W A S H I N G T O N   D . C .   -   D A Y   # 2

Wednesday, October 27, 2004

Swinging my attention 180 degrees from the National Christmas Tree, I see The White House. Located at the famous address of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, construction of the 55,000 sq foot structure was completed on November 1, 1800 after 8 slow years at a cost of a little more than $232,000.00. When adjusted for inflation, it rounds out to about $2.4 million. It just goes to show you, they didn't pay construction workers very well back in the day.

Interested in learning more?

Click here for more White House pictures and detail.

Making my way westward, I encounter a memorial called The Second Division. Erected in 1936 in memory of those within the Second Division who lost their lives in WWI, the open gateway represents the entrance to Paris and the fiery golden sword represents the Allied Forces who prevented the Germans from permanently occupying the city. Memorials to Division members who lost their lives in WWII and the Korean Conflict were subsequently added, and are manifested as wings on either side of the gateway.

Wow! What a beautiful red tree!

After a short walk I arrive at the next memorial on my map, the National World War II Memorial. Opened to the public less than 6 months ago, this colossal memorial really chokes me up as I walk around its stony expanse. So many theaters of battle, so many lives lost. The elegance and grander of this place is something I'll never forget.

Click here for more detail and pictures of my tour of the National World War II Memorial.

Looking wesward across the length of the Reflecting Pool, I see the Lincoln Memorial.