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Home , Jackson Place, North Lawn, The Three Soldiers

HISTORIC D.C. MALL HIKE

SATELLITE VIEW OF HIKE

2 Waypoints with bathroom facilities are in to start or end the hike and is highly the left (south side) far sidewalk until you ITALIC. Temporary changes or notes are recommended. The line for the tour can see a small white dome a third of the way in bold. be pretty long. If it’s too long when you and 300 feet to the south. Head to that first go by, plan to include it towards the dome. beginning the hike end of the day. Parking can be quite a challenge. It is OR recommended to park in a garage and GPS Start Point: take public transportation to reach The 27°36’52.54”N 82°44’6.39”W Head south of the WWII Memorial Mall. until you see a parking area and a small Challenge title building. Follow the path the bus Union Station is a great place to find Circle Up! loading area and then head east. About parking and the building itself is a must 2300 feet to the left will be a small white see! The address is: 50 Massachusetts Challenge description domed structure. Head towards it. Avenue NE. Parking costs under $20 How many flagpoles surround the per car. For youth groups, take the Metro base of the ? GPS to next waypoint since that can be a new and interesting ______38°53’15.28”N 77° 2’36.50”W experience for them. The station you want is Metro Center station. Get off and switch Directions to next waypoint Note: There was construction around to the blue or orange line and go to the Head west to the World War II Memorial. the Reflecting Pool in 2012. Traffic Smithsonian station. City Center Parking patterns and walking routes have been on Ave. and 9th street is also GPS to next waypoint altered. a good alternative. Parking there is $10 38°53’21.93”N 77° 2’25.66”W for the day. Take the Metro’s green line to WAYPOINT 3 L’Enfant Plaza, then the blue line to the Note: to the SSE of the Washington Smithsonian station. Monument is the Holocaust Museum. District of Columbia War Due to the somber experience, it is Memorial The start point for the hike is the recommended for youth groups that This small memorial is dedicated to Washington Monument. To get there are older and have already seen D.C. the 499 residents of the District of from the Metro station, head west on Columbia that gave their lives during Independence Ave. until you see the the conflict. In 2011, it was renovated and monument to the NW. It’s hard to miss. WAYPOINT 2 dedicated as a national monument to National World War II all the soldiers of WWI. Over 5 million GPS Start Point: Memorial Americans served in WWI. This conflict 38°53’22.05”N 77° 2’6.37”W The WWII Memorial opened in 2004. marked the first time U.S. forces went It honors the 16 million people that overseas to defend foreign nations WAYPOINT 1 served in the armed forces during World against aggression. War II and the millions of Americans Washington Monument that supported the effort at home. The Challenge title Construction started on the Washington memorial was funded with mostly private Friends in Freedom Monument in 1848 and was completed in donations. 1884. It’s the world’s tallest stone structure Challenge description at 555 ft. When completed, it was the Challenge title What is the animal portrayed world’s tallest structure until 1889, when A Nation Conceived in Liberty and Justice in the center of the monument? a certain famous steel tower in Paris was ______built. Challenge description

Who was the President of the United See those people lined up? The tour of the Directions to next waypoint States when the World War II Memorial from the WWI Washington Monument takes 30 minutes Continue south opened? ______Memorial to the sidewalk along and is open from 9:00am - 10:00pm. Independence Avenue and The tour and the elevator trip to the top head Directions to next waypoint until you see the are well worth the wait. It’s a great way right (west) Walk towards the on crosswalk heading to the south. Cross

