2023 Washington DC Field Trip - 3 hours 45 minutes

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The Korean War Veterans Memorial, situated just off of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, honors those who served in the Korean War. The memorial was commissioned by the U.S. Congress on October 28, 1986 and the design and construction of the monument was jointly managed by the Korean War Veterans Memorial Advisory Board and the American Battle Monuments Commission. The final design selected for the monument was created by Washington architectural firm Cooper-Lecky, following a bitter dispute that involved a government-sponsored design contest and four students from The Pennsylvania State University (see NY Times article below). The groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 14, 1992 and the memorial was dedicated on the 42nd anniversary of the end of the conflict-- July 27, 1995. The memorial is managed by the National Mall and Memorial Parks division of the National Park Service.

2. The Lincoln Memorial

An iconic symbol of freedom stands in the center of our nation’s capital: the Lincoln Memorial. This grand monument to one of our most influential presidents has been the site of countless concerts, speeches, and protests -- including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Dedicated to the Savior of the Union, the memorial and its history call to mind the human rights struggles our nation has faced, from the Civil War to the March on Washington. Today, it is overseen by the National Park Service and is part of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.

3. Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

This memorial to the 58,272 American military personnel who perished or were declared missing in action (MIA) during the Vietnam War was completed in 1982. The wall, in addition to the Three Servicemen Statue and the Vietnam Women's Memorial, is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The memorial demonstrates the way that public perception of monuments can change over time. The initial design for the monument at the National Mall received criticism from leading conservative politicians who hoped to create a memorial that was similar to other war monuments that depicted soldiers and military leaders. Some politicians and commentators even attacked the designer, 21-year old student May Lin, because she was the daughter of Chinese immigrants. By the time of the monument's dedication, however, most Americans approved of the monument's design. Those who saw the monument in person were moved to see the reflections of the living in the Black granite wall as they reflected upon the names of the dead.

4. National World War II Memorial

Opened in 2004, the World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the United States Armed Forces, the more than 400,000 members who made the ultimate sacrifice, and the millions who supported war efforts on the home front. This is the only memorial related to an event in the 20th century that appears in the central axis of the National Mall. It is part of the National Park Service's National Mall and Memorial Parks.

5. Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

The National Museum of African American History & Culture was authorized by Congress and President George W. Bush in 2003. After 13 years of planning and construction, the museum opened on September 24th, 2016. The museum holds over 40,000 artifacts within its vaults, most of which were donated by institutions and individuals. Several thousand of artifacts are included in the museum's twelve galleries. The museum's three-tiered form is meant to symbolize hands held in prayer and was modeled from the shape of a traditional Yoruban crown. As of November, 2016, this museum uses a timed pass system to accommodate large crowds.

6. Old Post Office Building and Pavilion

The Old Post Office Building and Pavilion is the site of what was originally one of the most-used post offices in the Washington, D.C. area. Built in the 1890s, the building has weathered numerous threats of demolition as other plans for the city were made. Nevertheless, the Old Post Office has remained standing and is a contributing property to the Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site. On September 12, 2014, the renovated structure reopened as the Trump International Hotel, under the ownership of The Trump Organization.

7. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History is the most-visited natural history museum in the United States. Dedicated to inspiring curiosity and discovery of the natural world, the National Museum of Natural History preserves and interprets natural science, geology, and anthropology collections. The current building on the National Mall opened in 1910. Among the most popular exhibits are the Hall of Dinosaurs, Egyptian and Roman artifacts, the Hope Diamond, and the sarcophagus of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

8. Smithsonian's National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History is dedicated to the "infinite richness and complexity" of American history. Located on the National Mall, it is one of the most-visited museums in the country. The Smithsonian collections of American history date back to the 17th century and efforts to preserve artifacts date back to the 1840s, while the current museum building opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology. Its name was changed to the National Museum of American History in 1980. The museum's renovation from 2006 to 2008 included the construction of the new Star-Spangled Banner gallery, which holds the original flag that inspired the national anthem. The Museum includes exhibits dedicated to a plethora of topics, including politics and government, civil rights, gender and sexuality, military and war, business and innovation, indigenous Americans, ethnicity and immigration, disability history, religion, and food history.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

2023 Washington DC Field Trip - 3 hours 45 minutes

Created by Pailin Wang on November 10th 2023, 5:56:59 am.

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9:30 arrive 9:30-9:40 Korean War Memorial 9:40-9:45 walk 9:45-9:50 photo at Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool 9:50-10:00 walk 10:00-10:10 Lincoln Memorial 10:10-10:15 walk 10:15-10:25 Vietnam Veterans Memorial 10:25-10:40 walk 10:40-10:50 World War II Memorial 10:50-11:10 walk 11:10-11:40 lunch at National Museum of African American History and Culture 11:40-11:55 walk 11:55-12:40 Old Post Office - Tour of Clock Tower 12:40-12:45 walk 12:45-1:10 Museum of Natural History (Hall of Mammals 1st floor) OR National Museum of American History (Inventing in America, Dave's Dream, 1st floor) (including bathroom) 1:10-1:15 meet at buses @ Madison Avenue side of the National Museum of American History

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2023 Washington DC Field Trip - 3 hours 45 minutes

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