2
56 Signers Memorial Chill out with the Founding Fathers
Constitution Gardens, including the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, were dedicated for the US Bicentennial as a living homage to the founding of the republic. The memorial is nestled on a tiny island, reachable by wooden bridge. This mini oasis is a good spot to reflect on the actual people who risked livelihood, reputation, and even life to release the nascent country from the grips of King George III. July 4, 1776 was the day the Declaration was adopted, not when voted on, nor when signed. The Committee of Five, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston, were responsible for printing and circulating it to the 13 colonies. Overnight, 200 “Dunlap Broadsides” were printed in Philadelphia and dispatched on July 5. Only 26 originals remain intact today. The oldest signer, Benjamin Franklin, was 70, and the youngest, at 26, Edward Rutledge. Papers of the time were transported to different locations, and it appears that the writing in an unknown hand on the back of the Declaration was to identify it in a collection of rolled documents. Hancock, of the conspicuous signature, was a smuggler of fine European goods. Sam Adams was a law school dropout. Franklin opened the first lending library. Jefferson was angry for life over the deletion of the anti-slavery paragraph. Gwinnett’s signature is the most valuable to collectors. Harrison’s son and great-grandson were later elected US Presidents. Rush published the first American chemistry book, and Hopkins co-built a telescope in 1769, used to track Venus’ path. Whipple was a sea captain by age 21, and Lynch was lost at sea at 30. Witherspoon was the only college President, and Middleton a world traveler. Two brothers Lee signed. After Pearl Harbor, the Declaration and Constitution were moved from the National Archives to Fort Knox, where they remained until war’s end.
ADDRESS Constitution Avenue at 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20245, www.nps.gov TIP The Lockkeeper’s House is the oldest structure on the Mall, a tiny 1835 stone house where the lockkeeper collected tolls, tended the Washington City Canal locks, and raised 13 children (Constitution Avenue NW and 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, www.nps.gov/places/000/56-signers-of-the-declaration-ofindependence-memorial.htm).
2
56 Signers Memorial Chill out with the Founding Fathers
Constitution Gardens, including the Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, were dedicated for the US Bicentennial as a living homage to the founding of the republic. The memorial is nestled on a tiny island, reachable by wooden bridge. This mini oasis is a good spot to reflect on the actual people who risked livelihood, reputation, and even life to release the nascent country from the grips of King George III. July 4, 1776 was the day the Declaration was adopted, not when voted on, nor when signed. The Committee of Five, Jefferson, Franklin, Adams, Sherman, and Livingston, were responsible for printing and circulating it to the 13 colonies. Overnight, 200 “Dunlap Broadsides” were printed in Philadelphia and dispatched on July 5. Only 26 originals remain intact today. The oldest signer, Benjamin Franklin, was 70, and the youngest, at 26, Edward Rutledge. Papers of the time were transported to different locations, and it appears that the writing in an unknown hand on the back of the Declaration was to identify it in a collection of rolled documents. Hancock, of the conspicuous signature, was a smuggler of fine European goods. Sam Adams was a law school dropout. Franklin opened the first lending library. Jefferson was angry for life over the deletion of the anti-slavery paragraph. Gwinnett’s signature is the most valuable to collectors. Harrison’s son and great-grandson were later elected US Presidents. Rush published the first American chemistry book, and Hopkins co-built a telescope in 1769, used to track Venus’ path. Whipple was a sea captain by age 21, and Lynch was lost at sea at 30. Witherspoon was the only college President, and Middleton a world traveler. Two brothers Lee signed. After Pearl Harbor, the Declaration and Constitution were moved from the National Archives to Fort Knox, where they remained until war’s end.
ADDRESS Constitution Avenue at 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20245, www.nps.gov TIP The Lockkeeper’s House is the oldest structure on the Mall, a tiny 1835 stone house where the lockkeeper collected tolls, tended the Washington City Canal locks, and raised 13 children (Constitution Avenue NW and 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, www.nps.gov/places/000/56-signers-of-the-declaration-ofindependence-memorial.htm).
10
Bald Eagle Nest Mr. President and LOTUS among the azaleas
The US National Arboretum is one of the world’s premier woody plant research facilities and public gardens, run by the US Department of Agriculture on 446 acres. Among its many horticultural collections are seasonal botanical and tree displays, tramways and trails, and even a grove of the original columns that supported the East Portico of the US Capitol building. While many flowers and shrubs within the arboretum bloom in the spring, there are attractions throughout the year, such as the Bonsai Museum, the National Grove of State Trees, the National Herb Garden, and the Asian Collection with its hardy camellias that bloom in late autumn. One standout among the arboretum’s garden displays is the Azalea Collection. Every spring, thousands of azaleas cover the sides of Mount Hamilton and Glenn Dale Hillside in a blanket of color. The best way to see this spectacle is on foot via a network of rustic woodland trails. In 2014, a pair of bald eagles, named Mr. President and First Lady of the US, or FLOTUS, raised their young atop a tulip poplar tree amidst the Azalea Collection – until FLOTUS flew away in 2019. Luckily, a new female eagle soon swooped in and captured Mr. President’s heart. She was named Lady of the United States, or LOTUS, and they began a new family. Mr. President is quite the dad, but sometimes he has to be nudged out of the nest to do his fatherly duties as a hunter. Each season an online contest is conducted to name the new eaglets. Volunteers from the American Eagle Foundation and the USDA maintain an eagle cam so the public can observe their activities without unwanted intrusion. But if you are lucky and persistent, you might see the eagles or hear their cries as they go about their daily lives as you walk along the paths near their tree. So, when you visit the arboretum in spring or late fall, bring binoculars and be sure to cast your gaze both down to the flora and up into the treetops of this amazing natural environment.
ADDRESS 3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002, +1 (202) 245-2726, www.usna.usda.gov TIP Every year, the Arboretum hosts scientific and crafty workshops; special events and exhibits, such as the spectacular spring Ikebana exhibit; Full Moon hikes and children’s activities. The seasonal bonsai displays in the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum are not to be missed at any time of the year.
10
Bald Eagle Nest Mr. President and LOTUS among the azaleas
The US National Arboretum is one of the world’s premier woody plant research facilities and public gardens, run by the US Department of Agriculture on 446 acres. Among its many horticultural collections are seasonal botanical and tree displays, tramways and trails, and even a grove of the original columns that supported the East Portico of the US Capitol building. While many flowers and shrubs within the arboretum bloom in the spring, there are attractions throughout the year, such as the Bonsai Museum, the National Grove of State Trees, the National Herb Garden, and the Asian Collection with its hardy camellias that bloom in late autumn. One standout among the arboretum’s garden displays is the Azalea Collection. Every spring, thousands of azaleas cover the sides of Mount Hamilton and Glenn Dale Hillside in a blanket of color. The best way to see this spectacle is on foot via a network of rustic woodland trails. In 2014, a pair of bald eagles, named Mr. President and First Lady of the US, or FLOTUS, raised their young atop a tulip poplar tree amidst the Azalea Collection – until FLOTUS flew away in 2019. Luckily, a new female eagle soon swooped in and captured Mr. President’s heart. She was named Lady of the United States, or LOTUS, and they began a new family. Mr. President is quite the dad, but sometimes he has to be nudged out of the nest to do his fatherly duties as a hunter. Each season an online contest is conducted to name the new eaglets. Volunteers from the American Eagle Foundation and the USDA maintain an eagle cam so the public can observe their activities without unwanted intrusion. But if you are lucky and persistent, you might see the eagles or hear their cries as they go about their daily lives as you walk along the paths near their tree. So, when you visit the arboretum in spring or late fall, bring binoculars and be sure to cast your gaze both down to the flora and up into the treetops of this amazing natural environment.
ADDRESS 3501 New York Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20002, +1 (202) 245-2726, www.usna.usda.gov TIP Every year, the Arboretum hosts scientific and crafty workshops; special events and exhibits, such as the spectacular spring Ikebana exhibit; Full Moon hikes and children’s activities. The seasonal bonsai displays in the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum are not to be missed at any time of the year.
18
The Canterbury Pulpit Martin Luther King’s last sermon
The last Sunday sermon that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ever gave was on March 31, 1968 from the historic Canterbury Pulpit in the National Cathedral, the sixth largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. His sermon, “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” spoke of a triple revolution of technology, weaponry, and human rights and urged the people to be alert and active in a time of great change and turmoil. The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate stood that day a marked man, only four days prior to his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. He spoke to a predominantly white crowd of over 4,000 people, that spilled out of the church into the yard, including many children who have grown up to become notable Washingtonians. He also declared that day that he planned to bring over 3,000 people to DC the next month for a non-violent demonstration. Instead, a memorial service was held at the Cathedral the following week. Dr. King in the pulpit is immortalized with a stone carving in the north arcade, right above a visitor’s head, as a tribute to his impactful presence that day. The facial expression and hand gestures give the carving life and makes his rich, syncopated baritone voice nearly audible. The Canterbury Pulpit, from which Dr. King spoke, has a rich history of its own. The stone was a gift from the Canterbury Cathedral, once a part of the Bell Harry Tower, carved in England and presented to the National Cathedral in 1906, a year before the foundation stone was laid. It was not installed until 1929. Each person depicted in the carvings had a part in translating the bible from Latin into English. At the center is the Archbishop of Canterbury handing King John the Magna Carta to sign. The detailed scrollwork is a testament to the skills and dedication of the stone carvers who created this grand focal point for this national house of prayer.
