In 1837 The Royal Opera house was the first ever theatre to use limelight. Limelight comes from the mixing of oxygen and hydrogen and then adding real burning lime to achieve a bright light.
Cemetery - 624 acres, where veterans and military casualties from each of the nation's wars are interred. See video for more history. Read more.
All American, 24-7; This is one of the few official sites where the American Flag is required to be flown at all times.
Construction began in 1914, and the memorial was opened to the public in 1922. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech to a crowd by the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 .
Dedicated in April 1979, coinciding with Einstein's 100th birthday, the statue is 12 feet tall and weighs about 4 tons. Watch this 90 second C-SPAN YouTube video about the memorial. Read more.
The memorial currently consists of three separate parts: the Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam Women's Memorial & the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, where over 58,000 names are engraved.
19 Statues: 14 Army, 2 Marines, 1 Navy, 1 Air Force. Each weighs~1,000 lbs. Reflected on the wall it creates the image of a total of 38 statues, symbolic of the 38th Parallel & 38 months of the war. Read more.
Visit the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial and help bring his vision to life: “With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” Read more.
President Roosevelt asked the Commission of Fine Arts about the possibility of erecting a memorial to Thomas Jefferson. Construction went from 1938-43, & Roosevelt laid the first cornerstone himself.
The Washington Monument was formally dedicated on February 22, 1885, and at the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the world; it remains the tallest stone structure in the world.
A must-see museum in the District. Prepare to be emotional throughout the exhibits. If you have a military/govt ID, you get an immediate pass. Tip: read everything & take in as much as you can.
That's a big rock! Did you know Harry Winston mailed this to the Smithsonian? That post office is now the Postal Museum! Check it out!
Ever want to shake hands with the President, how about all of the Presidents? You can find wax figures of almost every important American political figure here!
On the second floor of the Theater, you can see the boxseat where Abe Lincoln was sitting when he was killed. On the lower level the museum displays exhibits about Lincoln’s life and his tragic death.
The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson, who had never visited the US himself.
The Smithsonian Institution was founded for the "increase and diffusion" of knowledge from a bequest to the United States by the British scientist James Smithson, who had never visited the US himself.
LOVE the "open" conservation labs and storage! An interesting side to museums that you rarely see. Don't leave without seeing this part of the museum on the third floor mezzanine and fourth floor.
What is your favorite indoor activity in Washington D.C.? The Fairmont Washington, D.C.: "The museums – newly renovated National Portrait Gallery." Read more.
Tuesday nights in summer the Navy band(s) give concerts. Incredibly cool. Starts at 8p.
Walk to all the museums via the Mall or just stroll from the Capitol to Lincoln Memorial - its the quintessential walk in DC (WH,Cap,Smithsonian,Wash Mem,Lincoln Mem,WW2 Mem,Vietnam Mem,Korea Mem,etc)
Originally called the National Air Museum when it was formed on August 12, 1946 by an act of Congress, some pieces in the National Air and Space Museum collection date back to 1876.
Make sure to take time to read the letters and watch the video in the "Letters From Home" military section.
The Capitol is among the most architecturally impressive and symbolically important buildings in the world. Begun in 1793, the Capitol has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended, and restored.
Completed in 1908, the station was the largest train station in the world at the time it was built. In fact, if put on its side, the Washington Monument could lay within the confines of the station.
President Harry Truman's 1949 inaugural ball occurred here. It was the first inaugural ball to welcome African Americans guests.
Grant's monument occupies the single most prominent location on the Capitol Grounds, directly over the reflecting pool.
Be sure to take the catwalk through the leaf canopy in the jungle room.
Facing the Capitol is the statue of Peace, holding an olive branch, and surrounded by symbols of prosperity.
The statue's base is surrounded by three statues of a student, a warrior, and a statesman, representing his distinguished academic, military, and political careers.
Tours of the Capitol building can be arranged through the Visitor Center website (or by calling or emailing your Representative's or Senator's office a few weeks in advance).
Visitors can watch the court in session M-W, from October-April, with admission on a first-come, first-served basis.
The main reading room is known as the Sacred Room, and is absolutely stunning.
The small museum has a replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, and an Elizabethan garden in the back, and is nice to visit combined with a performance.
All sorts of notables from American history found their final resting place here, from composer John Sousa to FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover.
This traditionally black neighborhood of several blocks in Atlanta includes Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth home, the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he was a pastor, and his grave site.
Originally, the Dakota had sixty-five apartments with four to twenty rooms, no two being alike. It was the setting for 'Rosemary's Baby' as well as the shooting death of John Lennon on Dec 8, 1980.
After John Lennon's death, Yoko Ono donated a million dollars to the city to create a memorial in his favorite section of Central Park, directly across the street from their home in The Dakota. Read more.
Hanging out on the Met steps is a New York tradition, and billionaire David Koch has pledged "at least $10 million" to renovate the fountains outside the museum. Read more.
After a long renovation, this under-appreciated museum is once again showing off its trove of Latino, Caribbean, and Latin American art.
Come on, aren't you posing for a "Pisa Pusher" photo? It started leaning soon after it was built on marshy ground. Discover what's beyond the Leaning Tower: http://bit.ly/1hpO7KA
Loved Gladiator? Visit the Colosseum and imagine ancient Rome in its glory days! Tip: get the Roma Pass, a three-day tourist discount card for free entry to two city sites and other discounts.
The best touristy venue, this 80-year-old landmark is simply stunning. Check out the Art Deco flourishes in the lobby, restored to its original gilded splendor in 2009. Read more.
Take time to walk the Presidential Trail that will lead you to the base of the monument, directly below the four famous faces. And - keep your eyes open for sure-footed mountain goats!
This year we are commemorating the 180th Anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo, a defining moment in our nation's history. The Alamo Mission is a fantastic place to experience authentic history. Read more.
Built for the 1962 World Expo, Space Needle distinctive structure, rising 600-plus feet above Seattle Center , has since become Seattle's most famous landmark.
Buy tickets in advance! It sells out! Also go w/a group that wants to follow the tour & start audio @the same time!!!
There are no bathrooms @ the top......and no basement @ the Alamo!
Walk to the north and see Eads Bridge. It was the longest arch bridge in the world at the time it was built in 1874.
The Infinity Room has 3,264 windows and juts out 218 feet over the valley. House includes a fireplace so large it has a stairway in the flue and a secret room. Read more.
The Mall opened in 1992 and is the nation's largest retail complex. Each year there are 40 million visitors, which is more than the combined populations of Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota & Canada.
Opened in 1838, The New Orleans Mint is currently the oldest surviving structure to have served as a U.S. Mint. Since 1981 it has served as a branch of the Louisiana State Museum.
After the Battle of New Orleans in 1814 the square was renamed Jackson Square after General Andrew Jackson. Jackson Square has been featured in movies, including The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for more than 45 years. Washington enlarged the residence and built up the property from 2,000 to nearly 8,000 acres. See video for more history. Read more.
These famous authors were next door neighbours and great friends. Their beautiful Victorian houses are now museums and a guided tour is a must-do while in Connecticut.
