Page 83 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

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in 1914. It prints more than
$140 billion a year, as well as
stamps, federal docu ments,
and White House invitations.
Coins are not minted here,
but in a federal facility
in Philadelphia.
The 40-minute tour includes
a short film, and a walk through
the building to view the
printing processes and checks
for defects. Also on display are
bills that are out of circulation,
counterfeit money, and a
special $100,000 bill. The
The colonnaded, domed Jefferson Memorial, housing the bronze statue Visitor Center has a gift
shop, videos, and exhibits.
e National of unique African-American
Museum of African experience, such as Chicago, y Jefferson
American History South Carolina’s low country,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the
and Culture Bronx, New York. Memorial
15th Street NW and Constitution Ave. The museum also houses South bank of the Tidal Basin.
Map 3 B5. Tel (202) 426-6841. q
Map 3 B4. Tel (202) 633-1000. a 350-seat theater named for Smithsonian. Open 24 hours daily.
q Smithsonian. Open 10am– media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Closed Dec 25. Interpretive talks
5:30pm daily. Closed Dec 25. This venue will host regular & Interpretive tours: 10am–11pm
∑ nmaahc.si.edu discussions, films, and perfor- hourly. 7 = ∑ nps.gov/thje
mances, as well as a store and
Wildly anticipated ever since a restaurant called the Sweet Thomas Jefferson (see p168)
President George W. Bush Home Café. was a political philosopher,
initiated legislation to spur architect, musician, book
the project in 2003, the collector, scientist, horti-
first new venue to open r United States culturist, diplomat, inventor
on the Mall in decades was Holocaust and the third American presi-
inaugurated in September Memorial Museum dent, from 1801 to 1809. He
2016. The National Museum also played a significant part
of African American History See pp82–3. in draft ing the Declaration of
and Culture is an especially Independence in 1776.
timely addition to the The idea for the memorial
Smithsonian’s account of t Bureau of came from President Franklin
the United States as told Engraving and Delano Roosevelt, who
through its museums. Printing felt that the presidential
The striking three-tiered contribution of Jefferson
building is covered in 3,600 14th and C St, SW. Map 3 B5. was as important as that
bronze-colored cast aluminum Tel (877) 874-4114. q of Lincoln for the history of
panels that form a lattice, Smithsonian. 8 9am–2pm the US. Designed by John
meant to symbolize striving Mon–Fri (Mar–Aug: to 6pm). Russell Pope, this Neo-
upwards. The museum is also Closed Week after Christmas, Classical memorial was
noteworthy for the intricacy Federal hols. 7 = dedicated in 1943 and
of its structural design, given ∑ moneyfactory.gov covers an area of 2.5
that as much as 60 percent Statue of Jefferson acres (1 ha). At the
of the building is situated Until 1863, individual time, metal was
below the ground. banks were responsible for strictly rationed, so the 19-ft
The African-American story printing American money. A (6-m) tall statue of Jefferson
is narrated as the result of shortage of coins and the need looking toward the White House
three environments (History, to finance the Civil War led to had to be cast in plaster. After
Culture, and Community) that the production of standardized World War II, the plaster version
span ten galleries. These halls bank notes, and the Bureau was replaced by one cast in
include sections dedicated to of Engraving and Printing bronze weighing 10,000 lb.
slavery, segregation, sporting was founded. Etched on the walls of the
and musical contributions, Initially housed in the base- memorial are Jefferson’s words
visual arts, military history, ment of the Treasury Building from the Declaration of
and the “Hometown Hub,” (see p114), the bureau was Independence and some
which examines ten centers moved to its present location of his other writings.

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