Oct 2010
(and earlier/later)
The soldiers were very angry. They risked their lives for the country; but the country did not pay their salaries in time. They laid siege to the young country's legislature. The legislators appealed to the Governor to send militia to clear the soldiers away. The Governor was sympathetic to the soldiers and did not oblige. The legislators ran away to a distant city. And then to an even bigger and even more distant city. That is when they decided, they cannot depend on any one state. They need to have their own home and their own boot power. They decided to set up a federal territory (limited to 10 miles by 10 miles). Two states donated land by a river. An architect was appointed to design a city. Washington DC was born.
Washington DC is a city conceived by a country; instead of the usual other way around. It is restricted to a size of 10 miles by 10 miles by US Constitution and cannot grow. However, its suburbs spill over to neighbouring states.
The city has a population of 0.75 million. This goes up to 1.0 million during day time. The metro area has a population of 6 million. Receives 20 million visitors each year. The city is the fifth largest economy in US at $ 540 billion pa (fifth after New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco). About a quarter of all employees in the city work for Federal government.
For a country that was born on the principle there cannot be taxation without representation, it is ironical that its new capital pays taxes without representation. The city does not have voting power in US Congress.
The residents should know something we do not given their proximity to political power. The city is overwhelmingly democratic. The split between votes pulled by Democrats and Republicans has been at least 78:22 since 1964!
Two iconic symbols that represent Washington DC the best are the US Capitol and the White House.
US Capitol (where the two chambers of federal legislature are housed) is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall (a landscaped park that houses or borders a number of memorials, monuments, statues, museums, and art galleries). The Mall is the public square for the city's celebrations, and protests. The Capitol Hill was so named by Thomas Jefferson after the Capitoline Hills in Rome. The US Congress moved into US Capitol in 1800 (after earlier locations in Philadelphia, Princeton, Trenton, New York, and Philadelphia again) and has stayed here ever since.
Ford's Theater, the site of assassination of Abraham Lincoln (on 14 Apr 1865 after seeing "Our American Cousin" with 1700 other patrons) is a spot that continues to attract visitors even today. The theater was shut (due to public anger) after the assassination; was acquired by Government, used as a warehouse and later as office space and since 1968 modified to be a working theater and a tourist attraction.
(and earlier/later)
The soldiers were very angry. They risked their lives for the country; but the country did not pay their salaries in time. They laid siege to the young country's legislature. The legislators appealed to the Governor to send militia to clear the soldiers away. The Governor was sympathetic to the soldiers and did not oblige. The legislators ran away to a distant city. And then to an even bigger and even more distant city. That is when they decided, they cannot depend on any one state. They need to have their own home and their own boot power. They decided to set up a federal territory (limited to 10 miles by 10 miles). Two states donated land by a river. An architect was appointed to design a city. Washington DC was born.
Washington DC is a city conceived by a country; instead of the usual other way around. It is restricted to a size of 10 miles by 10 miles by US Constitution and cannot grow. However, its suburbs spill over to neighbouring states.
The city has a population of 0.75 million. This goes up to 1.0 million during day time. The metro area has a population of 6 million. Receives 20 million visitors each year. The city is the fifth largest economy in US at $ 540 billion pa (fifth after New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco). About a quarter of all employees in the city work for Federal government.
For a country that was born on the principle there cannot be taxation without representation, it is ironical that its new capital pays taxes without representation. The city does not have voting power in US Congress.
The residents should know something we do not given their proximity to political power. The city is overwhelmingly democratic. The split between votes pulled by Democrats and Republicans has been at least 78:22 since 1964!
Two iconic symbols that represent Washington DC the best are the US Capitol and the White House.
US Capitol (where the two chambers of federal legislature are housed) is located on Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall (a landscaped park that houses or borders a number of memorials, monuments, statues, museums, and art galleries). The Mall is the public square for the city's celebrations, and protests. The Capitol Hill was so named by Thomas Jefferson after the Capitoline Hills in Rome. The US Congress moved into US Capitol in 1800 (after earlier locations in Philadelphia, Princeton, Trenton, New York, and Philadelphia again) and has stayed here ever since.
