District of Columbia
- Visited: Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
- Visited: Constitution Gardens
- Visited: Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
- Visited: Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
- Visited: Frederick Douglas National Historic Site
- Visited: Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Visited: Lincoln Memorial
- Visited: Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove
- Visited: Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
- Visited: Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
- Visited: National Capital Parks - East
- Visited: National Mall and Memorial Parks
- Visited: Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
- Not yet: Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
- Visited: President's Park/White House
- Not yet: Rock Creek Park
- Visited: Theodore Roosevelt Island
- Visited: Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- Visited: Vietnam Veterans Memorial
- Visited: Washington Monument
- Visited: World War II Memorial
- Visited: Jefferson Memorial
- Visited: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Recent Posts
Constitution Gardens
Tucked between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument lies one of the quietest places on the National Mall. Constitution Gardens was dedicated in 1976 as part of the nation’s Bicentennial celebration, creating a living memorial to the ideals upon which the United States was founded. Few visitors realize that this peaceful landscape did not […]
Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac
Presidents are often remembered through monuments, libraries, and museums that celebrate their accomplishments. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove along the Potomac River takes a different approach. Rather than focusing on politics or legislation, it honors the quieter side of a man who carried the immense responsibilities of the presidency. Dedicated in 1973, the memorial […]
World War II Memorial
I visited the National World War II Memorial with Erin shortly after it opened in 2004. I had been looking forward to seeing it because World War II was the war that both my father and my father-in-law served in. For years, I had wondered why there were national memorials honoring the Vietnam and Korean […]
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site
Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., preserves what has often been called “America’s Main Street.” Established as a National Historic Site in 1965, this famous avenue stretches between the United States Capitol and the White House, linking the legislative and executive branches of our government. Few streets in the world have witnessed as […]
Theodore Roosevelt Island
Tucked away in the Potomac River, just a short distance from the monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C., Theodore Roosevelt Island offers a very different kind of presidential memorial. Rather than honoring Theodore Roosevelt with grand buildings or elaborate architecture, this 88-acre island preserves the kind of natural landscape that reflected his lifelong passion for […]
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
On our way to Virginia, we made a stop at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, one of the more unusual units of the National Park Service. Located along the Anacostia River in Washington, D.C., it is the only national park devoted to the cultivation and display of aquatic plants. During the summer, the ponds come alive with […]
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
Tucked within the historic streets of Washington, DC, is the home of Mary McLeod Bethune. Surrounded by the grandeur of the nation’s capital, her home stands as a reminder of leadership education and social change. Born in 1875 to formerly enslaved parents in South Carolina, Bethune rose from poverty to become an educator, advisor to presidents, […]
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam War was a formative time in Marty and my coming of age and a defining moment for our generation. It was impossible to grow up during that era without feeling the tension, uncertainty, protests, and deep emotions that surrounded the conflict. Visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is an emotional experience. Rather than towering statues or […]
White House and President’s Park
Standing outside the White House, this photo captures more than just a family visit, it preserves a moment from a very different era in American history. At that time, touring the White House felt more personal and accessible. We could move through many of the historic rooms on a relaxed private tour, experiencing the residence of the […]
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial is like walking directly into the life and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It doesn’t just honor a moment in history, it unfolds his story, step by step, through the challenges, leadership, and resilience that defined his presidency. Designed by landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, the memorial was commissioned by Congress in 1955, […]
Jefferson Memorial
Here we are standing before the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. Set along the edge of the Tidal Basin, this memorial has a sense of balance, symmetry and quiet strength. It is both elegant and deeply reflective of the man it honors. The design of the memorial draws from classical Roman architecture, inspired by the […]
Martin Luther King Jr Memorial
The sheer size of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial communicates the significance we give to this man’s life. He was a giant among men, and the artist captured that truth in the scale and presence of the monument itself. Marty and I visited this soon after it was completed and I remember how striking […]
