Tag: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov

America, Countries

Hail Presidente

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And by rights I should be clinking glasses with Washington DC pals today, Presidents Day, and exclaiming Hail Presidente.

Those very same chums whose friendship I forged seven years ago at the American Travel Fair.

And who were back over this side of the pond as Capital Region hit my old stomping ground of Dublin.

The Capital Region is made up of two states, Maryland and Virginia.

And the District of Colombia which has Washington at its heart.

Now for those of us who haven’t the opportunity to visit all 50 states (I’ve only done half).

Then the Capital Region is the US in miniature.

With liberal Maryland in the North and Virginia in the Southern heartland.

With Washington smack bang in the middle.

At the heart of it all

The New President of America: In Washington DC

That Washington is the centre from which everything branches off is as it should be.

As George remains the embodiment of the nation.

A proud Virginian, and you can visit his estate.

Across the Potomac River in Mount Vernon, his presence looms large in his titular city.

With the Washington Monument obelisk, his favoured choice of a memorial.

In preference to a gaudy horse-drawn statue proposed by his friend Lafayette.

That today is the point on the calendar when Americans mark their presidents is because of Washington.

The Monday nearest his birthday of February 22 designated the day to commemorate all presidents.

City of presidents

Honest Jim: And Honest Abe in Washington

That Americans hold the office of President in such high esteem could best be compared to a British obsession with royalty.

Only, of course, the Brits have their monarchs foisted on them.

Now while you can visit presidential libraries across the country.

For a celebration of the Pres then DC is well, Presidential then DC is well, Presidential.

Now the White House is where every Pres has lived.

Since Washington’s Vice-Pres stepped into his shoes.

And you can channel your inner Pres by visiting although it’s not as easy as it used to be… contact your embassy.

King of the Hill

Capitol idea: On the hill in Washington DC

The Hill is where all the business of the town, the states, the world get done.

And you get a sense of history too at the US Capitol.

Along the National Mall at the other end of the Lincoln Memorial.

While for the mawkish you can stay at the Watergate Hotel, next to the Kennedy Center.

And reflect that despite being bitter political foes Pat Nixon reached out to Jackie Kennedy after JFK was assassinated.

 

 

 

America, Countries

Three generations of The Exorcist

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Fifty years after the release of the scariest film of them all it’s worth a revisit to Georgetown, Washington DC to reveal three generations of The Exorcist in Maryland.

The movie of William Peter Blatty’s masterpiece turned heads and forced priests to flee picture houses when it was released in 1973.

Fans of the movie know of course that the action is set in Georgetown.

Fright night: The Exorcist

And that the stairs where Fr Damien Karras, possessed by Regan and the Devil, hurls himself out of the window, has become a movie buff’s must-visit.

And one site alas I didn’t get to on my ramble around the nation’s capital…

Probably still spooked by the revolving Regan.

By Georgetown

Capitol idea: On the hill in Washington DC

Georgetown, of course, well worthy of your time in DC.

Once you’ve done Ford’s Theatre, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and all the Smithsonians.

You’ll probably be deadbeat but try to save some energy.

For the 75 steps between M Street and Prospect Street

And while in the neighbourhood check out the oldest house in the district.

Honest Jim and Honest Abe in Washington

Built in 1765, the Old Stone House is the oldest standing building in DC.

A simple, 18th century structure, the outside of the house was made with local blue granite.

And it is reputed to have been used as George Washington’s engineering headquarters.

While those who are still interested in exploring American and modern world history (me, every time) then Dumbarton Oaks will be on your list.

It was here that the historic meeting of world leaders took place in 1944.

When they gathered to draw up the United Nations charter.

Dead interesting

Zion mighty: Mount Zion Cemetery in Georgetown

This being Washington the dead vie with the living for pride of place.

With, of course, Arlington Cemetery on every visitors’ itinerary.

Which, of course, the Mount Zion Cemetery, overlooking Rock Creek Park in Georgetown, should be.

This historic cemetery dates back to 1808.

And is one of the city’s oldest all-black burial sites – once reserved for the burial of free blacks.

While just a few blocks away Oak Hill Cemetery should also be on your list.

Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie, was originally buried here until being re-interred with his father in Illinois.

While other luminaries here included Edwin Stanton, Lincoln’s secretary of war, Dean Acheson and Harry S Truman’s secretary of state.

And Philip and Katherine Graham, publishers of the Washington Post.

The real Regan

Problem child: Regan

For you though the sight of Fr Karras’s demise on the Exorcist Steps may be the memorial you most want to visit.

The story of Regan MacNeil owes its origins to the real-life story of Robbie or Roland Doe from 1949.

Thought to be Ronald Hunkeler, who died only three years ago.

In his home town of Marriottsville in Maryland.

The appeal of The Exorcist endures to this day and a 50th anniversary sequel of the movie is coming out in October.

And it will be the first of three follow-ups in the franchise.

The father of a possessed child, desperate for help goes in search of someone who has had similar experiences.

And that’ll be Chris MacNeil, played again by Ellen Burstyn.

So that’s three generations of The Exorcist in Maryland covered.

Just be careful on those steps in Georgetown.

 

 

 

 

America, Countries, Culture

Inauguration and US Precedence

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Or when they sealed off the National Mall for me.

You know you’ve arrived when they do that for you, believe me.

And that is exactly what they did when I visited DC as a guest of the American Travel Fair, IPW.

The 47th President of America: In Washington DC

The National Mall, for those of you watching the inauguration of President Joe Biden today, is the grassy stretch of land from  the Washington Monument to the domed US Capitol.

The White House is to the north.

And flanked by all of this are the magnificent Smithsonian museums.

King for a day

US Capitol and Reflecting Pool, Washington DC

Out on that balmy May evening in Washington we were given the run of the place.

And we were treated to Aloe Blacc singing for us on stage, we were given a reception in the National Air and Space Museum.

Honest Jim and Honest Abe in Washington

The Reflecting Pool which many of you will know from Forrest Gump is the artery from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial.

And, of course, it was the backdrop for Dr Martin Luther King.

I have a dream: The unfinished Martin Luther King statue in Washington DC

And the climax to the Civil Rights March on Washington in 1963 when he delivered his I Have A Dream speech.

Today Joe Biden spoke of unity from a platform in front of the heavily fortified US Capitol.

It is the very same seat of government that was besieged two weeks before.

Civil War memories

Ne-Yo in Washington

Only this year was different.

With Covid and the security threat since the Storming of the Capitol meaning it was a completely different audience.

Only dignitaries, soldiers and the symbolic flags of the 400,000 casualties of the virus in the eye line.

Much has been said about America and the times we are living through.

And President Biden is an eloquent man in his own right and has a team of speech writers to finesse his sentiments.

American hero: In Washington DC

The circumstances of this inauguration and the militarised zone have been likened to the Civil War.

And that naturally conjures up the spirit of Abraham Lincoln.

With malice toward none

View of Washington from Arlington

Lincoln has been channeled regularly by his successors who wish to establish their line to the Great Man.

Few have done him credit.

Only time will tell if President Biden will be able to fulfil the lasting mission of Lincoln.

But the challenge for him and any President is to honour the pledge given on Saturday, March 4, 1865…

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation’s wounds,