Monuments and Memorials in DC

In Washington DC there is a huge number of Memorials and Statues and Monuments. The creativity and thought that has gone into all of them is simply amazing. While we were there we had a fun time visiting many of them. They are neat for picture taking so prepare yourself for a lot of photos!

Ken in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

It has the name of the states all around the top. The Lincoln Memorial has been a major setting for things related to Civil rights. The steps behind Ken were where Martin Luther King Jr. stood when he spoke his "I have a Dream" speech.

Me, inside

I was amazed at how huge it was. I felt very small.

The Washington Monument (with the Capitol behind)

This is the view from the Lincoln Memorial steps.

We wanted to go up in the Washington Monument but discovered you needed to go early in the morning to get in line if you wanted to get tickets (or you could reserve them months in advance and pay shipping and handling). So on Tuesday morning we got up early, took the Metro to the closest stop and here we (our shadows) are walking the rest of the way to sit in line for over an hour.
Ken waiting

The Washington Monument is 555 feet and 5 1/8 inches tall. It was started on July 4th 1848 and finished December 6th 1884. When it was completed it was the tallest structure in the world until the Eiffel Tower was finished in 1889. You might notice a difference in color about a third of the way up. It was when they were at that point that construction was halted for a number of years because of lack of funds. When the construction started up again they weren't able to get quite the same color.

The view of the Capitol up there.

It was neat to get to go up inside. The view was pretty neat.

The Jefferson Memorial

The other side of the Jefferson Memorial

The eternal flame at JFK's grave in Arlington Cemetery.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Beautiful Cemetery

The Vietnam Memorial (and Ken and I reflected)

The Korean War Memorial

World War 1 Memorial

Navy Memorial

Some of the neat art work at the Navy Memorial

A statue of Christopher Columbus in front of Union Station.

I think that covers most of the Memorials, they were neat to visit. Have you been to see them are do you know any interesting facts about them? Did I miss any that you think I should have gone to see?