Visiting Washington DC with groups

Every year 22 million visitors come to Washington DC. The spring is perhaps the busiest time of the year for school groups. If you can the fall would be better for your school than the spring for several different reasons.There  are less people . Second hotel rates and airline rates are cheaper .It is much easier to get into government building . For example if you bring your group in the spring you will need tickets for the Bureau of Engraving and Printing , Washington Monument, Fords Theater and the Holocaust Memorial museum . If you come in the fall you will not need tickets for any of them.

If you do visit Washington DC in the spring here are some tips. If you  would like for your group to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier it is a very easy way to do it.

 Wreath Laying Ceremonies: (Requests must be received in writing)

(703) 607-8559

*For school and civic organizations coming to Washington, D.C., that wish to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  A representative of the requesting organization must write to Arlington National Cemetery, Attn: Public Wreath Ceremonies, Arlington, VA 22211 on organizational letterhead.  The sender should indicate on the outside of the envelope that it is a "wreath-laying request."  The letter should indicate when the group is visiting, its schedule limitations, and complete contact information.  A representative of Arlington National Cemetery Public Wreath Coordinator will thereafter call to make further arrangements and provide further instructions should the date appear open.No fax or email accepted
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 National Archives. If you ever waited in the national Archives this link will help you.http://www.blogger.com/goog_1682204785

 national archives

This link will help you reserve a space for a self guided tour of the Archives building. You will be able go into the special events entrance which is on the Constitution Avenue entrance.


The tickets for the the Capital can be obtain at www.aoc.gov. You will be able to order up to 10 tickets . I would advise you to allow at least 2 hours for the tour , going through security and picking up your tickets. You will be shown a video and a walking tour of the Capital.

The Supreme is across the street from the Capital. The tours of the Supreme are every half an hour beginning at 9:30am. Keep in mind during the spring the court will be meeting on Monday , Tuesday, and sometimes on Wednesday. When the court meets , tours are not conducted but you can you can see a hearing.

Washington dc is a great and interesting city . Come see for yourself

Anacostia/ The first suburb of Washington

In early 1850's some of the men who worked at the navy yard wanted their on neighborhood . In their neighborhood if you were black, of Irish decent or if you boiled soap( it seems boiling soap smelled really bad) you were not allowed in their neighborhood. The neighborhood was called Uniontown. Three men John Fox, John Van Hook and John Dobler bought a 240 acre farm from a blacksmith name Enoch Tucker. Uniontown was laid in a 17 block grid. At first selling of the lots was going well . The recession of the 1870's put an end to the good fortune of three John. In the fall of 1878 Frederick Douglass bought a home in Uniontown. John Dobler needed money . For the sum $6,700 Mr. Douglass acquired from Dobler. The house had 14 rooms. The house was later enlarged to 21 rooms . Improvements to the house between the 1878 to 1888 were a two story addition in the rear of the house.
Next to Uniontown was the neighborhood of Barry Farms. General Oliver Otis Howard was in charge of finding housing for newly freed blacks. Howard obtain a farm near Uniontown. Blacks were allowed to purchase lots 24 feet wide 130 feet deep . The lots were purchased for $3 per month over 25 months. The neighborhood was self sufficent. The neighborhood of Barry farms had its own schools , churches, doctors, lawyers and printers. The neighborhood was bright at night because many people would work on their houses at night . Many people would work during the day and work at home at night

The man behind the Memorial

As a tour guide of Washington DC I was courious about the men our memorials are named after. The first person I choose was Thomas Jefferson. I started with the election of 1796. In the beginning of theUnited States Presidential election history the person who came in second became the Vice President. I was very courious how Jefferson who was a Democratic Republican became Vice President when John Adams who won the election was a Federalist. It seems Alexander Hamilton tried to get John Adams running mate elected President . Back in those days in the southern states chose presidential electors to the electoral college by direct vote. The northern states delegates were elected by the state legislatures.. Hamilton tried to got the South Carolina delagation to with hold votes for Adams . Hamilton hope the votes intended for Adams would go to Thomas Pinckney and Pickney would become President . Because of his tampering Adams became President and Jefferson vice president.
In the election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr each had won 73 votes in electoral college. It took 35 ballots to break the tie. The Congress was dominated by the Federalist. Once again Alexander Hamilton played a part in the election. He asked some federalists not to cast their vote on the 35th ballot for Burr thus that enabled Jefferson became President.