10 facts about the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove

Did you know there is a living memorial dedicated to President Lyndon B. Johnson in the District? I had first heard there was a memorial about a year or two ago but just stumbled upon it earlier this summer. 

The site is right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. but it is also a hidden gem as it’s not well-advertised and, while it's noted on roadside signs, once entering the location, I found signage to be vague. 

Want to know more? Read on.

10 facts about the Lyndon B. Johnson Memorial Grove

1. Plans for the memorial were started in 1973, shortly after the President’s death. Money for the site was raised by the LBJ Grove Memorial Committee which totaled over $2 million in donations from people all over the U.S. The memorial site was chosen by Lady Bird Johnson.

Path leading up to the memorial

2. Located on Columbia Island, which has since been renamed Lady Bird Johnson Park, the memorial is a serene place sandwiched in between busy roadways, the Boundary Channel and has views of the beautiful Potomac River.  Mrs. Johnson chose this site because she and the President would often stop here as it was a favorite place to relax and reflect.

3. Two parts make up the memorial. The first consists of paths and pine trees and its center is a large granite monolith. Surrounding this section of the memorial are four quotes from LBJ carved into stone on the ground. The second part of the memorial is a grass meadow made up of various trees, flowers and other foliage.

4. The memorial was designed by landscape architect Meade Palmer. The granite was sculpted by Harold Vogel. Mrs. Johnson worked closely with these designers during the process.

5. The granite monolith is 19 feet tall and was quarried in Texas, the home state of LBJ. 

6. There are 900 white pine trees that surround the memorial, except the side that faces the Potomac. Views of D.C. are clear, along with the Washington Monument. Other foliage that frames the memorial include dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendron.

7. The memorial grove opened on April 6, 1976. At the dedication ceremony on this date, Lady Bird Johnson said, 

“This strip of land will always be a special place for me... It appears at the moment when you come over a rise and look down into the Potomac Valley and see the capital spread out with its great monuments... The years never diminished the feeling of pride and elation we felt in those beautiful buildings that belong to all of us.” (courtesy of National Park Service) 

8. You can see the Pentagon across the way from the Columbia Island Marina, which is located on the island where this park is located.

9. Benches are placed in the grove for visitors to sit and also reflect. In the warmer months, you’ll see birds, butterflies, bees and squirrels, to name a few. 

Critter spotted at the memorial site

10. The site is open year-round during daylight hours and closes at dusk.

You can enter Lady Bird Park from the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It’s a little hard to find as once you see the sign directing you to the memorial, when you pull in, we did not see any markers leading us to the grove. You pull into the parking lot and the memorial is off to the right; the marina is straight ahead and then winds to the left of the channel. There are also restrooms and an eatery located next to the parking lot.

Sources:

Personal observation, National Park Service, National Park Foundation 

10 fun facts about Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin

Washington D.C.’s Tidal Basin is probably best known for the thousands of cherry blossom trees that dazzle the region every spring when they bloom. During this time visitors and locals alike flock to this pooled area of water to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Aside from the cherry blossoms, the Tidal Basin also is rich in history. Not to mention is a beautiful place to visit year-round. Want to know more about the Tidal Basin? Read on for some more fun facts. 

Fun facts about the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

1. How large is the Tidal Basin?

This pool of water is a partially man-made body of water, and spans approximately 107 acres, and is about 10 feet deep. It lies between the Potomac River and the Washington Channel.

2. Why was the Tidal Basin built?

A devastating flood took place in 1881 which led to the construction of the Tidal Basin, which began in 1882. Completed in 1897, the area was designed to control the levels of the Potomac River to flush out the silt and sediment from the Washington Channel and to prevent flooding. The engineering involved with building the Tidal Basin created approximately 723 acres of new land and many of the memorials currently stand on that man-made land.

Aerial view of DC showing a portion of the Tidal Basin (I'm inside the Washington Monument when I took this shot)

3. What is the Tidal Basin's original name?

The basin’s original name was “Twining Lake” named after William Johnson Twining, of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Washington DC's first Engineer Commissioner.

4. Is it true there was once a beach at the DC Tidal Basin? 

In the early 20th century a bona fide beach was located near where the Jefferson Memorial stands today and lasted for less than a decade. However, during those years it was “the place” to be according to WETA’s history blog. The official opening came with huge fanfare in 1918 (people had been swimming in the area for a few years before this) and it came with all the things you’d see at any popular beach location, changing rooms, food vendors and other beach-y like amenities. 

Image credit: By National Photo Company Collection. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Tidal Basin Bathing Beach closed in 1925, never to reopen. One of the reasons for the closure was the fact the beach was segregated and funding for a second beach was cut by the Senate in February of 1925. This led to Congress permanently shuttering all beaches at the Tidal Basin. The buildings were demolished and carted away and the summer of 1925 the "shores" were reverted to being "the Tidal Basin". 

