Washington, D.C – Around Town : The Mall and Federal Triangle (part 1)

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Even Washingtonians whose daily pursuits rarely take
them to the Mall regard this magnificent open expanse as the heart of
the city. A grassy park with carefully preserved trees, the Mall
stretches 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Capitol to the east to the Potomac
River, just beyond the Lincoln Memorial, to the west. Alongside and
nearby are the core symbols of the city and the nation: memorials to
past suffering and triumphs, the workplaces of the federal government,
and the Smithsonian Institution museums, entrusted with “the increase
and diffusion of knowledge.” The Mall also serves as a national public
square – it fills to capacity for the dazzling Fourth of July
celebration and fireworks display, while the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
brings food, dance, storytelling, and crafts from all over the world.
And the space is enlivened daily with ordinary people jogging,
strolling, or just enjoying the extraordinary views.

The Federal Triangle

The area now known as the
Federal Triangle was developed during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
administration and improved by John F. Kennedy. Before then, the
three-sided site, between 6th and 14th Streets and Pennsylvania and
Constitution Avenues NW, was a run-down area. Its main buildings are the
Federal Trade Commission, the National Archives, the Department of
Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the R. Reagan Building and
International Trade Center.






Sights

  1. National Museum of the American Indian

    This
    fascinating museum enshrines 10,000 years of Native American life and
    culture, and acknowledges the contributions native peoples have made to
    the history of the Americas. The collection includes over 800,000 items,
    7,000 of which are on display. Exhibits include pre-Columbian gold
    figurines, beadwork, textiles, and pottery from the Arctic to Patagonia.
    The building itself has been designed in harmony with Native American
    cultural beliefs. The entrance faces east to meet the morning sun, and
    light spills in reflecting the importance of the sun within Amerindian
    culture .

  2. National Gallery of Art

    Stroll
    through this building surrounded by illustrious artworks dating from
    before the Renaissance to the current day. The sculpture garden is a hit
    for its outdoor setting, summer jazz concerts, a winter ice-skating
    rink, and café.

  3. National Air and Space Museum

    The
    story of flight, one of the most stirring in human history, is
    dramatically depicted in this favorite museum, renowned for its
    collection of precious artifacts of the challenging experience of flying .

  4. National Museum of American History

    The
    story of the United States of America, from its beginnings to the
    present day, is told here, through public icons and examinations of the
    daily lives of ordinary people. The museum underwent renovation in 2008,
    and some of the new exhibits include The Hall of Power Machinery, the
    John Bull Locomotive, and the new Star-Spangled Banner Gallery. “America
    on the Move” draws on the museum’s unparalleled collections and looks
    at all the modes of transportation from 1876 to the present .




    National Museum of American History

  5. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

    The
    only public gallery in the city with the sole focus on modern and
    up-and-coming art, this museum’s holdings and exhibitions of
    contemporary inter national works are exceptional. The unusual circular
    building, designed by Gordon Bunschaft and completed in 1974, provides a
    striking setting for outdoor sculpture in the surrounding plaza.
    Another fine sculpture garden across Jefferson Drive displays more than
    60 pieces of large-scale contemporary work .

    • 7th St, at Independence Ave, SW

    • Open 10am–5:30pm daily

    • Dis. access

    • Free




    Central Plaza, Hirshhorn Museum


  6. National Museum of Natural History

    A favorite with
    children, yet filled with fascinating displays and artifacts that appeal
    to everyone, the vast halls of this Smithsonian museum have everything
    from the tiny bones of a snake to a giant ritual statue from Easter
    Island. Other exhibits include the vast Mammal Hall, Pacific island
    canoes, fabulous gemstones, a giant squid, a scene from a Chinese opera,
    and an Egyptian mummy case .

    • Constitution Ave & 10th St, NW

    • Open 10am–5:30pm daily; closed Dec 25

    • Dis. access

    • Free




    Museum of Natural History

  7. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

    Among
    the city’s most challenging sites, this museum is both a working study
    center for issues relating to the Holocaust and a national memorial for
    the millions murdered by the World War II Nazi government. The museum is
    solemn and respectful while engrossing and highly informative. Free
    timed passes are required to view the three-story permanent exhibition;
    special exhibitions, including the child-oriented “Remember the
    Children: Daniel’s Story” can be seen without passes.

    • 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW (14th St between Independence Ave & C St, SW)

    • Open 10am–5:30pm daily; closed Yom Kippur, Dec 25

    • Dis. access

    • Free




    United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

  8. Washington Monument

    The
    plain Egyptian design of this radiant spire was largely the result of
    congressional cost-cutting, but now it seems an inspired choice. At 555
    ft (165 m), the monument, built to honor the first president of the
    United States, towers over everything in the neighborhood. The view from
    the observation platform at the top, reached by a 72-second elevator
    ride, is unforgettable. The new elevator on the descending trip allows
    visitors to see some of the many commemorative stones that have been
    laid in the masonry walls.

    • 15th St between Independence & Constitution Aves

    • Open 9am–5pm daily; closed Jul 4, Dec 25

    • Dis. access

    • Free




    Washington Monument

  9. Lincoln Memorial

    This
    imposing marble memorial honors the US president who carried the
    country through its most difficult era. Designed by Henry Bacon
    (1866–1924) and featuring a monumental 19-ft (6-m) high statue of the
    seated Lincoln by Daniel Chester French (1850–1931), the memorial was
    dedicated in 1922. The Greek architecture reflects the ideals of its
    time .

    • 23rd St, NW & West Potomac Park

    • Open 8am–midnight daily




    Lincoln Memorial

  10. Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial

    This
    stark remembrance features a black polished wall on which are carved
    the names of those who died during the Vietnam War. Controversial when
    it opened, because of its minimalism and because it failed to glorify
    the war, the memorial has become one of the world’s most popular. Its
    creator, Maya Lin, was a 21-year-old Chinese-American student when she
    completed the design. More traditional statues were added in 1984.

    • Constitution Ave & Henry Bacon Drive, NW

    • Open 8am–midnight daily

    • Dis. access

    • Free




    Statues, Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial