Washington, DC: Political and Cultural Centre of the USA

Nobody denies the fact that Washington is a great political and cultural centre of the
USA. Founded on the16th of July 1790, Washington DC is unique among American cities
because it was established by the Constitution of the United States to serve as the nation’s
capital. From its beginning, it has been embroiled in political maneuvering, sectional conflicts
and issues of race, national identity, compromise and, of course, power. Washington is a one-
industry city and its industry is government. The city’s main output is laws and government
decisions.
The choice of Washington’s site along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers resulted from a
compromise between Alexander Hamilton and northern states who wanted the new federal
government to assume Revolutionary War debts, and Thomas Jefferson and southern states
who wanted the capital placed in a location friendly to slave-holding agricultural interests.
George Washington, the first president and namesake of the city, chose the site and
appointed three commissioners to help prepare for the arrival of the new government in 1800.
Pierre L’Enfant designed the city as a bold new capital with sweeping boulevards and
ceremonial spaces reminiscent of Paris in his native France. The full development of
Washington as a monumental city, however, did not come until a hundred years later when the
McMillan Commission updated its plan to establish the National Mall and monuments that
most visitors to Washington now know.
After more than 200 years as the nation’s capital, Washington is brimming with a unique
history of its own. It has developed as a complex and layered city with multiple personalities.
As home to the federal government, it has attracted a diverse mix of government workers,
members of Congress from every state, foreign emissaries, lobbyists, petitioners and
protestors. While elected and appointed officials come and go giving the city its reputation as
a transient community, many of the city’s residents have called Washington home for multiple
generations. Their stories give Washington its distinctive character as both a national and local
city.
There is so much to see and do in Washington, DC that you can’t manage it all in just one
visit. The nation’s capital is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States
and it offers a wide range of attractions and activities. A well-rounded trip should include
exploring the region’s historic landmarks, parks and neighborhoods. The National Mall is the
central point of most sightseeing visits to Washington, DC. as it’s home to the city’s most
famous monuments, memorials and museums. The tree-lined open space between Constitution
and Independence Avenues extends from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol
Building. Ten of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution are located within the heart of
the nation's capital, offering a variety of exhibits ranging from art to space exploration. West
Potomac Park and the Tidal Basin are adjacent to the National Mall and home to the national
monuments and memorials.
The National Mall is not just a great place to visit the world class museums and national
landmarks, but also a gathering place to picnic and outdoor festivals. Americans and visitors
from all over the world have used the expansive lawn as a site for protests and rallies. The
impressive architecture and natural beauty of the Mall make it a unique place that celebrates
and preserves the nation’s history and democracy.
The Washington Monument, the monument honoring the first president George
Washington, is the tallest structure in the nation's capital and towers 555 feet above the
National Mall. It’s considered to be the most prominent landmark in Washington, DC and the
centerpiece of the National Mall. Fifty flags surround the base of the Washington Monument
symbolizing the 50 states of America. An elevator takes visitors to the top to see a spectacular
view of Washington, DC including unique perspectives of the Lincoln Memorial, the White
House, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and the Capitol Building. Sylvan Theater, an
outdoor amphitheater located near the base of the Washington Monument, is a popular venue
for a wide range of events including free concerts and live theatrical performances,
commemorative ceremonies, rallies and protests.
The Lincoln Memorial, an iconic landmark on the National Mall in Washington, DC, is
a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln, who fought to preserve the nation during the Civil
War, from 1861-1865. The Memorial has been the site of many famous speeches and events
since its dedication in 1922, most notably Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
in 1963. It’s a beautiful structure with seven-foot diameter columns that stretch 44 feet high.
Architect Henry Bacon designed the Lincoln Memorial in a style similar to a Greek temple.
The structure’s 36 columns represent the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln’s death.
The statue of Lincoln sits in the center of the Memorial and the words of the Gettysburg
Address and the Second Inaugural Address are inscribed on the walls.