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 2 Independence Avenue and head French Dr. until you see a path to the towards the MLK Memorial. right; go down that path. Challenge description Climb the steps up to the inside of the GPS to next waypoint GPS to next waypoint temple where the statue of Lincoln is 38°53’10.46”N 77° 2’39.24”W 38°53’15.85”N 77° 2’50.69”W located. Lincoln’s words are engraved on the north and south walls. How many NOTE: There was construction in this WAYPOINT 5 carved stone eagles are on these two walls? area as of summer 2012. ______Korean War Veterans WAYPOINT 4 Memorial Directions to next waypoint The Korean War Veterans Memorial Walk down the steps, and out towards the Martin Luther King, Jr. opened in 1995, the 42nd year Reflecting Pool. Thenhead northeast to Memorial anniversary of the armistice. The statues the Vietnam Memorial. In 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. of the squad soldiers are quite moving. Memorial opened. It was the first memorial The Korean War was fought from 1950- GPS to next waypoint on or near The Mall dedicated to an 1953 between the Communist North and 38°53’25.91”N 77° 2’53.46”W African American. It’s also one of only four the Democratic South. dedications honoring non-presidents in the WAYPOINT 7 . Take some time here to read Challenge title the inspiring inscriptions. The Price of Freedom Vietnam Veterans Memorial Look behind the MLK Memorial to the Challenge description The Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors water; this is called the . Across The granite wall contains a simple U.S. service members who fought in the basin is the . four word phrase near the flagpole, what the , service members is it? who died in service in Vietnam/South SPUR: If you head south from the MLK ______East Asia and those service members Memorial along the Tidal Basin you will who were unaccounted for (Missing In see the FDR Memorial. Continuing around GPS to next waypoint Action) during the war. Its construction the Tidal Basin, you will come to the 27°37’0.39”N 82°44’9.56”W and related issues have been the source Jefferson Memorial. These two monuments of controversies, some of which have are impressive, especially the Jefferson resulted in additions to the memorial Memorial. Please note, this spur adds a total WAYPOINT 6 complex. The memorial currently of 1.5 miles round trip. Allow for additional Lincoln Memorial consists of three separate parts: the time to walk around and explore these two Three Soldiers statue, the Vietnam This stunning building opened in 1922 impressive monuments. Women’s Memorial and the Vietnam after eight years of construction. The Veterans Memorial Wall, which is the statue of Lincoln inside is 19 feet tall. The Challenge title best-known part of the memorial. Stone of Hope inside is as impressive as the exterior. It was on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Challenge title in 1963 where Martin Luther King, Jr. Challenge description Those Who Served gave his famous speech. The reflecting In the words of Dr. Martin Luther pool was built in 1923 following the King, Jr., what is “the only thing Challenge description dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. It’s that can drive out darkness”? Near the Three Soldiers statue is a 2029 feet by 167 feet and only 18 inches ______flagpole. At the base of the flag are deep. plaques representing the five branches of the U.S. military who served in SPUR: As you are facing the Lincoln Directions to next waypoint Vietnam. They are the Army, Navy, Air Memorial on the left side there is a small Head west in the direction of the Lincoln Force and which two other branches? exhibit that is well worth visiting. Memorial until you see a crosswalk about ______800 feet from the MLK Memorial. Cross Challenge title ______Independence Ave. and turn down Daniel Enshrined Forever

