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More Government Resources: Democracy - Historical Documents - Three Branches
Washington
D.C. is the capital of the United States and it serves
as the headquarters
of the federal government. The President
of the United States, the members of Congress,
the Supreme
Court justices, and about 370,000 other federal government
employees work in the Washington area.
Washington D.C. lies in the southeastern United States, between Maryland and Virginia. It is the only American city or town that is not part of a state. Washington covers the entire area of the District of Columbia, a section of land that is under the jurisdiction of the federal government. Most of Washington's government buildings, famous monuments and museums, and other tourist attractions are located in the west-central part of the city. This area extends from Capitol Hill, which rises near the center of the city, west to the Potomac River.
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is near the center of Washington. Several huge government buildings stand on the hill. They include the United States Capitol, congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court Building, and the conservatory of the United States Botanic Garden. Go to The United States Capitol Building section of this web site to learn more about that federal building.
Library
of Congress is probably the world's largest library. Its
huge collection of about 100 million items includes books,
manuscripts, films, and recordings. The library serves the
reference needs of Congress and the research needs of scholars.
The public may also use its materials and tour the buildings.
Items of special interest include most of Mathew
Brady's Civil War photographs, Scrolls
from the Dead Sea, and two copies of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address that were handwritten by Lincoln.
The National Mall
The National Mall, or simply the Mall, is a long, narrow park like area that stretches westward from Capitol Hill. This is the location of some of the city's leading tourist attractions and the site for many festivals, demonstrations, and celebrations. Several outstanding museums that are part of the Smithsonian Institution are located along the Mall west of Capitol Hill. The Smithsonian Institution operates cultural, educational, and scientific facilities throughout Washington, D.C. The facilities include several museums on the Mall that house a total of more than 130 million items.
Farther
west are the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. The Washington
Monument is a slender, white marble pillar dedicated to
the memory of George
Washington. It is the tallest structure in Washington,
D.C. rising 555 feet 51/8 inches. An elevator inside carries
visitors to the top. Lincoln
Memorial is a white marble monument that honors Abraham
Lincoln. On the outside, 36 columns (one for each state
that existed when Lincoln died) support the roof. Inside is
a majestic marble statue of Lincoln seated in a chair.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located east of the Lincoln Memorial. This is a dedication to those who served in the Vietnam War; it includes two black granite walls that meet at an angle. The names of all Americans who died in the war, or who remained classified as missing in action when the walls were built, are inscribed on the two black granite walls. The memorial also includes large bronze sculptures of servicemen and servicewomen.
The
Korean War Veterans Memorial is also east of the
Lincoln Memorial. It includes 19 large stainless steel sculptures
of American Korean War servicemen. It includes a black granite
wall that reflects the sculptures. The wall has engraved images
of about 2,500 nurses, mechanics, and other military people
who served in Korea.
The Jefferson Memorial and the Roosevelt Memorial lie south of the Washington Monument. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is a shrine to the third President of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial is a white marble circular building with a porch supported by 12 columns. A 19-foot statue of Jefferson by the American sculptor Rudulph Evans stands inside the memorial.
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial honors Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States. The FDR Memorial covers about 71/2 acres and includes four partially walled-off areas called rooms. Each room represents one of Roosevelt's terms.
North of the Mall
Many government buildings are located in the area north of the Mall. Most of them stand along or near Pennsylvania Avenue. This broad, tree-lined street runs 
northwestward from Capitol Hill. It connects the Capitol and the White House, and serves as Washington's main parade route. The White House is the most important government building in the area. Go to the White House section of this web site to learn more about this building. Most of the other buildings house offices of the executive branch of the government.
Many tourists like to visit the National Archives and the headquarters of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The National Archives stores government documents. It displays three of the most important documents for public viewing. These are the original copies of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. At FBI headquarters, bureau agents conduct tours that feature highlights of the agency's history and show how the FBI works today. The tours end with a demonstration of agents taking target practice. Don't miss the FBI's Kid's web site.
Ford's Theatre, the playhouse where Abraham Lincoln was shot, stands about 1 1/2 blocks north of Pennsylvania Avenue, between the White House and Capitol. The theater houses a collection of items related to Lincoln's life and death. Petersen House, the house where Lincoln died, is across the street from the theater.
South of the Mall
Originally,
almost all the executive branch buildings were located near
the White House. But the executive branch has grown tremendously
and has spread out to other parts of Washington. Several government
buildings now stand south of the Mall. They include the buildings
of six executive departments. These departments are Agriculture, Education, Energy, Health and
Human Services, Housing
and Urban Development, and Transportation.
In addition, the United
States Postal Service, is south of the Mall.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a major tourist attraction south of the Mall. There, government workers engrave and print the country's paper money. Many visitors flock to the bureau to see these fascinating processes. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum stands next to the bureau's buildings. The Holocaust Museum's exhibits honor the millions of Jews and other people murdered by the Nazis during World War II.
