Washington

Washington, D.C, is the capital of the United States. It is also one of the country's most beautiful and historic cities, and the site of many of its most popular tourist attractions.

Washington is one of the few cities in the world that was designed before it was built. President George Washington chose the city's site in 1791. He hired Pierre Charles L'Enfant, a French engineer, to draw up plans for the city. Washington replaced Philadelphia as the nation's capital in 1800.

Washington lies in the south eastern United States, between Maryland and Virginia. It is the only American town that is not part of a state. Washington covers the entire area of the District of Columbia .

Washington serves as the headquarters of the federal government. The President of the United States, the members of Congress, the Supreme Court justices, and other federal government officials work in the Washington area. The city is a symbol of the American people's unity, history, and democratic tradition.

Most of Washington's government buildings, famous monuments and museums are located in the west-central part of the city. This area extends from Capitol Hill, which rises near the centre of the city, westward to the Potomac River. A long, narrow park line area stretches from Capitol Hill. It is called the National Mall, or simply the Mall. Several outstanding museums that are part of the Smithsonian Institution stand along the Mall. National Air and Space Museum has exhibits that trace the history of flight. National Museum of American History has large collections of historical automobiles, railroad trains, and industrial machin- ery. If also houses an enormous collection of everyday ob­jects from the past, and displays the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the national anthem. National Museum of Natural History exhibits stuffed animals from many parts of the world, and skeletons of prehistoric animals. Its outstanding gem collection includes the famous Hope Diamond. The National Gallery of Art, which houses a world- famous collection of paintings and sculptures by Americans and Europeans is also located there.

Farther west are the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial. Washington Monument is a towering, white marble obelisk dedicated to the memory of George Washington, the tallest structure in the city. It rises 16929 meters. From the top, a person can see much of the Washington area.

Lincoln Memorial is a temple like white marble monument that honors Abraham Lincoln. A long, narrow body of water, called the Reflecting Pool, lies between these two structures. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located not far from the Lincoln Memorial. It includes two black granite walls that meet at an angle. The names of all Americans who died in the war are inscribed on the walls.

The White House, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, has served as the home and the office of every United States President except George Washington. Five of its rooms are open to the public. They are the Blue Room, East Room, Green Room, Red Room, and State Dining Room.

Other tourist attractions of the nation's capital include John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, National Zoological Park, Pentagon Building , and Arlington National Cemet ery , where President John F. Kennedy, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy are buried.

Washington has no large industrial areas. This is so because government, rather than manufacturing or trade, has always been the city's main business.

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