While staying in Virginia, we couldn’t turn down the opportunity to tour our nation’s capital! So while staying at the Pohick Bay Regional Campground, we made several trips across the Potomac into DC.
On our first day, we wanted to tour the National Archives. Additionally, we wanted to take in as many monuments and memorials as we could along the National Mall.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
The first memorial we hit on our way to the National Archives was the Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
This dome hosts a 19-foot-high statue of Thomas Jefferson. Along the walls and on his plinth are multiple quotes from Jefferson.
While we were there, the building was undergoing renovations. Due to that, we had to put in some extra walking to get to the National Archives.
The National Archives
When we did get to the National Archives, due to the age of the documents, and the need to reduce light damage, we were not allowed to take any pictures. The main area was of course the rotunda that hosts the original Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Declaration of Independence. The documents were all guarded by a rather pushy woman. She kept shouting, “There are no lines, proceed directly to the documents!” However, each document was flanked by museum displays of similar documents, rough drafts, and historical information that naturally flowed around the chamber clockwise. If one wanted to see everything, and if you’ve made the pilgrimage to DC you’re probably going to want to, you need to line up.
In addition to the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, the Archives had several other exhibits. One exhibit of note had a copy of the Manga Carta as well as a really well-done exhibit on the history of people of color in the United States. This exhibit showcased their struggles with equality, from the language of the Constitution, through the civil rights movements, and into the present.
We did not see everything, as we also wanted to get the memorials and monuments on that day, and our kids aren’t really old enough to really appreciate many documents. When we come back one day, we will probably spend more time with the artifacts.
The Washington Monument
After the Archives, Dad and The Kids made their way to the Washington Monument. Mom had to walk back to the car to switch lots and feed the meter.
While we were at the monument, The Kids and Dad walked around it and counted the flags. Unsurprisingly, there were 50. This led to an interesting conversation as we speculated how they would change the monument if another state was entered into the union.
While visiting the monument was free, they did have tickets to go inside, which we elected not to do.
World War II Memorial
Our next monument was the World War Two Memorial. This massive memorial was dominated by a central fountain, which was designed to appear to feed off the reflecting pool adjacent to the Washington Monument. Surrounding the fountain were bronze plaques that had the names of all the states, districts, and territories that fought in the war. The more sobering part was a wall of stars, where every star symbolized 5,000 dead. There were many stars.
The Lincoln Memorial
The next stop on our tour of the memorials was The Lincoln Memorial. This impressive building only gets larger and more awe-inspiring as you approach it.
In addition to the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, there were carvings adorning the walls of both his Gettysburg Address and his inauguration speech from his second term in office. His second term was significant as the election for it was held in the heat of the Civil War.
What we didn’t expect, however, was nestled within the very base of the monument was a tribute to the civil rights movement. This memorial ensured that it would serve not only as a reminder of the past but also as a beacon of hope for the future.
Walking through the halls of this remarkable tribute, we couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence and gratitude for the progress that has been made, while also recognizing the ongoing work that still lies ahead. The message was clear: The struggle for equality and justice is a continuous journey, and we must never forget the lessons of the past as we strive for a better future.
Vietnam Memorials
After the Lincoln Memorial, we took a circuitous path around the Capital Mall and encountered the Vietnam Women’s Memorial. It is a statue dedicated to the thousands of women who served in the Vietnam War. One aspect I found touching about this monument was the vast amount of scrunchies, wristbands, rings, and other tokens left on the memorial by the thousands of visitors as a tribute to the women who served.
Across the way from the Woman’s Memorial was the iconic reflecting wall of the Vietnam Memorial. While Dad wanted to get a few pictures of this monument, it felt irreverent. This monument is visited daily by survivors of the war who left friends behind and families of the fallen. While it may sound dramatic, the memorial was thick with an air of raw emotion. We had to pass through quickly as it was bringing tears to all of our eyes.
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, and Franklin Roosevelt Memorials
When it was time to leave, we decided to take a more circuitous route. That route had us pass through the Martin Luther King Junior and Franklin D Roosevelt Memorials. We weren’t able to take in all these memorials had to offer. They were both more than just a statue, each built to showcase the impact these men had on this nation.
George Mason, the Forgotten Founding Father
As we were returning to the car, we happened across this little memorial, off the path just a bit. Dad just loved the energy here, with a statue of George Mason. George Mason worked on Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, one of the documents the United States Declaration of Independence was based on. In addition to this, George refused to sign the constitution due to it not abolishing the slave trade. Dad just loved this guy, chilling in the garden, with his favorite books, just taking it in.
While we saw a lot, I would hesitate to say we saw most of the monuments and memorials that Washington DC had to offer. We left that day footsore, but inspired to want to come back another time, and try and see more!