Monuments & Memorials
The first monument we explored was the Washington Monument, in honour of George Washington. After that we were privileged to view many more memorials, such as Thomas Jefferson’s, with its beautiful marble rotunda, and Franklin Roosevelt’s with its stunning water features. Additionally, we got to see the statue dedicated to Martin Luther King. What is significant about this statue is that it is unfinished, symbolising that his civil rights work is also unfinished. Lastly, we visited Abraham Lincoln’s memorial. This temple is remarkable in many ways – not only does it commemorate the work of Lincoln throughout his presidency, it was also where Martin Luther King gave his well known “I have a dream” speech.
As the afternoon approached, we explored the National Museum of American History and saw fascinating and educational monuments such as the counter from the Greensboro sit in, which is another topic we learn about as part of our Civil Rights course.
As part of the evening entertainment, we enjoyed a Big Bus tour around Washington DC, kindly provided by the Waterman family, who are OEs, and were even lucky enough to bump into a celebrity! After a successful first day in Washington, we all looked forward to the activities ahead.
Capital Hill, Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon
On Tuesday morning, we went to the National Archive and saw many important documents such as the Bill of Rights. Next, we visited Capitol Hill and saw the exceptional Rotunda. In the afternoon, we were fortunate enough to see the change of the guard next to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, John F Kennedy’s grave and many more at the Arlington National Cemetery. After that we visited the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon then we had the opportunity to go shopping at the Pentagon City Mall.
That evening, we enjoyed a visit to the Kennedy Centre where we saw a spectacular view of the city from the balcony, and we could even see the Watergate Complex which is also covered in our Civil Rights course. In the Kennedy Centre, we watched a highly entertaining murder mystery play called Sheer Madness, that received much laughter from the audience.
National Museum of African American History and Culture and the White House
As part of our Civil Rights course, it was important that we experienced the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum was very educational and displayed the information interactively and in great detail. It gave us insights on key historical moments and figures such as the Selma marches, Emmett Till and Rosa Parks, all contributing to our course knowledge.
After spending the morning there, we got to experience the White House Visitor Centre and learn interesting aspects about the White House. This included what it is like to live there, the favourite foods of many presidents, about the White House employees and much more. Our evening entertainment on Wednesday included the incredibly fun and lively experience of watching the NHL game between the Washington Capitals and the Philadelphia Flyers.
International Spy Museum
On our last day, we visited the International Spy Museum which was a highly interactive and amusing experience. We got to take on the role of a spy and learn key information about being one, such as the Rosenbergs, who we also learn about as part of our studies. A final shopping visit to George Town finished off the trip, before heading to the airport.
Overall an incredibly exciting trip and highly educational as well.
