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The National Mall is one of the most visited national parks in the country. The large green open space has three monuments dedicated the people and events in American history.

The Washington Monument was the first monument on the mall. Begun in the 1840s, it was finally completed in 1884 and stands as one of the tallest stone buildings in the world. From the top, vistas allow visitors to see all of the nation's capital. The lines can be long, so it is advisable to reserve tickets in advance.

The World War II Memorial is the most recently opened memorial on the Mall. The large granite structure is built into the ground to be as unobtrusive as possible. When it was first proposed, many people expressed concern that it would break the line of sight from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. The WWII Memorial opened to rave reviews and is certainly worth a visit.

Finally, the Lincoln Memorial anchors the Mall. The Memorial and reflecting pool are perhaps most famous for hosting Martin luther King's "I Have a Dream Speech." The Korean and Vietnam war memorials are on either side of the Lincoln Memorial.

Bordering the mall are a number of very important institutions.



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Lincoln's Cottage is a recently opened museum in Washington DC. The site houses Abraham Lincoln's summer retreat. The cottage is on the grounds of the Soldier's Home in north DC. For nearly a century the home sat unappreciated until the National Trust for Historic Preservation renovated the home and opened an education center.

Historians estimate that Lincoln spent a quarter of his presidency in the home and drafted the Emancipation Proclamation while here.

The home itself is worth a visit, but the accompanying museum makes the visit all the more worthwhile. The education center has a museum that that emphasizes Lincoln's his life in Washington DC and has an award-winning interactive program for students. Before the tour begins, visitors also can enjoy a brief video about the location.



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Gettysburg was site of the bloodiest battle during the Civil War. Today, the field is managed by the National Park Service. Millions flock to this small town in southern Pennsylvania to pay their respects to those who lost their lives there. Abraham Lincoln visited Gettysburg on its first anniversary and delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

The park has recently opened a new visitor center with a compelling movie narrated by Morgan Freeman and a state of the art museum that merges the latest in technology with history. In a few months, the cyclorama will be reopened after refurbishing.



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Labels: civil-war, gettysburg, history, lincoln, travel

Washington Crossing is located in beautiful Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Bucks County is one of the hidden gems in Pennsylvania. A number of wonderful small towns dot the Delaware River, including New Hope, Lumberton, and Yardley in Pennsylvania and Lambertville and Stockton in New Jersey. One can begin their drive in Yardley and following the river visit these towns and enjoy the countryside. There are great restaurants, a number of wineries, and outdoor activities for the family. The quaint towns and shopping opportunities make the location a year-round tourist attraction.

For activities, check out the Peddler's Village, Delaware River Tubing (with the famous Hot Dog Man), Crossing Vineyards, the Bucks COunty Playhouse, and Philip's Mill Inn. Both New Hope and Lambertville, which sit opposite the Delaware River and are joined by a nice walking bridge, house dozens of fantastic restaurants and shops.

The history of Bucks County is nearly as old as Pennsylvania itself. William Penn created the county upon his arrival. Throughout the 18th century, it served as a farming area for predominantly Quaker settlers.

The county became very important during the American Revolution. Although there were several loyalist factions in Bucks County, it is most famous for quartering Patriot troops in the winter of 1776. Washington's army stopped along the Delaware after their retreat from New York. At the time, the tide of war had swung to the British. Washington launched an offensive from Bucks County that helped boost the waning American morale. The famous crossing is memorialized in the painting by Emmanuel Leutze and is reenacted every winter. You can even help choose who will play Washington online at http://www.buckscountycvb.org/

In the 19th century, Bucks County served as the major artery that linked the port of Philadelphia with goods and materials in northeastern Pennsylvania. During the 19th century, states across the country supported internal improvements, massive government-sponsored transportation initiatives meant to spur economic growth. Among other things, Pennsylvania created a 60-mile canal that paralleled the Delaware but offered greater stability for barges to travel on. New Jersey also created a competing canal system on the other side of the Delaware. Today, the trails make for excellent walking, running, and biking paths.



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Labels: delaware, george-washington, history, pennsylvania, revolution, travel, war

Today, Little Round Top offers the best views of the battlefield. During the battle, however, it was the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive conflicts. Confederate troops tried to storm hill, which Union troops occupied. The Union troops repulsed the offensive.



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Springfield, Illinois was Abraham Lincoln's home for many years. The town has many sites that commemorate his time there, including his home, law offices, and the Capital building. Of particular note is the recently opened Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The ALPLM is one of the greatest history museums I have seen. It merges history, technology, education and entertainment seemelessly to create an experience unlike any other.

2008 marks the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. While in Springfield, we visited the Elijah Isles House for dinner and then had a special event at the Old State Capital to commemorate the anniversary of that speech.





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