Other Points of Interest
The Washington area has dozens of interesting sights in addition to those already described.
John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts borders the Potomac
River northwest of the Lincoln Memorial. Drama groups,
ballet and opera companies, and orchestras from all parts
of the world perform in this modern building. The Kennedy
Center also serves as the permanent residence of the American
Film Institute, the Washington
Opera, and the National
Symphony Orchestra.
National Zoological Park is a zoo about 2 miles north of the White House. The zoo contains more than 4,000 animals. Pentagon Building, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, is known as the world's largest office building. It covers 29 acres in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington. Arlington National Cemetery, which lies northwest of the Pentagon in Arlington, contains the graves of thousands of men and women who served in the United States armed forces. It includes the Tomb of the Unknowns, where four unidentified servicemen who died in action are buried. The cemetery also includes the gravesites of President John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline; and of President William Howard Taft.
Marine
Corps War Memorial, north of Arlington Cemetery, ranks
among Washington's most famous monuments. Often called the
Iwo Jima Statue, this dramatic bronze sculpture shows five
marines and a Navy medical corpsman raising the American flag
on the island of Iwo Jima during World
War II. Mount
Vernon was the private estate of George Washington. It
is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 15 miles
south of the city. The first President's home, many of his
belongings, and his grave are there.
The United States Capitol Building
The
Capitol of the United States is located on Capitol
Hill in Washington, D.C. This is the building where Congress
meets. Built in the 19th-century neoclassical style, the building
consists of two wings that extend north and south of a central
section. A huge white dome rests on the central section of the building. On top of the
dome stands the Statue
of Freedom - a 191/2 feet high figure of a woman wearing
a headdress of eagle feathers and holding a sword and shield.
The Capitol has 540 rooms, including offices and reception rooms. Many rooms hold mementos of U.S. history as well as paintings and sculptures by some of the country's greatest artists. Construction of the original building took thirty-four years [1793-1827] and was directed by six presidents and six architects.
The idea of a permanent capital for the government of the
United States was first raised by Congress in 1783. In 1791,
President Washington selected the area
that is now the District of Columbia from the land ceded by
the state of Maryland. In 1792, the government held
a contest
for a Capitol design. A doctor and amateur architect named William
Thornton, submitted the winning entry. It is interesting
to see how the Capitol would
have looked if it had been completed according to the
designs of Thornton.
President George Washington laid the building's cornerstone in 1793, but construction proceeded slowly under a succession of architects, including Stephen Hallet (1793), George Hadfield (1795-98) and James Hoban (1798-1802), the architect who completed the Senate wing in 1800. This allowed Congress to move from Philadelphia into the north wing of the Capitol. The Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and the courts of the District of Columbia were able to occupy the Capitol in late 1800.
In
1803, Congress allocated funds to resume construction. Benjamin
Henry Latrobe, the first professional architect and engineer
to work in America, was hired to oversee the renewed construction
effort. Latrobe proposed
design changes to Thornton's plan. By 1807 enough
construction was completed to allow the House of Representatives
to move into the south wing. This wing was completed
in 1811, but further projects were difficult to complete because
funding was being spent on a second war with Great Britain,
known as The
War of 1812. On August 24, 1814, British troops set fire
to the building. Latrobe was rehired in 1815 to restore
the Capitol, however not much progress was made and he resigned
in 1817.
1818, Charles
Bulfinch, a Boston architect, replaced Latrobe.
Over an eleven year period he worked on restoring the north
and south wings and the center section. In 1827 the Capitol
Building was completed. By 1851, however, construction
began again because it was too small for the increasing numbers
of senators and representatives from newly admitted states. Thomas
U. Walter, a Philadelphia architect, was chosen to expand
the capitol. By 1856 the old dome was replaced with
new fireproof, cast-iron
dome and in 1863 the Statue
of Freedom was placed on top of the dome. The Capitol
extensions were completed in 1868.
Additional restorations and renovations have been made to the Capitol over the years. If you are interested in learning more about the history of this important building, two excellent web sites have been created on this topic:
- The United States Capitol - developed by the Architect of the Capitol
- Temple of Liberty: Building the Capitol for a New Nation - developed by the Library of Congress
The Capitol Building was used in early advertisements:
- Uneeda Biscuit Advertisement, c. 1900 Copyprint United States Senate Collection, Washington (258)
- Quaker Wheat Berries Advertisement, c. 1900 Copyprint Warshaw Collection National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (260)
- Durham System Advertisement, c. 1925 Copyprint United States Senate Collection, Washington (261)
Images from The United States Capitol web site: http://www.aoc.gov/cc/architecture/index.cfm
The White
House is the official residence of the President United
States and his family. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue in Washington, D.C, it is one of the most popular tourist
attractions in the country receiving approximately 6,000 visitors
a day. Not all presidents, however, got to live in the White
House. Our first President, George
Washington, picked the site on the Potomac River in the
late 1700's. A contest was held to select a designer
for the house and James
Hoban won the contest. Washington was president during
the construction of the White House, but he never lived there.
