George Washington chose the location for the city that bears his name, and serves as the seat of government for the United States of America. Over the course of 200 years, Washington, D.C. has grown with the nation, and it now represents the very best of America.
The giant open space of Washington, D.C.’s Mall is marked off by the various museums of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest cluster of museums in the world. Looking past the mall, the Washington monument stands 505 feet above the city. It was the tallest man made structure in America until the early 1900's. Behind it is the reflecting pool and the memorials dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln and to those whose lives were lost in war. New to the area, a memorial to Franklin Roosevelt lies on the Potomac River. Nearby, the National Holocaust Museum hosts millions of visitors each year. The White House offers free tours, and the lines can sometimes stretch around the adjoining block. Across the river in Arlington, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stands amidst the somber majesty of Arlington National Cemetery, where John and Robert Kennedy are also buried.
