Title. Hi everybody. Thank you for coming. My name is Astghik Shahkhatuni. I was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in 2007-2008 in Georgetown University, Washington, DC. I must warn you my lecture will be long and there are test questions in the end, so if you will leave early, I will think that you are afraid of the questions, and not that you are bored or tired :o) And this is actually the most fun part, so I encourage you to be patient :o) I must admit that those who weren’t present at my first lecture few months ago missed a lot, since I told or reminded things about American history, traditions and also about Washington, DC, which I’m not going to repeat :o) Anyway, today I’m going to talk about the capital of the US, Washington, DC. Capital of the USA. Here is the map of the US, and this is the capital. So first let’s uncover why the capital is located here and why exactly Washington, DC was chosen to be a capital. Predecessors. Does anyone know how many capitals Armenia had during its long history? Well, historians say Yerevan is the twelfth capital. And these cities are considered to have once been capitals of the US, since they served as the meeting place for US Congress at least ones. The first and main capital city was Philadelphia, which is quite understandable, since back then it was the second-largest city in the British Empire(after London, of course), and a commercial, cultural and educational center of the original 13 colonies. It was in this city that many of the ideas, and subsequent actions, gave birth to the American Revolution and American Independence, making Philadelphia a centerpiece of early American history. Philadelphia served as the capital of until Pennsylvania Mutiny in 1783, when Pennsylvania government failed to protect Congress from a mob of angry soldiers demanding payment. After traveling in three states the capital moved to New York City in 1785. New York is where the first capitol building of the US was built, and where the first president George Washington was inaugurated in 1789. In 1790 Senator from Pennsylvania, convinced Congress to declare Philadelphia the temporary capital for a period of ten years, while the permanent capital was being built. However their hopes to convince Congress to make Philadelphia the permanent capital failed, and in 1800 Washington became a permanent capital as it is now.Planned City.Why and how? So after Pennsylvania Mutiny and Pennsylvania state’s response it became clear that the government needs to seek its own security. Article one, Section eight, of the US constitution provides for a federal district distinct from other states, not exceeding 10 miles sides square, to serve a permanent capital of the US. However, the Constitution does not specify a location for the new capital. Compromise of 1790 was an agreement that Southerners would support the federal assumption of state debts suggested by Northerners in return for a bill locating the US capital on the South. Although political leaders knew differences between North and South would remain, they hoped they had created an indissoluble bond: a republic fueled by Northern financial and commercial capitalism with its capital city in the agrarian, slave-holding South. This implied that the North would not raise objections to slavery because the capital would be located in territory donated by two slave states, Maryland and Virginia. ^ Where and when? 1790 – This is the area along the Potomac River prior to the settlement of the capital, including cities of Alexandria and Georgetown. 1791 – Borders of the Territory of Columbia are defined and the City of Washington is established. 1801 – Federal district placed under the control of Congress. 1846 – area south of the Potomac River was returned to Virginia. 1871 – District of Columbia was unified into a single municipality, as it remains today. ^ Non Perfect Square. So this is how the area looks today. DC has three Rivers; The Potomac River and its tributaries the Anacostia River and Rock Creek.Who? So the Federal City was named in honor of George Washington, and he chose the actual area for the district and included his own hometown Alexandria. In 1791, President Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant, a French-born architect and engineer, to plan the layout of the new capital city. L’Enfant’s plan specified that most streets would be laid out in a grid with incorporated avenues radiating out from rectangles, providing place for landscaping. His design also envisioned a garden-lined “grand avenue” approximately 1 mile in length, which is now the National Mall. By the start of the 20th century, L’Enfant’s vision of a capital become marred by slums and randomly placed buildings, including a railroad station on the Mall. In 1900, Congress formed a committee, headed by Senator McMillan, charged with beautifying Washington’s ceremonial core, which included the re-landscaping of the Capitol grounds and the Mall, constructing new Federal buildings and monuments, clearing slums, and establishing a new citywide park system. The National Mall was the centerpiece of the McMillan Plan. The final result largely kept L’Enfant’s intended design. Here is Freedom Plaza (1980), raised above street level inlaid with a depiction of parts of L’Enfant’s plan for the City of Washington. Names. So initially the federal city was named City of Washington, and the district was named the Territory of Columbia, Columbia being a poetic name for the US in use at that time. People would call and name it various ways since then. Now it’s officially called Washington, D.C. ^ Marking territory. During 1791–92 the border of the District with both Maryland and Virginia was surveyed by placing boundary stones at every mile point to mark the future District’s boundaries; 37 out 40 stones are still standing and are considered the oldest federal monuments in the United States. In 1933 additional bounding markers were placed. Flag. This is how the Washington family coat of arms was transformed into the flag of the DC.Justice for all. This is the motto of the District, and this is the Great Seal of the DC, depicting Lady Justice hanging a wreath on a statue of George Washington.Quadrants. Emphasizing the importance of the new nation’s legislature, DC is administratively divided into four geographical quadrants, each delineated by their ordinal directions from the medallion located in the Crypt in the Capitol. Even when DC was a near-perfect square, the Capitol was never located at the geographic center of the territory, and as a result, the quadrants are of greatly varying size, with NW encompassing over a third of the city’s geography, while SW is little more than a neighborhood. Numbers. Streets that are oriented north/south are designated by numbers and count upwards from east to west in the city, starting at the Capitol; and repeat counting upwards from west to the east, going away from the Capitol. The highest numbered street in the District is 63rd Street. Several half streets were added to the grid later. From A to Z. Streets that are oriented east/west use a single letter of the alphabet in the central city; upwards from Capitol to the North, and again from Capitol to the South. The roads that were B Streets are now named Independence and Constitution Avenues. As the city expanded, so did the system of naming streets. Once single letters are exhausted, the “alphabet” system continues anew with two-syllable names of distinguished leaders such as presidents, supreme court justices, etc. beginning with the first letter of the alphabet (“Adams Street” follows “W Street.”). Streets in this set are referred to as being in the “second alphabet”. Once the second alphabet is exhausted, the system repeats with words of three syllables. “Webster Street” is followed by the “Allison Street.” Only in the NW is a “fourth alphabet” necessary, it uses names of plants in increasing alphabetical order without regard to the number of syllables: Aspen, Butternut, Cedar, etc. Verbena Street is the last one before Maryland border. Typically, all the alphabets use the same letters (A-W, skipping J, and no X, Y, Z). However, there are some exceptions, like Yuma Street, Jefferson Street, Xenia Street. Still, a look at the first letter of streets in DC can give you an idea where are you and how to get to the place you want.^ State names. The boundaries of DC with Maryland are marked by Western Avenue, Eastern Avenue, and Southern Avenue. Diagonal streets are called avenues and named after states. These streets intersect with the north-south and east-west streets at circles and rectangular plazas and provide places to create squares, parks and monuments to honor notable Americans. The longest one is Massachusetts Avenue, stretching from border to border across DC. Other diagonal streets are designated as places, ways, roads, drives, courts, etc. So the city is divided into 4 parts with the Capitol in the center, and for example, there are two streets named 9th, two streets named K, giving 4 intersections of 2 streets with the same name, and to indicate exact intersection one need add the name of the quadrant, SW, SE, NW, NE.^ Street names. What do you think is the most common street name in the US? Actually it’s the 2nd street, why. well, because instead of 1st street “main” street is sometimes being used, and what are other common streets names? Well, Americans love numbers, trees and their founders.Heart of DC. So here is heart of DC. You see National Mall, and surrounding area, where many of the monuments, memorials, museums and administrative buildings are concentrated. Main occupant of the Mall is Smithsonian Institution, most of you heard a lecture a month ago, I will just remind you it has about 3 dozen museums and research centers, and 11 of them are right on the Mall, including the new one under construction “Museum of African American History and Culture”. Yellow stars represent National Gallery of Art and Holocaust museum. With blue stars I indicated the main National memorials in DC, and we’ll see most of them today. ^ Most crowded. There are thousands of tourists in DC every day, but it’s especially crowded in when cherry trees, Japanese sakura, blossom and the heart of DC covers with pink and white flowers, on 4th of July, the Independence Day, at daytime there is a parade, and at night –fireworks, during inaugurations, also it’s quite crowded in Georgetown on Halloween night.^ Main Street. Here is the National Mall, an open-area national park in downtown DC, from the US Capitol building till Washington Monument, and further down to Lincoln Memorial. Here how the Mall looks without people, probably very early in the morning, here how it looks when being filled with people, this is Obama’s inaguaration. On both sides of the street are museums.Uses of National Mall. National Mall is a place where you can do lots of things, you can have picnics, play games, or just read book lying on the grass or resting from visiting museums nearby. Every day there are various food, music, movie and other festivals. And during winter garden in front of National Archives transforms to ice rink.Reflecting History. This is the largest reflecting pool in DC, with 618 m long and 51m wide, and about with 60 cm depth in average. It reflects both the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and often can be seen in the pictures. Besides being popular destination for tourists, National Mall and especially Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, was the site for various important political protests, rallies and historic events. It was here in 1939, when the singer Marian Anderson gave an open air concert for a crowd of over 75,000 people, after she was denied permission to perform in the Constitution Hall in DC, because of her race. It was here, in 1963, when Martin Luther King gave one of the greatest and most notable speeches in human history “I Have a Dream” delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters during rally in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination. It was here in 2009 where Obama Inaugural Celebration and Concert “We Are One” was held, attended by 400,000 supporters.^ Memorials to Important Events. There are many National Memorials in DC, commemorating events of national importance. Of course, one of the main turning points for the country are wars and it’s important to commemorate of people who fought and gave their lives for the country.Arlington Cemetery. This is Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes, veterans and military casualties from every one of the nation’s wars are buried, from the American Civil War through the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 300,000 people. Each Memorial Day the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are graced by U.S. flags. And here is the 14th annual Christmas wreath laying, the result of Wreath Company owner boyhood dream of doing something to honor those laid to rest in National Cemetery.The Circle. National World War II Memorial consists of 56 pillars, 5 m tall, corresponding to 48 US states as of 1945, DC and territories. Two 13 m arches inscribed “Atlantic” and “Pacific” commemorate the two theaters of operation during the war. The Freedom Wall marks the price of freedom with 4048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war.The National Japanese American Memorial To Patriotism During World War II, honors the sacrifice, loyalty and courage made by more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent interned in 10 relocation camps, and many others who fought bravely during WWII. Most of us heard a lecture about Japanese internment. Two cranes are facing opposite directions, with their left wings raised and touching, their right wings are pointing downward and held by strands of barbed wire. There is also a pool of water with boulders representing the islands of Japan.The Wall. The story of creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a bright example of controversies and political correctness. The Memorial Wall, is designed by Maya Lin, who at the time of the contest was an undergraduate student at Yale University. Her design beat out 1420 other competition submissions, but because of her young age, Asian descent and non-traditional design for a war memorial, there were many opponents. Lin’s conception was to create an opening or a wound in the earth to symbolize the gravity of the loss of the soldiers. The Memorial Wall is made up of two black granite walls 75 m long, sunk into the ground. When a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names of soldiers killed or missing in the war, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. [[Negative reactions to Lin’s design led to a compromise by adding a bronze figurative sculpture in the heroic tradition, depicting three soldiers, purposefully identifiable as White American, African American, and Hispanic American. Later the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was also added dedicated to the women of the US who served in the Vietnam War, most of whom were nurses.Peace. Peace Monument is dedicated to the naval deaths during the American Civil War. It’s topped by the allegorical sculptures of Grief and History Muse Cleo, below are the figures of Peace and Victory, and babies Mars, god of War, and Neptune, god of Sea. This one is the only local District memorial on the National Mall, commemorating DC citizens who served at WWI.Armed forces. Korean War Memorial depicts 19 statues drawn from each branch of the armed forces (the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force). And here are several memorials commemorating branches of armed forces; Marine Corps Memorial, from a historic photo when Americans first conquered Japanese Soil, I told about this story in details before, and US Navy Memorial, see the world ocean. The newest one is The Air Force Memorial, evoking the image of “contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds, bomber planes, as they peel back in a precision ‘bomb burst’ maneuver.” Only three of the four contrails are depicted, as the absent fourth suggests the missing man formation traditionally used at Air Force funeral fly-overs.Secrets and Tricks. National Cryptologic Museum contains thousands of artifacts and displays about the history of American cryptology. Outside of the museum is the National Vigilance Park, where one of reconnaissance aircrafts memorializes a U.S. Air Force Hercules Transport aircraft shot down by Russian MIG fighters over Soviet Armenia during the Cold War in 1958, while on ELectronic Signals INTelligence mission with loss of all crew. And this is a Great Seal of the US, presented by Soviet school children on August 4, 1945, to U.S. Ambassador, as a “gesture of friendship” to the USSR’s World War II ally with the hidden bug. It hung in the ambassador’s Moscow office for 7 years until it’s presence was accidentally discovered and it was found after an exhaustive search of the American Embassy. The bug was unusual in that it had no power source or transmitter, making it much harder to detect – it was a new type of device. US didn’t’ confront SU immediately, but waited for the appropriate moment, and it came after complains of SU over the incident in 1960, when a US spy plane entered Soviet territory and was shot down, the US ambassador showed off the bugging device in the Great Seal to illustrate that spying incidents between the two nations were mutual, and the case was closed. Communism. This is the replica of Goddess of Democracy, the statue constructed in four days and put in the Tiananmen Square during protests in China. It was the icon of liberty and a symbol of the free speech and democracy. Of course, the original was destroyed quite soon.Several replicas of the statue have been erected worldwide to commemorate the events of 1989. This replica near Capitol stands as a monument to the millions of victims of world communism. While many people have noted its resemblance to the Statue of Liberty, it is said the students decided not to model their statue on the Statue of Liberty because it would be unoriginal and “too openly pro-American.”, instead some mention Worker and Kolkhoz Woman being influential for their statue’s head and facial features. 9/11. 9/11 is one of the latest tragic and influential events, affected the country. As you know the southwest wing of The Pentagon was destroyed as well, when terrorists slammed a hijacked airliner into the building and killed 184 persons. To honor the victims, the memorial was designed in front of the Pentagon with 184 benches arranged along the trajectory of plane in a landscaped plot. Names of victims are engraved at the end of the benches, hovering above a pool of water that glows with light at night. By the direction of engraved names one can tell if the person was on board of plane or in Pentagon. Here is the memorial in Arlington Cemetery. Holocaust. Holocaust Memorial Museum is the US’ official memorial to the Holocaust. Grateful Armenians. A monument expressing the appreciation of the Armenian people for assistance from the U.S. in the recovery in the earthquake’s aftermath. The Soviet Union for the first time let rescue and relief workers from other countries to take active part in relief work.Top Presidents. According to historical rankings, based on surveys of academic historians and political scientists, focusing on presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults (such as corruption), the following presidents are consistently on top, and the nation remembers their contributions and honors them by dedicating National monuments and memorials.^ 1st place. One of the most recognizable landmarks of DC is the Washington Monument, which is the world’s tallest stone structure and the world’s tallest obelisk. George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and the first President of the USA. President Washington established the executive and judicial branches of the federal government of the US as well as guaranteed the survival of the US as a power and independent nation. As we know already the capital of the country was named in his honor. Most of the world knows him as a guy, portrayed on one dollar bills.^ Why so simple? Many people wonder why the monument dedicated to the number one in the nation looks so simple, especially compared with the other monuments you’ll see today. Actually it wasn’t planned to be that simple. Here is the original design. There was a 20 years delay in the construction because of a lack of funds, and the intervention of the American Civil War. In 1876, the Centennial of the Declaration of Independence, Congress agreed to provide funds to resume construction. However, arguments about the design resumed. Finally, the decision was made to abandon the colonnade and alter the obelisk so it conformed to classical Egyptian proportions. One difficulty that is visible to this day is that the builders were unable to find the same quarry stone used in the initial construction and, as a result, the bottom third of the monument is a slightly lighter shade than the rest of the construction. It has 897 steps and 50 landings. 2nd place. Unlike from the somewhat triumphal and Roman manner of most of DC, the Lincoln memorial takes the severe form of a Greek Doric temple, modeling temple of Zeus at Olympia. Memorial is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, who successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. The memorial hast has 36 massive columns, which are said to represent the 25 U.S. states at the time of Lincoln’s death, as well as the 11 seceded Confederate states. Instead of 13 m tall statue of Zeus in the Olympia, inside of the temple is 6 m tall statue of Lincoln, seated on a throne gazing toward the capital’s starkest emblem, the Washington Monument. 5 dollar bill is completely dedicated to Lincoln, with his portrait on obverse and his memorial on reverse.^ Unfortunate Place. Ford’s Theatre is a place, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and is being preserved. Here is the Presidential Box, where A. Lincoln, was shot. Zeus. Both Washington and Lincoln were glorified a lot, because of their role in the American history. Washington was often portrayed as God, for instance in this statue modeled on the statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the world. He points toward heaven and holds a sword, hilt forward, symbolizing Washington turning over power to the people at the end of the American Revolutionary War. This statue was criticized a lot and now is kind of hidden inside of American History museum of Smithsonian Institution, in DC. The Apotheosis of Washington is the very large (433.3 m2) fresco painted on the dome in the rotunda of the Capitol Building. The figures painted are up to 4.6 m tall, depicting George Washington becoming a god (apotheosis), surrounded with Goddesses Victory and Liberty, and 13 maidens, representing the original 13 colonies. The Apotheosis of Abraham Lincoln, greeted by George Washington in heaven (an 1860s work). Lincoln’s death also made him a national martyr, and he was thought of being sacrificed for the unity of American nation.Franklin Delano Roosevelt., won his first of four presidential elections, while the US was in the depths of the Great Depression, and led the country through most of WWII, and died in office, shortly before the war ended. The only American president elected to more than two terms. The FDR Memorial traces 12 years of the history of the US through a sequence of four outdoor rooms, one for each of FDR’s terms of office. Sculptures depict scenes from the Great Depression, such as waiting in a bread line. In 1921 Roosevelt contracted an illness, which resulted in his total and permanent paralysis from the waist down. Fitting his hips and legs with iron braces, he laboriously taught himself to walk a short distance by swiveling his torso while supporting himself with a cane. He was able to convince many people that he was getting better, which he believed was essential if he was to run for public office again. In private, he used a wheelchair, but he was careful never to be seen in it in public. This is First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt standing before the United Nations emblem honors her dedication to the UN. It is the only presidential memorial to depict a First Lady. This is Fala, who followed Roosevelt everywhere, and became part of Roosevelt’s public image. She was called the “most photographed dog in the world”, and the only presidential pet so honored.4th place. This is Thomas Jefferson Memorial in the Tidal Basin. Major events during Thomas Jefferson’s, 3rd President of the US, presidency include the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). Jefferson envisioned America as the force behind a great “Empire of Liberty” that would promote republicanism and counter the imperialism of the British Empire. He idealized the independent farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states’ rights and a strictly limited federal government. A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, inventor. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed 49 Nobel Prize winners to the White House he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” Some people met him on $2 bill.Theodore Roosevelt. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity and “cowboy” image. Roosevelt became president at the age of 42, after President William McKinley was assassinated taking office at the youngest age of any U.S. President in history. On the world stage, Roosevelt’s policies were characterized by his slogan, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; he sent out the Great White Fleet to display American power, and he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. The island in the Potomac River in DC was named after him and there is a memorial and statue. He’s very popular, and even little children know him, since their favorite toys have his name, “teddy bear”! Stuffed toy bears were named after him following an incident on a hunting trip, when Roosevelt ordered the mercy killing of a wounded black bear. After a national cartoonist illustrated the President with a bear, a toy maker heard the story and asked TR if he could use his name on a toy bear, he approved and the teddy bear was born. John F. Kennedy. This is John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts (or simply Kennedy Center), producing and presenting opera, ballet, dance and theatre shows, and various concerts. Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy tend to score highly in popular opinion polls, but rank highly less often in polls of historians because their negative qualities have been largely forgotten, for Reagan because he was seen as helping end the Cold War and for Kennedy because of sympathy after his assassination. After assassination John F. Kennedy was buried in National Military Cemetery in Arlington, and eternal flame commemorating president was set. This was the first time that an individual known person was given such an honor, as opposed to an Unknown Soldier and major tragic events. These are his famous words during his inaugural address “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” ^ Ronald Reagan. Prior to his political career Reagan was also a famous motion picture actor, the Governor of California, then the President of the US. He supported anti-Communist movements worldwide and spent his first term implementing strategy of a massive military buildup in an arms race with the USSR. His policy of “peace through strength” (also described as “firm but fair”) resulted in a record peacetime defense buildup with 40% increase in defense spending. Actually we should be mad at him, since at first he named us “evil empire”, even though he was right, and then his strategy was partly the reason of a crash of Soviet Union, for which I guess we should be thankful :o). He also demanded to tear down the Berlin wall. He hasn’t monument in DC yet, but he has National Airport in DC, given his name, Reagan National airport, as well as the first federal building in D.C. designed for both governmental and private sector purposes, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, which hosts conferences, trade shows, cultural events, and outdoor concerts. It is second largest federal office building, after Pentagon.^ National Portrait Gallery. In the National Portrait Gallery, you can meet all presidents, that is, see their portraits and read short biography and interesting stories about them. Founding fathers. There are several people, who influenced the most on the establishment of a new nation and a new country. Let’s quickly get acquainted with them and buildings, statues and memorials dedicated to them in Washington, DC.National Archives. You can find the most important American historical documents such as Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and Constitution, in National Archives Building. First. Among the Founding Fathers of the US, George Washington earned the title “Father of the Country” in recognition of his leadership in the cause of American independence. Mount Vernon, located near Alexandria, Virginia, is George Washington’s estate on the banks of the Potomac River. He liked being a farmer and was quite successive. The estate serves as a museum now. And here is the tomb of GW on the property. During funeral oration it was stated that of all Americans, he was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” Under the Rotunda there is an area known as the Crypt, designed to be the final resting place of George Washington. However, under the stipulations of his last will, his tomb is at Mount Vernon.Freemason. This is a Masonic building and memorial dedicated to a freemason George Washington and located in Alexandria, Virginia. The tower is fashioned after the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Pharos island, Egypt, one of the 7 wonders of the world, in part because of the common names of both cities, and the Masonic interest in great buildings of the ancient world. The building also houses the collection of the fraternal artifacts of George Washington.Library of Congress. Thomas Jefferson is the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). The main building of Library of Congress was named in his honor, since he had been a key figure in the establishment of the Library in 1800. After much of the original collection had been destroyed during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson sold his entire personal collection of the 6487 books to the library. Library of Congress is the largest library in the world by shelf space and holds the 2nd largest number of books. Thomas Jefferson Building contains some of the richest public interiors in the US. The Library’s primary mission is researching inquiries by members of Congress. Although it is open to the general public for academic research and tourists, however only legislators, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials may check out books. The Library of Congress receives copies of every book, pamphlet, map, print, and piece of music registered in the US. As the de facto national library, the Library of Congress promotes literacy and American literature through various projects and festivals. Thomas Jefferson founded University of Virginia, which was notable for being centered about a library rather than a church. The high school in DC area in Alexandria is named after him, and is continuously ranked as the best high school in the country.