WASHINGTON DC/BALTIMORE/ANNAPOLIS ATTRACTIONS

Value City Rating: $$$$

 

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL:

 

     The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. Symbolic of the defining event of the 20th Century, the memorial is a monument to the spirit, sacrifice, and commitment of the American people. The Second World War is the only 20th Century event commemorated on the National Mall’s central axis.  Nearly 59 years after the end of World War II, the National World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 29, 2004. The dedication of the memorial was the culmination of an 11-year effort that started when the memorial was authorized by Congress on May 25, 1993. Construction began September 4, 2001, after several years of fund raising and public hearings. The memorial opened to the public on April 29, 2004. You may wish to register yourself or a loved one on the WWII Memorial Registry using this link:  Click Here
 

   

 

 

KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL:

 

     General Douglas MacArthur said, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." When the last veteran of the Korean War fades into history, he can do so knowing that a memorial will remind future generations of his/her sacrifices in defense of South Korea. A group of 19 stainless steel statues, created by World War II veteran Frank Gaylord depict fighting men on patrol representing the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force working together for a common goal - victory. A granite mural of over two thousand sandblasted photographs honors the supporting services who provided supply, medical, spiritual, and fire support to the frontline units. The United Nations Wall on the opposite side lists the countries that provided troops, medical support, or supplies to help South Korea. These were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Republic of Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States of America. All these elements point toward the Pool of Remembrance where the sacrifice of 54,246 American lives can be contemplated. It is here where an inscription summarizes the true meaning of the memorial: "OUR NATION HONORS HER SONS AND DAUGHTERS WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO DEFEND A COUNTRY THEY NEVER KNEW AND A PEOPLE THEY NEVER MET."
 

 

    

 

 

VIETNAM WAR VETERAN’S MEMORIAL:

 

    The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, now more than 20 years old, is still the most controversial, heart-wrenching monument in a city full of landmarks. Authorized in 1980 and dedicated in 1982, the work of Maya Ying Lin (then a 21-year-old Yale student) has been complemented over the years with two more conventional dedications. The first, Frederick Hart's Statue of the Three Servicemen, was added in 1984 to mollify those who thought the original design too dark and divisive. The second commemorates the sacrifices made by female members of the Armed Services during the conflict: Glenna Goodacre's vision, the Vietnam Women's Memorial, was added in 1993.

Tearing across the ground in fitting metaphor as an emotional scar, the wall of names accurately depicts the enormity of the suffering, by both the soldiers and the civilians who lived through that turbulent period. It continues to evoke raw emotions and tears -- many tears. Pilgrims make the journey every day, both relatives of the dead and those interested in our nation's history. It's not uncommon to see folks rubbing pencil against paper to copy names off the wall, or leaving flowers and pictures.
 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial   

 

 

ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY:

 

     Arlington Mansion and 200 acres of ground immediately surrounding it were designated officially as a military cemetery June 15, 1864, by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. More than 260,000 people are buried at Arlington Cemetery. Veteran’s from all the nation’s wars are buried in the cemetery, from the American Revolution through the Persian Gulf War and Somalia. Take a narrated tram ride through the grounds, with a stop at the JFK gravesite and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to view the “Changing of the Guard.”

 

    

 

 

NAVY MEMORIAL:

 

     Huge in scale and scope, the outdoor Navy Memorial plaza is a classical columned amphitheater enclosing a granite map of the world. Most visitors focus on Stanley Bleifeld's mesmerizing sculpture, 'The Lone Sailor.'   Inside the adjacent Heritage Center, the Navy Log Room allows visitors to trace the service records of more than 230,000 Navy personnel and offers visual thrills in the form of a 30-minute film, 'At Sea,' produced by the makers of 'To Fly.' It depicts moment-by-moment life aboard an aircraft carrier. Visit the President's Room to learn about JFK's PT-109 service, and discover which of our presidents was a Navy pilot at the age of 17. --

The Lone Sailor is a composite of the U.S. Navy bluejacket, past, present and future. He's called the Lone Sailor, yet he is hardly ever alone, standing there on the broad granite plaza which forms the amphitheater of the Navy Memorial. Visitors to the Memorial are immediately drawn to him to peer into his far seeing eyes, to admire him or size him up, to see if he's as tough or as gentle as he seems. Visitors find that he is all that he seems and probably more.

The founders of the Navy Memorial envisioned this Lone Sailor at 25 years old at most, a senior second class petty officer who is fast becoming a seagoing veteran. He has done it all -- fired his weapons in a dozen wars, weighed anchor from a thousand ports, tracked supplies, doused fires, repelled boarders, typed in quadruplicate and mess-cooked, too. He has made liberty call in great cities and tiny villages, where he played tourist, ambassador, missionary to the poor, adventurer, souvenir shopper and friend to new lands. His shipmates remember him with pride and tell their grandchildren stories, some of which, like him, are seven feet tall.

 

Memorial Service at the Navy Memorial

 

The United States Navy Memorial Foundation hosts wreath laying ceremonies for Reunion Groups holding their annual reunions in the Washington, DC area. The public ceremony is held on the Navy Memorial and honors the lives and service of Reunion Group shipmates no longer with us.  The ceremony normally consists of: Presentation of colors by the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, Invocation, Remarks by Foundation representative and selected reunion group members, reading of names of shipmates who passed since the last reunion with the tolling of the bell after each name, presentation of the Wreath at the Lone Sailor Statue, concluding with Taps performed by a member of the U.S. Navy Band.

