quarry following the Civil War.
The Washington Monument is currently undergoing
repairs. Check the National Park Service's website for updates before you plan
your visit.
Lincoln Memorial
A perennial visitor favorite, the Lincoln Memorial
stands at the west end of the National Mall as a neoclassical monument to
America’s 16th president. A 19-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln sits overlooking
the Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument from his permanent seat on
America's front yard. Dedicated in 1922, the Lincoln Memorial has been home to
many defining moments in American history. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered
his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in
front of 250,000 attendees.
Call
Rawhide Travel and Tours and start planning that special vacation or event
today. 602-843-5100 or visit our website rawhidetravel.com.
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