Library of Congress
To prove America was just as cultured
as the Old World, second US president
John Adams established the Library
of Congress, now the largest library
in the world. The motivation behind
the library is simple: ‘universality,’
the concept that all knowledge is
useful. Stunning in scope and design,
the building’s baroque interior and
flourishes are set off by a Main Reading
Room that looks like an ant colony
constantly harvesting 29 million books.
The Walk » Head across the street to the
underground Capitol Visitor Center.
Capitol Visitor Center
The US Capitol – that would be the
big domed building that dominates
the eastern end of the National Mall
- is the seat of the legislative branch
of government, otherwise known as
Congress. The underground Capitol
Visitor Center (www.visitthecapitol.gov;
1st St NE & E Capitol St; h8:30am-4:30pm
Mon-Sat) is an introduction to the
history and architecture of this iconic
structure. Use the center’s website to
book tours of the Capitol itself.
The Walk » Walk along the edge of the Capitol
towards the Washington Monument (the big
obelisk in the middle of the Mall). At the traffic
circle, walk onto Maryland Ave; the Botanic Garden
will be on your right.
United States Botanic Garden
Resembling London’s Crystal Palace,
the United States Botanic Garden (www.
usbg.gov; 100 Maryland Ave SW; h10am-5pm;
c) provides a beautiful setting for
displays of exotic and local plants.
Check out titan arum, also known
as Amorphophallus titanum (‘giant
misshapen penis’). If you’re lucky, the
plant’s ‘corpse flower’ will be on display.
This Sumatran native only blooms
every three to five years; when it does, it
smells like rotten meat. Mmm!
The Walk » Continue on Maryland Ave for a little
over 500ft; the National Museum of the American
Take this walk on Trips
STRETCH..
YOUR.LEGS
f i n
Start/Finish: Library of
Congress
Distance: 3 miles
Duration: 3 hours
WASHINGTON,
DC
Washington,.DC,.is.more.than.
monuments,.museums.and.
memorials,.but.it.is.still.partly.
defined.by.these.structures..All.
along.the.National.Mall,.you’ll.find.
symbols.of.the.American.dream,.
the.physical.representation.of.
the.nation’s.highest.ideals.and.
aspirations..