Page 9 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE  7

Washington, DC 34  INTRODUCING W ASHINGT ON , DC W ASHINGT ON , DC A T A GLANCE  35
at a Glance Museums and Galleries
in Washington, DC
Few cities can claim to have as many museums and galleries
in such a concentrated area as Washington. The Mall forms
Each map in this section the main focus because it is lined with museums. Most of
these are part of the Smith sonian Institution (see p74), which
is funded by the government. They cover a wide range of
concentrates on a specific exhibits, from great works of art to space shuttles, to
mementos of major
events in American
National Museum
theme: Museums and Galleries in history. Admission to George Washington is one Smithsonian American Art Museum
most of the museums
of American History
and the National Portrait Gallery
This statue of a toga-clad
and galleries is free.
This museum houses the world’s largest
of millions of artifacts in collection of American paintings, sculpture,
Washington, DC and Monuments Georgetown this museum of American National Museum of Natural History photographs, and crafts (see pp100–3).
A huge African elephant is the focal point
history (see pp76–9).
of the building’s main foyer. The museum’s
fascinating exhibits trace the evolution of
and Memorials in Washington, and minerals (see pp72–3).
animals and explain the creation of gems
DC. The top sights are shown
on the map. The White House and Penn
Foggy Bottom
Quarter
Capitol Hill National Gallery of Art
The Mall The futuristic East Building
Each sightseeing area is Corcoran Gallery of Art houses the 20th-century art
in this collection, while the
renovation. Once it reopens, the National Gallery
to older works (see pp56–63).
color-coded. This Beaux Arts building is in the midst of a major P o t o m a c R i v e r T idal Basin 1930s West Building is home
of Art will manage its collection and exhibitions
(see p115).
0 meters 500
0 yards 500
US Holocaust Memorial Museum National Air and Space Museum
Photographs, videos, and re-created Washington’s most popular museum
concentration camp barracks bring to has exhibits from aviation and space
life the brutality of the Holocaust and history, including the Wright Brothers’
illustrate the terrible fate of Jews and others first airborne plane and the Apollo 14
in World War II Nazi Germany (see pp82–3). space module (see pp64–7).
50  W ASHINGT ON , DC AREA B Y AREA C APIT OL HILL  51
2 Folger 5 US Capitol Americans who died in
Shakespeare See pp52–3. military service. The names Practical Information
Library of these service men are
carved on a curving
201 E Capitol St, SE. Map 4 F4. 6 Robert A. granite wall, while etched
Tel (202) 544-4600. q Capitol South. Taft Memorial on the top are the lists all the information you
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat. Closed names of the ten
Federal hols. 8 7 Tickets for plays, Constitution Ave and 1st St, detention camps where
concerts, and readings available from NW. Map 4 E4. q Union Japanese American need to visit every sight,
Station. 7
box office. ∑ folger.edu civilians were confined.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s own This statue of Ohio senator An 18-foot long alumi-
era, this library and museum Robert A. Taft (1889–1953) num gong may be rung including a map reference
celebrate the works and times stands in a park oppo site by visitors, serving as
of the Elizabethan playwright. the US Capitol. The a call to reflection
The research library was a gift statue itself, by sculptor Statue of and remembrance. to the Street Finder at the
to the American people in 1932 Wheeler Williams, is Robert Taft
from Henry Clay Folger who, as dwarfed by a vast, white 8 Ulysses S. Grant
a student in 1874, began to Hallway of the 18th-century bell tower (the Carillon), that
collect Shakespeare’s works. Sewall-Belmont House rises up behind the figure of Memorial back of the book.