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 3 Directions to next waypoint Challenge description Challenge description Head east through the Constitution In World War I, the 1st Infantry Division On the grass surrounding the statue of Gardens. If you go to the left of the lake, was part of the American Andrew Jackson are four weapons. What you can walk over to the island and see ______. are they? the memorial of the 56 signers of the ______Constitution. Continue east until you Directions to next waypoint ______leave the gardens, and come to 17th Street. Go back to 17th Street and head right ______Head left (north) on 17th Street crossing (north) one block to Ave. Turn ______Constitution Avenue. As you walk north right onto . (You’ll on 17th Street, on the left side of the street walk in front of the soon - so BONUS QUESTION: Near the Statue you’ll see Memorial Continental Hall, a don’t worry.) is the Baruch Bench of . venue for performances and events. Past According to the plaque, what is Mr. that you’ll see the headquarters for the GPS to next waypoint Baruch’s philosophy? American Red Cross and the Concoran 38°53’55.48”N 77° 2’20.93”W College of Art with its reclining lions. To ______the right you’ll see a tall monument in a WAYPOINT 9 park. Head to the monument. Directions to next waypoint Lafayette Square Head to the large white building south of the park behind the fence. This is the GPS to next waypoint Lafayette Square preserves many of of the 38°53’46.12”N 77° 2’19.36”W the original residences of the early White House. Washington elite. Most of these homes are done in the Austere style popular in GPS to next waypoint WAYPOINT 8 38°53’54.85”N 77° 2’11.68”W America in the early 1800’s. The Big Red One and the Eisenhower Executive Once on Pennsylvania Avenue, you will WAYPOINT 10 Office Complex see the on the left. Built in This monument is dedicated to the U.S. 1824, it is the official state guest house of The White House Army’s 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed the President. Truman lived here during North Lawn the Big Red One. The large column and his presidency while the White House was 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most statue represents the service of the 1st gutted and restored. It’s now used to house famous address in America. Every Infantry Division soldiers in World War I. foreign heads of state during their visits. president except Washington has served Also surrounding the monument are the American people from here. Built in memorials dedicated to the 1st Infantry Turn left onto to walk on 1797, it’s the oldest public building in the Division soldiers who served in World War an early 19th century street. Near the end city. To the left of its center (west), you’ll II, in Vietnam and in Desert Storm. These of the street is the , the first see the and the location of the are the conflicts where the Big Red One home built on this street in 1819. It will president’s office. This is were most press defended our freedom. soon be open for tours. correspondents stand when they use the White House as a backdrop on the evening Behind the memorial is the Eisenhower From here, walk into Lafayette Square news. Building, which houses the office of the towards the center of the square. The park Vice President. This building dates from is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, Directions to next waypoint 1871, when it housed the War, Navy and a French nobleman who assisted the Head to the left (east) to 15th Street. State Departments. The building is built American colonies in their struggle for Along the way you will see the back of in the French Second Empire style with independence. In the center of the square the Treasury Building. Head right (south) its signature roof and was completely is a 1853 statue of Andrew Jackson. on 15th and go across the street to the renovated in the 1980’s. Sherman Monument to see the south side Challenge title of the Treasury Building. Challenge title Preserving Our Federal Union A Special Pride of Service GPS to next waypoint 38°53’45.68”N 77° 2’3.46”W

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 4 is the newest kitchen garden, them personally, and how it helped us WAYPOINT 11 planted by Michelle Obama with the shape this nation. This museum transcends The Treasury Building help of local school children. Tours of the the boundaries of race and culture that White House must be arranged months in divide us and becomes a lens into a story The Treasury Building was built in advance with your Congressman. that unites us all. three phases, beginning in 1836 with completion in 1867. The statue at the Challenge title Challenge title front of the Treasury Building is of Can you dig it? Under Construction Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton established Challenge description Challenge description the National Bank and the U.S. Mint, Who hired the first White House gardener? When will the museum open to the designed a system of tariffs and was public? the key individual in guiding a stable ______US fiscal policy. He was also key ______in reestablishing friendly relations Directions to next waypoint with Britain following the American Head south to . You may see the Directions to next waypoint Revolution. He is best known now as the National Christmas Tree location across Turn left on Madison Dr. and continue to man on the $10 bill. the street from the South Lawn of the White the Museum of American History. House. Due to various street closings, you will need to navigate to this area based GPS to next waypoint Note: There was no public access to around what is closed. To the southwest 38°53’26.21”N 77° 1’47.96”W the Treasury Building as of 2012. of the waypoint [follow the sidewalk] is a Challenge title temporary White House visitor center that WAYPOINT 14 Hamilton Raising the Roof has a great movie tour of the White House. It’s next to a permanent concession stand. National Museum of Challenge description Follow The Ellipse on the left sidewalk until American History you see a statue with three figures on the How many scroll-topped columns support Since this is a historic hike, we feel this left. This is the . the roof above the entrance to the Treasury museum is an especially important place Department? to visit. Opening in 1964, this museum BONUS QUESTION: ______now houses the American History What anniversary does this memorial collection. Youth groups may chose to commemorate? BONUS QUESTION: skip this museum because after a day of What year was the Monument to Sherman ______historic sights it may be a bit too much to erected? take in for one day. What should not be Continue to the east towards 15th street. ______missed, however, is the original flag that Turn right (south) to view the next inspired the Star Spangled Banner. waypoint. Directions to next waypoint After seeing Sherman, head southwest to Challenge title GPS to next waypoint the South Lawn of the White House. To andB eyond 38°53’30.95”N 77° 2’0.36”W GPS to next waypoint Challenge description 38°53’43.11”N 77° 2’11.60”W WAYPOINT 13 At the front entrance of the ’s Museum of American National Museum of History there are three panels of WAYPOINT 12 African American History engraved quotations. Who are the three and Culture authors of the quotations? THE White House South Lawn The National Museum of African ______American History and Culture will be a The South Lawn of the White House is ______place where all Americans can learn about where the President’s helicopter, Marine 1, ______the richness and diversity of the African lands and it’s also where many traditional American experience, what it means to White House events take place. Also on the