ADDRESS Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016, +1 (202) 537-6200, www.cathedral.org, communications@cathedral.org TIP In the back of the Great Choir, on the arm of the second bench on the left is a carving of a lion eating a snake with the face of Hitler, symbolizing the Allies vanquishing the Axis.
18
The Canterbury Pulpit Martin Luther King’s last sermon
The last Sunday sermon that the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ever gave was on March 31, 1968 from the historic Canterbury Pulpit in the National Cathedral, the sixth largest Gothic Cathedral in the world. His sermon, “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” spoke of a triple revolution of technology, weaponry, and human rights and urged the people to be alert and active in a time of great change and turmoil. The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate stood that day a marked man, only four days prior to his assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. He spoke to a predominantly white crowd of over 4,000 people, that spilled out of the church into the yard, including many children who have grown up to become notable Washingtonians. He also declared that day that he planned to bring over 3,000 people to DC the next month for a non-violent demonstration. Instead, a memorial service was held at the Cathedral the following week. Dr. King in the pulpit is immortalized with a stone carving in the north arcade, right above a visitor’s head, as a tribute to his impactful presence that day. The facial expression and hand gestures give the carving life and makes his rich, syncopated baritone voice nearly audible. The Canterbury Pulpit, from which Dr. King spoke, has a rich history of its own. The stone was a gift from the Canterbury Cathedral, once a part of the Bell Harry Tower, carved in England and presented to the National Cathedral in 1906, a year before the foundation stone was laid. It was not installed until 1929. Each person depicted in the carvings had a part in translating the bible from Latin into English. At the center is the Archbishop of Canterbury handing King John the Magna Carta to sign. The detailed scrollwork is a testament to the skills and dedication of the stone carvers who created this grand focal point for this national house of prayer.
ADDRESS Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016, +1 (202) 537-6200, www.cathedral.org, communications@cathedral.org TIP In the back of the Great Choir, on the arm of the second bench on the left is a carving of a lion eating a snake with the face of Hitler, symbolizing the Allies vanquishing the Axis.
40
Frank Kameny Gravesite Gay rights pioneer is not buried here
While Washington’s gay community was being decimated by AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s, Congressional Cemetery was one of the few willing to allow victims to be laid to rest there, as it was yet unclear whether the disease could still spread in death. It is here that HOBS, a non-profit gay rights group, bought a gravesite for Dr. Frank Kameny, the man considered “The Father of Gay Rights.” After a short professorship, Kameny, a PhD and World War II combat veteran, took a job as an astronomer at the Army Map Service. Shortly, reports of his sexuality triggered an investigation. He was fired in 1957 for being gay and in 1958 was barred forever from holding a federal job. After a series of congressional appeals, lawsuits, and an appeal to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, he failed to get his job back. He wrote a salient brief to the Supreme Court in 1961, yet they denied his case – twice. His is historic for being the first sexual orientation-based civil rights case ever taken to the highest court. Kameny was a man of many firsts. He co-founded The Mattachine Society, the first gay rights organization, followed by the National Gay Rights Lobby. He was the first to lead protests at the White House, State Department, Pentagon, and Civil Service Commission, and the first homosexual to run for Congress. Though he did not win, he paved the way for others who have followed and won elections. He was instrumental in getting homosexuality declassified as mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Kameny strived to show that his actions were about acceptance in the eyes of the law, rather than “gay power” and militancy. Kameny died at 86 on National Coming Out Day in 2011. His legal heir battled with HOBS over ownership of the grave. In the “gay corner,” the only one in the country, his military cenotaph indicates subtly that there are no remains beneath.
ADDRESS 1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, +1 (202) 543-0539, www.congressionalcemetery.org TIP Stop by the home of George Cassiday, the official bootleger to Congress during Prohibition. He was so popular that lawmakers set him up with an office in the Capitol complex (303 17th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003).
40
Frank Kameny Gravesite Gay rights pioneer is not buried here
While Washington’s gay community was being decimated by AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s, Congressional Cemetery was one of the few willing to allow victims to be laid to rest there, as it was yet unclear whether the disease could still spread in death. It is here that HOBS, a non-profit gay rights group, bought a gravesite for Dr. Frank Kameny, the man considered “The Father of Gay Rights.” After a short professorship, Kameny, a PhD and World War II combat veteran, took a job as an astronomer at the Army Map Service. Shortly, reports of his sexuality triggered an investigation. He was fired in 1957 for being gay and in 1958 was barred forever from holding a federal job. After a series of congressional appeals, lawsuits, and an appeal to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, he failed to get his job back. He wrote a salient brief to the Supreme Court in 1961, yet they denied his case – twice. His is historic for being the first sexual orientation-based civil rights case ever taken to the highest court. Kameny was a man of many firsts. He co-founded The Mattachine Society, the first gay rights organization, followed by the National Gay Rights Lobby. He was the first to lead protests at the White House, State Department, Pentagon, and Civil Service Commission, and the first homosexual to run for Congress. Though he did not win, he paved the way for others who have followed and won elections. He was instrumental in getting homosexuality declassified as mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association. Kameny strived to show that his actions were about acceptance in the eyes of the law, rather than “gay power” and militancy. Kameny died at 86 on National Coming Out Day in 2011. His legal heir battled with HOBS over ownership of the grave. In the “gay corner,” the only one in the country, his military cenotaph indicates subtly that there are no remains beneath.