Folger also funded the the politician. The memorial, Union Square, west side of US
construction of this edifice, designed by Douglas W. Orr, Capitol in front of Reflecting Pool.
built specifically to house his 4 Sewall-Belmont was erected in 1959 as Map 4 D4. q Capitol South, Union
collection. It contains 310,000 House a “tribute to the honesty, Station. Open Visitor center:
Elizabethan books and 144 Constitution Ave, NE. Map 4 E4. indomitable courage, and 9am–5pm daily. 7
manu scripts, as well as the Tel (202) 546-1210. q Capitol high principles of free
world’s largest collection of South, Union Station. Open noon– government symbolized by This dramatic memorial
Shakespeare’s writings, includ- 5pm Wed–Sun. Closed Federal hols. his life.” The son of President was sculpted by Henry
ing a third of the surviving Donations welcome. 8 = William Howard Taft, Robert Merwin Shrady and dedicated
copies of the 1623 First Folio ∑ sewallbelmont.org Taft was a Republican, famous in 1922. With its 13 horses,
(first editions of Shakespeare’s The impressive Neo-Classical façade of the US Supreme Court for sponsoring the Taft-Hartley it is one of the world’s most
works). One of these first Robert Sewall, the original owner Act, the regulator of collective complex equestrian statues.
editions is displayed in the In the grounds of the library, the being interrogated. The Court of this charming 18th-century bargaining between labor The bronze groupings
oak-paneled Great Hall, along Elizabethan Garden has plants is charged to guarantee “Equal house, rented it out to Albert and management. around General Grant
with books and engravings. that are featured in Shakespeare’s Justice Under Law,” the motto Gallatin, the Treasury Secretary provide a graphic depiction
The Folger hosts many plays. Shakespeare’s birthday is emblazoned over the entrance. under President Thomas 7 National of the suffering of the
cultural events. For example, celebrated every April with As recently as 1929, the court Jefferson, in the early 1800s. It Civil War. In the artillery
there are regular performances jugglers, music, theater shows, was still meeting in various sec- was here Gallatin entertained a Japanese American group, horses and soldiers
of Shakespeare’s plays in the and a tour of the library. tions of the US Capitol building. number of wealthy contributors Memorial pulling a cannon are urged
library’s 250-seat reconstruction Then, at Chief Justice William whose financial backing Louisiana and New Jersey on by their mounted leader.
of an Elizabethan theater. There Howard Taft’s urging, Congress brought about the Louisiana Avenues at D St, NW. Map 4 E3. The infantry group storms
is also an annual series of poetry 3 US Supreme Court authorized a separate building to Purchase in 1803, which doubled q Union Station. into the heat of battle, where Numbers refer to each
readings, as well as numerous 1st St between E Capitol St and be constructed. The result was a the size of the United States. a horse and rider have already
talks throughout the year. The Maryland Ave, NE. Map 4 E4. Corinthian edifice, designed by During the British invasion in This memorial, designed by fallen under the charge.
Folger Consort early music Tel (202) 479-3000. q Capitol South. Cass Gilbert, that opened in 1935. 1814, the house was the only site Davis Buckley, commemorates Shrady worked on the sight’s position on the
ensemble, performs con certs of Open 9am–4:30pm Mon–Fri. Sculptures depicting the allegor- in Washington to resist the the story of the 120,000 sculpture for 20 years, using
12th- to 20th-century music. Closed Federal hols. = - 7 ical figures of the Contemplation attack. While the US Capitol was Japanese Americans interned soldiers in training for his
Lectures. ∑ supremecourtus.gov of Justice and the Guardian of burning, American soldiers took during World War II and the models. He died two weeks area map and its place
the Law stand beside the steps refuge in the house from where more than 800 Japanese before it was dedicated.
The Supreme Court forms the while on the pediment above they fired upon the British.
judicial and third branch of the the entrance are figures of Taft The National Women’s
US government (see pp30–31). (far left) and John Marshall, the Party, who won the right for in the chapter.
