Claim

The District of Columbia represents the nation as the capital of the United States and the epitome of excellence and cultural diversity. The inhabitants of the District are rich in culture and traditions that embody the historic landmarks and figures that are found in the capital today. The landmarks and monuments tell a story about life in D.C. before and after significant events that altered the nation forever. Furthermore, they establish the "hidden voices" and perspectives of an individual or group of people that are left out society. Not only do these landmarks amplify the voice of the past but it also develops the minds of the future.

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

The National Law Enforcement Memorial at Judiciary Square honors more than 21,000 law enforcement officers that died in service throughout U.S. history. The memorial features statues of an adult lion and cubs which symbolizes the strength of the fallen law enforcement officers who died while protecting and serving the country. In addition, the memorial also includes two walls with carved in names. The carving in names represents the officers who died in the line of duty. Furthermore, these walls symbolize the strength and resilience of America.

United States Department of Treasury

The United States Department of Treasury is the executive bureau responsible for protecting the financial security and promoting the standards that enable economic growth and stability. The Department is well known for advising the President about economics, encouraging economic growth, and helping other financial institutions. The department strengthens national security by disabling threats and promoting the ethics of the financial system. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury mission the department states that, "the Treasury operates and maintains systems that are critical to the nation's financial infrastructure, such as the production of coin and currency, the disbursement of payments to the American public, revenue collection, and the borrowing of funds necessary to run the federal government.."

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is the nation's oldest and largest library in the world, with millions of books, photographs, newspapers, and much more in its collection. As the nation's oldest federal institution, it serves the United States Congress for research. In addition, visitors can visit the library and special exhibitions from the Libary's collection. The Library preserves and provides access to a diverse source of knowledge. As a result, visitors to the library gain more knowledge.and social awareness.

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is a national park located in Capitol Hill that features monuments of the nation's most powerful leaders. President Lincoln and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune both have monuments that represent a time period when slavery was legal and finally abolished. The Lincoln memorial statue features him holding the Emancipation Proclamation before a kneeling black man. Across the park, Mrs. Bethune statue features her handing a copy of her legacy to two young black children. Both of these statues symbolize the sacrifices that Lincoln and Mrs. Bethune made to uplift African Americans.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

Martin Luther King Jr was an African American Baptist minister and Civil Rights activist that rose to prominence during the 1950's until his assassination in 1968. King is best known for his non-violence and civil obedience approach for the civil rights movement.In addition, his notable, " I Have a Dream" delivered during the March on Washington on August 23, 1963, where King delivered his speech about a world without racism and prejudice. The remarkable speech provided Africans Americans that were not included in society to feel empowered to voice their opinions on racial inequalities.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a U.S. National memorial located on Henry Bacon Drive. The memorial honors veterans who served and lost their lives in the Vietnam War. The memorial includes the names of over 58,000 men and women who sacrificed their lives in the war. In addition, the memorial incorporates Vietnam Women's memorial and the Three Servicemen Statue. The bravery and the voices of the war are now respected and represented forever.

George Mason Memorial

The George Mason Memorial is a national memorial to honor the founding father of the United States, George Mason. Mason was an American patriot who participated in the American Revolution and the creation of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution ratified in 1791. These ten amendments protect guarantee freedoms such as speech, assembly, and worship to every citizen in the United States.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Fredrick Douglass was an African American writer and abolitionist that was prominent in the 19th century. As a former slave, Douglass was taught to read and write by his slave master wife in Baltimore. With the ability to read and write, Douglass began reading newspapers and political material that led him to condemn the institution of slavery. In later years Douglass began to write about his past as a slave and speeches against slavery. Douglass house symbolizes black history and the journey to freedom for African Americans.

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

Kenilworth Aquatic Park is a National Park Service located in Anacostia Park. The park has origins in an act established by Congress in 1926 to preserve the park. Over 4,000 years ago the park was occupied by people who sustain their civilization with the natural resources surrounded. The wetlands sustained their civilization with water, food, and shelter. In the 1800s Watler Shaw discovered the wetlands and decided that they were a good place to build his water garden. Today, we have rediscovered the benefits of wetlands and ponds in the ecosystem.

Lincoln memorial

Built for the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, the Lincoln Memorial shows honor to the former president. As the president of the Republican Party in 1860, he built the party into a stronger national organization. In addition, Lincoln established himself as a Union leader to abolish slavery. On January 1, 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation that declared the freeing of blacks within the Confederacy. Finally, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the nation which gave many blacks a sense of freedom.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian Institution museum established in 2003. The museum collection size is about 33,000 which spotlights prominent African Americans figures and events. In addition, the museum is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, culture, and history. As the only national museum that is devoted to African American specifically, this museum represents the sacrifices and innovations that African Americans made. Furthermore, it expands the knowledge of the future.

African American Civil War Memorial

The African American Civil War Memorial commemorates African Americans who served in the Civil War. Over 200,000 African Americans, sailors and soldiers served in the Army and Navy to help the Union defeat the Confederates. Their services protected the country and freed thousands of black slaves. The memorial mission is to include the "hidden voices" of the United States Colored Troops and amplify them. Furthermore, the memorial honors African Americans service and sacrifice. 

Ben's Chili Bowl- U Street

Ben's Chili Bowl is a landmark restaurant in Washington, DC located on U Street in the Shaw neighborhood. It is historically known for its famous chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes. Founded by Ben Ali, a Trinidadian immigrant, and his fiancee, Virginia Rollins on August 22, 1958.  The restaurant emerged before the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Although the riots devastated the U street corridor and many businesses, Ben's Chili Bowl was still kept open to feed police officers and protesters.

Howard University

Howard University was named after Major General Oliver O. Howard, a Civil War hero and Commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau, a US government agency for blacks. Established in 1867 as an institution to aid freed blacks in the District. The university helped many first-time students who entered the school in May 1867. The students at Howard were young black men and women eager for an education and various opportunities. Howard served as a resource for many blacks who weren't allowed to pursue a higher level of education due to the color of their skin.