My "encyclopedic" guide covers various aspects of the capital of the US. Through memorials, monuments, administrative buildings we learn about Washington, DC and the history of the US.

1. Fulbright Stories.
DCpedia
People and Events “Shaping” the US Capital
Astghik Shahkhatuni

2. Capital of the USA

3. Predecessors
• Washington, District of Columbia; November 17 1800 - present
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 1774 - 1776, 1777, 1778 - 1783,1790 - 1800
• New York City, New York; 1785 - 1790
• Annapolis, Maryland: 1783 - 1784
• York, Pennsylvania: 1777 - 1778
• Princeton, New Jersey: four months in 1783
• Trenton, New Jersey; two months in 1784
• Baltimore, Maryland; two months in 1776 - 1777
• Lancaster, Pennsylvania; one day in 1777

4. PLANNED CITY

5. Why and How?
• To provide its own maintenance and safety
• To make it a federal district distinct from
other states
• To not exceed 10 miles square
• To locate it in the South in order to keep
Union and prevent civil war

6. Non Perfect Square
• Initially – 260 km2
• Now – 177 km2
• Land – 159 km2
• Water – 18 km2

7. Who?
L’Enfant’s plan, Freedom Plaza George Washington
McMillan Plan, the Mall

8. Keeping Family Traditions
• The Washington family coat of
arms in 14th century stained glass
at Selby Abbey, England
• George Washington's family coat
of arms inspired the design of.
• Washington, D.C.'s flag

9. Justice for All
JUSTITIA OMNIBUS

10. Quadrants

11. Marking Territory
Boundary Stones

12. Names, Nicknames and Other Callings
• City of Washington
• Federal City
• Washington City
• Washington
• Territory of Columbia
• District of Columbia
• Ten Miles Square
• District
• DC
• Washington, DC

13. Numbers
Numbers from 1 to 63 max
Half streets, for instance, 9 1/2

14. From A to Z
1st – alphabet letters
B (N) – Constitution Avenue
B (S) – Independence Avenue
No X, Y, Z
No J, since it was similar to I
2nd – 2 syllables names of
famous people
3rd – 3 syllables names of
famous people
4th – names of plants

15. State
Names

16. Address 9
9
NW NE
K
K
SW SE

17. Numbers and Trees
1. Second or 2nd (10,866) 11. Pine (6,170)
2. Third or 3rd (10,131) 12. Maple (6,103)
3. First or 1st (9,898) 13. Cedar (5,644)
4. Fourth or 4th (9,190) 14. Eighth or 8th (5,524)
5. Park (8,926) 15. Elm (5,233)
6. Fifth or 5th (8,186) 16. View (5,202)
7. Main (7,644) 17. Washington (4,974)
8. Sixth or 6th (7,283) 18. Ninth or 9th (4,908)
9. Oak (6,946) 19. Lake (4,901)
10. Seventh or 7th (6,377) 20. Hill (4,877)
Most Common Street Names in the US

18. Heart of DC
Smithsonian Institution Museums
More Museums
Memorials

19. “Main Street”
National Mall

20. Uses of National Mall

21. Most Crowded
July 4th
Cherry blossoms
Georgetown on Halloween Inauguration

22. Reflecting History

23. MEMORIALS TO
IMPORTANT EVENTS

24. Whatever it Takes
Arlington National Cemetery, VA

25. The Circle
Freedom Wall, 4 048 golden stars
National World War II Memorial

26. Sacrifice, Loyalty and Heroism
National Japanese American Memorial
To Patriotism During World War II

27. The Wall
Vietnam Veterans Memorial

28. War and Peace
DC World War I Memorial
Peace Monument
Civil War Memorial
Korean War Memorial

29. Armed Forces
US Navy Memorial, DC

30. Armed Forces
US Air Force Memorial, Arlington, VA

31. Armed Forces
Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington, VA

32. Secrets and Tricks
National Cryptological Museum, MD

33. Goddess of Democracy
Victims of Communism Memorial, DC

34. 9/11
Pentagon Memorial
Arlington Cemetery

35. You are my witnesses…
Holocaust Memorial Museum

36. Grateful Armenians
Motherland Memorial

37. MEMORIALS TO
TOP PRESIDENTS

38. 1st Place George Washington
1732 - 1799
1st US President
1789 - 1797
Washington Monument

