Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington

John Wilkes Boothe shot Abraham Lincoln in the balcony of Ford's Theater on April 14th, 1865. The former actor turned Confederate conspirator wanted to throw the country into political chaos. Lincoln was watching the play "Our American Cousin" when he was shot.The building is now a national historic site with a museum, lecture hall and a theater which produces musicals and plays about family values, multiculturalism, and the varied character of American life. The Petersen House, "the place where Lincoln died" sits across from the street from the theater.Theater entrepreneur John T. Ford opened his first theater in 1861 but it burned down. He completed construction of the present structure in August, 1863. After Lincoln's assassination, the government bought the building and over the years used it as an office building and warehouse.President Eisenhower signed the Congressional Act to found the museum in 1954. 14 years later, it opened with the production of "John Brown's Body".

The U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center consists of a plaza with military concerts, a library and research facility, a theater, naval exhibits and a cinema. It is also home to the "lone sailor" bronze sculpture.The Navy Log documents the naval service men and women who support the Navy Memorial. It lists their name, branch of service, birth and service dates, highest rank, duty stations, awards and photos. Nearly 250,000 people are currently listed and more are always being added.The library contains a large collection of Naval historical books including oral and written "sea stories" from Navy veterans.The Gallery Deck features ongoing historical exhibits. Examples include ship models, paintings, naval artifacts.The deck of the memorial itself is a granite map of the world, surrounded by fountains and pools. The statue of the Lone Sailor was designed by Navy Veteran Stanley Bleifeld. The memorial was opened in October, 1987. The weekly Navy band concert series began in the summer of 1988 and continues to be a popular tourist draw on Pennsylvania Avenue.

The Canadian Embassy is the only foreign building on Pennsylvania Avenue. Designed by Arthur Erikson, the building has a ring of columns near the street that nicely frame a view of Congress. In the courtyard, a Haida (British Columbia Native American) statue of mythical and native figures in a canoe conveys the Canadian spirit and culture.

The National Archives building is the home of the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta and more than three billion other records of significance. At any given time about 1,100 documents, photographs, maps, drawings, film or audio clips, are on display in the Public Vaults, presenting the raw materials of American democracy.

The National Building Museum features exhibits on architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. The Great Hall has a collection of some of the world's tallest Corinthian columns and has been the site of a number of inaugural balls. As well, there is an ongoing exhibit on the history of the building of Washington called, "Washington: Symbol and City".

The Washington Convention Center has four exhibition halls and 37 meeting rooms in which large national and international conventions, trade shows and other special events take place throughout the year. It opened in January 1983 and is close to a number of Washington landmarks. The center can accomodate approximately 26000 people.

This 3-acre memorial site contains a marble wall with the names of nearly 15,000 law enforcement officers who have died in the name of duty dating back to 1794. There are also four statues of adult lions with their cubs. A museum and visitor center are close by, 1.5 blocks west at 605 E. Street.

Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, founded in 1985, presents the works of Shakespeare and other classical plays. The theatre also sponsors educational programs and special events, notably the free outdoor productions held in June at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park.

ATTRACTION IS CLOSED.The J. Edgar Hoover F.B.I. Building houses exhibits that detail the history and jurisdiction of the F.B.I. Tours stop in the crime laboratories, DNA testing unit and include a live ammunition, machine gun fire demonstration.

The Lillian and Albert Small Jewish Museum houses a collection of Jewish artifacts in the oldest synagogue building in Washington. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1899, the Romanesque old post office now houses a collection of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. There is a 315-foot clock tower and an observation deck with views of the city.