Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

208  W ASHINGT ON , DC & THE C APIT AL REGION

q National World the early years of the Nazi regime,
War II Memorial with exhibits exposing their ruth-
less persecution of Jews. The
Map C4. 17th St, NW, between third floor exhibits are devoted
Constitution Ave & Independence to the “Final Solution,” the killing
Ave. Tel (202) 426-6841.
q Smithsonian or Federal Triangle. of six million “undesirable”
Open 24 hours daily. 8 on request. people. Artifacts include a box
7 ∑ nps.gov/nwwm car that carried prisoners to
concentration camps.
This 7.5-acre (3-ha) memorial On the second floor is the
was built to honor US veteran Hall of Remembrance, which
soldiers and civilians of World houses an eternal flame that
War II. It includes two 43-ft pays homage to the victims of
(13-m) pavilions, symbolic bas- the Holocaust, and the Hall
relief panels, and fifty-six granite of Witness on the first floor
pillars, one for each of the features temporary exhibits.
Washington Monument, which dominates country’s states and territories. At the Concourse Level is
the city skyline These are adorned with bronze the Children’s Tile Wall. Over
wreaths of oak and wheat, 3,000 tiles, painted by children,
0 Washington which symbolize the nation’s constitute this moving
Monument agricultural and industrial memorial to the one-and-a-
strength. The memorial was half million children murdered
Map C4. Independence Ave at officially opened to the public in the Holocaust.
17th St, SW. Tel (202) 426-6841, (202) in 2004.
347-5114. q Smithsonian. @ 13, 52.
Open 9am–4:45pm daily. e Jefferson
Closed Jul 4, Dec 25. 7 = w United States Memorial
Interpretive talks. ∑ nps.gov/wamo
Holocaust Map C5. S bank of the Tidal Basin.
Constructed from 36,000 pieces Memorial Museum Tel (202) 426-6841. q Smithsonian.
of marble and granite, the 555-ft Open 9:30am–11:30pm. Closed Dec
(170-m) tall Washington Map C5. 100 Raoul Wallenberg 25. Interpretive talks: 7 = ∑ nps.
Monument is one of the capital’s Place, SW. Tel (202) 488-0400. gov/thje
most recognizable landmarks, q Smithsonian. @ 13 (Pentagon
clearly visible from almost all shuttle). Open 10am–5:30pm daily When this Neo-Classical-style
over the city. Conceived of as a (extended hours from Mar–Jun: memorial to the third US
tribute to the first president of 10am–6:30pm Mon–Fri). Closed Dec president, Thomas Jefferson
the US, its construction began in 25 & Yom Kippur. Time pass required (1743–1826), was completed in
1848, but stopped in 1858 when for permanent exhibit. Advance 1943, critics gave it the derisive
passes available via the museum’s
funds ran out. The building work website. 7 ∑ ushmm.org nickname “Jefferson’s Muffin.”
resumed in 1876 – a slight It was dismissed as far too
change in the color of the stone Opened in 1993, the US “feminine” for so bold and
indicates the point at which Holocaust Memorial Museum influential a man who had
construction stopped and then bears witness to the system- played a significant part
began again. The original design atic persecution and in drafting the Declaration
included a colonnade around annihilation in Europe of Independence in 1776.
the monument, but lack of funds of six million Jews and The dome of this round,
prevented its construction. others deemed colonnaded building
Cleaned to a gleaming white, undesirable by the covers a majestic 19-ft
the monument has a capstone Third Reich. The (6-m) statue of Jefferson,
weighing 3,300 lbs (2,000 kg). museum is meant to be and a museum is housed
It is topped by an alu minum experienced, not just Majestic statue of in the basement of
pyramid, and surrounded by seen. Within the Jefferson the building.
50 flagpoles. The monument exhibition space, which Jefferson Memorial
reopened in 2014 following ranges from the intentionally stands on the banks of the
repairs to damage caused by an claustrophobic to the soaringly scenic Tidal Basin. In the
earthquake in 2011. Exhibits now majestic, are thousands of 1920s, hundreds of Japanese
cover George Washington, the photo graphs and artifacts, 53 cherry trees were planted
monument’s engineering, and video monitors, and 30 inter- along its shores, and the sight
what happens if lightning strikes. active stations that contain of the trees in bloom is one of
There are stunning views across graphic and emotionally disturb- the most photographed in the
the city from the top (admission ing images of violence, forcing city. Peak blooming time is
is free, but timed tickets are visitors to confront the horror of between mid-March and mid-
required for the elevator; the the Holocaust. Starting from the April. Rental paddle-boats are
stairs are no longer accessible). top, the fourth floor documents available at the Tidal Basin.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp234–6 and pp237–9

208-209_EW_USA.indd 208 11/2/16 2:44 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm