Ruth Corcoran Life At Full Throttle
‘The Lincoln Memorial, which honors our 16th president, was as awe-inspiring as I remembered as a child,’ Ruth said.
The Capital Wheel is a monstrous Ferris wheel soaring 180 feet above the Potomac River that offers spectacular views of the Washington Monument, Alexandria, and the surrounding area.
Ruth and her husband visited the World War II Memorial, which honors the service of 16 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Twenty-four bronze panels flank the entrance, while granite columns represent each U.S. state and territory at the time of World War II.
Visitors can tour the Washington Monument, but they need to get tickets in advance. There is a $1 service charge for tickets, and Ruth advises you to get the tickets and take the elevator ride to the top floor, 500 feet above the ground.
They also walked along the Mural Wall, a wall of granite with etchings of over 2,400 period photos of Korean War service members, at the Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Washington DC offers us much more than just politics. It is a vibrant city filled with history, culture and so much more. Best of all, most of the attractions are free. I hadn’t been to DC as a tourist since I was a young child and was looking forward to a return trip.
My husband and I decided it would be a great place for a long weekend this summer. After some research, we decide to stay in National Harbor, the beautiful waterfront area only 11 miles away from DC. National Harbor is filled with restaurants, shops, entertainment, a marina, the famous Capital Wheel, and much more.
National Harbor a great place for families, with a classic carousel and playground for children, boat tours, and even a Topgolf. The Capital Wheel is a monstrous Ferris wheel soaring 180 feet above the Potomac River that offers spectacular views of the Washington Monument, Alexandria, and the surrounding area.
You can also enjoy many free outdoor concerts and movies on the waterfront. While we were there, we watched a lively performance by the U.S. Air Force Band. Every Thursday and Sunday night, there are free movies under the stars on the Potomac. It’s definitely a beautiful place to spend some time if you are in the area. From National Harbor, you can take a water taxi to the Wharf in DC and Old Town Alexandria.
There is so much to do and see in DC. When we visited in mid-June, it was unseasonably warm. We took an Uber to the Lincoln Memorial and began a long walk along the National Mall. The Lincoln Memorial, which honors our 16th president, was as awe-inspiring as I remembered as a child. After climbing the long, monumental staircase you reach a massive entrance lined with iconic columns. Inside the memorial chamber, you will find a statue of seated Abraham Lincoln. He is looking across the long Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument.
We walked to the Korean War Veterans Memorial located just to the southeast of the Lincoln Memorial. A low granite wall lists the names of the 22 countries that battled the North Korean and Chinese Communist forces. Across from the wall was “On Patrol” a triangular field of stainless-steel statues of soldiers. The silence around this memorial was astounding. I was struck by the 19 statues that appeared frozen in time walking across a field, representing the fallen troops who sacrificed everything during the Korean War. We walked along the Mural Wall, a wall of granite with etchings of over 2,400 period photos of Korean War service members. We also saw The Wall and Pool of Remembrance, a new addition, which was just being completed It includes the names of 36,574 American servicemen and 7,114 members of the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army who gave their lives defending the people of South Korea.
When we exited the memorial, we walked to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The memorial wall includes the names of over 58,000 servicemen and women who gave their lives in service during the Vietnam conflict. The wall is 4923 feet and 6 inches long. Here you will also find the Three Servicemen statue, which was the first representation of an African American on the National Mall, and the Vietnam Women’s Memorial, which pays tribute to the more than 265,000 women who served during that era.
We walked along the reflecting pool and Constitution Gardens admiring the beautiful view of the Washington Monument ahead. We stopped to stroll through the World War II Memorial, which honors the service of 16 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces. Twenty-four bronze panels flank the entrance, while granite columns represent each U.S. state and territory at the time of World War II. They circle a pool with water shooting high into the air. A wall of 4,048 gold stars reminds us of the supreme sacrifice made by more than 400,000 Americans. All of the war memorials were very emotional sites.
We veered off of the National Mall to head over to the White House. By now the temperature was soaring into the high nineties and we were searching for shade. Public tours of The White House are available, but they must be requested well in advance for certain days. We didn’t do a tour, but we did enjoy the views from the outside of the White House, the Eisenhower Executive building, and many of the historic buildings in the area, as well as the Lafayette Square area. My husband spotted the Corcoran School of Arts & Design near the White House (no relation) and had to snap a pic.
By now we were in desperate need of air conditioning. A secret service agent outside of the White House recommended the Old Ebbitt Grill around the corner. The oldest saloon in Washington, Old Ebbitt Grill was founded in 1856. This beautiful Victorian setting filled with antiques and memorabilia was the perfect spot for lunch and some refreshing beverages.
Once we were rehydrated, we headed back over to the National Mall to the Washington Monument. Built to honor George Washington, it was the tallest building in the world upon its completion in 1884. It is still an impressive structure looming over you as you approach. Visitors can tour the Washington Monument, but they need to get tickets in advance. There is a $1 service charge for tickets, and I advise you to get the tickets and take the elevator ride to the top floor, 500 feet above the ground.
After a good night’s sleep, we returned to DC for a second day of touring. There are many free museums in the area. If you have the time, they are all worth a visit. They include the National Art Gallery, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of Natural History, which is the most visited natural history museum in the world. There are many others as well and you can’t beat the fact that they are all free to visit. We also stopped at the United States Botanic Garden, a living plant museum, while we were in the area.
Our final stop for the day was the United States Capital Building at the eastern end of the National Mall, 2.2 miles from the Lincoln Memorial. This is what was of most interest to my husband, especially with all of the news coverage of the Capital riots. He was struck by the sheer size and grandeur of this historic building, which covers over 1.5 million square feet and is topped by a magnificent white dome that overlooks the city of Washington. It was very hard to imagine rioters damaging this architecturally stunning and significant building.
We spent our final night in Old Town Alexandria just a short drive or ferry ride from National Harbor and DC. This historic town along the Potomac is filled with history and charm. We strolled along King Street, which is lined with historic sites, boutiques, bars, and restaurants. We ate at a delicious Greek restaurant and ended with another free concert down by the water. Our trip to the DC area was rich in history and new adventures and we plan on returning when the weather is cooler.
Ruth Corcoran is a professional marketer, former restaurant owner, and community advocate. She resides in Bear Creek. Readers can reach Ruth by emailing [email protected]