An Evening in Washington D.C. with the Monuments and Memorials

Overview

Most of the museums close by 5:30 pm with extended hours to 7:30 pm during warmer months. Plus the heat of the day is not a fun time to walk around outside. So, plan for an nice evening walk after the museums close and grab a bottle of water or fill up your reusable water bottle. Or if your an early morning person then a quick morning walk but you will miss the wonderful evening lights.

The Washington Monument is the starting point with a big loop or two and then end at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. This is a great walk but it would be hard to actually drive to all the monuments and/or memorials because they are back to back and parking is not great in this area of town or any area of downtown DC.

The list of monuments and memorials include:

• Washington Monument
• Sylvan Theater
• John Paul Jones Memorial
• World War II Memorial
• Reflecting Pool
• Constitution Gardens
  • 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial
• Vietnam Women’s Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  • Three Serviceman Statue
• Lincoln Memorial
• John Ericsson Memorial
• Korean War Veterans Memorial
• DC War Memorial
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
• Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
• Japanese Pagoda
• George Mason Memorial
• Thomas Jefferson Memorial

There are a few others but it was dark and I did not want to go into those areas with out a group. Safety first. The evening time has a lot of people around, tour groups, and a bunch of lights every where until about 10 pm. Then people start getting very thinned out.

Washington Monument

On August 23, 2011, the Washington Monument was in a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. The earthquake damaged the monument so it as been temporarily closed since the earthquake to repair the damage and to do upgrades. It is set to reopen in August 2019.

The Washington Memorial was started in 1848 but by 1854, construction halted due to lack of funds, problems within the Washington National Monument Society, and of course, the American Civil War. It was not official opened until 1888.

Washington’s Monument was the worlds tallest building at 555 feet tall until the Eiffel Tower (1,063 feet) was build over 40 years later. The Chrysler Building (1046 feet) took that in 1930. Then the Empire State Building (1,472) a year later. In 1972, the World Trade Center took the title.

National Sylvan Theater

Located to the left of the Washington Monument.

The theater is popular for free military concerts, musicals, plays, puppet shows, etc. The Military Bands use to offer free concerts during the summer but this has moved to the U.S. Capital West front steps for 2019 schedule. But check for the 2020 schedule for a change back to the theater.

It was used for government and/or other commemorative ceremonies, rallies, protest, and a start and/or stopping point for organized marches.

John Paul Jones Memorial

Located between the Washington Monument and to the left of the World War II Memorial.

John Paul Jones was the “Father of the American Navy” and served during the American Revolution War. He was also know as a pirate and the quote, “I have not yet begun to fight!”.

History Brief

John Paul Jones was born in Scotland and at the age of thirteen; he left for a life at sea. After a killing a mutinous crew member during an dispute over wages; John Paul add Jones to his name and fled to the new world to arrange the affairs of his brother who had died and to escape the Admiral’s Court.

In 1775, he joined the Continental Navy. Although he had lots of successes at sea, Jones was also known to buck authority figures. Jones became good friends with Benjamin Franklin while in France working on strategic for the Revolutionary War.

In 1787, Jones was unemployment and accepted an offer from Empress Catherine II of Russia as rear admiral.

Jones died in Paris in 1792. He was burial in the Saint Louis Cemetery owned by the French royal family. During the French revolution, the property was sold. In 1906, the U.S. Ambassador to France was able to locate his body and have it brought back to U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

In 1913, Jones was moved once again to the Navel Academy Chapel in Annapolis into a bronze and marble sarcophagus.

World War II Memorial

Located to the left of the John Paul Jones and directly behind the Washington Monument.

The World War II Memorial is dedicated to all those Americans that served, those who fell, and recognizes the victory which restored freedom and end tyranny.

As you enter into the memorial, the wreaths line both sides. Each wreath is for a state. Over 400,000, United State citizens were killed during WWII. Countless others worked on the war effect. It is a very peaceful place.

History Brief

The 75th Anniversary of D-Day was on June 6, 2019. This is the day that the Allied forces attached the beaches of Normandy, France.

The original date for the attack was June 5th but General Eisenhower postponed the attack by one day due to uncertain weather conditions. Captain James Stagg was the chief meteorologist at the time.

During WWII, radar was used to find ships and boats but the Navy found that they could also detect clouds, precipitation, winds, etc. Meteorology started to becoming a real science.

