Wednesday!

On Wednesday we left Reading, Pennsylvania to come home to Jacksonville, Florida. We drove through Washington, DC and got some great pictures, Mar'ria you will love them! The District of Columbia (DC)—identical with the city of Washington; this is just like Jacksonville the district of Duval is the same size as Jacksonville. Washington, DC is the is the capital of the United States. DC history began in 1790 when Congress directed selection of a new capital site, 100 sq mi, along the Potomac. What does 100 square miles mean? The home of government was transferred from Philadelphia to Washington on Dec. 1, 1800, and President John Adams became the first resident in the White House.

What is a government?

Over 200 years ago, our Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. The Constitution is a basic design for how our government should work. The Constitution divides the government into three branches. They are the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

The Legislative Branch

The legislative branch makes laws for the nation. The main lawmaking body of this branch is known as Congress. Congress is made up of two parts, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The Executive Branch

The executive branch makes sure people follow the laws that the legislative branch makes. The leaders of this branch are the President and Vice-President. When making important decisions, the President often asks for advice from a group of 15 helpers, known as the Cabinet. The President lives at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The Judicial Branch

When people are unsure about the meaning of a law, the judicial branch listens to many opinions and makes a decision. The judicial branch is made up of courts. The highest of these courts is the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is made up of 9 judges. They meet at the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.

This is where Congress meets and conducts business. It is located on the east end of the Mall. Construction of the building started in 1792, and its design was changed several times, until it was finished in 1865. The Capitol's most recognizable feature is the 180-foot-high cast iron dome of the Great Rotunda. In addition to its historical association, the Capitol Building is also a vast artistic treasure house.

The 132-room White House is the official residence of the president. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. President George Washington chose the site in 1792 and supervised construction. The mansion was not finished until 1800, so Washington is the only president who never lived in the White House. The British burned the building in 1814, during the War of 1812. The rooms for public functions are on the first floor. The second and third floors are used as the residence of the president and first family. The most celebrated public room is the East Room, where formal receptions take place. Other public rooms are the Red Room, the Green Room and the Blue Room. The State Dining Room is used for formal dinners.

The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., I took this picture at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. Far was I from the White House? When you answer your statement would say, "You were ???? city blocks away from the White House."

Construction of this memorial to the 16th President of the United States started in 1914 and was completed in 1922. It is located on the west end of the Mall. The inside of the memorial is divided into three chambers: central, north and south. A white marble statue of President Lincoln sits in the central chamber. The Gettysburg Address, which Lincoln gave on November 19, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, is in the south chamber. The 36 Doric columns on the outside of the memorial represent the number of states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death in 1865.

Daughters of the American Revolution Hall. We read about this and how they didn't let Marian Anderson sing in it, she went on to sing at the Lincoln Memorial with the Mall filled with people.

Washington Monument. Construction of this monument took nearly a century of planning, building and controversy. The first plans, which were dropped, because it called for a large equestrian statue of George Washington. After Washington's death in 1797, a memorial was discussed, only to be delayed again. Finally, in 1848, work started on the monument that stands today. After more fits and starts, the monument was finished in 1884 and opened to the public in 1888. The tapered shaft, or obelisk, is made of stone and is covered with white marble. The monument stands just over 555 feet. Memorial stones from the 50 States, foreign countries and organizations line the inside walls. The top of the monument, which you can get to only by elevator, provides a panoramic view of the city. We ALL know Ms. Smith DID NOT DO THIS!!! :)

Washington Mall. No Mar'Ria, this isn't the official shopping center of the United States. It is a 146-acre stretch of lawn that extends from the Potomac River to the Capitol Building. The area hosts political rallies, festivals and other events. Many of Washington's famous memorials and the Smithsonian's museums and galleries surround the Mall. The National Park Service maintains the grounds.