US Capitol
The White House has been home to every President of US except George Washington. It is actually sandstone painted white and was fashioned after Leinster House, the Irish legislature, in Dublin. Over time White House was expanded and the complex now includes: Executive residence, West Wing, East Wing, Executive Office Building (where the VP is located), and Blair House (a guest house). Technically, White house is a park owned by the National Park Service. I have attended business meetings in the White House. No, not for tea and a private chat with Obama. This is more a technical brainstorming session in an office far away from the Oval office with about thirty invitees and the Chief Technology Officer of President (in the days I visited, a tech billionaire from healthcare industry).
Just opposite the White House, at any given time, there is always someone camping with protest slogans trying to propagate a favourite political cause; a symbol of vibrant democracy. Substantive protests with mass participation happen in a different place: in the Mall opposite Lincoln Memorial.
Just opposite the White House, at any given time, there is always someone camping with protest slogans trying to propagate a favourite political cause; a symbol of vibrant democracy. Substantive protests with mass participation happen in a different place: in the Mall opposite Lincoln Memorial.
White House
Abraham Lincoln (16th President, 1861-65, moderate Republican) led US when it faced a moral crisis and a political crisis. He fought to keep the country united (and that was the fight about in Civil war; not slavery), abolished slavery, and rejuvenated US economy. The memorial has, etched in stone, the two famous short addresses of Lincoln: his second inaugural address and his Gettysburg address.
When a black singer was not permitted to perform at a theater in Washington DC, Eleanor Roosevelt arranged for her to perform on the steps of Lincoln Memorial. Marian Anderson performed to a crowd of 70,000 cheering fans. After that the memorial has become a pivot place for people to express their voices. Dr Martin Luther King Jr issued his famous "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the memorial (with MLK and all his followers wearing a Gandhi cap in honor of Mahatma Gandhi who MLK thought best represented his own crusade for equality and fraternity and his own style of opposing an idea without opposing the opponent). There is a side bar memorial for MLK in the left basement of the Memorial.
When a black singer was not permitted to perform at a theater in Washington DC, Eleanor Roosevelt arranged for her to perform on the steps of Lincoln Memorial. Marian Anderson performed to a crowd of 70,000 cheering fans. After that the memorial has become a pivot place for people to express their voices. Dr Martin Luther King Jr issued his famous "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the memorial (with MLK and all his followers wearing a Gandhi cap in honor of Mahatma Gandhi who MLK thought best represented his own crusade for equality and fraternity and his own style of opposing an idea without opposing the opponent). There is a side bar memorial for MLK in the left basement of the Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
When you step out of Lincoln Memorial, you see what Barack Obama would have seen as he issued his inauguration speech on his first day as President. You see the mall, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol at the farther end (except in his case, the entire area would have been full of people; about 1.1 million on that day).
The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall and was in 1884, when it opened, the tallest tower in the world. Eiffel Tower overtook it five years later. You can climb about 900 steps (whew) or take a 70 seconds ride in an elevator to reach the top. Would you believe that the monument's marble blocks are held together by gravity and friction and not by mortar.
Washington Monument, as seen from the footsteps of Lincoln Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial cherishes the memory another great President (32nd President, 1933-45, Democrat) who led the country through a depression ushering in a "new deal" (public works, financial regulation, and social security) and who steered US through WW2 though he did not live to see the end of the war. FDR did not want a memorial larger than his desk in the Oval office but ended up getting the most expansive memorial in the US with four outdoor galleries representing his four terms (including a statue for the first lady and his dog!).
FDR Memorial
FDR Memorial: Breadline after Depression
Quite close by on the banks of Tidal Basin is Jefferson Memorial, cherishing the memory of Thomas Jefferson (3rd President, 1801-09, Democratic-Republican). Jefferson wrote what should go into his own tombstone and was humble enough to not mention he was President. He got an elegant memorial fashioned after Pantheon in Rome.
Jefferson Memorial
The newest of all memorials is the Martin Luther King Memorial (the only one in the mall area for an African American and for someone who was not a President). Quite a lot of symbolism here. One sees MLK as part of a "stone of hope" emerging from a split "mountain of despair". You need to read his speech to understand the symbolism.