In the 1950’s, a series of hurricanes hit the U.S. and the government started installing of the first radar network started across the United States. Each decade has created better and better radar technologies.

The Doppler radar system saves so many lives every year. It is our part in World War II that took so many lives but produced the technology that save so many today.

Constitution Gardens

The Constitution Gardens are to the right of the World War II Memorial. If you walk the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, then you will have to walk all the way back to get to the Garden.

The Garden has a wonderful man make pond. It has ducks and geese. Nice place to have a picnic. The water is drained during the winter. On one side is an island which holds the Declaration of Independence Memorial.

There are bathrooms just up from this cafe. Bathrooms are far between each place, therefore don’t take them for granted.

56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence Memorial

The memorial is on an island in the Constitutional Garden. Cross the bridge and you will find 56 stones with the signatures of the original signers.

In 1776, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. Most people can only name a few of the 56 men and guess other names like George Washington who actually did not sign it. The 56 men were from the 13 colonies.

• New Hampshire-Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
• Massachusetts-John Adams, Samuel Adams, Elbridge Gerry, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine
• Rhode Island-William Ellery, Stephen Hopkins
• Connecticut-Samuel Huntington, Roger Sherman, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
• New York-Philip Livingston, William Floyd, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
• New Jersey-Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon
• Pennsylvania-John Morton, Benjamin Franklin, James Wilson, Robert Morris, George Clymer, George Ross, Benjamin Rush, George Taylor, James Smith
• Delaware-Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
• Maryland-Charles Carroll, Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone
• Virginia-Carter Braxton, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Thomas Nelson Jr., George Wythe
• North Carolina-Joseph Hewes, William Hooper, John Penn
• South Carolina-Thomas Lynch Jr., Arthur Middleton, Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward Jr.
• Georgia-Lyman Hall, George Walton, Button Gwinnett

History Brief

Most people don’t know that they did not all sign on July 4th but rather most of them signed between July 2nd and August 2nd.

The 56 men that signed the Declaration of Independence were putting their lives on the line. Each of these men had very different reasons for signing the Declaration and each had a lot to lose.

If the English had won the war; each of these men would have had their property, possessions, and money confiscated by the Crown which would have left their families homeless, penniless, and their names destroyed. The men themselves would have been imprisoned, hung, or worst. Signing this document was not done lightly.

One of the signers, Carter Braxton had great wealth and eighteen children. He was not only putting himself on the line but his children future and lives as well.

Vietnam Women’s Memorial

Located just above the Constitution Gardens and across from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

The Vietnam Women’s Memorial is dedicated to the 265,000 women who served in the Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, women held positions as nurses, doctors, air traffic controllers, etc.

Each of the figures is telling both the same story and a different story. I found it very overwhelming to look at and review each line on their faces and each action that they body language was saying. Don’t just look at this one but feel it.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial & Three Serviceman Statue

Located to the right is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and slightly in front the Serviceman Statue.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial chronologically list the names of over 58,000 men and women who lost their lives during the Vietnam War.

If you are looking for someone, check out the Wall of Faces web site. This has a picture of many of the soldiers, mini bios, the panel and line where the name is on the wall, and a place to remember them. It also will has a place to request a rubbing that will be mail to you free of charge but please remember to donate to ensure this service is available for the future.

Lincoln Memorial

You can’t miss this one. It is to the left of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and in line with the WWII Memorial, Washington Monument, and the U.S. Capital. Watch for the area below the memorial for bathrooms and a bit of a museum. The door is to the left and can easily be missed.

The Lincoln Memorial is absolutely beautiful. There is a peace that comes over you when you look up at Lincoln’s statue. Every time that I visit it; there is a stillness about the place even with people crawling all over it. It is a place that you can’t miss when you visit the area.

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It is the Memorial that reminds us that our country could have been lost forever. Lincoln keep the country together and lost his life. The Civil War was about Americans having different thoughts on issues that were facing our nation at the time. Slavery was a major issue but so was expansion, industry vs farming economies, and State vs Federal rights. (To name a few reasons.)

The Memorial reminds Americans that we may disagree like any family but when the chips are down, we come together as a nation.

Other places just behind Lincoln Memorial

Behind the Lincoln Memorial is Arts of Peace, Watergate Steps, and Art of War but I did not go because it was getting a bit late.