It was established in 1787 at fourth Chief Justice (far right). American women to vote
the Philadelphia Constitutional Visitors can watch the court in in 1920, bought the house in
Convention and provides the session Monday to Wednesday 1929 with the help of feminist
last stop in the disposition of from October to April. Admission Alva Vanderbilt Belmont.
the nation’s legal disputes and is on a first-come, first-served Today, the house is still the
issues of constitutionality. basis. During controversial cases head quarters of the Party,
Groundbreaking cases settled visitors camp out overnight for and visitors can admire the
here include Brown v. Board coveted spots. When court is period furnishings and suffragist
of Education, which abolished not in session, public lectures artifacts. The desk on which the,
racial segregation in schools, on the Supreme Court are held as yet unratified, Equal Rights
declared crime suspects were
The Great Hall in the Folger and Miranda v. Arizona, which every hour on the half-hour Amendment of 1923 was
in the Courtroom (contact
written by Alice Paul, leader of
Shakespeare Library entitled to a lawyer before for confirmation). the Party, is here. The artillery group in the Ulysses S. Grant Civil War Memorial
Detailed Information on each Sight
3All important sights in each area are described
in depth in this section. They are listed in order,
following the numbering on the Area
Map. Practical information on opening
hours, telephone numbers, websites, 144  W ASHINGT ON , DC AREA B Y AREA F AR THER AFIELD  145
admission charges, and facilities a Washington National Cathedral VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
The building of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul (its
official name) began in 1907 and was completed in 1990. The world’s 3101 Wisconsin Ave and
Massachusetts Ave, NW.
sixth-largest cathedral, it dominates the city’s skyline and measures
available is given for each sight. The 301 ft (94.8 m) from grade to the top of the central tower and 518 ft Tel (202) 537-6200; recorded
information: (202) 364-6616.
(158 m) in length – almost the length of two soccer fields. Built with
∑ nationalcathedral.org
Indiana limestone, the Washington National Cathedral boasts Open 10am–5:30pm daily.
key to the symbols used can be found elements typical of Gothic religious architecture, such as soaring & adults: $11, seniors and
children aged 5–17: $7, under 5s:
vaulting, stained-glass windows, and intricate carvings. The exterior
free. People coming for services
features fanciful gargoyles and dramatic sculpture. The cathedral has or to worship are exempt from
admission fees.
on the back flap. been the location of funeral and memorial services for several Exterior High Altar 8 every 30 mins.
US presidents. Extensive renovations continue
Carved on the high altar are
Transport
A masterpiece of Gothic-
110 figures, surrounding the
on some parts of the cathedral
following an earthquake in 2011. style architecture, the central statue of Christ. Encased q Tenleytown/AU, Red Line,
or Cleveland Park (approximately
towers of the cathedral in the floor in front of the altar 1 mile away).
dominate the skyline. is stone from Mt. Sinai.
@ 32, 34, 36.
The Visitors’ Checklist
provides the practical information
. Ex Nihilo Above the center portal
is Ex Nihilo by artist Frederick Hart. It
you will need to plan your visit. depicts figures of men and women
emerging from the swirling background.
Stars indicate the most interesting Children’s Chapel
a boy stands by this
architectural details of the building, A statue of Jesus as
chapel built to the scale
of a six-year-old. There
are also motifs of baby
and the most important works of art and mythical animals.
or exhibits on view inside.
Main Entrance
Three huge Gothic arches
dominate the west façade, with
pierced bronze gates depicting
stories from the book of Genesis.
KEY
The facade of each major sight is 1 George Washington Bay
2 Pilgrim Observation Gallery
. South
shown to help you spot it quickly. 3 The pinnacles on the cathedral Space Window Nave From the West Portal to Rose Window
Mankind’s achievements in science
towers are decorated with leaf-
shaped ornaments and topped
Reynolds and Wilbur Burnham
by elaborately carved finials. and technology are commemorated the High Altar, the icono- The theme of this window by Joseph
in this window with the flight of
graphy tells the story of
Apollo 11 and a piece of moon rock. humanity to redemption. is “The Church Triumphant.”
Washington, DC’s Major Sights
4These are given two or more full pages in the sightseeing
Numbered circles point out major area in which they are found. Historic buildings are dissected
features of the sight listed in a key. to reveal their interiors; and museums and galleries have
color-coded floor plans to help you find important exhibits.
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