We went to Ford’s Theatre, where Abe Lincoln was shot (maybe 5-6 blocks from the White House). I was amazed at the size of the place, much smaller than I had imagined. Here’s the booth where President Lincoln was shot. My guess is it’s only 5 feet off the ground. I always imagined that John Wilkes Booth made some spectacular leap to try to escape.
Ford’s Theatre is an active theater that still puts on plays. When no rehearsals are happening, it is open for tours. There are people there that give an excellent retelling of the events and the history of the building. Don’t miss it. In the lower level of the theater is a museum that contains various items from the era, including Lincoln’s coat and the gun used. Across the street is the house where Lincoln was taken after being shot, and where he died the next morning. It’s open to the public.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I had a very moving experience here. I saw a woman, probably 50ish (I’m terrible at guessing ages) with a piece of tracing paper and a pencil, rubbing the pencil over the paper which was on top of a name on the wall, making a copy of the name. The woman was crying while rubbing the pencil. Still brings tears to my eyes.
Near the Vietnam Memorial is the Korean War Memorial, which is eerie. There are statues which are slightly larger than life walking through the “field” and adjacent to the Korean Wall. There are faces etched into this wall, which have a ghostly feel, but the wall is so reflective that the statues reflect. The third picture here is rather large, but take a look at it up close by clicking on it below.
Across the Potomac in Virginia is the Arlington National Cemetery. Here is the Tomb of the Unknown Civil War Soldier (top) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (bottom).
Arlington National Cemetery. ’nuff said.