Martin Luther King Memorial
The City celebrates those who fought for the country and those who gave up their lives for the country in several war memorials.
The World War II memorial is dedicated to the 416,800 Americans who died during the war. The memorial is built around the Rainbow pool (now sporting a beautiful fountain) with 56 pillars for the states and territories of US that participated in the war. Yes, there is an often ignored corner where "Kilroy was here" is etched into stone. (Google to know the Kilroy story).
World War II Memorial
The Korean War Veterans Memorial proclaiming "Freedom is not free" depicts a platoon of 19 soldiers wading through a field. This is a tribute to the 1.5 million soldiers who participated in the "Forgotten war".
Korean War Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is dedicated to the 58,000 Americans who perished in the almost twenty years war that ended in 1975. The design came from an architecture student and is just two simple walls with the names of the dead etched into stone. The granite came from Bangalore. The Memorial has a sculpture to celebrate the role of women who served in the war and another to celebrate the racial ethnic unity: The three servicemen sculpture depicting a Hispanic, an African American and a Caucasian watching to protect US interests. (This actually won the third prize in the contest for design of the memorial but was added to the memorial since it was quite elegant and meaningful).
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: Three servicemen by Frederick Hart
The Arlington Cemetery at the outskirts of the city (across the river in Virginia) is a 1 square mile resting place for more than 400,000 service members, veterans, and their families. It has the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the gravesite of John F Kennedy. Quite close to the cemetery is the Iwo Jima War Memorial showing the triumphant capture of Iwo Jima island (about 1,200 km south of Tokyo) where 19,000 of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers were killed and about 1,000 captured. The planting of the US flag on a mountain top in Iwo Jima is the most iconic image of victory in World War II.
Should the flag in Iwo Jima memorial have 48 stars (for the 48 states in US then) or 50 stars (as is current)? US law mandates that the only flag to be used in all memorials/monuments is the current flag. It is the fifty starrer.
Should the flag in Iwo Jima memorial have 48 stars (for the 48 states in US then) or 50 stars (as is current)? US law mandates that the only flag to be used in all memorials/monuments is the current flag. It is the fifty starrer.
Marine Corps Memorial: Iwo Jima
Washington DC is also a city of museums.
The most popular one (and the most educative one as well) is the National Air & Space Museum, a collection of history making aircrafts and space crafts, a large stadium and a 230 seat planetarium to propagate the frontier of science. The museum has the original 1903 aircraft flown by Wright brothers; Spirit of St Louis flown by Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic; Command module of Apollo 11; Eagle module of Apollo 11, that landed on the moon; rocks from moon that you can touch; rocks from Mars etc. The museum attracts 7 million visitors a year. I once saw Buzz Aldrin, the second Astronaut to walk on Moon after Neil Armstrong, signing books, and having a chat with kids.
The most popular one (and the most educative one as well) is the National Air & Space Museum, a collection of history making aircrafts and space crafts, a large stadium and a 230 seat planetarium to propagate the frontier of science. The museum has the original 1903 aircraft flown by Wright brothers; Spirit of St Louis flown by Charles Lindbergh across the Atlantic; Command module of Apollo 11; Eagle module of Apollo 11, that landed on the moon; rocks from moon that you can touch; rocks from Mars etc. The museum attracts 7 million visitors a year. I once saw Buzz Aldrin, the second Astronaut to walk on Moon after Neil Armstrong, signing books, and having a chat with kids.
National Air & Space Museum
Command Module of Apollo 11 that took Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, & Mike Collins to the Moon
Testing copy of Apollo Soyuz Collaboration with Soviet Union
Display of historic aircrafts
National Air & Space Museum: Wife at McDonald's
Another museum that we liked is the "Newseum". The museum is about 500 years of covering news for the world and a tribute to 2,300+ journalists who died in action. More than 700 newspapers worldwide send their front page to the museum every day. The museum cherishes the good (with eight pieces of Berlin wall) and the bad (twisted/damaged antenna from atop the North tower of World Trade Center after the 9/11 terrorist hit). You can play reporter for a day at the mock NBC Newsroom (my daughter did; and did well).
