dcpedia. people and events "shaping" the us capital

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People and Events “Shaping” the US CapitalAstghik Shahkhatuni

Capital of the USA

Predecessors• Washington, District of Columbia; November 17 1800 - present• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 1774 - 1776, 1777, 1778 - 1783,1790 - 1800• New York City, New York; 1785 - 1790• Annapolis, Maryland: 1783 - 1784• York, Pennsylvania: 1777 - 1778• Princeton, New Jersey: four months in 1783• Trenton, New Jersey; two months in 1784• Baltimore, Maryland; two months in 1776 - 1777• Lancaster, Pennsylvania; one day in 1777

PLANNED CITY

Why and How?

• To provide its own maintenance and safety• To make it a federal district distinct from

other states• To not exceed 10 miles square• To locate it in the South in order to keep

Union and prevent civil war

Non Perfect Square

• Initially – 260 km2

• Now – 177 km2

• Land – 159 km2

• Water – 18 km2

Who?

George Washington

McMillan Plan, the Mall

L’Enfant’s plan, Freedom Plaza

Keeping Family Traditions• The Washington family coat of

arms in 14th century stained glass at Selby Abbey, England

• George Washington's family coat of arms inspired the design of.

• Washington, D.C.'s flag

Justice for All

JUSTITIA OMNIBUS

Quadrants

Marking Territory

Boundary Stones

Names, Nicknames and Other Callings

• City of Washington• Federal City• Washington City • Washington • Territory of Columbia • District of Columbia• Ten Miles Square • District• DC• Washington, DC

NumbersNumbers from 1 to 63 maxHalf streets, for instance, 9 1/2

From A to Z1st – alphabet lettersB (N) – Constitution AvenueB (S) – Independence AvenueNo X, Y, ZNo J, since it was similar to I2nd – 2 syllables names of famous people3rd – 3 syllables names of famous people4th – names of plants

State Names

Address 9

9

K

KSESW

NENW

Numbers and Trees

1. Second or 2nd (10,866)2. Third or 3rd (10,131)3. First or 1st (9,898)4. Fourth or 4th (9,190)5. Park (8,926)6. Fifth or 5th (8,186)7. Main (7,644)8. Sixth or 6th (7,283)9. Oak (6,946) 10.Seventh or 7th (6,377)

11.Pine (6,170)12.Maple (6,103)13.Cedar (5,644)14.Eighth or 8th (5,524)15.Elm (5,233)16.View (5,202)17.Washington (4,974)18.Ninth or 9th (4,908)19.Lake (4,901)20.Hill (4,877)

Most Common Street Names in the US

Heart of DC

Smithsonian Institution Museums

Memorials

More Museums

“Main Street”

National Mall

Uses of National Mall

Most Crowded

July 4th

Georgetown on Halloween

Cherry blossoms

Inauguration

Reflecting History

MEMORIALS TOIMPORTANT EVENTS

Whatever it Takes

Arlington National Cemetery, VA

The Circle

National World War II Memorial

Freedom Wall, 4 048 golden stars

National Japanese American Memorial To Patriotism During World War II

Sacrifice, Loyalty and Heroism

The Wall

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

War and Peace

Civil War Memorial

DC World War I Memorial

Peace Monument

Korean War Memorial

Armed Forces

US Navy Memorial, DC

Armed Forces

US Air Force Memorial, Arlington, VA

Armed Forces

Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, VA

National Cryptological Museum, MD

Secrets and Tricks

Goddess of Democracy

Victims of Communism Memorial, DC

9/11

Pentagon Memorial

Arlington Cemetery

You are my witnesses…

Holocaust Memorial Museum

Grateful Armenians

Motherland Memorial

MEMORIALS TOTOP PRESIDENTS

1st Place

Washington Monument

George Washington1732 - 1799

1st US President1789 - 1797

Why so Simple?

2nd Place

Abraham Lincoln Memorial

Abraham Lincoln1809 - 1865

16th US President1861 - 1865

2nd Place Abraham Lincoln1809 - 1865


Unfortunate Place

Ford Theatre

Becoming a God

Enthroned Washington,American History Museum,Smithsonian Institution, DC

Zeus Olympios

Becoming a God

“Apotheosis of Washington”, Fresco on US Capitol Dome

Becoming a God

“Apotheosis” of Lincoln

3rd Place

Franklin Roosevelt Memorial

Franklin Roosevelt1882 - 1945

32nd US President1933 - 1945

The only thing we haveto fear is fear itself.

4th Place

Thomas Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson1743 - 1826

3rd US President1801 - 1809

5th Place

Theodore Roosevelt Memorial

Theodore Roosevelt1858 – 1919


Speak softly and carry a big stick.