ADDRESS 1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003, +1 (202) 543-0539, www.congressionalcemetery.org TIP Stop by the home of George Cassiday, the official bootleger to Congress during Prohibition. He was so popular that lawmakers set him up with an office in the Capitol complex (303 17th Street SE, Washington, DC 20003).
50
International Spy Museum Spy pigeons and their covert critter colleagues
The oft defamed pigeon, or “flying rat,” is vindicated in the International Spy Museum’s exhibits on animal spies, along with actual rats, cats, and dragonflies. To this day, animal spy operations around the world have yet to be fully declassified. The first known use by the US military of carrier pigeons, which possess an uncanny ability to return home, was during World War I. Trained birds would be released to fly ahead of advance ground troops to spot and land where they sighted oncoming enemy troops, signaling their locations. In World War II, British MI-14 parachuted crates of pigeons with questionnaires attached to them into occupied Europe. Over 1,000 pigeons returned to their homes with responses from Resistance fighters giving up enemy site locations and details of their situations on the ground. During the Cold War, the CIA labs created highly acute mini cameras weighing a mere 40 grams that were strapped onto trained pigeons to be released near designated targets. The birds flew just a few hundred feet above a mark, and the cameras returned countless remarkably clear photos. Also of note in the museum are camera drones that look like dragonflies and stories of animal droppings used as cover for audio recording devices. Meanwhile, domestic operatives and double agents resorted to leaving dead rats with the secret information stitched inside at designated drop spots. Unknowing humans left them alone, but the local cats fancied them for a meal. So the operatives resorted to dousing the rats with hot sauce to keep the hungry cats at bay. Korean War code breaker Milton Maltz worked with a coterie of spies and intelligence officers from major global agencies to mastermind this impressive museum that strives to unveil the dark art of espionage and intelligence. Come with ample time to explore the exhibits, crawl through air ducts, and play spy craft games.
ADDRESS 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, +1 (202) 393-7798, www.spymuseum.org, info@spymuseum.com TIP Take a short walk to The Wharf in search of the historic marker for the 77 enslaved passengers who attempted the largest escape from bondage in 1848 aboard the ship Pearl, but were caught (Wharf and 7th Streets SW, Washington, DC 20024).
50
International Spy Museum Spy pigeons and their covert critter colleagues
The oft defamed pigeon, or “flying rat,” is vindicated in the International Spy Museum’s exhibits on animal spies, along with actual rats, cats, and dragonflies. To this day, animal spy operations around the world have yet to be fully declassified. The first known use by the US military of carrier pigeons, which possess an uncanny ability to return home, was during World War I. Trained birds would be released to fly ahead of advance ground troops to spot and land where they sighted oncoming enemy troops, signaling their locations. In World War II, British MI-14 parachuted crates of pigeons with questionnaires attached to them into occupied Europe. Over 1,000 pigeons returned to their homes with responses from Resistance fighters giving up enemy site locations and details of their situations on the ground. During the Cold War, the CIA labs created highly acute mini cameras weighing a mere 40 grams that were strapped onto trained pigeons to be released near designated targets. The birds flew just a few hundred feet above a mark, and the cameras returned countless remarkably clear photos. Also of note in the museum are camera drones that look like dragonflies and stories of animal droppings used as cover for audio recording devices. Meanwhile, domestic operatives and double agents resorted to leaving dead rats with the secret information stitched inside at designated drop spots. Unknowing humans left them alone, but the local cats fancied them for a meal. So the operatives resorted to dousing the rats with hot sauce to keep the hungry cats at bay. Korean War code breaker Milton Maltz worked with a coterie of spies and intelligence officers from major global agencies to mastermind this impressive museum that strives to unveil the dark art of espionage and intelligence. Come with ample time to explore the exhibits, crawl through air ducts, and play spy craft games.
ADDRESS 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, +1 (202) 393-7798, www.spymuseum.org, info@spymuseum.com TIP Take a short walk to The Wharf in search of the historic marker for the 77 enslaved passengers who attempted the largest escape from bondage in 1848 aboard the ship Pearl, but were caught (Wharf and 7th Streets SW, Washington, DC 20024).