^ Father of Constitution. The second building of the Library of Congress serves as the official memorial to James Madison, who is considered “Father of the Constitution,” as well as “Father of the Bill of Rights”, since he was the principal author of the documents. He served as the fourth President of the US. University in Harrisburg, Virginia is named after him. Father of President. The third building of Library of Congress was named after John Adams, who approved the law establishing the Library of Congress. John Adams came to prominence in the early stages of the American Revolution, playing a leading role in persuading Congress to adopt the US Declaration of Independence in 1776. Adams’ revolutionary credentials secured him two terms as George Washington’s vice president and his own election as the 2nd president of the US. It’s interesting, that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, compatriots in their quest for independence, then great political rivals, and later friends and correspondents, both died on July 4, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a few hours apart from each other. Adams was the father of John Quincy Adams, the 6th President. ^ Alexander Hamilton, In front of US Treasury building is a statue of Alexander Hamilton, who became the 1st Secretary of Treasury. Alexander Hamilton was Aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, a leader of nationalist forces calling for a new Constitution; he wrote most of the Federalist Papers, a primary source for Constitutional interpretation. He was the financial expert of Washington’s administration, he emphasized strong central government, and created the government-owned Bank of the US. Embarrassed by a blackmail of affair that became public, Hamilton resigned as the Secretary of the Treasury. He participated in many political games/intrigues, and later was killed in duel with vice president Burr. He is portrayed on 10 dollar bills, and on the reverse of the bill is the Treasury building.Inventor. In front of Old Post Office Building is a statue of Benjamin Franklin, founder of U.S. Post Office and nation’s first Postmaster General. He was one of five men appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. He negotiated commercial and diplomatic treaties with France and peace treaty with Britain. Besides his careers as a printer, writer, and diplomat, he was a scientist and inventor. Among his inventions were the Franklin stove, bifocals, lightning rod. He assisted in founding the academy which is today the University of Pennsylvania. I don’t know any person who doesn’t love Benjamin, since everyone loves hundred dollar, also nicknamed benjamins. John Jay. This is a statue of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the US, which is located inside of a Supreme Court. John Jay was a minister to Spain and France, helping to fashion US foreign policy and to secure favorable peace terms from the British (known as the Jay Treaty) and French. John Jay was the state’s leading opponent of slavery, and he eventually signed a law which freed all slaves in New York, where he was a governor, before his death. There is a legend, that L’Enfant, did not include J Street in the alphabetical laying-out of DC streets because he disliked John Jay. But the truth is much simpler; during that time period, the letters I and J looked almost the same, and it would be too confusing to have two street names that looked the same, right next to each other. ^ George Mason. This is a memorial to George Mason, who along with James Madison, is called the “Father of the Bill of Rights”. He is often thought of as a “forgotten Founder.” George Mason did not sign the US Constitution because it did not abolish the slave trade and because he did not think it had necessary protection for the individual from the federal government. ^ More Famous People. Here are a few more people who left traces not only in the American history, but also in Washington, DC.Christopher Columbus Memorial. Of course, there should be a memorial in DC to Christopher Columbus, right? It is located in front of Union Station. It is a focal point for Columbus Day celebrations, which in US is observed annually on the second Monday in October. Union Station is the grand ceremonial train station designed to be the entrance to the capital, and it’s one of the busiest and best-known places in DC, visited by 32 million people each year. Exterior and especially interior of the main hall is quite impressive with numerous statues and decorations. Ulysses S. Grant. This memorial in front of Capitol honors Ulysses Grant, a superlative Civil War general, who defeated general Robert E. Lee, that is defeated South. 3rd largest equestrian statue in the world. There is a legend, that the word lobbyist became popular because of him. It is said Grant used to escape from the White House and visit the Willard Hotel (we’ll talk about it soon) to drink brandy and smoke a cigar while relaxing in the lobby, was often approached by those seeking favors, like jobs, contracts, and positions in legislation. Grant is said to have referred to them as “those damned lobbyists”. Well, he was a good American general, but why should we care about, well, we should, if we love money :o) He is portrayed on 50 dollar bills.Andrew Jackson. Do you think Americans started to recycle only recently? Well, this is the first equestrian statue to be erected in the US. Statue to Andrew Jackson, as he appeared during the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812, when he was a commander. The statue was made from melted-down British cannons captured by Jackson. The cannons surrounding the memorial are four rare Spanish cannons he captured as well. Andrew Jackson was also the 7th president, and he is in top ten of greatest presidents list. His legacy is now seen as mixed, as a protector of popular democracy and individual liberty, he was supporting Indian removal and was pro-slavery, as now it would be called. Jackson holds the distinction of being the only president ever to kill another man in a duel, which was fought to defend the honor of his wife, who was attacked as an adulteress. She married Jackson while she was still married to a another man, while wrongly being informed that her first husband had divorced her. Lafayette. The Andrew Jackson statue is the centerpiece of Lafayette Square, the park across from the White House. In the four corners are statues of foreign Revolutionary War heroes. So Lafayette was the French General who befriended George Washington and fought in the Revolutionary War. The statue shows him petitioning France’s National Assembly to help the Americans fight the British. Baron von Steuben, was able to turn raw recruits into soldiers almost equal to the British forces. Comte de Rochambeau, a Marshal of France who the commander-in-chief of the French Force and fought along side with George Washington. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, helped the US to fight for its independence, then returned to Poland to use his acquired battle skills to gain independence for his own country. Pershing. John Pershing was a general during WWI; one of only two people ever given the title “General of the Armies”, the highest rank ever in the US (the other was George Washington, who received the title posthumously after they invented it to award it to Pershing). As there was no prescribed insignia for this rank, General Pershing chose the 4 stars of a full general, except in gold. In 1944, during WWII five star general rank, General of the Army, was created and 5 people were awarded. Still Pershing was acknowledged as the highest ranking officer of the US military, but since Pershing never wore more than four stars, he can’t be considered 5 or 6 star general, but is still considered to be senior to five star generals of WWII. Despite this highest rank, Pershing is buried in Arlington Cemetery with a simple government-issue headstone. Although this isn’t a common practice for high rank generals.Scandal. This is Watergate Hotel, office building and apartment complex. Considered one of Washington’s most desirable living spaces, the Watergate has been popular with members of Congress and political appointees in the executive branch. But it became very famous after the scandal in Nixon’s administration, when the headquarters of the Democratic Party, located here, were burglarized, documents were photographed, telephones were wiretapped. The investigation revealed that high officials in the Nixon administration had ordered the break-in and then tried to cover up their involvement. Because of a scandal, Nixon had to resign. He was the only President to resign the office and the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and Vice Presidency. The name “Watergate” and the suffix “-gate” have since become synonymous with political scandal in the US. it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up that gets you in trouble.Asministration. DC Inside Beltway. This is a Capital Beltway, which encircles Washington, D.C. and surrounding parts of Virginia and Maryland, so besides being literal, geographic term to describe those areas, the phrase “inside beltway” is used to refer to issues dealing with US government and politics. Where most famous Americans live. White House has been the official residence and principal workplace of every President of the US since 2nd President John Adams. During the War of 1812, the mansion was set ablaze by the British Army in the Burning of Washington, destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. The house was rebuilt and expanded continuously under various presidents because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, so East and West wings were constructed. Today the White House includes the following amenities:^ Colorful rooms. The Interior of the White house is actually quite nice with many art pieces, decorations and furniture. This is yellow oval room, green room, red room, blue oval room.???Countdown. The US Capitol is the meeting place for the US Congress. The Capitol building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings, one for each chamber of Congress: the north wing is the Senate chamber and the south wing is the House of Representatives chamber. Above these chambers are galleries where visitors can watch the Senate and House of Representatives. Underground tunnels and a private underground railway connect the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional office buildings in the surrounding complex. The Capitol has a rich art collection, with statues and pictures of prominent Americans and important scenes of American History. National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. ^ Important buildings. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is adjacent to the White House and occupied by the Executive Office of the President. This building was called “the ugliest building in America” by Mark Twain. This is the Vice President’s residence located in US Naval Observatory. The Willard Hotel is a historic luxury hotel located two blocks away from White House. Every president since its establishment has either slept in or attended an event at the hotel at least once; so the hotel is also known as “the residence of presidents”. This is a historic church near White House, called the “Church of the Presidents”, since almost every President since James Madison has at least been an occasional attendee. Visible and Invisible Forces. Who knows this building? The Pentagon (also a symbol of US military) is the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, located in Arlington, VA, and the largest federal building. This is the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CIA’s headquarters is in Virginia, a few miles west of DC along the Potomac River. ^ Houses of Departments. Here are some department buildings, actually Americans like to name administrative buildings after famous and important politicians. These are headquarters of several departments. The headquarters of the US Department of State is the third-largest federal building in the D.C. area, after Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Building. Who is the head now?Bureau of engraving and printing. BEP is a government agency within the US Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the US Government, like award certificates; invitations and admission cards; identification cards, and other special security documents, but most notable of which is paper currency. You can visit here and see all the stages money printing. Each year about 7,000 tons of worn out currency is shred. The cost of printing the notes is several cents. Bills are made from a blend of linen and cotton, which means they won’t fall apart after washing. This fact as well as the same size of all banknotes is a high security risk, since counterfeiters can simply bleach the ink off a low-denomination note, say 1 dollar, and reprint it as a higher-value note, such as a $100 bill. To counter this, the U.S. government has included a vertical strip imprinted with denominational information, which under ultraviolet light fluoresces a different color for each denomination. Approximately 45% of all U.S. currency produced today are one-dollar bills.^ Tallest Buildings. Unbeatable. The tallest structure in the city is Washington Monument with 169 m in height, but since it does not have successive floors that can be occupied it is not considered a high-rise building. It is one of the best observation decks in DC. The height of buildings in Washington is limited by the Height of Buildings Act. The original act limited buildings to the height of the US Capitol, and was passed in response to the construction of the Cairo Hotel (50m) in 1899, which is much taller than the majority of buildings in the city. Later the act was amended to restrict the height of any building to the width of the adjacent street plus 6.1 m; thus, a building facing a 27 m-wide street could be only 34 m tall. So the skyline remains low and sprawling, keeping with Thomas Jefferson’s wishes to make Washington an “American Paris” with “low and convenient” buildings on “light and airy” streets.1st place. The tallest habitable building in DC is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica (100m). ^ 2nd place. The second-tallest building in DC is the Old Post Office Building, 96 m high. 3rd place. The third-tallest building in the city is the Washington National Cathedral, which rises 92 m. The cathedral is built on high ground known as Mount St. Alban, which makes the church seem taller than it actually is and therefore is visible from many parts of the city.