John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame

1st Place Popular Vote John Kennedy1917 - 1963


Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.

J.F.K. Memorial Center for Performing Arts

Common enemies of man: Tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself

Ronald Reagan National Airport

Ronald Reagan1911 - 2004


2nd Place Popular Vote

Naming Soviet Union as “Evil Empire”

Ronald Reagan Building2st largest federal building in DC

Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!

“Peace through strength” or “firm but fair”

Meet with Presidents

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, DC

• Presidents’ Hall

IN HONOR OFFOUNDING FATHERS

See the History • Declaration of

Independence• Constitution• Bill of Rights• Louisiana

Purchase• Emancipation

Proclamation• Copy of 1297

Magna Carta

National Archives Building

Father of the Country

First in War, First in Peace, First in Hearts of his Countrymen

Mount Vernon, VAGeorge Washington’s Estate

Freemason

George Washington Masonic National Memorial, Alexandria, VA

Read and Learn

Library of CongressThomas Jefferson Memorial Building

Library of CongressJames Madison Memorial Building

James Madison1751 - 1836


Father of Constitution

Library of CongressJohn Adams Building

John Adams1735 - 1826

2nd US President1797 – 1801

1st US Vice-President1789-1797

Father of President

John Quincy Adams, 6th US President

Player

US Treasury building

Alexander Hamilton1755 - 1804

1st US Secretary of Treasury1789 - 1795

Inventor

Old Post Office building

Benjamin Franklin1706 - 1790

1st US Postmaster General

1775 - 1776

Victim of a Legend John Jay1745 - 1829

1st US Chief Justice1789 - 1795

US Supreme Court

No J street in DCBut there is Jay Street

Forgotten Founding Father

George Mason Memorial

George Mason1725 - 1792

MORE APPRECIATED PEOPLE

Simply FounderChristopher Columbus

1451 - 1506

1st time landed in America 1492

Union Station

TO THE MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WHOSE HIGH FAITH AND INDOMITABLE COURAGE GAVE TO MANKIND A NEW WORLD.

Columbus Memorial Fountain

Ulysses Grant1822 - 1886


“Those Damn Lobbyists”

Ulysses Grant Memorial

Recycling

Andrew Jackson Memorial

Andrew Jackson1767 - 1845


International Help

Thaddeus Kosciuszko

Polish

Baron von SteubenPrussian

Comte de Rochambeau

French

Marquis de LafayetteFrench

Statues to Heroes of American Revolutionary War at Lafayette Square

“Competing” with G. Washingtonor when 4 is bigger than 5

Pershing Park

John PershingUS General of Armies

Watergate Hotel

Richard Nixon1735 - 1826


36th US Vice-President1953 - 1961

Scandal

ADMINISTRATIONIMPORTANT BUILDINGS

Inside the Beltway

Where Famous Americans Lived

White House6 stories5,100 m² floor space 132 rooms 35 bathrooms412 doors

5 full-time chefs a tennis court a bowling alley a movie theater

147 windows 28 fireplaces 8 staircases3 elevators

a jogging track a swimming pool a putting green5,000 visitors a day

Where Famous Americans Lived

White House, but Colorful Rooms

Countdown

Capitol

Important Buildings

Eisenhower Executive Office BuildingVice President’s Residence, USNO

St. John's Episcopal ChurchThe Church of PresidentsWillard Hotel, The Residence of Presidents

Visible and Invisible Forces

Pentagon, Arlington, VA 1st largest federal building

FBI headquarters, DC CIA headquarters, McLean, VA

Houses of Departments

Jamie L. Whitten BuildingDepartment of Agriculture

James Forrestal BuildingDepartment of Energy

Harry S. Truman BuildingDepartment of State

3rd largest federal building

Herbert C. Hoover BuildingDepartment of Commerce

Robert F. Kennedy BuildingDepartment of Justice

Money, Money, Money

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Cost several cents

7000 tons of worn out currency

44% are 1 dollar bills

Blend of linen and cotton

Wash but do not bleach

All the same size

HIGHEST POINTS“LIGHTHOUSES”

Unbeatable

169m

Washington Monument

100m

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

1st Place

2nd Place

96 m

Old Post Office Building

92 m

National Cathedral

3rd Place

4th Place

88 m

US Capitol Building

Tallest Statue

Statue of Freedom

6 m

Across the River

Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia

RESIDENTSWASHINGTONIANS

People and Events

Art and Diversity

Adams Morgan

Old and Young

Old Stone House

Former Riggs Bank Building

Georgetown

Washington Harbor

Shops and Restaurants

Guest Houses

Two Camps

Learning Houses

Gallaudet UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityNational War College

Howard University Georgetown University

Islamic Center and Mosque

Sixth and I Historic SynagogueSt. John Baptist Russian

Orthodox Church

St. Mary’s ArmenianApostolic Church

St. Nicholas Cathedral

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Religious Houses

Sport Houses

R.F.Kennedy StadiumHome of D.C. United, Soccer

FedEx Field Stadium, MDHome of Washington Redskins, NFL

Verizon CenterHome of Washington Capitals, Hockey

Wizards and Mystics, Basketball

Nationals StadiumHome of Washington Nationals, Baseball

Humor

Strike While the Irony's Hot!

