Washington, D.C. Visitors Guide - Winter/Spring 2009 - (Page 1) Letter from the Mayor It’s my pleasure to welcome you to Washington, DC. Each year, more than 16 million people travel to this powerful, beautiful city to experience an amazing collection of museums and historic sites, award-winning theatres, innovative restaurants and world-class hotels. DC is a vibrant city that makes history every day, made up of fascinating neighborhoods where nearly 600,000 residents live, work and play. We invite you to experience our city like a local. Shop the hip boutiques on U Street then head downtown to try out our hottest new restaurants and fun new attractions. Go for a run through Rock Creek Park, plan a picnic in the National Arboretum or marvel at the magnificent architecture and international culture on Embassy Row. This year, you can also join in our citywide salute to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln through a cultural tourism promotion, part of the national Lincoln Bicentennial celebration. Use this guide to create your own power trip in DC, whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth. We look forward to seeing you. Welcome 1 A PowerFul PlAce Washington, DC greW up along the banks of the potomaC river, in a Central loCation Chosen by george Washington to satisfy northern anD southern interests. using paris as his inspiration, city designer pierre Charles l’enfant fashioned the capital city with grand boulevards and ceremonial spaces. since that time, DC has evolved into a fascinating, lively world capital, known for its vast green centers, urban spaces, sweeping memorials and majestic neoclassical architecture. the city’s most famous landmarks are clustered in and around the national mall, spanning from the lincoln memorial to the u.s. Capitol. flanked by dozens of museums and memorials, this grassy space plays host to festivals, protests, gatherings and performances. on summer evenings, the mall is a terrific place to catch an open air concert, movie screening or jazz performance. in the winter, visitors head to the mall to glide on the national gallery of art’s skating rink. DC’s inspiring memorials and powerful landmarks are complemented by a fascinating collection of hip and historic neighborhoods that delight visitors with walking tours, trendy restaurants, sidewalk cafes and quaint boutiques. self-guided heritage trails relate the history of some of DC’s most fascinating neighborhoods, from southwest to u street. as you explore DC, we invite you to plug in to the power of a city that makes history every day. it’s here where you can see the original Declaration of independence, sit in on a supreme Court hearing or catch a jazz set in Duke ellington’s boyhood neighborhood. in DC, powerful moments are yours to discover. H Mayor Adrian M. Fenty Mayor, District of Columbia
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