The Arts of Peace and War are on opposites sides behind the Lincoln Memorial.

The Watergate Steps were made to allow dignitaries and politicians to use the Potomac River as a way into the Capital but this never happened. But they were then used as a concert space with a barge docked on the Potomac for the “Sunset Symphonies” which started in 1935. Unfortunately, in 1965, these were cancelled due to the noise from the jets flying overhead.

These days the step are used mainly by joggers and runners. The Watergate hotel and office complex might have been named after these steps.

John Ericsson Memorial

The John Ericsson Memorial is behind and to the left of the Lincoln Monument.

Most people have little knowledge of Captain John Ericsson but he was transformed navel warfare with is design of the iron plated USS Monitor during the Civil War. His inventions include the surface condenser, hot air engine, torpedo technology, the propeller, and a solar machine to run an engine. His inventions have helped us advance but he gets little credit for them from the world at large.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

The Korean War Veterans Memorial is to the right as you leave the Lincoln Memorial tucked into the woods. This is one of my favorite memorial. “Freedom is not Free” is what this memorial is all about.

Set in a triangle with a pool of remembrance at the top, the mural wall that reflects you with images of soldiers from the war including a few dogs. The triangle holds 19 stainless steel statues representing a platoon on patrol drawn from each of the armed forces. The faces on the men are unbelievably real and you can feel the emotions coming from them.

History Brief

M*A*S*H* was a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker which was then created into a movie and then became a T.V. show which ran 11 seasons but the war only lasted 3 years.

The show last episode had a record breaking 125 million views. But the show was almost cancelled the first year. Fortunately, a girlfriend or wife of someone very important did not want it to be cancel so it got another season.

Many of the stories were based off real doctors recollections of their experiences during the Korean War. The comedy was wonderful in so many ways but they brought up a lot of issues about war.

My favorite episode of all time was “Abyssinia, Henry”. It was not my favorite for the comedy but of the raw emotion of when the cast was filming the final scene. The actors were not told what was going to happen until moments before they filmed. They were just told to react to Radar when he came in with a message.

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This message represents why M*A*S*H* was so popular. Along with all the comedy and laughter the show brought; it also remind the public that war was not fair.

DC War Memorial

Located down from the Korean War Veterans Memorial towards the WWII Memorial, the DC War Memorial is to represent the more then 26,000 Washingtonians who served in WWI.

This memorial replaced a wooden band stand and was used for concerts from its dedication in 1931 until the 1960’s. It is now a very popular place for marriage proposals.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial

Across the street and a bit down from the DC War Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial is located.

Martin Luther King, Jr is larger then life in a statue at his memorial. In the day time, it is a site to be seen but during the evening with the lights reflection off it; it just unbelievable.

It has access to the Tidal Basin with a walkway to the FDR and the Thomas Jefferson Memorials. I like walking around the Tidal Basin just because there is less traffic.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

To the right of the Martin Luther King Memorial is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The memorial includes his wife and his dog.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States and the only president to service four terms. He was President for most of the Great Depression and WWII. During the Great Depression he implemented the New Deal which created jobs for millions including a small project which sent out writer to ask Americans about their lives.

Some of these life histories are available online in American Life Histories: Manuscripts form the Federal Writers’ Project 1939-1940, Born in Slavery: Slave Narratives from the Federal Writers’ Project 1936 -1938, and others.

I read some of the stories years ago. They are not all well written but they tell the truths of Americans from all walks of life. Not stories that are made up or truths that we would like to know but very real truths from the person that told them.

Brief History

When FDR was 39, he was diagnosed with polio and was in a wheelchair. He was the first president with a significant physical disability and thanks to the fact that his wife campaigned for him and most Americans did not know that he was in a wheelchair. It was a state secret. His public appearances were carefully staged.

But it was well know by the press. The press was kind back then. It was just something that you did not talk about. Would it be nice to be back in that time with our technology and medical sciences?

Japanese Pagoda

Located below the southern entrance of FDR Memorial by the Tidal Basin.

It is about 10 feet high and was given to the United States in 1957. The statue was actually build around 1600 but was a gift of the mayor of Yokohama to commemorate the peace treaty of 1854, the Convention of Kanagawa. The Pagoda is placed right in the middle of thousands of cherry blossoms that were an original gift from Japan.