^ 4th place. The fourth is Capitol (88m). Actually this statue adds 6 m to the height of the Capitol.Tallest Statue. Statue of Freedom, female with sword, shield and laurel wreath. Her military helmet with American eagle head and crest of feathers make confuses her with American Indian. Across the River. DC’s height restriction, has been one of the primary reasons why the city has inflated rents, limited affordable housing, and traffic problems. To escape height restriction, people construct higher buildings in Rosslyn, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown. The numerous skyscrapers in the dense business section of Rosslyn make its appearance in some ways more urban than nearby Washington.Washingtonians. Ok, it’s enough about buildings, now let’s talk about simple people who live in Washington, about what they like to do and where.People and Events. Today population of DC is about 600.000, but during workdays due to commuters from surrounding suburbs it grows to more than a million. DC area has over 5 mln people. Here is the population distribution with about 50% Black, 33% white, 8% Hispanic. High percentage of African American population has its roots in history; many free slaves after American Revolutionary were not permitted to remain within their home states, and often relocated to the District. Population remained relatively stable until the Great Depression, when President Roosevelt expanded the bureaucracy in DC. WWII further increased government activity, adding to the number of federal employees in the capital. However, soon the city began losing residents due to suburbanization as an expanded highway network supported newer housing outside the city as well as social riots in the 1960s, and increasing crime. Former Washingtonian #1. I told about pandas a lot in my previous presentation, that China loans them with very expensive price, and that even the cubs born in other countries are still property of China. So several years ago a new cub was born in DC, and was named Tai Shan. He was very popular, frequently mentioned on D.C.-oriented websites and media. He became Washingtonian #1, beating even president. A month ago he had to return to China, so he can join another female panda for further reproduction. Animals. Of course, besides pandas there are still some interesting things to see in the zoo, like huge lion or these little monkeys climbing here and there :o) Adams Morgan. Washingtonians like art. This is Adams Morgan neighborhood, which boasts with it largest display of expressive art in the city. As you walk the streets of this lively district, you’ll delight in discovering these colorful and evocative murals. This is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in DC. The name is derived from the names of two, formerly segregated elementary schools—all-black Thomas P. Morgan Elementary School and the all-white John Quincy Adams Elementary School. After district’s schools were desegregated in 1955, the neighborhood was named after both schools, Adams-Morgan. Now Adams Morgan is a vibrant center celebrated for its diversity and eccentricity. This neighborhood of international sights, sounds, and aromas, offers a multi-cultural shopping and dining opportunities, along with wonderful examples of late-19th- and early-20th-century rowhouses. At night, Adams Morgan transforms into the hotspot for music, dancing, and bars.Old and New. Founded in 1751, the city of Georgetown substantially predated the establishment of the city of Washington and the DC. It served as a major port and commercial center during colonial times because of its prime location on the Potomac River. In 1871 it was assimilated into the city of Washington. Today, Georgetown is a vibrant community with upscale shops, bars and restaurants. Many of the homes are 200 year-old restored row houses with beautiful gardens. The Old Stone House, 1765, is the oldest standing building in D.C., and serves as a museum. Guest houses. Washingtonians are very hospitable actually; there are 174 foreign embassies, 59 of which are located on a section of Massachusetts Avenue informally known as Embassy Row. Here you can see isolated Russian Embassy, neat Armenian embassy, Cameroon embassy, friendly Greece embassy and not that friendly but quite large Turkish embassy.^ Two Camps. One third of DC’s population is functional illiterate, meaning people’s reading and writing skills are inadequate to cope with the demands of everyday life. Compared to a national rate of about one in five. This is attributed in part to immigrants who aren’t proficient in English. On the other hand 42% of population hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which is also one of the highest rates in the country.Universities. Universities in DC are more oriented towards social and political sciences, and many alumni are politically active. Georgetown university is one of the oldest universities in the US. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, National Security Advisor, as well as 24 current Congressmen are alumni. Some are also former and current heads of states, like President of the Philippines, Prime Minister of Lebanon, Bill Clinton. Prince Felipe of Spain, King Abdullah II of Jordan are among royalties who attended the school, so did I in frames of Fulbright program. Howard University is historically black university. Gallaudet University was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf in the world, and is still the world’s only university with all programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. George Washington University was a wish of George Washington to open a university in DC. Among its alumni are 16 current Congressmen, Senator J. William Fulbright, who established Fulbright cultural exchange program, former first Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former Secretary of State Colin Powell. The National War College is a school in the National Defense University. Military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study here in preparation for higher staff and command positions. About 75 percent of the students is composed from the Armed Forces, and the rest are drawn from the State Department and other federal departments and agencies. Most notable graduates of National War College are former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, Republican nominee for US President, Senator John McCain, and our ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.Churches. Since there is a diversity in population, there are also various places for worship. You already saw two largest catholic churches; National Cathedral and National Shrine. This is anther Cathedral. ^ St. Nicholas Cathedral. The Islamic Center of Washington is a mosque and Islamic cultural center. The center was originally conceived in 1944 when the Turkish ambassador died and there was no mosque to hold his funeral in. This is St Mary’s Apostolic Church, Armenian Church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church.This is Russian Orthodox church. This is one of the oldest synagogues in the city. Sports. Washingtonians likes sports and have successful teams in most popular sports. Washington Redskins is the second-most valuable professional sports team in the US. The football team is enormously popular in the area and regularly sells out the largest stadium in the National Football League, FedEx Field located in the Washington suburb in Maryland.^ Hexagon (1955) Washingtonians like humor and this is one of the most popular non-profit organizations that produces an annual musical political satire show, where it parodies many political and social issues relevant to the US as a whole and DC area. Its all-volunteer performing cast includes bankers, teachers, health care professionals, engineers, reporters, editors, realtors, clergy, military personnel, scientists, employees of international organizations and embassies. Hexagon members write the show, perform in it, design and build the sets, handle all behind-the-scenes technical activities, play in the orchestra, sell the tickets. All proceeds from every Hexagon show are donated to a DC area charity.Parks. Washingtonians like healthy way of living, so there are many recreation facilities in the parks throughout DC area. The largest and oldest is Rock Creek Park, more than twice the size of Central Park in New York City. Besides playing golf, one can play other sport games, hike, bike or even take equestrian trails; or enjoy cultural exhibits, like Civil War fortifications, a nature center and planetarium; or listen to an outdoor concert venue and have picnic. Those who like just walking can enjoy cascade fountain, one of the most dramatic features of Meridian Hill Park, or walk in Dumbarton Oaks gardens. For those who are even lazy to walk, there are about 15km of roadways, which wind through and connect the numerous gardens and collections in the National Arboretum. These are the National Capitol Columns originally supporting the US Capitol (1828), and were removed during expansion of the Capitol and later transferred here. Flowers. Another nice park is Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, in the NE of D.C., near the banks of Anacostia River, and the Maryland state border, where in cultivated ponds you can see a plethora of rare waterlilies, lotuses and… other exotic flowers. :o)Potomac. Being situated in an area rich in American history and American heritage has led to the Potomac river being nicknamed “the Nation’s River.” With increasing mining, agriculture and urban sewage the water quality of Potomac deteriorated. In the 1960s, with dense green algal blooms covering the river’s surface, President Lyndon Johnson declared the river “a national disgrace” and set in motion a long-term effort to reduce pollution and restore the beauty and ecology of this historic river, and by the end of the 20th century, there was a notable success. Washingtonians love their river and use all the possibilities it provides, like fishing, kayaking, having parties in yachts, or taking night cruises with fancy dinner and nice views of monuments.Fountains. For those who like water, but prefer safety of being on the soil, can enjoy numerous fountains in the city. This one was sculpted by Bartholdi, who later created the Statue of Liberty, located at the Botanical Garden. And this one is located over the Senate underground garage, and attracts people at night as well. ^ Getting Around. ForC&O Cannal. For about 100 years Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built parallel to Potomac helped to transport goods, from DC to Cumberland, MD. 300 km long canal was built, with 74 lift locks that raised the canal from sea level at Georgetown to 190 m at Cumberland, 11 stone aqueducts, 7 dams, lockhouses, bridges, stop gates were also constructed along the canal’s path. Despite all those fancy things of those times, still two mules needed to pull the canal boat. The parts of canal are now maintained as a park and you can have some nice experience taking the canal boat excursion. To drive or not to drive. Ok, now to modern transportation. DC Area is often cited as having some of the nation’s worst traffic in the country after Los Angeles. In 2007, DC commuters spent 60 hours a year in traffic delays. However, 37.7% of DC commuters take public transportation to work, also the second-highest rate in the country.^ Being in other’s shoes. The Arlington Memorial Bridge in D.C. crosses the Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Virginia. Although the Arlington Memorial Bridge was part of the 1901 McMillan Commission’s plan for restoring L’Enfant’s original plan for the capital, it’s construction wasn’t initiated until after president Warren G. Harding was caught in a three-hour traffic jam while on his way to dedicate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The bridge connects, both literally and symbolically, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, the former home of Civil War General Robert E. Lee. This placement was done intentionally to represent the reunification of the North and the South.Octopus. So 5 Metro lines and 86 stations connect DC with suburbs in adjacent states of Virginia and Maryland, and this is the second-busiest rapid transit system in the country, after the New York City Subway with an average of one million trips each weekday in 2009. DC metro is very convenient, and even deers likes to use it from time to time :o)Discrimination in Metro. So pandas are depicted on metrocard, another proof that DC is crazy about pandas. On the other hand, everything is being done to keep away some other animals, like rodents from the metro. There is a strict policy in the metro of no food and no drinks, and passengers are encouraged to follow this law by kind of scary and provocative wallpapers :o)George Washington Memorial Parkway, is a memorial to George Washington and was developed to ensure the easy linkage of George Washington’s most visited places. It connects historic sites from Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon, past the nation’s capital, to the Great Falls of the Potomac, where Washington demonstrated his skill as an engineer. “Road to Adventure”, is a landscaped road, which offers a scenic view, historical and recreational settings, and was designed as a grand gateway and greenway to the Nation’s Capital.Conclusion: Advertising DC. I admit this wasn’t quite usual guide of DC, I just wanted to introduce you to DC through the people and events which affected Americans and their country.Test questions. Ok, now it’s time for you to answer to my questions. Don’t worry I’ll help you!What is where? Just so will have an idea where most of the memorials you already saw are located.Who is the first president of the US? Now there are 18 Equesterian statues in DCTo whom these memorials are dedicated? Have you seen this pose? The Titanic Memorial is a granite statue in southwest Washington, D.C., that honors the men who died on the RMS Titanic. (unveiled 1931) What is the tallest structure is Washington DC?What made of the pyramid top of Washington Monument? It was the largest single piece of aluminum cast at the time 2.85kg. In 1884 aluminum was a much more expensive metal than it is today, trading at about the same price as silver, both $1 per ounce. Is also serves as lightning rod. Who lives in this house now? (White house, Obama) Who else lived here?Who is this man? Engraved as though written on the papers held in the statue’s left hand are three equations, summarizing three of Einstein’s important scientific advances: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, the equivalence of energy and matter. Below the celestial map is embedded as a reminder that the universe was Einstein’s laboratory. And where do you think his statue was places? National Academy of Sciences.Who are depicted