John Adams, the second president, was the first to live in the White House. During the War of 1812 British soldiers set fire to the White House. You can view some photographs of the fire. James Madison was the president at the time and his wife, Dolly Madison, stayed behind until the very last minute to collect important papers. Take a moment to read the letter Dolly wrote to her sister the day before the burning.
Learn about the history of this famous building while taking
a virtual
tour, and then try to answer these questions: 
- Which room did the Theodore Roosevelt Administration host a wrestling match in?
- The White House has a Blue Room, Green Room, and a Red Room. Did you discover which room is sometimes called the Gold Room?
- What was the room that is now the Library used for prior to 1902?
- During World War II President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the Map Room to follow the course of the war. What is the room used for now?
- Does the China Room actually have china in it?
- Which room does the president sign bills and Executive Orders and meet with staff, visitors, and guests?
Activities
- It’s your chance to be President of the United States with this online simulation activity. Have fun!
- Many of the presidents had children that lived with them in the White House. Read some amusing stories about these kids.
- Explore the interactive map of the President's Neighborhood.
- Examine these baffling photographs of historical White House events while taking an online quiz.
- Here are some learning activities for K-12 students.
- Tour the Twentieth Century American Sculpture at the Whitehouse.
You can learn a lot more about the White House by Exploring these Internet Sites:
- The White House Page (White House for Kids has a tour, newsletter and Historic Moments just for kids.)
- National Geographic's Inside the White House (The Learn More section has K - 12 activities.)
- The White House Historical Association (Don't miss The Learning Center.)
Salt Lake City is the capital city of Utah. It lies in a
mountain valley with the Wasatch
Mountains (pdf) to the east and north and the Oquirrh
Mountains (pronounced “oaker”) border the western
edge of the valley. The city is named after the Great
Salt Lake which is nearby. This lake is unusual
because it is saltier than the oceans. The reason for this
is 
because
its waters do not drain away, instead they evaporate, leaving
salt behind. If you go out to see the lake, be sure to visit Saltair,
a former resort and amusement park. Now it is used as
a concert venue.
One of Salt Lake City's most popular places to visit is Temple
Square - the center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. Here one can find the Mormon
Temple and the Tabernacle. The Mormon
Tabernacle is famous for its choir and large organ. Temple Square is located in the very heart
of downtown Salt Lake City. Nearby, you will also find
the City
and County building and the Scott
Matheson Courthouse. The City and 
County building is where city officials conduct government
business.
Also in downtown Salt Lake City is the Clark Planetarium. The planetarium has a space museum with lots of exhibits and it presents daily star shows and laser music concerts. If you are looking for a different type of music, visit the Utah Symphony in Maurice Abravanel Hall, acclaimed as one of the world's great concert halls. The Tracy Aviary is another great place to visit. It is home to over 1000 birds, including peacocks, eagles and owls. Salt Lake's Hogle Zoo is also home to some birds and other animals.
Across the street from the zoo is the This is the Place State Park where you can explore the Old Deseret Village: a re-creation of a Mormon village during 1847 and 1869. This park is also where the famous This is the Place monument is located. Legend has it that this is where Brigham Young, leader of the Mormon pioneers, declared "This is the place!" In addition, the historical Mormon wagon train trek, from Nauvoo, Ill., to Salt Lake City ended here.
Near these historical markers is the University of Utah campus which was one of the venues for the 2002 Winter Games. (Check out the 2002 Olympic Education site to learn more about the other venues that participated in the games.) The U of U is also where you can find the Utah Museum of Natural History. This museum contains collections from The University of Utah departments of anthropology, biology and geology.
The Utah State Capitol stands in the northern part of downtown Salt Lake City. It was completed in 1914 and patterned after the nation's capitol. The building contains the various architectural symbolism of American democracy: the dome, the balanced wings for the divisions of government, and the classic Greek and Roman decorative elements. The columns, along with the rest of the exterior, were constructed from granite taken from Little Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County.
It is much different than Utah's first Capitol Building located in Fillmore, Utah. Prior to statehood, the first legislative assembly of the territory chose Fillmore in Millard County for their capitol building because it was nearly in the geographical center of this large territory. In 1855 one section of the building was completed, and the legislature met there for 3 sessions. However, most legislators found that Fillmore was too far from Salt Lake, the economic center of the territory, and they voted to move the capitol building to its present location. Today, the building in Fillmore is a museum of pioneer artifacts run by the State of Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.