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 5 Directions to next waypoint Challenge description 20 years to complete. It’s the 4th largest Go to the east to the next museum. In the gable near the peak of the roof equestrian statue in the world. Take is a sculpture of a man sitting reading some time to explore the details of this GPS to next waypoint a book. How many keys is he holding? memorial. 38°53’26.22”N 77° 1’33.39”W ______Challenge title WAYPOINT 15 Directions to next waypoint Roman Bronze Works Head east on to the National Museum of on the right side Challenge description Natural History of the road. Who sculpted the bronze statues at this memorial? This is one of the most popular museums in the capital, especially for youth groups. GPS to next waypoint ______It has dinosaurs, life size whales, huge 38°53’30.02”N 77° 1’11.81”W shark teeth and giant gems. It’s amazing! Directions to next waypoint WAYPOINT 17 Head to the Capitol building. Challenge title Rock On! National Gallery of Art GPS to next waypoint buildings 38°53’23.16”N 77° 0’34.57”W Challenge description Completed in 1941 through an act of Outside on The Mall (south) Congress, the National Gallery of Art has WAYPOINT 19 side of the museum there are an amazing collection and is believed two displays. One is banded iron to be one of the best in North America. The Capitol West Side The Gallery’s collection traces the ore. What is the other display? This building was designed by William development of Western Art from the ______Thorton after winning a competition Middle Ages to the and includes put on by . The many major works from artists including: Directions to next waypoint groundbreaking was in 1793 and George Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Picasso, Cézanne, Either exit out the north doors and go Washington himself laid the cornerstone. Leonardo da Vinci and Vermeer. east to the National Archives (shorter) Congress met for the first time in 1800 or go back out the south doors and with the building incomplete. Along with Challenge title head east, so you can walk through the the White House and other buildings, the Art for the Ages Sculpture Garden, and then head south Capitol was partially burned in 1814 by the to get to Constitution Avenue. British. During these first years, only the Challenge description two outside buildings were complete. In How many buildings house the National Across Constitution Ave., northeast 1826 the center rotunda was completed. Gallery of Art? of the Natural History Museum, is the National Archives. ______Of interest, the famous Capitol dome was not the first. Originally, a much smaller GPS to next waypoint Directions to next waypoint timber dome was built. In 1850, the 38°53’32.49”N 77° 1’22.73”W Head east towards the Capital Building expansion of the building included the and the Reflecting Pool.Walk around replacement of the timber dome with the WAYPOINT 16 the pool to the Grant Memorial. steel version you see today. The old dome was only a third the height of the new one. National Archives GPS to next waypoint Here you will see the Declaration of 38°53’23.24”N 77° 0’46.66”W Challenge title Independence, the Constitution, and the Capitol Support Bill of Rights. No bags or backpacks are WAYPOINT 18 allowed in the building. Challenge description U.S. Grant Memorial How many small pillars hold up the west Challenge title This memorial honoring the General and side fountain at the base of the Capitol Keys to the Archives the President began in 1902 and took Building? ______