Title. Hi everybody. Thank you for coming. My name is Astghik Shahkhatuni. I was a Fulbright Visiting Scholar in 2007-2008 in Georgetown University, Washington, DC. I must warn you my lecture will be long and there are test questions in the end, so if you will leave early, I will think that you are afraid of the questions, and not that you are bored or tired :o) And this is actually the most fun part, so I encourage you to be patient :o) I must admit that those who weren’t present at my first lecture few months ago missed a lot, since I told or reminded things about American history, traditions and also about Washington, DC, which I’m not going to repeat :o) Anyway, today I’m going to talk about the capital of the US, Washington, DC. Capital of the USA. Here is the map of the US, and this is the capital. So first let’s uncover why the capital is located here and why exactly Washington, DC was chosen to be a capital. Predecessors. Does anyone know how many capitals Armenia had during its long history? Well, historians say Yerevan is the twelfth capital. And these cities are considered to have once been capitals of the US, since they served as the meeting place for US Congress at least ones. The first and main capital city was Philadelphia, which is quite understandable, since back then it was the second-largest city in the British Empire(after London, of course), and a commercial, cultural and educational center of the original 13 colonies. It was in this city that many of the ideas, and subsequent actions, gave birth to the American Revolution and American Independence, making Philadelphia a centerpiece of early American history. Philadelphia served as the capital of until Pennsylvania Mutiny in 1783, when Pennsylvania government failed to protect Congress from a mob of angry soldiers demanding payment. After traveling in three states the capital moved to New York City in 1785. New York is where the first capitol building of the US was built, and where the first president George Washington was inaugurated in 1789. In 1790 Senator from Pennsylvania, convinced Congress to declare Philadelphia the temporary capital for a period of ten years, while the permanent capital was being built. However their hopes to convince Congress to make Philadelphia the permanent capital failed, and in 1800 Washington became a permanent capital as it is now.Planned City.Why and how? So after Pennsylvania Mutiny and Pennsylvania state’s response it became clear that the government needs to seek its own security. Article one, Section eight, of the US constitution provides for a federal district distinct from other states, not exceeding 10 miles sides square, to serve a permanent capital of the US. However, the Constitution does not specify a location for the new capital. Compromise of 1790 was an agreement that Southerners would support the federal assumption of state debts suggested by Northerners in return for a bill locating the US capital on the South. Although political leaders knew differences between North and South would remain, they hoped they had created an indissoluble bond: a republic fueled by Northern financial and commercial capitalism with its capital city in the agrarian, slave-holding South. This implied that the North would not raise objections to slavery because the capital would be located in territory donated by two slave states, Maryland and Virginia. ^ Where and when? 1790 – This is the area along the Potomac River prior to the settlement of the capital, including cities of Alexandria and Georgetown. 1791 – Borders of the Territory of Columbia are defined and the City of Washington is established. 1801 – Federal district placed under the control of Congress. 1846 – area south of the Potomac River was returned to Virginia. 1871 – District of Columbia was unified into a single municipality, as it remains today. ^ Non Perfect Square. So this is how the area looks today. DC has three Rivers; The Potomac River and its tributaries the Anacostia River and Rock Creek.Who? So the Federal City was named in honor of George Washington, and he chose the actual area for the district and included his own hometown Alexandria. In 1791, President Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant, a French-born architect and engineer, to plan the layout of the new capital city. L’Enfant’s plan specified that most streets would be laid out in a grid with incorporated avenues radiating out from rectangles, providing place for landscaping. His design also envisioned a garden-lined “grand avenue” approximately 1 mile in length, which is now the National Mall. By the start of the 20th century, L’Enfant’s vision of a capital become marred by slums and randomly placed buildings, including a railroad station on the Mall. In 1900, Congress formed a committee, headed by Senator McMillan, charged with beautifying Washington’s ceremonial core, which included the re-landscaping of the Capitol grounds and the Mall, constructing new Federal buildings and monuments, clearing slums, and establishing a new citywide park system. The National Mall was the centerpiece of the McMillan Plan. The final result largely kept L’Enfant’s intended design. Here is Freedom Plaza (1980), raised above street level inlaid with a depiction of parts of L’Enfant’s plan for the City of Washington. Names. So initially the federal city was named City of Washington, and the district was named the Territory of Columbia, Columbia being a poetic name for the US in use at that time. People would call and name it various ways since then. Now it’s officially called Washington, D.C. ^ Marking territory. During 1791–92 the border of the District with both Maryland and Virginia was surveyed by placing boundary stones at every mile point to mark the future District’s boundaries; 37 out 40 stones are still standing and are considered the oldest federal monuments in the United States. In 1933 additional bounding markers were placed. Flag. This is how the Washington family coat of arms was transformed into the flag of the DC.Justice for all. This is the motto of the District, and this is the Great Seal of the DC, depicting Lady Justice hanging a wreath on a statue of George Washington.Quadrants. Emphasizing the importance of the new nation’s legislature, DC is administratively divided into four geographical quadrants, each delineated by their ordinal directions from the medallion located in the Crypt in the Capitol. Even when DC was a near-perfect square, the Capitol was never located at the geographic center of the territory, and as a result, the quadrants are of greatly varying size, with NW encompassing over a third of the city’s geography, while SW is little more than a neighborhood. Numbers. Streets that are oriented north/south are designated by numbers and count upwards from east to west in the city, starting at the Capitol; and repeat counting upwards from west to the east, going away from the Capitol. The highest numbered street in the District is 63rd Street. Several half streets were added to the grid later. From A to Z. Streets that are oriented east/west use a single letter of the alphabet in the central city; upwards from Capitol to the North, and again from Capitol to the South. The roads that were B Streets are now named Independence and Constitution Avenues. As the city expanded, so did the system of naming streets. Once single letters are exhausted, the “alphabet” system continues anew with two-syllable names of distinguished leaders such as presidents, supreme court justices, etc. beginning with the first letter of the alphabet (“Adams Street” follows “W Street.”). Streets in this set are referred to as being in the “second alphabet”. Once the second alphabet is exhausted, the system repeats with words of three syllables. “Webster Street” is followed by the “Allison Street.” Only in the NW is a “fourth alphabet” necessary, it uses names of plants in increasing alphabetical order without regard to the number of syllables: Aspen, Butternut, Cedar, etc. Verbena Street is the last one before Maryland border. Typically, all the alphabets use the same letters (A-W, skipping J, and no X, Y, Z). However, there are some exceptions, like Yuma Street, Jefferson Street, Xenia Street. Still, a look at the first letter of streets in DC can give you an idea where are you and how to get to the place you want.^ State names. The boundaries of DC with Maryland are marked by Western Avenue, Eastern Avenue, and Southern Avenue. Diagonal streets are called avenues and named after states. These streets intersect with the north-south and east-west streets at circles and rectangular plazas and provide places to create squares, parks and monuments to honor notable Americans. The longest one is Massachusetts Avenue, stretching from border to border across DC. Other diagonal streets are designated as places, ways, roads, drives, courts, etc. So the city is divided into 4 parts with the Capitol in the center, and for example, there are two streets named 9th, two streets named K, giving 4 intersections of 2 streets with the same name, and to indicate exact intersection one need add the name of the quadrant, SW, SE, NW, NE.^ Street names. What do you think is the most common street name in the US? Actually it’s the 2nd street, why. well, because instead of 1st street “main” street is sometimes being used, and what are other common streets names? Well, Americans love numbers, trees and their founders.Heart of DC. So here is heart of DC. You see National Mall, and surrounding area, where many of the monuments, memorials, museums and administrative buildings are concentrated. Main occupant of the Mall is Smithsonian Institution, most of you heard a lecture a month ago, I will just remind you it has about 3 dozen museums and research centers, and 11 of them are right on the Mall, including the new one under construction “Museum of African American History and Culture”. Yellow stars represent National Gallery of Art and Holocaust museum. With blue stars I indicated the main National memorials in DC, and we’ll see most of them today. ^ Most crowded. There are thousands of tourists in DC every day, but it’s especially crowded in when cherry trees, Japanese sakura, blossom and the heart of DC covers with pink and white flowers, on 4th of July, the Independence Day, at daytime there is a parade, and at night –fireworks, during inaugurations, also it’s quite crowded in Georgetown on Halloween night.^ Main Street. Here is the National Mall, an open-area national park in downtown DC, from the US Capitol building till Washington Monument, and further down to Lincoln Memorial. Here how the Mall looks without people, probably very early in the morning, here how it looks when being filled with people, this is Obama’s inaguaration. On both sides of the street are museums.Uses of National Mall. National Mall is a place where you can do lots of things, you can have picnics, play games, or just read book lying on the grass or resting from visiting museums nearby. Every day there are various food, music, movie and other festivals. And during winter garden in front of National Archives transforms to ice rink.Reflecting History. This is the largest reflecting pool in DC, with 618 m long and 51m wide, and about with 60 cm depth in average. It reflects both the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and often can be seen in the pictures. Besides being popular destination for tourists, National Mall and especially Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, was the site for various important political protests, rallies and historic events. It was here in 1939, when the singer Marian Anderson gave an open air concert for a crowd of over 75,000 people, after she was denied permission to perform in the Constitution Hall in DC, because of her race. It was here, in 1963, when Martin Luther King gave one of the greatest and most notable speeches in human history “I Have a Dream” delivered to over 200,000 civil rights supporters during rally in which he called for racial equality and an end to discrimination. It was here in 2009 where Obama Inaugural Celebration and Concert “We Are One” was held, attended by 400,000 supporters.^ Memorials to Important Events. There are many National Memorials in DC, commemorating events of national importance. Of course, one of the main turning points for the country are wars and it’s important to commemorate of people who fought and gave their lives for the country.Arlington Cemetery. This is Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes, veterans and military casualties from every one of the nation’s wars are buried, from the American Civil War through the military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 300,000 people. Each Memorial Day the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery are graced by U.S. flags. And here is the 14th annual Christmas wreath laying, the result of Wreath Company owner boyhood dream of doing something to honor those laid to rest in National Cemetery.The Circle. National World War II Memorial consists of 56 pillars, 5 m tall, corresponding to 48 US states as of 1945, DC and territories. Two 13 m arches inscribed “Atlantic” and “Pacific” commemorate the two theaters of operation during the war. The Freedom Wall marks the price of freedom with 4048 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans who died in the war.The National Japanese American Memorial To Patriotism During World War II, honors the sacrifice, loyalty and courage made by more than 100,000 Americans of Japanese descent interned in 10 relocation camps, and many others who fought bravely during WWII. Most of us heard a lecture about Japanese internment. Two cranes are facing opposite directions, with their left wings raised and touching, their right wings are pointing downward and held by strands of barbed wire. There is also a pool of water with boulders representing the islands of Japan.The Wall. The story of creation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a bright example of controversies and political correctness. The Memorial Wall, is designed by Maya Lin, who at the time of the contest was an undergraduate student at Yale University. Her design beat out 1420 other competition submissions, but because of her young age, Asian descent and non-traditional design for a war memorial, there were many opponents. Lin’s conception was to create an opening or a wound in the earth to symbolize the gravity of the loss of the soldiers. The Memorial Wall is made up of two black granite walls 75 m long, sunk into the ground. When a visitor looks upon the wall, his or her reflection can be seen simultaneously with the engraved names of soldiers killed or missing in the war, which is meant to symbolically bring the past and present together. [[Negative reactions to Lin’s design led to a compromise by adding a bronze figurative sculpture in the heroic tradition, depicting three soldiers, purposefully identifiable as White American, African American, and Hispanic American. Later the Vietnam Women’s Memorial was also added dedicated to the women of the US who served in the Vietnam War, most of whom were nurses.Peace. Peace Monument is dedicated to the naval deaths during the American Civil War. It’s topped by the allegorical sculptures of Grief and History Muse Cleo, below are the figures of Peace and Victory, and babies Mars, god of War, and Neptune, god of Sea. This one is the only local District memorial on the National Mall, commemorating DC citizens who served at WWI.Armed forces. Korean War Memorial depicts 19 statues drawn from each branch of the armed forces (the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force). And here are several memorials commemorating branches of armed forces; Marine Corps Memorial, from a historic photo when Americans first conquered Japanese Soil, I told about this story in details before, and US Navy Memorial, see the world ocean. The newest one is The Air Force Memorial, evoking the image of “contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds, bomber planes, as they peel back in a precision ‘bomb burst’ maneuver.” Only three of the four contrails are depicted, as the absent fourth suggests the missing man formation traditionally used at Air Force funeral fly-overs.Secrets and Tricks. National Cryptologic Museum contains thousands of artifacts and displays about the history of American cryptology. Outside of the museum is the National Vigilance Park, where one of reconnaissance aircrafts memorializes a U.S. Air Force Hercules Transport aircraft shot down by Russian MIG fighters over Soviet Armenia during the Cold War in 1958, while on ELectronic Signals INTelligence mission with loss of all crew. And this is a Great Seal of the US, presented by Soviet school children on August 4, 1945, to U.S. Ambassador, as a “gesture of friendship” to the USSR’s World War II ally with the hidden bug. It hung in the ambassador’s Moscow office for 7 years until it’s presence was accidentally discovered and it was found after an exhaustive search of the American Embassy. The bug was unusual in that it had no power source or transmitter, making it much harder to detect – it was a new type of device. US didn’t’ confront SU immediately, but waited for the appropriate moment, and it came after complains of SU over the incident in 1960, when a US spy plane entered Soviet territory and was shot down, the US ambassador showed off the bugging device in the Great Seal to illustrate that spying incidents between the two nations were mutual, and the case was closed. Communism. This is the replica of Goddess of Democracy, the statue constructed in four days and put in the Tiananmen Square during protests in China. It was the icon of liberty and a symbol of the free speech and democracy. Of course, the original was destroyed quite soon.Several replicas of the statue have been erected worldwide to commemorate the events of 1989. This replica near Capitol stands as a monument to the millions of victims of world communism. While many people have noted its resemblance to the Statue of Liberty, it is said the students decided not to model their statue on the Statue of Liberty because it would be unoriginal and “too openly pro-American.”, instead some mention Worker and Kolkhoz Woman being influential for their statue’s head and facial features. 9/11. 9/11 is one of the latest tragic and influential events, affected the country. As you know the southwest wing of The Pentagon was destroyed as well, when terrorists slammed a hijacked airliner into the building and killed 184 persons. To honor the victims, the memorial was designed in front of the Pentagon with 184 benches arranged along the trajectory of plane in a landscaped plot. Names of victims are engraved at the end of the benches, hovering above a pool of water that glows with light at night. By the direction of engraved names one can tell if the person was on board of plane or in Pentagon. Here is the memorial in Arlington Cemetery. Holocaust. Holocaust Memorial Museum is the US’ official memorial to the Holocaust. Grateful Armenians. A monument expressing the appreciation of the Armenian people for assistance from the U.S. in the recovery in the earthquake’s aftermath. The Soviet Union for the first time let rescue and relief workers from other countries to take active part in relief work.Top Presidents. According to historical rankings, based on surveys of academic historians and political scientists, focusing on presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures and faults (such as corruption), the following presidents are consistently on top, and the nation remembers their contributions and honors them by dedicating National monuments and memorials.^ 1st place. One of the most recognizable landmarks of DC is the Washington Monument, which is the world’s tallest stone structure and the world’s tallest obelisk. George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) and the first President of the USA. President Washington established the executive and judicial branches of the federal government of the US as well as guaranteed the survival of the US as a power and independent nation. As we know already the capital of the country was named in his honor. Most of the world knows him as a guy, portrayed on one dollar bills.^ Why so simple? Many people wonder why the monument dedicated to the number one in the nation looks so simple, especially compared with the other monuments you’ll see today. Actually it wasn’t planned to be that simple. Here is the original design. There was a 20 years delay in the construction because of a lack of funds, and the intervention of the American Civil War. In 1876, the Centennial of the Declaration of Independence, Congress agreed to provide funds to resume construction. However, arguments about the design resumed. Finally, the decision was made to abandon the colonnade and alter the obelisk so it conformed to classical Egyptian proportions. One difficulty that is visible to this day is that the builders were unable to find the same quarry stone used in the initial construction and, as a result, the bottom third of the monument is a slightly lighter shade than the rest of the construction. It has 897 steps and 50 landings. 2nd place. Unlike from the somewhat triumphal and Roman manner of most of DC, the Lincoln memorial takes the severe form of a Greek Doric temple, modeling temple of Zeus at Olympia. Memorial is dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, who successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery. The memorial hast has 36 massive columns, which are said to represent the 25 U.S. states at the time of Lincoln’s death, as well as the 11 seceded Confederate states. Instead of 13 m tall statue of Zeus in the Olympia, inside of the temple is 6 m tall statue of Lincoln, seated on a throne gazing toward the capital’s starkest emblem, the Washington Monument. 5 dollar bill is completely dedicated to Lincoln, with his portrait on obverse and his memorial on reverse.^ Unfortunate Place. Ford’s Theatre is a place, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and is being preserved. Here is the Presidential Box, where A. Lincoln, was shot. Zeus. Both Washington and Lincoln were glorified a lot, because of their role in the American history. Washington was often portrayed as God, for instance in this statue modeled on the statue of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the world. He points toward heaven and holds a sword, hilt forward, symbolizing Washington turning over power to the people at the end of the American Revolutionary War. This statue was criticized a lot and now is kind of hidden inside of American History museum of Smithsonian Institution, in DC. The Apotheosis of Washington is the very large (433.3 m2) fresco painted on the dome in the rotunda of the Capitol Building. The figures painted are up to 4.6 m tall, depicting George Washington becoming a god (apotheosis), surrounded with Goddesses Victory and Liberty, and 13 maidens, representing the original 13 colonies. The Apotheosis of Abraham Lincoln, greeted by George Washington in heaven (an 1860s work). Lincoln’s death also made him a national martyr, and he was thought of being sacrificed for the unity of American nation.Franklin Delano Roosevelt., won his first of four presidential elections, while the US was in the depths of the Great Depression, and led the country through most of WWII, and died in office, shortly before the war ended. The only American president elected to more than two terms. The FDR Memorial traces 12 years of the history of the US through a sequence of four outdoor rooms, one for each of FDR’s terms of office. Sculptures depict scenes from the Great Depression, such as waiting in a bread line. In 1921 Roosevelt contracted an illness, which resulted in his total and permanent paralysis from the waist down. Fitting his hips and legs with iron braces, he laboriously taught himself to walk a short distance by swiveling his torso while supporting himself with a cane. He was able to convince many people that he was getting better, which he believed was essential if he was to run for public office again. In private, he used a wheelchair, but he was careful never to be seen in it in public. This is First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt standing before the United Nations emblem honors her dedication to the UN. It is the only presidential memorial to depict a First Lady. This is Fala, who followed Roosevelt everywhere, and became part of Roosevelt’s public image. She was called the “most photographed dog in the world”, and the only presidential pet so honored.4th place. This is Thomas Jefferson Memorial in the Tidal Basin. Major events during Thomas Jefferson’s, 3rd President of the US, presidency include the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806). Jefferson envisioned America as the force behind a great “Empire of Liberty” that would promote republicanism and counter the imperialism of the British Empire. He idealized the independent farmer as exemplar of republican virtues, distrusted cities and financiers, and favored states’ rights and a strictly limited federal government. A polymath, Jefferson achieved distinction as, among other things, a horticulturist, political leader, architect, archaeologist, paleontologist, inventor. When President John F. Kennedy welcomed 49 Nobel Prize winners to the White House he said, “I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent and of human knowledge that has ever been gathered together at the White House – with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.” Some people met him on $2 bill.Theodore Roosevelt. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity and “cowboy” image. Roosevelt became president at the age of 42, after President William McKinley was assassinated taking office at the youngest age of any U.S. President in history. On the world stage, Roosevelt’s policies were characterized by his slogan, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”. Roosevelt was the force behind the completion of the Panama Canal; he sent out the Great White Fleet to display American power, and he negotiated an end to the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won the Nobel Peace Prize. The island in the Potomac River in DC was named after him and there is a memorial and statue. He’s very popular, and even little children know him, since their favorite toys have his name, “teddy bear”! Stuffed toy bears were named after him following an incident on a hunting trip, when Roosevelt ordered the mercy killing of a wounded black bear. After a national cartoonist illustrated the President with a bear, a toy maker heard the story and asked TR if he could use his name on a toy bear, he approved and the teddy bear was born. John F. Kennedy. This is John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts (or simply Kennedy Center), producing and presenting opera, ballet, dance and theatre shows, and various concerts. Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy tend to score highly in popular opinion polls, but rank highly less often in polls of historians because their negative qualities have been largely forgotten, for Reagan because he was seen as helping end the Cold War and for Kennedy because of sympathy after his assassination. After assassination John F. Kennedy was buried in National Military Cemetery in Arlington, and eternal flame commemorating president was set. This was the first time that an individual known person was given such an honor, as opposed to an Unknown Soldier and major tragic events. These are his famous words during his inaugural address “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” ^ Ronald Reagan. Prior to his political career Reagan was also a famous motion picture actor, the Governor of California, then the President of the US. He supported anti-Communist movements worldwide and spent his first term implementing strategy of a massive military buildup in an arms race with the USSR. His policy of “peace through strength” (also described as “firm but fair”) resulted in a record peacetime defense buildup with 40% increase in defense spending. Actually we should be mad at him, since at first he named us “evil empire”, even though he was right, and then his strategy was partly the reason of a crash of Soviet Union, for which I guess we should be thankful :o). He also demanded to tear down the Berlin wall. He hasn’t monument in DC yet, but he has National Airport in DC, given his name, Reagan National airport, as well as the first federal building in D.C. designed for both governmental and private sector purposes, the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, which hosts conferences, trade shows, cultural events, and outdoor concerts. It is second largest federal office building, after Pentagon.^ National Portrait Gallery. In the National Portrait Gallery, you can meet all presidents, that is, see their portraits and read short biography and interesting stories about them. Founding fathers. There are several people, who influenced the most on the establishment of a new nation and a new country. Let’s quickly get acquainted with them and buildings, statues and memorials dedicated to them in Washington, DC.National Archives. You can find the most important American historical documents such as Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and Constitution, in National Archives Building. First. Among the Founding Fathers of the US, George Washington earned the title “Father of the Country” in recognition of his leadership in the cause of American independence. Mount Vernon, located near Alexandria, Virginia, is George Washington’s estate on the banks of the Potomac River. He liked being a farmer and was quite successive. The estate serves as a museum now. And here is the tomb of GW on the property. During funeral oration it was stated that of all Americans, he was “first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen” Under the Rotunda there is an area known as the Crypt, designed to be the final resting place of George Washington. However, under the stipulations of his last will, his tomb is at Mount Vernon.Freemason. This is a Masonic building and memorial dedicated to a freemason George Washington and located in Alexandria, Virginia. The tower is fashioned after the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Pharos island, Egypt, one of the 7 wonders of the world, in part because of the common names of both cities, and the Masonic interest in great buildings of the ancient world. The building also houses the collection of the fraternal artifacts of George Washington.Library of Congress. Thomas Jefferson is the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776). The main building of Library of Congress was named in his honor, since he had been a key figure in the establishment of the Library in 1800. After much of the original collection had been destroyed during the War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson sold his entire personal collection of the 6487 books to the library. Library of Congress is the largest library in the world by shelf space and holds the 2nd largest number of books. Thomas Jefferson Building contains some of the richest public interiors in the US. The Library’s primary mission is researching inquiries by members of Congress. Although it is open to the general public for academic research and tourists, however only legislators, Supreme Court justices and other high-ranking government officials may check out books. The Library of Congress receives copies of every book, pamphlet, map, print, and piece of music registered in the US. As the de facto national library, the Library of Congress promotes literacy and American literature through various projects and festivals. Thomas Jefferson founded University of Virginia, which was notable for being centered about a library rather than a church. The high school in DC area in Alexandria is named after him, and is continuously ranked as the best high school in the country.