 

 
 

 

 

 

RIDING TOUR OF THE CAPITOL CITY:

 

   

 

      Enjoy a fully narrated driving tour of Washington, passing by the White House, Capitol, Supreme Court Building, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and other famous sites. This tour can also be taken during the evening hours for a spectacular view of the city and monuments lit up at night.

 

WHITE HOUSE TOUR

 

It is possible to take a self-guided tour of the White House.  We can look into arranging this if there is enough interest.  Tour would include the public areas of the White House, Garden Tours are available, and the Visitors Center is highly reccomended!  The Center features many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders, as well as a thirty-minute video.

 

   

 

US NAVAL ACADEMY

 

At the United States Naval Academy, located in Annapolis, MD (approximately 45 minutesfrom the DC area) you will ride along the “yard” past many of the Academy’s landmarks.The Visitor Center features the film "To Lead and To Serve," guided walking tours of the Naval Academy, a sample midshipman room, Freedom 7 space capsule, an original Dahlgren boat howitzer, the original wooden figurehead of the USS Delaware (used for the casting the statue of Tecumseh), an exhibit on the life and times of John Paul Jones, an extensive gift shop, restrooms and vending machines.  While there, you may be able to see the Brigade of the Midshipmen perform Noon Formation.

 

   

 

 MOUNT VERNON

 

Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759 until General Washington's death in 1799. He worked tirelessly to expand his plantation from 2,000 acres to 8,000 and the mansion house from six rooms to twenty one.

The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association purchased Mount Vernon from the Washington family in 1858 and opened the estate to the public in 1860. Since that time, nearly 80 million visitors have toured Washington's home. Mount Vernon is independent of the government and no tax dollars are expended to support the 500-acre estate, its educational programs or activities.

Visitors are invited to tour the Mansion house and more than a dozen outbuildings including the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, and greenhouse. Stroll four different gardens, hike the Forest Trail, and explore the George Washington: Pioneer Farmer site, a four-acre working farm that includes a recreation of Washington's 16-sided treading barn. The George Washington Museum and the Archaeology & Restoration Museum are open daily, in addition to a variety of seasonal walking tours and special activities. George and Martha Washington rest in peace in the tomb where wreathlaying ceremonies are held daily.

   

Old Town Alexandria

Founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alexandria is known for its abundance of 18th- and 19th century architecture. But it is equally known for its chic boutiques, national retail shops, fine art and antique galleries and award-winning restaurants.  You’ll walk in the footsteps of George Washington and Robert E. Lee along our brick-lined streets, by elegant Federal homes and cobblestone alleyways.  From Colonial times through the Civil War, Alexandria has been the scene of many “firsts” in American history-  In 1774, Virginia delegates George Washington and George Mason adopted the “Fairfax Resolves” calling for an end to trade with England.  In 1755, Gen. Edward Braddock and five Royal Colonial Governors met here and decided to levy England’s first tax on the Colonies.  Throughout the 1600 and 1700s, this seaport city had a thriving tobacco trade with England.  In 1861, here occurred the very first casualties of the Civil War.  Each tour is a 90-minute walking tour, led by an experienced, entertaining guide, covering 8-10 blocks. 


   

Lunch at Ft Myers Officers' Club

The Fort Myer Officers’ Club, known as Patton Hall, was built in 1896. General George S. Patton, Jr., commanded Fort Myer as a Colonel from 1938-1940, and the Club was renamed in his honor. The Provost Marshall’s office, adjacent to Patton Hall, is the building in which General Patton resided during his tenure at Fort Myer.  The first military use of aircraft by the Wright Brothers occurred on the parade field just across the street from the Officers’ Club. Patton Hall is one of the largest and most prestigious military clubs in the world, frequently hosting Presidents and honored dignitaries. 

Fort Myer, one of the oldest Army posts in the country, is located adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery near the banks of the Potomac River. In February of 1881, Fort Myer was named in honor of Brigadier General Albert J. Myer who commanded the Signal School for Army and Navy Officers. Prior to that time it was known as Fort Whipple, in honor of General Amiel W. Whipple, who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Battle of Chancellorsville during the Civil War. At the direction of President Abraham Lincoln, Fort Whipple was commissioned in October 1862. Today, Fort Myer is home to the 3rd U. S. Infantry Regiment, “The Old Guard”, the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the President, as well as the U. S. Army Band, "Pershing's Own."

 

Dinner Cruise along the Potomac

 

Our Nation's original Paris on the Potomac®, the Dandy and her newly built sister ship, Nina's Dandy were designed to cruise under the dramatic low arched bridges of Washington, D.C. Dine while viewing the Washington Monument, Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials, the Kennedy Center, Watergate, Rosslyn, Washington Harbour, Georgetown, and many other beautiful landmarks.   Dandy Cruises is a fine dining dinner-boat pioneer with over twenty years of experience; world renown for excellent food and service in an elegant atmosphere. Chair-rail to ceiling windows, plush carpeting, crisp linens, mahogany wood, brass accents, and marble dance floor create an Old World look.
 

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