Collaboration of Human and Nature

Dumbarton Oaks Park Meridian Hill Park

National ArboretumRock Creek Park

Beautiful Flowers

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Animal House

National Zoo, Smithsonian Institution

National River or National Disgrace, but Fun Anyway

The Potomac River

More Water

Dupont Circle Fountain

Neptune Fountain, Library of Congress Bartholdi Fountain

Senate Garage Fountain

GETTING AROUND

Old Good Mules

C&O Canal (Chesapeake and

Ohio Canal)

To Drive or not to Drive

• 2nd worst traffic in the country• 60 hours delay a year• Expensive and limited parking • Metro and buses• 2nd highest use of public transportation• About 40% uses public transportation

Octopus5 metro lines86 stations1 000 000 trips

Discrimination in MetroNo foodNo drinks

Being in Others’ Shoes

Arlington Memorial Bridge

Stalking George Washington

GW Memorial Parkway – Road to Adventure

Conclusion• There is a lot to see and explore in DC• Learn about US history by exploring DC • Learn about people who founded and

contributed to the USA• Learn about most important events in the

history of US• Have fun in various museums, parks,

theatres, and stadiums

TEST QUESTIONS

What is Where?

Smithsonian Institution Museums

Memorials

More Museums

Who is the First President of the USA?

Statue in Washington Circle, DC

These Memorials are Dedicated to…

Where Have You Seen This Pose?

Titanic Memorial

TO THE BRAVE MEN

WHO PERISHED

IN THE WRECK

OF THE TITANIC

APRIL 15 1912

THEY GAVE THEIR

LIVES THAT WOMEN

AND CHILDREN

MIGHT BE SAVED

ERECTED BY THE

WOMEN OF AMERICA

What is the Tallest Structure in DC?

Who Lives in this House Now?

Who Else Lived in this House?

Who is this Man?

Albert EinsteinIn front of National Academy of Sciences, DC

Who are these People?

Can You Name America’s Favorites?

1st place and 9th place 12th place

10th place

2nd place

3rd place 4th place

5th place

6th place

7th place

Find Similarities

Hovhannes AyvazovskiYerevan

Jeanne of ArcDC

?

?

Find Differences

Washington, DC Yerevan

What is the Name of “National River”?

Potomac

Which of these are in DC?Barry Flanagan

The DrummerHirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, DC

The BoxerCafesjian Museum

Yerevan

Hare on BellCafesjian Museum, Yerevan

AcrobatsCafesjian Museum

YerevanThe Thinker

National Gallery of ArtSculpture Garden, DC

Name these buildings

In what State the US Capital is Located?

Can You Recognize DC at Night?

Who is the Most Popular Washingtonian Now?

What can you Recognize and Name in this Picture?

What can you Recognize Here?

Which Side is Better?

Virginia MarylandGreat Falls

What is the most Expensive Animal?

National Zoo, Smithsonian Institution

Snow Mall

Snowmageddon

A Bench

Empty Shelves

A Parking Lot

Snowmageddon

Snowmangeddon

Flowering DC

Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Basin, DC, April 1, 2010

Occupied by UFOs

Kite Festival, National Mall, DC, March 27, 2010

What Metal is Used for the Top?

3. Platinum4. Aluminum

1. Gold2. Silver

Do You Know These Words?• Escalefter

• Conseaterate

• PlanBdextrous

• Sumpnspicious

• Doorker

Alexandria, VA GyumriWhat Connects these two Cities?

Home, Sweet Home

Annual Armenian Festival in Alexandria, VA, 2006-2010

Who are the Greatest American Presidents?

Mount Rushmore, SD, not DC

Who is the Greatest Audience in the World?

Who is the Best Tour Guide and Advertiser of DC and USA?

Thank You Very Much

• Wikipedia and all the people on Internet, who post stories and pictures about DC and USA

• My friends, due to whom I visited and explored DC and USA

• Fulbright Grant, for opportunity to study in DC• My audience, for patience• My parents, for support in everything I do

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