^ Father of Constitution. The second building of the Library of Congress serves as the official memorial to James Madison, who is considered “Father of the Constitution,” as well as “Father of the Bill of Rights”, since he was the principal author of the documents. He served as the fourth President of the US. University in Harrisburg, Virginia is named after him. Father of President. The third building of Library of Congress was named after John Adams, who approved the law establishing the Library of Congress. John Adams came to prominence in the early stages of the American Revolution, playing a leading role in persuading Congress to adopt the US Declaration of Independence in 1776. Adams’ revolutionary credentials secured him two terms as George Washington’s vice president and his own election as the 2nd president of the US. It’s interesting, that John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, compatriots in their quest for independence, then great political rivals, and later friends and correspondents, both died on July 4, the fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, a few hours apart from each other. Adams was the father of John Quincy Adams, the 6th President. ^ Alexander Hamilton, In front of US Treasury building is a statue of Alexander Hamilton, who became the 1st Secretary of Treasury. Alexander Hamilton was Aide-de-camp to General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, a leader of nationalist forces calling for a new Constitution; he wrote most of the Federalist Papers, a primary source for Constitutional interpretation. He was the financial expert of Washington’s administration, he emphasized strong central government, and created the government-owned Bank of the US. Embarrassed by a blackmail of affair that became public, Hamilton resigned as the Secretary of the Treasury. He participated in many political games/intrigues, and later was killed in duel with vice president Burr. He is portrayed on 10 dollar bills, and on the reverse of the bill is the Treasury building.Inventor. In front of Old Post Office Building is a statue of Benjamin Franklin, founder of U.S. Post Office and nation’s first Postmaster General. He was one of five men appointed to draft the Declaration of Independence. He negotiated commercial and diplomatic treaties with France and peace treaty with Britain. Besides his careers as a printer, writer, and diplomat, he was a scientist and inventor. Among his inventions were the Franklin stove, bifocals, lightning rod. He assisted in founding the academy which is today the University of Pennsylvania. I don’t know any person who doesn’t love Benjamin, since everyone loves hundred dollar, also nicknamed benjamins. John Jay. This is a statue of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the US, which is located inside of a Supreme Court. John Jay was a minister to Spain and France, helping to fashion US foreign policy and to secure favorable peace terms from the British (known as the Jay Treaty) and French. John Jay was the state’s leading opponent of slavery, and he eventually signed a law which freed all slaves in New York, where he was a governor, before his death. There is a legend, that L’Enfant, did not include J Street in the alphabetical laying-out of DC streets because he disliked John Jay. But the truth is much simpler; during that time period, the letters I and J looked almost the same, and it would be too confusing to have two street names that looked the same, right next to each other. ^ George Mason. This is a memorial to George Mason, who along with James Madison, is called the “Father of the Bill of Rights”. He is often thought of as a “forgotten Founder.” George Mason did not sign the US Constitution because it did not abolish the slave trade and because he did not think it had necessary protection for the individual from the federal government. ^ More Famous People. Here are a few more people who left traces not only in the American history, but also in Washington, DC.Christopher Columbus Memorial. Of course, there should be a memorial in DC to Christopher Columbus, right? It is located in front of Union Station. It is a focal point for Columbus Day celebrations, which in US is observed annually on the second Monday in October. Union Station is the grand ceremonial train station designed to be the entrance to the capital, and it’s one of the busiest and best-known places in DC, visited by 32 million people each year. Exterior and especially interior of the main hall is quite impressive with numerous statues and decorations. Ulysses S. Grant. This memorial in front of Capitol honors Ulysses Grant, a superlative Civil War general, who defeated general Robert E. Lee, that is defeated South. 3rd largest equestrian statue in the world. There is a legend, that the word lobbyist became popular because of him. It is said Grant used to escape from the White House and visit the Willard Hotel (we’ll talk about it soon) to drink brandy and smoke a cigar while relaxing in the lobby, was often approached by those seeking favors, like jobs, contracts, and positions in legislation. Grant is said to have referred to them as “those damned lobbyists”. Well, he was a good American general, but why should we care about, well, we should, if we love money :o) He is portrayed on 50 dollar bills.Andrew Jackson. Do you think Americans started to recycle only recently? Well, this is the first equestrian statue to be erected in the US. Statue to Andrew Jackson, as he appeared during the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812, when he was a commander. The statue was made from melted-down British cannons captured by Jackson. The cannons surrounding the memorial are four rare Spanish cannons he captured as well. Andrew Jackson was also the 7th president, and he is in top ten of greatest presidents list. His legacy is now seen as mixed, as a protector of popular democracy and individual liberty, he was supporting Indian removal and was pro-slavery, as now it would be called. Jackson holds the distinction of being the only president ever to kill another man in a duel, which was fought to defend the honor of his wife, who was attacked as an adulteress. She married Jackson while she was still married to a another man, while wrongly being informed that her first husband had divorced her. Lafayette. The Andrew Jackson statue is the centerpiece of Lafayette Square, the park across from the White House. In the four corners are statues of foreign Revolutionary War heroes. So Lafayette was the French General who befriended George Washington and fought in the Revolutionary War. The statue shows him petitioning France’s National Assembly to help the Americans fight the British. Baron von Steuben, was able to turn raw recruits into soldiers almost equal to the British forces. Comte de Rochambeau, a Marshal of France who the commander-in-chief of the French Force and fought along side with George Washington. Thaddeus Kosciuszko, helped the US to fight for its independence, then returned to Poland to use his acquired battle skills to gain independence for his own country. Pershing. John Pershing was a general during WWI; one of only two people ever given the title “General of the Armies”, the highest rank ever in the US (the other was George Washington, who received the title posthumously after they invented it to award it to Pershing). As there was no prescribed insignia for this rank, General Pershing chose the 4 stars of a full general, except in gold. In 1944, during WWII five star general rank, General of the Army, was created and 5 people were awarded. Still Pershing was acknowledged as the highest ranking officer of the US military, but since Pershing never wore more than four stars, he can’t be considered 5 or 6 star general, but is still considered to be senior to five star generals of WWII. Despite this highest rank, Pershing is buried in Arlington Cemetery with a simple government-issue headstone. Although this isn’t a common practice for high rank generals.Scandal. This is Watergate Hotel, office building and apartment complex. Considered one of Washington’s most desirable living spaces, the Watergate has been popular with members of Congress and political appointees in the executive branch. But it became very famous after the scandal in Nixon’s administration, when the headquarters of the Democratic Party, located here, were burglarized, documents were photographed, telephones were wiretapped. The investigation revealed that high officials in the Nixon administration had ordered the break-in and then tried to cover up their involvement. Because of a scandal, Nixon had to resign. He was the only President to resign the office and the only person to be elected twice to both the Presidency and Vice Presidency. The name “Watergate” and the suffix “-gate” have since become synonymous with political scandal in the US. it’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up that gets you in trouble.Asministration. DC Inside Beltway. This is a Capital Beltway, which encircles Washington, D.C. and surrounding parts of Virginia and Maryland, so besides being literal, geographic term to describe those areas, the phrase “inside beltway” is used to refer to issues dealing with US government and politics. Where most famous Americans live. White House has been the official residence and principal workplace of every President of the US since 2nd President John Adams. During the War of 1812, the mansion was set ablaze by the British Army in the Burning of Washington, destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. The house was rebuilt and expanded continuously under various presidents because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, so East and West wings were constructed. Today the White House includes the following amenities:^ Colorful rooms. The Interior of the White house is actually quite nice with many art pieces, decorations and furniture. This is yellow oval room, green room, red room, blue oval room.???Countdown. The US Capitol is the meeting place for the US Congress. The Capitol building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings, one for each chamber of Congress: the north wing is the Senate chamber and the south wing is the House of Representatives chamber. Above these chambers are galleries where visitors can watch the Senate and House of Representatives. Underground tunnels and a private underground railway connect the main Capitol building with each of the Congressional office buildings in the surrounding complex. The Capitol has a rich art collection, with statues and pictures of prominent Americans and important scenes of American History. National Statuary Hall is a chamber in the Capitol devoted to sculptures of prominent Americans. ^ Important buildings. The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is adjacent to the White House and occupied by the Executive Office of the President. This building was called “the ugliest building in America” by Mark Twain. This is the Vice President’s residence located in US Naval Observatory. The Willard Hotel is a historic luxury hotel located two blocks away from White House. Every president since its establishment has either slept in or attended an event at the hotel at least once; so the hotel is also known as “the residence of presidents”. This is a historic church near White House, called the “Church of the Presidents”, since almost every President since James Madison has at least been an occasional attendee. Visible and Invisible Forces. Who knows this building? The Pentagon (also a symbol of US military) is the headquarters of the US Department of Defense, located in Arlington, VA, and the largest federal building. This is the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CIA’s headquarters is in Virginia, a few miles west of DC along the Potomac River. ^ Houses of Departments. Here are some department buildings, actually Americans like to name administrative buildings after famous and important politicians. These are headquarters of several departments. The headquarters of the US Department of State is the third-largest federal building in the D.C. area, after Pentagon and Ronald Reagan Building. Who is the head now?Bureau of engraving and printing. BEP is a government agency within the US Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the US Government, like award certificates; invitations and admission cards; identification cards, and other special security documents, but most notable of which is paper currency. You can visit here and see all the stages money printing. Each year about 7,000 tons of worn out currency is shred. The cost of printing the notes is several cents. Bills are made from a blend of linen and cotton, which means they won’t fall apart after washing. This fact as well as the same size of all banknotes is a high security risk, since counterfeiters can simply bleach the ink off a low-denomination note, say 1 dollar, and reprint it as a higher-value note, such as a $100 bill. To counter this, the U.S. government has included a vertical strip imprinted with denominational information, which under ultraviolet light fluoresces a different color for each denomination. Approximately 45% of all U.S. currency produced today are one-dollar bills.^ Tallest Buildings. Unbeatable. The tallest structure in the city is Washington Monument with 169 m in height, but since it does not have successive floors that can be occupied it is not considered a high-rise building. It is one of the best observation decks in DC. The height of buildings in Washington is limited by the Height of Buildings Act. The original act limited buildings to the height of the US Capitol, and was passed in response to the construction of the Cairo Hotel (50m) in 1899, which is much taller than the majority of buildings in the city. Later the act was amended to restrict the height of any building to the width of the adjacent street plus 6.1 m; thus, a building facing a 27 m-wide street could be only 34 m tall. So the skyline remains low and sprawling, keeping with Thomas Jefferson’s wishes to make Washington an “American Paris” with “low and convenient” buildings on “light and airy” streets.1st place. The tallest habitable building in DC is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica (100m). ^ 2nd place. The second-tallest building in DC is the Old Post Office Building, 96 m high. 3rd place. The third-tallest building in the city is the Washington National Cathedral, which rises 92 m. The cathedral is built on high ground known as Mount St. Alban, which makes the church seem taller than it actually is and therefore is visible from many parts of the city.