5. How much water does it take to fill the Tidal Basin?

In modern day, a whopping 250 million gallons of water from the Potomac River comes into the Tidal Basin twice a day through the inlet gates. This water is also used to keep the water levels in the Lincoln Reflecting Pool consistent, that was a new addition in 2012 after the pool underwent an extensive renovation.

6. How long is the footpath around the Tidal Basin?

The footpath around the Tidal Basin is a 2.1-miles long footpath pedestrians can stroll and enjoy the views. On this walk, you’ll see up close the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the George Mason Memorial (you’ll have to cross a street to see this one). Same with the John Paul Jones Memorial.  

The 2015 cherry blossom peaks were stunning. Many people came to walk around the basin as is customary during this time of year.

7. Can I get to the Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin?

While the monument is not on the basin's footpath, you can get stunning views of the Washington Monument, which is able to be seen from pretty much any point of the National Mall. Taking photos from the Tidal Basin you can get some nice reflection shots of the monument in the water.

Photo taken one morning at dawn

8. Where did the DC cherry blossom trees come from?

The famous Yoshino cherry blossom trees were a gift to the United States from Japan in 1912. They were given by Toyko's Mayor Yukio Ozaki. A total of 3,000 cherry trees were given and some of the original historic trees still remain. You can see the place where the first cherry tree planting took place on March 27, 1912. The busiest time of year in Washington is during the peak views - people flock here each spring to see the blossoms in their magnificence.

Another view of cherry blossom peaks (2016)

[ Related reading: 5 best places to take photos of Washington D.C.'s cherry blossoms ] 

9. What is the significance of the large lantern?

A 350+-year-old 10-foot granite lantern also can be seen. Another gift from Japan, dedicated in 1954, there is a twin in Japan which signifies Japanese-American friendship. It is lit annually during the cherry blossom festival. A Japanese Pagoda, also made of granite and a gift from Japan in 1957, is also located on the Tidal Basin.

10. Paddle boats look fun, can I ride?

Paddle boats are a popular attraction on the Tidal Basin, you can rent by the hour. The rides are seasonal. The boats hold two to four passengers and there are a couple of electronic ones so you don’t have to peddle (I believe those are part of the two passenger option).

There you have it! Ten fun facts about Washington's Tidal Basin. If you haven't been to the Tidal Basin, it's a wonderful walk around if you have the time. Also, it offers some pretty views during sunrises and sunsets. 

Looking for other famous things in DC? I invite you to visit my fun facts about Jefferson Memorial and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool posts.

Additional sources:

Personal observation and experience, National Parks Service, NPS Tidal Basin Loop Trail, A View on Cities

Scenic places to go for a run in Washington DC

If you are a running enthusiast and are looking for a place to run when you're in the Washington D.C. area you'll be happy to learn there are several great places you can head to get your workout in. 

Cherry blossom season is crowded but if you hit it the right time, it's really such a pretty sight as you run

The best part about taking your jog in the District is the beautiful picturesque and scenic areas you can run through. You can choose to run along the many paths located in the heart of the D.C. where the action is at or you can opt to jog along the tranquil beauty of places such as the Potomac River.

Here are a few of the top jogging areas located in the immediate vicinity of the U.S. Capitol: 

National Mall

What better place to go for a jog than right smack in the middle of the spirit of Washington D.C.? There are many terrific paths which wind around the reflecting pool and monuments and capture the true inner beauty of the nation's capital city.

Other routes you can try are around the Tidal Basin or around the grassy areas between the Smithsonian museums.

Many people opt to run these paths daily and one of the best features of this is you can vary it enough where you run a different route every day. I’ve been aiming to work myself up to being able to run the perimeter of the Mall next year. Not quite there yet though!

George Washington Memorial Parkway

The George Washington Memorial Parkway is another ideal setting for a run. This highway, also known as the Mount Vernon trail, is unlike most of the other main thoroughfares located in the D.C. metro area. Technically, it's in Virginia.

The trail runs for approximately 18.5 miles and encompasses many wonderful views. Jog along the scenic Potomac River and, along the way, you'll come across several parks and other pretty views. Running enthusiasts are likely to be pleased with the flat and well-maintained terrain of the trails located here. You can easily run for miles and enjoy the relative tranquility of this highway (as much as you can in this area, as it's hard to escape traffic)!

Great Falls is a park at the northern end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway with many additional trails

Capitol Crescent Trail

This trail was built along the former B&O rail line which is no longer used. The trail runs from Washington D.C.'s Georgetown up to Silver Spring, Maryland. It runs 11 miles, and the 7.5 mile stretch from Georgetown to Bethesda is paved with the remainder constructed of crushed stone. The Crescent Trail is still a work in progress, but many people regularly use this scenic trail as a good place to go for a run.