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 6 Directions to next waypoint BONUS QUESTION: but a quick walk in and out to observe Leave the Capitol via the north side What is the name of the statue at the top the architecture of the original building toward the east side. of the Capitol Building? is perfectly fine. ______GPS to next waypoint Challenge title 38°53’29.26”N 77° 0’38.30”W Directions to next waypoint That’s a Whole Lot of Books! Exit the visitor center and go ENE to the Supreme Court Building. Challenge description WAYPOINT 20 What are the names of the three The Summerhouse GPS to next waypoint buildings comprising the ? The Summerhouse is a brick structure 38°53’26.24”N 77° 0’18.60”W set into the sloping hillside of the west ______Front Lawn among the paths that lead WAYPOINT 22 ______from Pennsylvania Avenue to the Senate ______side of the Capitol. This structure has The Supreme Court offered rest and shelter to travelers for This building was built in 1935 to house BONUS QUESTION: over a century. Constructed to provide the Supreme Court, which was originally Above the front doors of the Jefferson comfort for those who explore the area housed in the Capitol Building. You can Building are seven busts of famous on foot, it is also a pleasant location walk through the building and lectures Americans. Who is in the center? from which to appreciate the Capitol’s are available, but not necessary. ______classical architecture and its surrounding landscape. Challenge title Directions to next waypoint Highest Court of the Nation Head south to Independence Avenue, Challenge title then head right (west). You will pass Wet Your Whistle Challenge description three buildings that house the offices On one of the statues at the front of the for the members of the House of Challenge description building there is a three letter word. The Representatives. You will then see a What is the most refreshing thing found word is latin for LAW. What is the word? glass-topped building to your right. inside the Summerhouse? ______Head towards it; it’s the Botanical ______Gardens. There are many interesting Directions to next waypoint plants from all over the world in this Directions to next waypoint Head south to the next building, the building, including an area of medicinal Continue north to the east side of the Library of Congress. plants. Continuing west, you’ll see a Capitol Building, then go east to the very modern building, the Museum of the underground visitor center. GPS to next waypoint American Indian. 38°53’26.18”N 77° 0’18.66”W GPS to next waypoint GPS to next waypoint 38°53’24.16”N 77° 0’25.69”W WAYPOINT 23 38°53’18.82”N 77° 0’59.31”W

WAYPOINT 21 Library of Congress WAYPOINT 24 Established in 1800 by Congress, the The Capitol Tour library was once housed in the Capitol National Museum of the The Capitol Visitor Center is open Building. The current building was American Indian to visitors from 8:30am - 4:30pm complete in 1897 to accommodate the This 2004 museum has on display Monday through Saturday except for expansion of the library. It is now the many artifacts from the Heye Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, largest library in the world. The main Collection. George Gustav Heye New Year’s Day and Inauguration Day. reading room and the great hall are traveled through North and South Tours of the U.S. Capitol are conducted impressive. America between 1903 and 1957. The from 8:50am - 3:20pm, Monday through National Museum of the American Saturday. It’s a very interesting tour. There is a one hour tour of the building, Indian houses one of the world’s largest and most diverse collections

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 7 of its kind. The museum’s sweeping Challenge title Directions to next waypoint curvilinear architecture, its indigenous Out of This World Done! To get to the Metro station, head landscaping and its exhibitions are to the west side of the castle and head all designed in collaboration with Challenge description south to the intersection. The Metro tribes and communities from across At the south entrance to the Air and station is on the SW corner. the hemisphere. This unique place Space Museum there is a sculpture. What gives visitors from around the world is the name of the sculpture, the name of GPS to next waypoint the sense and spirit of native America. the artist and the year it was created? 38°53’14.64”N 77° 1’42.36”W The restaurant serves unique Native ______American foods including bison, rabbit, ______and ceviche. ______

Challenge title Directions to next waypoint Many Tribes, Many Symbols Continue to next museum(s) to the east towards the castle. Challenge description On the main glass doors at the entrance GPS to next waypoint to the museum, there are some symbols. 38°53’20.24”N 77° 1’33.16”W How many hand prints surround the circle symbol? ______WAYPOINT 26

