Washington, DC, with its symbols of politics and power, stands as one of the great cities of the world.
Walking its wide avenues, open spaces, vistas and landmarks, you will be one of fifteen million that will come to Washington this year. Family travelers, urban explorers and knowledge seekers top the list.
Washington's appeal is found in its grandeur, inspiration, beauty and extraordinary history.
DC does not disappoint. At the center stands the seat of power, the residence and workplace of the leader of the free world—the White House.
Built between 1792 and 1800, this Presidential Georgian mansion is flanked by magnificent white columns and luscious green lawns. Its serenity is interrupted only by a few judicious security details. The discreet ones cannot be seen at all. After rush hour, areas around the south portico of the White House are cordoned off.
From the north façade, the approach is more accessible. A uniformed secret service agent can be seen stationed outside the gates, quietly accommodating photos. On this day, a few environmentalists and a solitary Iraq war protester are outnumbered by tourists sporting digital cameras and water bottles. Other than a Parks police officer on horse patrol, it is a typical mid-Atlantic afternoon.
Blair House, the Vice President's residence across the street, is minuscule in comparison. It is protected by an innocuous screen door, appearing no different than any other townhouse in the Capitol Hill district.
The gap in grandeur between the two residences signifies the discernable divide between the power of the Presidency and that vested in the Vice Presidency.
In 1800, John Adams became the first President to inhabit the White House. His words, "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and all that hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof", are now carved into the mantle of the state dining room.
Washington, DC was conceived as the capital and federal district in 1790 over a dinner engagement between James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. It is the work of French architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant. All original colonies have named avenues, with Pennsylvania having the honorable distinction of connecting the White House to the Capitol, as Philadelphia, PA was the nation's first capital.
Extending beyond the south portico of the White House is an inspiring view of the Washington Monument. This stunning memorial entertains a 30 to 40 mile vista on a clear day, serving as an enduring reminder of its first commander-in-chief, George Washington.
This Egyptian-style marble obelisk stands over 555 feet high, pointing upward to the heavens, a concrete chronicle of humble beginnings, greatness and glory. At its base, is an eternal circle of Old Glories numbering fifty states.
Stretching westward is the World War II Memorial, one of the Capital's newest testaments to history. Commemorated in 2004, its artwork, inspiration and beauty are mesmerizing. Classic pylons for each state are adorned by bronzed circular wreaths in Grecian style, celebrating victory over fascism.
Bronze plaques sculpted with moving scenes of battle are embedded in marble walls. At the center is the round Rainbow Pool, representing the scope of the global oceanic struggle to rid the world of tyranny. The depth and breath of the memorial reminds us of the gargantuan cost paid through individual sacrifices.
Stretching westward alongside the Reflecting Pool, is the weathered walkway of the National Mall. This worn, trodden road has become hardened clay, like a country back road from middle America. You can almost imagine, with your ears, the hooves of horse drawn buggies and foot soldiered patriots of days gone by.
Contemporary times have seen concerts, protests and calls to action on that ground. To remove the dusty walk-way would be to remove the very essence of the mall. It is the heart of the nation, where the people gather, meet and ponder the national identity—its early origins, great triumphs, national struggles and reconciliations.
Walking on between the reflecting pool and majestic trees, the horizon is striking. There stands, in all its grace and grandeur, the shrine to Abraham Lincoln.
Inscribed in marble are these words: "In this temple, as in the heart of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever." The 16th President sits aloft, deep in thought, solemn and somber as if pondering the state of the union he was trying to save.
Wandering south near the banks of the Potomac River are the cherry blossom trees, among 36,000 that bloom bringing new life and beauty to all who visit the capital. The Korean and Vietnam War memorials remind us that many have died on foreign fields, both with the support or controversy of the American people.
Across the water is Arlington National Cemetary, where the Eternal Flame to John F. Kennedy and over 342,000 other patriots as far back as American Revolutionary war are buried. Simple white headstones, adorned with crosses or a Star of David, lay across 624 rolling acres. Here even common men and women have their marker.
Even the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has dignity bestowed on the nameless. With a 24 hour watch and changing of the guard, respect is a form of reflection.
You are left wondering what these faithful defenders of freedom and the Founding Fathers would have thought if they could see the thousands of tourists strolling these hills. Perhaps their best hopes would be realized if there was no squandering of liberty for selfish pursuits and an enduring stewardship of democracy.
"Protecting democracy's greatest symbol at the center of power—the Capitol" is the mission statement of the Capitol police. That dome-shaped structure houses the legislative branch or the Congress. This includes the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The Senate office buildings are linked underground by the Senate "mini train" coming every five minutes to take Senators and their private tour guests to Capitol Hill. Flashing along the walls are colored seals of the 50 states. Upon disembarking you arrive in the first rotunda greeted by a marble statue of Lady Liberty.
Suspended 180 ft. high in the Rotunda of the Capitol is "The Apotheosis of Washington." Painted by Italian artist Constantino Brumidi, it depicts Washington as father of the nation. Lifted high in god-like glory at the top of the dome, he is surrounded by 13 maidens in angelic robes representing the 13 original colonies.
Moving on from heavenly minded to earthly good, there are pragmatic realities to living in the superpower's capital. On March 26 Senator Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea held a rally for 3,000 plus enthusiastic supporters at the Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall.
There were well over 60 security personnel present, from secret service agents to Capitol and Metropolitan Police all providing protective coverage. Adding to that, screening devices, bomb sniffing canine squads, fire truck and ambulance, and the famous Secret Service black SUV's and bodyguards, the Senator's event had as much security coverage as any head of state.
Beyond fire power, so much in Washington protects, promotes and preserves American heritage. From the Lincoln Theatre, to the Smithsonian Institute, to the National Gallery of Art, the options are endless. And while a dinner in Georgetown was most certainly casual sophistication, nothing quite compares with the contrast and colors on the street.
Whether it is U.S. military personnel walking beside a well-suited civil servant, tour buses identified as "Yankee" or "New World," or street vendors serving up hot sausages or selling FBI t-shirts, there is something for everyone. Quiet corner cafes or a night at the Center for the Performing Arts, Washington is a world city worth discovering, with its history and liberty worth preserving.
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