Newseum: Eight pieces of Berlin Wall
Newseum: Twisted/damaged antenna from the North Tower of WTC after 9/11 terrorist hit
The Union station is another iconic symbol of the city. (The "union" does not refer to union of states; any terminal station that serves more than one railway company and thus facilitates interchange between competing railroads is a "union" station in USA). This is a high traffic spot in the city with more than 70,000 people passing through its portals every day.
Union Station
The Kennedy Center (John F Kennedy Center for Performing Arts) on the banks of the Potomac river is home to the city's symphony orchestra, opera, and ballet troupe. The center has multiple auditoriums (yes, that is okay though auditoria is okay too) with differing seating capacities. The rooftop terrace offers a spectacular view of the Potomac. We saw the Watergate building, and the FBI building right next to each other on the horizon. Some irony there.
Kennedy Center as seen from across Potomac River
The Old Post Office Building was a favourite for tourists in the past with nice restaurants in ground floor and an elevator to the top offering a view of the city. The building has since been given to Trump Properties for conversion into a luxury hotel.
Old Post Office Building (now under conversion into a Trump Hotel)
Ford's Theater: Site of assassination of Abraham Lincoln
When Maryland and Virginia donated land to the Federal capital, the land was not completely empty. It had two small towns which are today suburbs of the city: Georgetown and Alexandria. Georgetown today is an upperclass neighbourhood with upscale restaurants; and a university town with boisterous bars.
Georgetown university is 300 years old; has about 20,000 students from 135 countries; has provided more members to the US Congress than any other university.
Georgetown University
There are many ways to tour around the city. The day time trip by coach is the most popular. We once did a night time tour of the city. It was even more exciting. Lincoln Memorial, lit at night time, is a sight to see from anywhere in the Mall area. But two exciting ways to see the city are the Duck tour and by Segway.
The duck tour takes you around the town on an amphibious vehicle and rolls into the Potomac to give a river cruise view of the city.
Duck tour
Segway tour
Colonial Williamsburg is a 301 acre museum with restored or recreated buildings from the era when it was the capital of Colonial Virginia. CW is about two and a half hours drive from Washington DC and is a nice way to understand what life was during colonial era. The entire area (with about three main fares connected by a few side streets) has buildings as they were three centuries back with actors playing historic characters in period dress and using period language.
Colonial Williamsburg: Governor's bungalow
Colonial Williamsburg: Wife shopping in XVIII century shop
Colonial Williamsburg: Coach tour of Town
The Great Falls Park in Maryland is about half hour drive from Washington DC. The Park has rapids and waterfalls on Potomac river. Though the Park itself is in Maryland, one can enjoy the scenic view from both Maryland and Virginia (the river is a border between the two states).
Great Falls: Rapids
Great Falls: White water rafting
Washington DC is the political power center of the world. However, there are other sides to DC as well.
It is a financial center with several private equity firms spearheading investment into sunrise sectors in US and elsewhere.
It is a technology hub with many major players and start ups creating an ecosystem of innovation. When I started my fin tech business fifteen years ago, I had strong reasons to start it at Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia (technically a different state; but actually a suburb of DC). Later when the business grew, we shifted to New York. A shift from "proximity to talent" to "proximity to customers".
Washington DC is ranked as the third biggest tech city in USA and fifth most successful for tech start ups.
Most importantly, did you know Washington DC ranks first amongst cities for tech start ups founded by women?
It is a financial center with several private equity firms spearheading investment into sunrise sectors in US and elsewhere.
It is a technology hub with many major players and start ups creating an ecosystem of innovation. When I started my fin tech business fifteen years ago, I had strong reasons to start it at Tysons Corner in Vienna, Virginia (technically a different state; but actually a suburb of DC). Later when the business grew, we shifted to New York. A shift from "proximity to talent" to "proximity to customers".
Washington DC is ranked as the third biggest tech city in USA and fifth most successful for tech start ups.
Most importantly, did you know Washington DC ranks first amongst cities for tech start ups founded by women?
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