^ 4th place. The fourth is Capitol (88m). Actually this statue adds 6 m to the height of the Capitol.Tallest Statue. Statue of Freedom, female with sword, shield and laurel wreath. Her military helmet with American eagle head and crest of feathers make confuses her with American Indian. Across the River. DC’s height restriction, has been one of the primary reasons why the city has inflated rents, limited affordable housing, and traffic problems. To escape height restriction, people construct higher buildings in Rosslyn, Virginia, directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown. The numerous skyscrapers in the dense business section of Rosslyn make its appearance in some ways more urban than nearby Washington.Washingtonians. Ok, it’s enough about buildings, now let’s talk about simple people who live in Washington, about what they like to do and where.People and Events. Today population of DC is about 600.000, but during workdays due to commuters from surrounding suburbs it grows to more than a million. DC area has over 5 mln people. Here is the population distribution with about 50% Black, 33% white, 8% Hispanic. High percentage of African American population has its roots in history; many free slaves after American Revolutionary were not permitted to remain within their home states, and often relocated to the District. Population remained relatively stable until the Great Depression, when President Roosevelt expanded the bureaucracy in DC. WWII further increased government activity, adding to the number of federal employees in the capital. However, soon the city began losing residents due to suburbanization as an expanded highway network supported newer housing outside the city as well as social riots in the 1960s, and increasing crime. Former Washingtonian #1. I told about pandas a lot in my previous presentation, that China loans them with very expensive price, and that even the cubs born in other countries are still property of China. So several years ago a new cub was born in DC, and was named Tai Shan. He was very popular, frequently mentioned on D.C.-oriented websites and media. He became Washingtonian #1, beating even president. A month ago he had to return to China, so he can join another female panda for further reproduction. Animals. Of course, besides pandas there are still some interesting things to see in the zoo, like huge lion or these little monkeys climbing here and there :o) Adams Morgan. Washingtonians like art. This is Adams Morgan neighborhood, which boasts with it largest display of expressive art in the city. As you walk the streets of this lively district, you’ll delight in discovering these colorful and evocative murals. This is one of the most culturally diverse neighborhoods in DC. The name is derived from the names of two, formerly segregated elementary schools—all-black Thomas P. Morgan Elementary School and the all-white John Quincy Adams Elementary School. After district’s schools were desegregated in 1955, the neighborhood was named after both schools, Adams-Morgan. Now Adams Morgan is a vibrant center celebrated for its diversity and eccentricity. This neighborhood of international sights, sounds, and aromas, offers a multi-cultural shopping and dining opportunities, along with wonderful examples of late-19th- and early-20th-century rowhouses. At night, Adams Morgan transforms into the hotspot for music, dancing, and bars.Old and New. Founded in 1751, the city of Georgetown substantially predated the establishment of the city of Washington and the DC. It served as a major port and commercial center during colonial times because of its prime location on the Potomac River. In 1871 it was assimilated into the city of Washington. Today, Georgetown is a vibrant community with upscale shops, bars and restaurants. Many of the homes are 200 year-old restored row houses with beautiful gardens. The Old Stone House, 1765, is the oldest standing building in D.C., and serves as a museum. Guest houses. Washingtonians are very hospitable actually; there are 174 foreign embassies, 59 of which are located on a section of Massachusetts Avenue informally known as Embassy Row. Here you can see isolated Russian Embassy, neat Armenian embassy, Cameroon embassy, friendly Greece embassy and not that friendly but quite large Turkish embassy.^ Two Camps. One third of DC’s population is functional illiterate, meaning people’s reading and writing skills are inadequate to cope with the demands of everyday life. Compared to a national rate of about one in five. This is attributed in part to immigrants who aren’t proficient in English. On the other hand 42% of population hold at least a bachelor’s degree, which is also one of the highest rates in the country.Universities. Universities in DC are more oriented towards social and political sciences, and many alumni are politically active. Georgetown university is one of the oldest universities in the US. Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, National Security Advisor, as well as 24 current Congressmen are alumni. Some are also former and current heads of states, like President of the Philippines, Prime Minister of Lebanon, Bill Clinton. Prince Felipe of Spain, King Abdullah II of Jordan are among royalties who attended the school, so did I in frames of Fulbright program. Howard University is historically black university. Gallaudet University was the first school for the advanced education of the deaf in the world, and is still the world’s only university with all programs and services specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. George Washington University was a wish of George Washington to open a university in DC. Among its alumni are 16 current Congressmen, Senator J. William Fulbright, who established Fulbright cultural exchange program, former first Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former Secretary of State Colin Powell. The National War College is a school in the National Defense University. Military officers who are likely to be promoted to the most senior ranks are selected to study here in preparation for higher staff and command positions. About 75 percent of the students is composed from the Armed Forces, and the rest are drawn from the State Department and other federal departments and agencies. Most notable graduates of National War College are former U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, Republican nominee for US President, Senator John McCain, and our ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.Churches. Since there is a diversity in population, there are also various places for worship. You already saw two largest catholic churches; National Cathedral and National Shrine. This is anther Cathedral. ^ St. Nicholas Cathedral. The Islamic Center of Washington is a mosque and Islamic cultural center. The center was originally conceived in 1944 when the Turkish ambassador died and there was no mosque to hold his funeral in. This is St Mary’s Apostolic Church, Armenian Church. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church.This is Russian Orthodox church. This is one of the oldest synagogues in the city. Sports. Washingtonians likes sports and have successful teams in most popular sports. Washington Redskins is the second-most valuable professional sports team in the US. The football team is enormously popular in the area and regularly sells out the largest stadium in the National Football League, FedEx Field located in the Washington suburb in Maryland.^ Hexagon (1955) Washingtonians like humor and this is one of the most popular non-profit organizations that produces an annual musical political satire show, where it parodies many political and social issues relevant to the US as a whole and DC area. Its all-volunteer performing cast includes bankers, teachers, health care professionals, engineers, reporters, editors, realtors, clergy, military personnel, scientists, employees of international organizations and embassies. Hexagon members write the show, perform in it, design and build the sets, handle all behind-the-scenes technical activities, play in the orchestra, sell the tickets. All proceeds from every Hexagon show are donated to a DC area charity.Parks. Washingtonians like healthy way of living, so there are many recreation facilities in the parks throughout DC area. The largest and oldest is Rock Creek Park, more than twice the size of Central Park in New York City. Besides playing golf, one can play other sport games, hike, bike or even take equestrian trails; or enjoy cultural exhibits, like Civil War fortifications, a nature center and planetarium; or listen to an outdoor concert venue and have picnic. Those who like just walking can enjoy cascade fountain, one of the most dramatic features of Meridian Hill Park, or walk in Dumbarton Oaks gardens. For those who are even lazy to walk, there are about 15km of roadways, which wind through and connect the numerous gardens and collections in the National Arboretum. These are the National Capitol Columns originally supporting the US Capitol (1828), and were removed during expansion of the Capitol and later transferred here. Flowers. Another nice park is Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens, in the NE of D.C., near the banks of Anacostia River, and the Maryland state border, where in cultivated ponds you can see a plethora of rare waterlilies, lotuses and… other exotic flowers. :o)Potomac. Being situated in an area rich in American history and American heritage has led to the Potomac river being nicknamed “the Nation’s River.” With increasing mining, agriculture and urban sewage the water quality of Potomac deteriorated. In the 1960s, with dense green algal blooms covering the river’s surface, President Lyndon Johnson declared the river “a national disgrace” and set in motion a long-term effort to reduce pollution and restore the beauty and ecology of this historic river, and by the end of the 20th century, there was a notable success. Washingtonians love their river and use all the possibilities it provides, like fishing, kayaking, having parties in yachts, or taking night cruises with fancy dinner and nice views of monuments.Fountains. For those who like water, but prefer safety of being on the soil, can enjoy numerous fountains in the city. This one was sculpted by Bartholdi, who later created the Statue of Liberty, located at the Botanical Garden. And this one is located over the Senate underground garage, and attracts people at night as well. ^ Getting Around. ForC&O Cannal. For about 100 years Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was built parallel to Potomac helped to transport goods, from DC to Cumberland, MD. 300 km long canal was built, with 74 lift locks that raised the canal from sea level at Georgetown to 190 m at Cumberland, 11 stone aqueducts, 7 dams, lockhouses, bridges, stop gates were also constructed along the canal’s path. Despite all those fancy things of those times, still two mules needed to pull the canal boat. The parts of canal are now maintained as a park and you can have some nice experience taking the canal boat excursion. To drive or not to drive. Ok, now to modern transportation. DC Area is often cited as having some of the nation’s worst traffic in the country after Los Angeles. In 2007, DC commuters spent 60 hours a year in traffic delays. However, 37.7% of DC commuters take public transportation to work, also the second-highest rate in the country.^ Being in other’s shoes. The Arlington Memorial Bridge in D.C. crosses the Potomac River, connecting the Lincoln Memorial and Virginia. Although the Arlington Memorial Bridge was part of the 1901 McMillan Commission’s plan for restoring L’Enfant’s original plan for the capital, it’s construction wasn’t initiated until after president Warren G. Harding was caught in a three-hour traffic jam while on his way to dedicate the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The bridge connects, both literally and symbolically, the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington House, the former home of Civil War General Robert E. Lee. This placement was done intentionally to represent the reunification of the North and the South.Octopus. So 5 Metro lines and 86 stations connect DC with suburbs in adjacent states of Virginia and Maryland, and this is the second-busiest rapid transit system in the country, after the New York City Subway with an average of one million trips each weekday in 2009. DC metro is very convenient, and even deers likes to use it from time to time :o)Discrimination in Metro. So pandas are depicted on metrocard, another proof that DC is crazy about pandas. On the other hand, everything is being done to keep away some other animals, like rodents from the metro. There is a strict policy in the metro of no food and no drinks, and passengers are encouraged to follow this law by kind of scary and provocative wallpapers :o)George Washington Memorial Parkway, is a memorial to George Washington and was developed to ensure the easy linkage of George Washington’s most visited places. It connects historic sites from Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon, past the nation’s capital, to the Great Falls of the Potomac, where Washington demonstrated his skill as an engineer. “Road to Adventure”, is a landscaped road, which offers a scenic view, historical and recreational settings, and was designed as a grand gateway and greenway to the Nation’s Capital.Conclusion: Advertising DC. I admit this wasn’t quite usual guide of DC, I just wanted to introduce you to DC through the people and events which affected Americans and their country.Test questions. Ok, now it’s time for you to answer to my questions. Don’t worry I’ll help you!What is where? Just so will have an idea where most of the memorials you already saw are located.Who is the first president of the US? Now there are 18 Equesterian statues in DCTo whom these memorials are dedicated? Have you seen this pose? The Titanic Memorial is a granite statue in southwest Washington, D.C., that honors the men who died on the RMS Titanic. (unveiled 1931) What is the tallest structure is Washington DC?What made of the pyramid top of Washington Monument? It was the largest single piece of aluminum cast at the time 2.85kg. In 1884 aluminum was a much more expensive metal than it is today, trading at about the same price as silver, both $1 per ounce. Is also serves as lightning rod. Who lives in this house now? (White house, Obama) Who else lived here?Who is this man? Engraved as though written on the papers held in the statue’s left hand are three equations, summarizing three of Einstein’s important scientific advances: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, the equivalence of energy and matter. Below the celestial map is embedded as a reminder that the universe was Einstein’s laboratory. And where do you think his statue was places? National Academy of Sciences.Who are depicted