Cover Page

Contents

Introduction

Colonial Period

Revolution

Early Republic

War Between the States

Recent Era

District of Columbia

Historic Projects

Special Feature: Memorial Shaft to George Washington.

THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT, in commemoration of George Washington, is, with the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, one of the dominating features of the city of Washington. It is of obelisk form and is one of the highest masonry structures in the world, measuring 555 feet from the floor at the entrance to the top of the tip. The exterior of the shaft contains 188 memorial stones donated by various countries, States, and societies. An elevator and an iron stairway of 900 steps within the monument afford access to the base of the apex.

Shortly after Washington's death it was proposed to erect a memorial to him in the National Capital. Not until 1833, however, was any practical effort made in that direction. It that year a committee was organized with Chief Justice John Marshall as chairman and out of its activities grew the Washington National Monument Society. This organization devoted its efforts largely to raising funds for the erection of a huge memorial shaft. By 1848 sufficient money had been collected to begin work on the monument. In 1855, however, with the shaft only 152 feet high, the available funds were exhausted and work was stopped. It was not until 1878 that Congress appropriated money to finish the structure, which was finally completed and dedicated in 1885.

LINCOLN MEMORIAL

Special Feature: Classical structure with monumental statue of Abraham Lincoln.

TERMINATING the west axis in L'Enfant's plan for the Federal City, of Capitol is the hub, stands the Lincoln Memorial. Its strong, horizontal lines are in striking contrast with the slender, perpendicular shaft of the Washington Monument, on the same axis, to the north.

Designed by Henry Bacon and universally admired for its noble architectural composition, the marble superstructure is a modernized adaptation of Doric Greek architecture. This superstructure rests on a granite base 231 by 168 feet. The columns are 44 feet high, the shafts being composed of 11 drums. Two reflecting pools, the combined length of which is 2,300 feet, give back the images both of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, and were suggested by the beauty and dignity of the waterways at Versailles and the reflecting basins at the Taj Mahal in India. Between the bronze girders, with their ornaments of laurel and pine, are panels of Alabama marble, saturated with melted beeswax to produce a translucent effect.

Set in lonely grandeur on the left bank of the Potomac, against the amphitheater of the Virginia hills beyond, the classic beauty of the snowy marble is accented by the perennial green of box and yew which bank the terraces. Within full sight, across the historic river, lie the slopes of Arlington National Cemetery, where are interred many of the Nation's military heroes.

Viewed by night, when its illumination brings into relief the colossal seated figure of the Great Emancipator within, the memorial takes on the solemnity and reverential quality of a shrine. Daniel Chester French, the sculptor, has brought out with rare art the sadness and humility, the compassion and power of the man whose life began in a log cabin on a poor Kentucky farm, and whose destiny it was to free an enslaved people from bondage and to preserve the Union.

The interior details of the memorial are heroic in proportion, yet simple as Lincoln's own character. On the south wall is the Gettysburg speech; on the north wall, the Second Inaugural Address. These immortal addresses, each in a hall by itself, rank next in interest to the statue of Lincoln.

The murals, by Jules Guerin, suggest allegorically the great events set in motion through the instrumentality of the martyr President. The decoration above the Gettysburg Address represents the Angel of Truth giving Freedom and Liberty to the slave. Above the Second Inaugural Address the Angel of Truth is seen joining the hands of figures typifying the North and South. To make these decorations waterproof the paint was mixed with white wax and kerosene. In chemical composition the wax is similar to that found in the tombs of the ancient Pharaohs of Egypt.

Carved over the head of the 20-foot figure is the statement "In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever."

Construction of the Lincoln Memorial was authorized by Congress on February 9, 1911, the cornerstone was laid on February 12, 1915, and dedicatory exercises held on May 30, 1922.

LINCOLN MUSEUM

Special Feature: Scene of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

THE LINCOLN MUSEUM IS located in the building which housed Ford's Theater during the Civil War, where Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on the night of April 14, 1865. The famous collection of Lincolniana, assembled by Osborn H. Oldroyd, who spent more than 60 years accumulating it, is stored in this museum. This collection was purchased by the Federal Government in 1926.

After the assassination of Lincoln the theater was closed by order of Secretary of War Stanton and in the following year was acquired by the Federal Government. The structure was then made into a three-story office building and used by various divisions of the War Department. In 1893 it was again the scene of tragedy when the three floors collapsed, carrying portions of the walls with them. The building was repaired and in July 1894 was reopened as the Office of the Record and Pension Division of the War Department. Some years later the structure was renovated, the first floor being made into a museum for the exhibition of the Oldroyd collection. In 1932 the building was opened as the Lincoln Museum.

In this building are to be found engravings, photographs, and pictures of Lincoln and his family at various periods of their lives, mementos of his political campaigns, life masks showing him as he was in 1850 and 1865, clothing belonging to his wife, and innumerable pictures and news paper clippings dealing with his assassination. There are also many books and pamphlets treating of Lincoln's life In addition to the purely Lincoln material, there are many interesting objects of the Civil War period.

HOUSE WHERE LINCOLN DIED

Special Feature: Scene of Lincoln's death.

TO THIS house, which is directly opposite the Lincoln Museum, the stricken President was carried on the night of his assassination. Here, in a room on the first floor, he died the following day, April 15, 1865. Long neglected, the house was purchased by the Federal Government in 1896. Apart from its historic association with Lincoln, the house is interesting as an attempt to reproduce the furnishings and atmosphere of a typical home of the 1860's.

FORT STEVENS PARK

Fort Stevens Memorial.
(Photo by Kelly)

ON THE very threshold of our National Capital, but a few miles from the White House itself, Fort Stevens Park stands as a reminder of how nearly successful was the sudden and daring attempt of Early's force of about 19,000 Confederates to take the Federal city on the afternoon of July 11, 1864.

It also memorializes that dramatic moment when President Lincoln risked the fire of the enemy guns and exposed himself, side by side with the brave defenders of the fort, as he stood on the parapet, observing the progress of the attack.

Rushing to the aid of the fort's small garrison, a mixed assemblage of seasoned troops, "100-day men," convalescents, sailors, marines, and civilians, tinder the command of Gen. Horatio G. Wright, halted the advance of Gen. Jubal A. Early, saving the Capital, and perhaps the Union itself.

Lincoln's habitual unconcern for his own safety led him to disregard General Wright's repeated insistence that he shield himself behind a parapet. Not until a surgeon at his side was wounded, did he comply with his friend's request.

This is the only occasion on which a President of the United States has been under fire of the foe while in office. A monument and tablet commemorating the event has been erected in Fort Stevens Park by the Sixth Army Corps Association, and the fort itself is now being restored.

MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

THE MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY begins at the western extremity of Arlington Memorial Bridge, on Columbia Island, and ex tends approximately 15 miles along the Virginia shore of the Potomac to the Mount Vernon Estate.

Winding through the beautiful Virginia countryside and affording lovely vistas of the Potomac, this highway passes many places of historic interest. The ruins of Abingdon house, originally the home of the Alexander family, for whom the city of Alexandria was named, and the birthplace of Nellie Custis, overlook the highway and the Potomac at the highest point between Washington and Alexandria. In Alexandria the highway passes Christ Church, where Washington and Lee worshipped, and many other places of historic and patriotic interest. Below Alexandria the highway passes Wellington, the former home of Tobias Lear, secretary and adviser to the first President, and Fort Hunt, one of the Civil War defenses of the National Capital, now vacated and soon to be developed as a park. Across the Potomac is Fort Washington, designed by L'Enfant and still an active military reservation.

Last Modified: Thurs, Nov 23 2000 10:00:00 pm PDT
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