39. Why so Simple?

40. 2nd Place
Abraham Lincoln
1809 - 1865
Abraham Lincoln Memorial
16th US President
1861 - 1865

41. 2nd Place
Abraham Lincoln
1809 - 1865
16th US President
1861 - 1865

42. Unfortunate Place
Ford Theatre

43. Becoming a God
Enthroned Washington,
Zeus Olympios American History Museum,
Smithsonian Institution, DC

44. Becoming a God
“Apotheosis of Washington”, Fresco on US Capitol Dome

45. Becoming a God
“Apotheosis” of Lincoln

46. 3rd Place Franklin Roosevelt
1882 - 1945
Franklin Roosevelt Memorial 32nd US President
1933 - 1945
The only thing we have
to fear is fear itself.

47. 4th Place Thomas Jefferson
1743 - 1826
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
3rd US President
1801 - 1809

48. 5th Place Theodore Roosevelt
1858 – 1919
Theodore Roosevelt Memorial
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
26th US President
1901 - 1909

49. 1st Place Popular Vote John Kennedy
1917 - 1963
John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame
35th US President
1961 - 1963
Ask not what your country can do for you;
ask what you can do for your country.
Common enemies of man:
Tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself
J.F.K. Memorial Center for Performing Arts

50. 2nd Place Popular Vote Ronald Reagan
1911 - 2004
Ronald Reagan National Airport
40th US President
1981 - 1989
“Peace through strength” or “firm but fair”
Naming Soviet Union as “Evil Empire”
Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!
Ronald Reagan Building
2st largest federal building in DC

51. Meet with Presidents
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, DC
• Presidents’ Hall

52. IN HONOR OF
FOUNDING FATHERS

53. See the History
• Declaration of
Independence
• Constitution
• Bill of Rights
• Louisiana
Purchase
• Emancipation
Proclamation
• Copy of 1297
Magna Carta
National Archives Building

54. Father of the Country
Mount Vernon, VA
George Washington’s Estate
First in War, First in Peace,
First in Hearts of his Countrymen

55. Freemason
George Washington Masonic National Memorial,
Alexandria, VA

56. Read and Learn
Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Building

57. Read and Learn
Library of Congress
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Building

58. Father of Constitution James Madison
1751 - 1836
4th US President
Library of Congress 1809 - 1817
James Madison Memorial Building

59. Father of President John Adams
1735 - 1826
2nd US President
Library of Congress 1797 – 1801
John Adams Building 1st US Vice-President
1789-1797
John Quincy Adams, 6th US President

60. Player Alexander Hamilton
1755 - 1804
US Treasury building
1st US Secretary of Treasury
1789 - 1795

61. Inventor Benjamin Franklin
1706 - 1790
1st US
Postmaster General
1775 - 1776
Old Post Office building

62. Victim of a Legend John Jay
1745 - 1829
1st US Chief Justice
1789 - 1795
US Supreme Court
No J street in DC
But there is Jay Street

63. Forgotten Founding Father
George Mason
1725 - 1792
George Mason Memorial

64. MORE
APPRECIATED PEOPLE

65. Christopher Columbus
Simply Founder 1451 - 1506
1st time landed in America
1492
Columbus Memorial Fountain
Union Station
TO THE MEMORY OF CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WHOSE HIGH FAITH
AND INDOMITABLE COURAGE GAVE TO MANKIND A NEW WORLD.

66. “Those Damn Lobbyists” Ulysses Grant
1822 - 1886
18th US President
1869 - 1877
Ulysses Grant Memorial

67. Recycling Andrew Jackson
1767 - 1845
Andrew Jackson Memorial
7th US President
1829 - 1837

68. International Help
Marquis de Baron von Comte de Thaddeus
Lafayette Steuben Rochambeau Kosciuszko
French Prussian French Polish
Statues to Heroes of American Revolutionary War at Lafayette Square

69. “Competing” with G. Washington
or when 4 is bigger than 5
Pershing Park
John Pershing
US General of Armies

70. Scandal Richard Nixon
1735 - 1826
37th US President
1969 - 1974
36th US Vice-President
1953 - 1961
Watergate Hotel

71. ADMINISTRATION
IMPORTANT BUILDINGS

72. Inside the Beltway

73. Where Famous Americans Lived
6 stories White House
5,100 m² floor space 147 windows a jogging track 5 full-time chefs
132 rooms 28 fireplaces a swimming pool a tennis court
35 bathrooms 8 staircases a putting green a bowling alley
412 doors 3 elevators 5,000 visitors a day a movie theater

74. Where Famous Americans Lived

75. White House, but Colorful Rooms

76. Countdown
Capitol

77. Important Buildings
Vice President’s Residence, USNO
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
St. John's Episcopal Church
Willard Hotel, The Residence of Presidents The Church of Presidents

78. Visible and Invisible Forces
Pentagon, Arlington, VA
1st largest federal building
FBI headquarters, DC CIA headquarters, McLean, VA

79. Houses of Departments
Harry S. Truman Building
Department of State Robert F. Kennedy Building
3rd largest federal building Department of Justice
James Forrestal Building
Department of Energy
Jamie L. Whitten Building Herbert C. Hoover Building
Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce

80. Money, Money, Money
Cost several cents
7000 tons of worn out currency
44% are 1 dollar bills
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Blend of linen and cotton
Wash but do not bleach
All the same size

81. HIGHEST POINTS
“LIGHTHOUSES”

82. Unbeatable
169m
Washington Monument

83. 1 st Place
100m
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

84. 2 nd Place
96 m
Old Post Office Building

85. 3 rd Place
92 m
National Cathedral

86. 4 th Place
88 m
US Capitol Building

87. Tallest Statue
6m
Statue of Freedom

88. Across the River
Rosslyn, Arlington, Virginia

89. RESIDENTS
WASHINGTONIANS

90. People and Events

91. Art and Diversity
Adams Morgan

92. Old and Young
Georgetown
Former Riggs Bank Building
Shops and Restaurants
Old Stone House Washington Harbor

93. Guest Houses

94. Two Camps

95. Learning Houses
National War College
George Washington University Gallaudet University
Howard University Georgetown University

96. Religious Houses
Islamic Center and Mosque
St. Mary’s Armenian St. Nicholas Cathedral
Apostolic Church
St. John Baptist Russian The Church of Jesus Christ
Orthodox Church Sixth and I Historic Synagogue of Latter-day Saints

97. Sport Houses
Nationals Stadium
Home of Washington Nationals, Baseball
R.F.Kennedy Stadium
Home of D.C. United, Soccer
Verizon Center
Home of Washington Capitals, Hockey FedEx Field Stadium, MD
Wizards and Mystics, Basketball Home of Washington Redskins, NFL

98. Humor
Strike While the Irony's Hot!

99. Collaboration of Human and Nature
Meridian Hill Park
Dumbarton Oaks Park
Rock Creek Park National Arboretum

100. Beautiful Flowers
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

101. Animal House
National Zoo, Smithsonian Institution

102. National River or National Disgrace,
but Fun Anyway
The Potomac River

103. More Water
Neptune Fountain, Library of Congress Bartholdi Fountain
Dupont Circle Fountain Senate Garage Fountain

104. GETTING AROUND

105. Old Good Mules
C&O Canal
(Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal)

106. To Drive or not to Drive
• 2nd worst traffic in the country
• 60 hours delay a year
• Expensive and limited parking
• Metro and buses
• 2nd highest use of public transportation
• About 40% uses public transportation

107. Octopus
5 metro lines
86 stations
1 000 000 trips

108. Discrimination in Metro
No food
No drinks

109. Being in Others’ Shoes
Arlington Memorial Bridge

110. Stalking George Washington
GW Memorial Parkway – Road to Adventure

111. Conclusion
• There is a lot to see and explore in DC
• Learn about US history by exploring DC
• Learn about people who founded and
contributed to the USA
• Learn about most important events in the
history of US
• Have fun in various museums, parks,
theatres, and stadiums

112. TEST
QUESTIONS

113. What is Where?
Smithsonian Institution Museums
More Museums
Memorials

114. Who is the First President
of the USA?
Statue in Washington Circle, DC

115. These Memorials are Dedicated to…

116. These Memorials are Dedicated to…

117. These Memorials are Dedicated to…

118. These Memorials are Dedicated to…

119. These Memorials are Dedicated to…

120. Where Have You Seen This Pose?
TO THE BRAVE MEN
WHO PERISHED
IN THE WRECK
OF THE TITANIC
APRIL 15 1912
THEY GAVE THEIR
LIVES THAT WOMEN
AND CHILDREN
MIGHT BE SAVED
ERECTED BY THE
WOMEN OF AMERICA
Titanic Memorial

121. What is the Tallest
Structure in DC?

122. Who Lives in this House Now?
Who Else Lived in this House?

123. Who is this Man?
Albert Einstein
In front of National Academy of Sciences, DC

124. Who are these People?

125. Who are these People?

126. Who are these People?

127. Who are these People?

128. Who are these People?

129. Who are these People?

130. Who are these People?

131. Can You Name America’s Favorites?
2nd place 6th place
1st place and 9th place 12th place
5th place
7th place
3rd place 4th place
10th place

132. Find Similarities
?
?
Hovhannes Ayvazovski Jeanne of Arc
Yerevan DC

133. Find Differences
Washington, DC Yerevan

134. What is the Name of
“National River”?
Potomac

135. Which of these are in DC?
Barry Flanagan
Hare on Bell
Cafesjian Museum, Yerevan
The Drummer
Hirshhorn Museum and
Sculpture Garden, DC
The Boxer Acrobats
Cafesjian Museum The Thinker Cafesjian Museum
Yerevan National Gallery of Art Yerevan
Sculpture Garden, DC

136. Name these buildings

137. Name these buildings

138. Name these buildings

139. Name these buildings

140. In what State the US
Capital is Located?

141. Can You Recognize DC at Night?

142. Who is the Most Popular
Washingtonian Now?

143. What can you Recognize and
Name in this Picture?

144. What can you Recognize Here?

145. Which Side is
Better?
Great Falls
Virginia Maryland

146. What is the most Expensive Animal?
National Zoo, Smithsonian Institution

147. Snowmageddon
Snow Mall

148. Snowmageddon
A Bench A Parking Lot
Empty Shelves

149. Snowmangeddon

150. Flowering DC
Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Basin, DC, April 1, 2010

151. Flowering DC
Cherry Blossoms at Tidal Basin,
DC, April 1, 2010

152. Occupied by UFOs
Kite Festival, National Mall,
DC, March 27, 2010

153. What Metal is Used for the Top?
1. Gold 3. Platinum
2. Silver 4. Aluminum

154. Do You Know These Words?
• Escalefter
• Conseaterate
• PlanBdextrous
• Sumpnspicious
• Doorker

155. What Connects these two Cities?
Alexandria, VA Gyumri

156. Home, Sweet Home
Annual Armenian Festival in Alexandria, VA, 2006-2010

157. Home, Sweet Home
Annual Armenian Festival in Alexandria, VA, 2006-2010

158. Who are the Greatest
American Presidents?
Mount Rushmore, SD, not DC

159. Who is the Greatest
Audience in the World?

160. Who is the Best Tour Guide and
Advertiser of DC and USA?

161. Thank You Very Much
• Wikipedia and all the people on Internet, who
post stories and pictures about DC and USA
• My friends, due to whom I visited and
explored DC and USA
• Fulbright Grant, for opportunity to study in DC
• My audience, for patience
• My parents, for support in everything I do