The U.S. Capitol Building, the meeting chambers for the Senate and the House of
Representatives, is one of the most recognizable historic buildings in Washington, DC, located
at the opposite end of the National Mall from the Washington Monument. It is a prominent
landmark and an impressive example of 19th-century neoclassical architecture. With 540
rooms divided among five levels, the U.S. Capitol is a massive structure. The ground floor is
allocated to congressional offices. The second floor holds the chambers of the House of
Representatives in the south wing and the Senate in the north wing. Under the dome in the
center of the Capitol Building is the Rotunda, a circular space that serves as a gallery of
paintings and sculpture of American historical figures and events. The third floor is where
visitors can watch the proceedings of Congress when in session. Additional offices and
machinery rooms occupy the fourth floor and the basement. Because of increased security the
Capitol Dome is open to the public for guided tours only. Visitors must obtain free tickets and
begin their tour at the Capitol Visitor Center. Free passes are required to see Congress in
action at the Senate and House Galleries.
The federal institution has multiple museums scattered throughout Washington, DC. Ten
of the buildings are located on the National Mall from 3rd to 14th Streets between
Constitution and Independence Avenues, within a radius of about one mile. There is so much
to see at the Smithsonian Museums that you cannot do it all in one day. The IMAX movie
theatres located inside three Smithsonian museums (the National Museum of Natural History,
the National Air and Space Museum, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre) are especially popular
among Washington’s visitors. IMAX is a movie experience with images up to eight stories
high and wrap-around digital surround sound. State-of-the-art cinematography with stunning
scenery lets you feel like you are really at exotic destinations.
If you are an art-lover, you should visit the National Gallery of Art. This world-class art
museum displays one of the largest collections of masterpieces in the world including
paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, and decorative arts from the 13th century
to the present. Because of its prime location on the National Mall, many people think the
National Gallery is a part of the Smithsonian. The museum was created in 1937 by funds
donated by art collector Andrew W. Mellon.
One more attraction is the U.S. Botanic Garden. This state-of-the-art indoor garden
showcases approximately 4,000 seasonal, tropical and subtropical plants. The property is
administered by the Architect of the Capitol and offers special exhibits and educational
programs throughout the year.
Visitors from around the world also come to Washington DC to tour the White House,
the home and office of the U.S. President. Built between 1792 and 1800, the White House is
one of the oldest public buildings in the nation's capital and serves as a museum of American
history. George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791 and chose the
design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban. The historic structure has been
expanded and renovated many times throughout history. There are 132 rooms on 6 levels. The
decor includes a collection of fine and decorative arts, such as historic paintings, sculpture,
furniture, and china.
The Arlington National Cemetery lies on the other bank of the Potomac. It serves as a
cemetery and a memorial to America's persons of national importance, including presidents,
Supreme Court justices and countless military heroes. President Kennedy is one of US
presidents buried here. The Cemetery was established during the Civil War as a final resting
place for Union soldiers on approximately 200 acres of Mary Custis Lee’s 1,100 acre
Arlington estate. The property was expanded over the years to encompass more than 624 acres
of burial grounds of more than 400,000 American servicemen. Each year, more than four
million people visit Arlington, attending graveside services and special ceremonies to pay
tribute to veterans and historical figures.
Washington’s national monuments (the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial,
the Jefferson Memorial and Vietnam Memorial, and the World War II Memorial etc) are truly
spectacular and “must see” attractions when visiting the nation’s capital. But they are spread
out throughout the city and can be difficult to see on foot. The best way to see the major
monuments is to take a guided tour. In this case, you won’t have to negotiate congested city
traffic and you will learn a lot of interesting facts about the national heroes.
But Washington isn’t only an attraction for millions of tourists that come here every year.
There are nineteen colleges and universities in Washington DC that make this city so
attractive for students. These institutions include five research universities, four master's
universities, and ten special-focus institutions.
Washington DC is the federal capital of the world’s most popular study destination and
it can be found on a list of the planet’s best student cities. This year Washington DC is ranked
as the 45th best student city in the world and sixth in the US.
 Washington DC’s position as a leading student city is helped by the five universities
based in and close to the city that feature in the QS World University Rankings® 2015/16.
These are led by the University of Maryland, College Park at joint 126th in the world,
followed by Georgetown University, George Washington University, American
University and Howard University.
And of course, studying in Washington DC means being right at the heart of US history
and politics – the White House, Supreme Court and national monuments and memorials are all
located here. When not seeking study advice from statues of presidents past, you may enjoy
spending time in the pretty and vibrant old port area of Georgetown, seeing an exhibition at
one of the 19 museums in the Smithsonian group, or engaging in the traditional local pastime
of debating politics over a good meal.