George Mason Memorial

Located between the FDR Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.

The George Mason Memorial is for a man that we don’t really think about any more. His vision helped create the most important documents of our nation. He was the voice of opposition and helped create the debates that formed our nation and the Bill of Rights.

History Brief

George Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Right which Thomas Jefferson used as inspiration for the Declaration of Independence. But he refused to sign the Declaration of Independence because it did not abolish slavery and lacked protection of the individual rights from the Federal Government.

His influence by writing Objections to this Constitution of Government in 1787, created the Bill of Rights. He understood the deficiencies in the constitution. The Bill of Rights helped establish personal freedoms and rights, limited the government’s power, and explicit stated that all powers not specifically granted to the government was reserved for the state rights or the people rights.

The Bill of Rights first 10 Amendment include freedom of religion, speech, and the press; to bear arms; housing of soldiers; protection of unreasonable searches and seizures; protection of rights to life, liberty, and property; rights of accused persons in criminal cases; rights in civil cases; excessive bail, fines, and punishment forbidden; other rights kept by the people; and undelegated powers kept by the state and the people.

Without Masons objections, the United States would be a very different place. The Bill of Rights created a lasting government which is used by the US Supreme Court to decide important cases.

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is across from the George Mason Memorial on the Tidal Basin. Watch for the area below the memorial for the gift shops, bathroom, and a bit of a museum.

Jefferson was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, the second vice president, and the third president. Besides Washington, Thomas Jefferson is my favorite founding father with Benjamin Franklin and George Mason close behind.

I love the fact that Jefferson helped create the Library of Congress. Books have always been were I hide when life gets unbearable and the best place to find them is a library.

Jefferson sold his library to the government when the British burned the US Capital. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world and grows daily. These items include books, rare manuscripts, the smallest and largest book in the world, Presidential papers, prints, photographs, motion pictures, recordings, music, digital books, cartography, telephone directories, comic books, newspapers, and scientific and technical materials. It is one of the worlds most important research centers for information.

Extras Items

Tidal Basin with Paddle Boats

The Tidal Basin is a nice area to walk around but you can also rent pedal boats from the Tidal Basin Boathouse for 2 or 4 people and a swan boat for 2 people and pedal around the basin. The cost is between $20 and $35 per hour depending on the boat. They also have season pass for many boat areas around DC.

Floral Library

In front of the Tidal Basin Boathouse is a lovely Floral Library to walk in. During Cherry Blossom season, this is a great place to see them.

Japanese Lantern & First Cherry Tree Planting

This is just to the left of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial and around the corner form the Tidal Basin Boathouse. It was a gift from the Japan.

The Japanese Lantern was carved in 1651 and for over 300 years in a park in Tokyo which contained the remains of the Tokugawa Shoguns. It’s twin is still in Tokyo.

It is surrounded by Cherry Trees that were also a gift from Japan. This lantern represents trade and friendship between the United States and Japan. It was given to the United States to represent the treat between the United States and Japan a hundred years earlier.

History Brief

In 1854, Admiral Matthew Perry was sent to Japan for a treaty of peace and friendship. The Japanese had a “Sakoku Policy”, i.e. closed door, for over 200 years at the time. This policy prohibited outside contact of Japaneses citizens with anyone outside Japan. This included emergencies.

In 1841, a Japanese vessel wrecked and an American whaler rescued the crew. The fisherman could not return home due to the fact that they were tainted by foreign contact which meant that they would be killed if they returned home. The crew were taken to Hawaii but one of the crew members was a 14 year old boy, Nakahama Manjiro but nicknamed John Mung by Americans, was taken to Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

He was sent to school were he studied English and navigation for a year, did a bit of whaling, and went to California for the Gold Rush. He made a bit of money in the Gold Rush and wanted to return home.

He purchased a whale boat and bought books and maps concerning boating and navigation. In addition, He had gifts from the people of Honolulu. Upon arriving in Japan, he was taking into custody by the Japanese government.

After being questioned, he was allowed to return home and was appointed a minor official. He became a source of information for the Japanese government to help build a modern navy and translated books into Japanese. He also taught English, American navel tactics, and other seafaring techniques in Japan.

In 1953, John also became one of the translators between the Japanese government and Admiral Matthew Perry to open Japan to the world.