These are only a handful of the fabulous paths which lead through D.C. and in the surrounding areas. The city itself is very jogger-friendly, but if you look to branch out to the towns and cities which surround the Capitol city you'll find there are also many other wonderful parks and streets you can visit to go for a run as well. One thing we have around here is a lot of straight and flat! (Unlike when I lived in a mountainous area of New York and the roads were mostly all steep and winding).

Photos on Friday: Scenes from the Occoquan River

Earlier this summer, in July, we visited Occoquan, a small town located in Northern Virginia, not too far from I-95. Yet, when visiting, you'd never know you were so close to the interstate. It's a quaint little town and sits on the Occoquan River, which is a tributary of the Potomac River. 

Occoquan's official website compares the town to "Main Street, USA", and I'd have to agree with that assessment.  There were a few shops open on that Friday evening but most were closed, along with a museum I'd love to pop into. The town is seeping with history and I want to learn more about it. 

I plan to go back and do a proper visit and will write a more detailed post at that time. For today's post, I wanted to share some scenes of the river. 

Footbridge across the Occoquan

Small waterfall on the other side of the footbridge

Partial shot of the boardwalk. Nightlife was hopping on that Friday evening.

10 interesting facts about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a highly visited memorial on the National Mall. Conceived in the late 1970s by Jan Scruggs, a service member who was in Vietnam from 1969-70, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was designed as a healing place. Scruggs, who had been an infantry corporal, founded the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. (VVMF), to bring the idea to fruition.

The memorial was designed and built in the early 1980s. Since that time, millions of people have come to visit and remember those who served during this war. The memorial receives about 5.6 million a year.  

10 interesting facts about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1. VVMF (incorporated in April 1979 by a group of Vietnam veterans) lobbied and received legislation, signed by President Jimmy Carter, to have the memorial built. No federal funds were used to build the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The organization raised approximately $9 million through private contributions from businesses, foundations, veterans and other groups, along with 275,000 individual Americans. Three acres were designated for the memorial.

2. The memorial’s design was determined by a nationwide competition. There were stipulations each architect had to follow which included a) must contain the names of every American who died in Vietnam or remained MIA, b) not contain a political statement about the war c) be contemplative in nature and fit within the surrounding areas of the National Mall. More than 1,400 designs were submitted and the winning proposal was created by a Yale architecture student named Maya Ying Lin. It was judged anonymously by a panel of eight artists and designers.

3. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial took three and one-half years to build and was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1982. At this time, control of the memorial was transferred to the National Park Service (NPS).

4. The memorial’s “v-shaped” walls are each 246.75 feet long and are constructed of black granite which comes from Bangalore, India. Each panel is 40 inches in width. The smallest panel has one name and the largest, 137. The Wall starts off narrow and widens as you walk through the Memorial, then narrows off again as you reach the other side. 

5. The names of more than 58,000 U.S. soldiers who were killed during the Vietnam War are inscribed on the 70 panels. They are listed in chronological order by the date of casualty. According to the National Parks Service, the names “begin and end at the origin point, or center, of the memorial where the two walls meet. Having the names begin and end at the center is meant to form a circle – a completion to the war.”

6. The Three Servicemen Statue (unveiled on Veterans Day, 1984) was designed by Washington sculptor Frederic Hart. The statue was cast in bronze by Joel Meisner and Company Foundry.

7. The Vietnam Women’s Memorial Statue (unveiled on Veterans Day, 1993) was designed by Glenna Goodacre, a sculptor from New Mexico. This statue represents the heroism of women who served in the war. 

Photo taken September 2017

8. The Memory Plaque (unveiled Veterans Day, 2004) was added to recognize those soldiers who died due to illnesses and other conditions that were attributed to service during the Vietnam War but whose names were ineligible to be inscribed on the Memorial Wall itself.

9. Many names have been added to the Wall since the Memorial was dedicated. When the Wall was first built, there were 57,939 inscribed names. As of May 2017, the total has risen to 58,318.

10. Every day many people leave photos, flowers and notes at the memorial. Other items left at the base of the panels are military medals, dog tags, and other mementos. These items are gathered each day and taken to a storage facility, located in Maryland. Some of these artifacts are placed on view at traveling exhibits.

In the beginning, the memorial was controversial but today you don’t see too much evidence of that when visiting. For me, I always am overwhelmed when I see all the names listed, it’s very powerful and emotional. According to History.com, the controversy settled down when the additional monuments were added.

This year, 2017, commemorates the 35th anniversary of the Wall.

Additional sources:
https://www.army.mil/article/187530/every_day_is_memorial_day_for_veterans_at_vietnam_wall 

http://www.vvmf.org/news/article=35th-Anniversary-year-for-the-Vietnam-Veterans-Memorial-begins-with-milestone-for-the-virtual-Wall-of-Faces-50,000-photos-collected