Washington DC

The nations capital lies at the heart of 'The Capital Region'. This comprises the States of Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. For any visitor keen on tracing the early years of American history then the Capital Region is the place to be.

Virginia was the first major colony, a huge area where the first British immigrants settled. Jamestown was founded in 1607 and was the first successful settlement in the country. Jamestown was on the coast near the Chesapeake Bay, food grew in abundance and fortunes were later made growing tobacco.

Inland, the area saw a great deal of action in both the War of Independence and the Civil War. The capital of the Confederacy (Richmond) lay only100 miles from Washington.

Being a colonial, agricultural power and administrative centre was one thing but the capital region was eclipsed by the industrial northeast from the mid 1850's on. Slowly the area found its industrial feet and has become prosperous once more. On the coast, tourism generates revenue, as do the historical sites - of which there are many - inland.

Worth a visit in the area is the town of Baltimore home of the National Aquarium and numerous other sites of historic interest. Also worth a look for history buffs is the 'Historic Triangle'. This comprises the towns of Yorktown, Jamestown and Williamsburg; these three sights give a real insight into colonial life under the British. For natural beauty there is the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Shenandoah Valley, the Allegheny Mountains and Chesapeake Bay. Richmond, Annapolis, Charlottesville and New Castle are all towns that are worth taking in whilst in the area.

When to Go

Summer is the main tourist season although the weather can get very sticky in high summer. At this time the administrators who work in Washington are absent so things don't get too busy. Many of these folk tend to head for the mountains where it is cooler. Spring can be gorgeous across the whole region. Winter sees snow in the mountains.

There is one town that dominates the region...

The Capital

Many would claim that New York not Washington was the Capital of the USA. It is true that Wall Street leads the industrial and commercial world and New York is much more of a cultural leader but Washington is unarguably the seat of executive power.

Washington became capital after much discussion in the years following the civil war. It was ideally located between the plantations of the South and the industry of the North, it had sea access and the land was the right price i.e. cheap. The fact that the actual location for the new city was a swamp was considered a good thing. Apparently the Founding Fathers wanted to discourage 'career' politicians.

The city was razed to the ground by the British in 1812 and only narrowly avoided being abandoned as the nations capital.

Washington now is a city of contradiction. Racial problems run deep in a town that celebrates the life of Lincoln so proudly. The people of the White House claim the right to run the nation and yet politicians struggle to run the city. In the land of opportunity, many would consider that Washington is a city of unequal opportunity. Gradually this situation is being addressed and Washington is a city that is beginning to clean up its image and live up to the ideals espoused by those on Capitol Hill.

Where to Go and What to See

Many of the 'big' attractions are to be found along the Mall. This is the cities most popular park and picnic spot it is also the focal point of public protest and demonstration by the masses. Anti Vietnam protests were held here and the Million Man march finished here. This is the place visitors make a beeline for.

The White House

Standing at the edge of the Mall facing the Washington Monument this has been home to the President since 1800. Each president has added to or altered the building, which was originally designed to mimic grand Georgian houses in Dublin. Some additions have been necessary - Truman oversaw work that stopped the building collapsing - some just for fun - FDR added a swimming pool - and some just plain practical - Jefferson added toilets just to have the British burn them down.

The Washington Monument

The top of the monument at 555 feet is the highest point of the city. Made of marble this is the tallest masonry structure in the world. The Civil War followed a number of earlier rows all of which prolonged construction to 37 years. Two slightly different shades of white marble have been used and the point at which the change was made is clearly visible. The view from the 500-foot observation deck is panoramic with views over the whole city. The queues can be very long so either book a ticket or go at night in the summer months.

The Lincoln Memorial

The famous statue of the seated Lincoln is housed in a Greek style temple adorned with 36 columns. These represent the 36 States of Lincoln's USA. It was from here that Martin Luther King Jnr delivered his famous 'I have a dream..' speech. The walls of the Memorial are carved with two of Lincoln's most significant speeches, his Second Inaugural Address and the Gettysburg Address. Views from here are best observed at night.

The Smithsonian Institute

Only in death did James Smithson ever reach the USA; he is buried in a tomb on the Mall. His grant of �4million to the country helped create one of the world's truly great collection and research facilities. Smithson's intent was that his money be used for the 'increase and diffusion of knowledge'. Now the Smithsonian Institute runs over a dozen of Washington's finest museums and research establishments as well as the National Zoo.

Amongst the highlights are the Freer Gallery of Art. This is devoted to American art and includes a vast collection of the works of James McNeil Whistler.

The Arthur M Sackler has works of art from Asia and the Middle East this complements the nearby National Museum of African Art.

The National Museum of Natural History includes a fabulous section devoted to Dinosaurs but also includes an insect zoo and the Hope Diamond.

The National Museum of American History has some truly amazing 'artefacts' on display. These tend to overshadow the serious aim of the museum, which is to give information about the growth of the US. But wow, they have got Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves and Hilary Clinton Inauguration Ball gown.

Other museums include the National Air and Space Museum, the Arts and Industries Building and the Hirshorn Museum.

Jefferson and FDR Memorials

The area known as the Tidal Basin is lined with Japanese Cherry trees, these are glorious in the spring. The Basin was designed to prevent he Potomac from flooding the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. Built in 1943 and inspired by his Montecello home the Jefferson Memorial is a domed edifice over a bronze statue of the man who scripted the Declaration of Independence and was the third President.

Nearby is the fourth presidential memorial, the one to FD Roosevelt. FDR was the only President elected for four terms and his achievements are celebrated here. His wife Eleanor is also remembered. FDR's achievements are all the more incredible given that he had suffered from polio a fact that was kept secret from the people.

The Vietnam Memorial

A simple yet utterly moving memorial to the men who lost their lives in the war between 1959 to 1975. The memorial consists of two black marble walls that are inscribed with the names of every soldier who died. The original design was by Maya Lin a 21-year-old student; the memorial is now Washington's most visited.

The National Gallery of Art

One of the worlds finest and most extensive collections. You name it and it is here, from Dutch Masters to 20th Century finger paintings, from The Renaissance to Warhol. The building that houses the collection is also stunning. This is one not to be missed and is certainly worth devoting some time to view properly.

The FBI

A whirlwind tour of American 20th century criminal history. This features exhibits on the infamous criminals of the past, gives information on modern crimefighting methods and finishes with a firearms display.

Food, Drink and a Place to Sleep

Washington is a business/political place so rooms are expensive during the week all year round, except in July and August and at weekends where bargains are to be found. There is a wide range of accommodation from which to choose.

Compared with many other cities in the US, Washington is not a great place for bars and clubs. There are many to choose from but they tend to be busy at evening rush hour and then quiet even at weekends. There is a wide choice of places to eat but prices tend to be a little higher than elsewhere in the States. Keep an eye out for the 'food courts', these are fun and quite cheap places to eat but they tend to be very busy during the week.