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Tag Archives: best DC walking tours
Fort Washington is a forgotten jewel of two centuries
(Reprinting one of our favorite columns) Growing up near the fort just south of town, I remember walking Fort Washington’s steps and hills down to the Potomac River with great joy. Then for some reason, I went 30 years without … Continue reading
The memorial FDR really wanted
Name the five greatest U.S. presidents and Franklin Delano Roosevelt should make the list. Ironically, he received the least striking memorial until a second was built in 1997. But that’s the way Roosevelt wanted it. Shortly before his 1945 death … Continue reading
Posted in Monuments and Statues
Tagged best DC walking tours, FDR Memorial, Photo by Rick Snider, Washington
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Remembering Audie Murphy at Arlington National Cemetery
(Reprinting one of our favorite columns) It’s amazing how yesterday’s heroes are today’s forgotten ones. It happens all the time in society. Singers and actors once all the rage now draw blank stares from teens. Sinatra – is that a … Continue reading
Society of the Cincinnati and Larz Anderson House
When first hearing the Society of the Cincinnati was not about the town but a Roman soldier, I thought how strange. Weren’t all Roman warriors named Spartacus or something like that? Well, it was something like that. The Society is … Continue reading
Scott: Best general of whom you’ve probably never heard
The legend says all statues face the White House. It’s not true, though this one does. Gen. Winfield Scott’s statue lies in the three-sided circle of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Aves. and 16th St. N.W. just blocks from the White … Continue reading
Happy Memorial Day . . . already?
Posted in Washington life
Tagged best DC walking tours, Memorial Day, Photo by Rick Snider, Washington DC
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The man behind two metro stops – David Farragut
David Farragut — you know the person much be important when two metro stops are named for him. David Farragut was a Civil War admiral who uttered the saying now paraphrased, “Damn the torpedos, full speed ahead.” He said it … Continue reading
Washington Circle remembers that Washington
It is perhaps the most overlooked statue in plain sight of the man for whom the city is named. Washington Circle by Foggy Bottom that intersects 23rd, K St., New Hampshire Ave. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW has a bronze equestrian … Continue reading
Baptist Alley gets overlooked
I’ve seen several tours of the Lincoln assassination as well as the one I give and one spot that’s often overlooked is Baptist Alley. It’s the rear of Ford’s Theatre where assassin John Wilkes Booth entered and exited. The alley … Continue reading
Korean War Memorial renovations
Posted in Memorials
Tagged best DC walking tours, Korean War Memorial, Photo by Rick Snider
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Henry Rathbone’s house – the man next to Lincoln
The White House isn’t the only house to walk by the front door around Lafayette Park. A famous bystander to history is a few doors down. Major Henry Rathbone was in Abraham Lincoln’s box when murdered by John Wilkes Booth. … Continue reading
The lady in white
It’s not often a statue gets center stage – twice. The Statue of Freedom lies atop the U.S. Capitol dome, but also inside the Capitol Visitors Center underneath. The statue shows the “Lady Freedom” with her right hand on a … Continue reading
Seabees Monument stands ready for action
The toughest men of World War II might have been the Navy Seabees. Created in March 1942 to construct whatever was needed in World War II, the “Construction Builders” were known as “CBs” and hence Seabees. These guys could build … Continue reading
Mary Surratt boarding house now Chinese restaurant
Mary Surratt was one of four people hanged in the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865. She was the first woman in U.S. history to be executed despite cries of mercy for such an old woman. Uh, … Continue reading
Hahnemann: Hero of Homeopathy
No way you know what this monument is unless you’re a pharmacist. Wandering in Scott Circle where Massachusetts Ave. and 16th St. N.W. meet is one of the widest monuments away from the mall. Four bas relief panels each four … Continue reading
Reagan welcomes you to National airport
I still think it should be called (George) Washington National Airport. Indeed, there’s a sign on the north side that still says so. But lawmakers renamed it Reagan-Washington National Airport in 1998. That name lasted five minutes as many now … Continue reading
Cuban Friendship Urn – we’re friends again
Now that the U.S. has restored relations with Cuba after a half century of the Cold War, the Cuban Friendship Urn reminds us of a time when we were friends. Actually, U.S.-Cuban relations are a little complicated. The USS Maine … Continue reading
Boy Scout Memorial combines past and present
The Boy Scout represents the aspirations of all past, present, and future Scouts throughout the world. He carries a staff that has been taken from the male figure’s branch of peace. The scout wears the traditional uniform of the group … Continue reading
