Washington

Places of interest. Washington, D.C., is the capital of the US. Its grew to become one of the most important and beautiful cities in the world. It is the site of impressive government buildings, magnificent monuments, important historical places, fine museums and malls. Every year Washington Is visited by millions of tourists from all parts of the US and from other countries of the world. But the city is also home to a large number of people – the place where they live, work and raise families. Washington, District of Columbia, was named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus. It lies on the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. The Capitol. The US Congress meets in this building. Visitors may attend congressional sessions to watch legislators in action. The Capitol is one of Washington’s most magnificent buildings. It is constructed of white stone and marble and crowned by an impressive dome. On top of the dome stands a bronze Statue of Freedom. The Capitol is set in a small park around which are a number of impressive government buildings, among which is the Library of Congress, one of the largest libraries in the world. The White House. The White House stands at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Every four years the parade for the newly inaugurated president travels the historic route along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to White House. The White House has been the home of every president with the exception of George Washington White House consists of 132 rooms and tourists may visit only portions of the ground floor and first floor. The White House grounds are open to the public only once a year for the annual Egg Roll held on Easter Monday. The White House has been the official residence of the president of the US since 1800. Monuments and Memorials. Monuments to tree presidents – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln – are among the most popular sights in the city. They stand in a vast green triangular area. The Washington monument is a white marble obelisk about 170 meters high. Visitors may climb the stairs or ride the elevator to the top for a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding area. As for the Lincoln memorial, all his famous speeches inscribed on the walls. And the Jefferson memorial is a circular, colonnaded marble structure topped by a beautiful dome. Inside stands a heroic statue of Jefferson which can be seen through the Memorial’s four openings. Quotations from his most famous writings are inscribed on the walls. Museums and Galleries. Washington’s museums and art galleries are among the finest in the world. The Smithsonian Institution consists of museums of similar units in the areas of science, technology, history and art. Several of its museums are on the Mall. The Smithsonian’s best-known scientific bodies include the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space museum.