BONUS QUESTION: Smithsonian Castle What is the name of the bronze statue and associated museums near the entrance of the museum? The Smithsonian Castle was built in 1847 in the Gothic Revival style. This building ______currently holds the offices and the visitor center. Directions to next waypoint Continue west to the Air and Space There are five museums in this area. If Museum you still have energy feel free to explore them. GPS to next waypoint 1. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture 38°53’18.61”N 77° 1’11.28”W Garden: a modern art museum. 2. The Museum of African Art 3. The Sackler Gallery WAYPOINT 25 4. Freer Gallery of Asian Art 5. The Arts and Industry Museum is National Air and currently closed until 2014. It was the Space Museum original home of the National Museum. This is perhaps the most popular museum with youth groups. In fact, Challenge title since opening in 1976, it quickly became Walking on the Roof the most popular museum in the world. It has the actual “Spirit of St. Louis”, Challenge description the Apollo 11 Command Module, a There is a unique garden just outside touchable lunar rock, flight simulators, the south entrance of the castle. What is an IMAX theater and incredible displays. the last name of the person for whom the garden is named? ______

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE 8 CHALLENGE ANSWERS

WAYPOINT 1 WAYPOINT 15 48 Petrified Wood

WAYPOINT 2 WAYPOINT 16 George W. Bush 2

WAYPOINT 3 WAYPOINT 17 Eagle 2

WAYPOINT 4 WAYPOINT 18 Light Henry Merwin Shrady

WAYPOINT 5 WAYPOINT 19 Freedom is not free. 8

WAYPOINT 6 WAYPOINT 20 4 Drinking fountains

WAYPOINT 7 WAYPOINT 21 Marines and Coast Guard Bonus answer:

WAYPOINT 8 WAYPOINT 22 Expeditionary Force LEX

WAYPOINT 9 WAYPOINT 23 Cannons Jefferson, Adams, and Madison. BONUS ANWER: Be Prepared. BONUS ANSWER: Benjamin Franklin

WAYPOINT 11 WAYPOINT 24 1. 10 2. 1903 13 BONUS ANSWER: Dancer WAYPOINT 12 Thomas Jefferson WAYPOINT 25 BONUS ANSWER: 50th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of by Charles O. Perry 1976 America WAYPOINT 26 WAYPOINT 13 Haupt 2015

WAYPOINT 14 James Smithson, John Quincy Adams, and Joseph Henry

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE HISTORIC D.C. MALL HIKE PLAN

Length – 6.5 miles Estimated Time – 8-10 hours (with museum visits) Difficulty – Easy no elevation changes Start point – Washington Monument Hike written By – Eric Hilferding Summary This hike is planned as a 7.5 mile hike, covering the primary Washington DC destinations. Rather than suggest museums for you to visit, it is recommended that you select the ones that interest your group the most. The museums that most youth groups frequent are: the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. If this is your first time in D.C., you may wish to consider taking two or even three days to make the hike. If you want to walk The Mall, then this hike will include some challenges to make it more interesting. This hike will take you to destinations like the White House and the Capitol Building (sometimes these are closed to visitors; so, it can be hit or miss). The hike concludes with the highlight - The Smithsonian Castle.

LOCATION Positioned downtown in the heart of the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., the National Mall is an open-area national park that includes all of the most prominent D.C. destinations. This symbolic setting features monumental historical structures, museums and galleries, honors the most distinguished public figures of our time and offers beautiful open areas for the recreational enjoyment of visitors. In addition to its many great attractions, the D.C. Mall plays host to a large array of free annual events and receives millions of visitors each year.

HELPFUL HINTS It is recommended that you start your trip as early as possible. Many museums and buildings close at 5:30pm. If you can get to the mall at 8:00-8:30am, you can fit in a lot of sightseeing. You’re probably hiking in the summer; so, the weather will get hotter as the day progresses. The museums you will probably visit will come later in the day and they have air conditioning. Most distance walking is planned for early in the day when it’s presumably cooler.

* Please Note: Washington has a great deal of construction and often closes its streets to accommodate renovation and new construction. In addition, heightened security concerns can cause areas, exhibits and buildings to be inaccessible at times. It is recommended that you carry additional maps.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE PLANNING FOR YOUR HIKE things you’ll need Sunscreen • Lots of water Compass (real or on smartphone) • Camera

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HIKE