Hilton Dupont Circle - Washington DC Attractions

If you walk out of the hotel and west toward Connecticut Ave, look to your right and you will see a beautiful horse and rider statue. Well, that is Major General George B. McClellan and his favorite war horse named Daniel Webster. I don’t know about you, but I love when people give their pets both first and last names.\rGeorge McClellan was a major general during the American Civil War. He organized the Army of the Potomac. He also unsuccessfully ran against Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election. \r\rLet’s talk about this awesome horse named Daniel Webster though. General McClellan’s staff nicknamed him “that devil Dan” because they had a hard time keeping up with his pace. He was dark bay in color and stood 17 hands tall. That’s 5 and a half feet tall at his shoulder, so he was a big, big boy. He was said to be extremely handsome and showy, and that he had extraordinary horse sense and that he never got tired.\r\rDan also had the reputation of knowing exactly when dinner time was, so General McClellan tried to avoid riding him around that time because Dan would bolt for the stable as soon as he heard the sound of oats pouring into his grain bucket.\rDan retired from battle after the Civil War was over and lived the rest of his days out as the family horse at general McClellan’s house in Orange, Virginia. \r\rGeneral McClellan really loved that Devil Dan and had wonderful things to say about him. He once wrote, “Dan was one of those horses that could trot all day long at a very rapid gait, which kept all other horses at a gallop. Dan was the best horse I ever had. He was never ill for an hour, never fatigued, never disturbed under fire. The dear old fellow survived the war for many years, dying at a ripe old age. No matter how long we might be parted - once for nearly four years - he always recognized me the moment we met again and in his own way showed his pleasure at seeing me. Even on the day of his death, which was a painless one, he still attempted to rise and greet me, but unable to do so, he would lean his head against me and lick my hand. No soldier ever had a more faithful horse than I had in Daniel Webster.”\rOh my gosh now I’m crying!!!! What a beautiful and touching tribute. Get a kleenex and dry your tears, while I do the same, and let’s continue on our tour. Please cross over Connecticut Ave and then head south, away from Dan.\r

Nestled in the heart of the diplomatic region of Washington, DC., travelers find one of the most prominent and well-respected churches in the area: St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church. It’s ahead on your right. The church was named after Queen Margaret of Scotland, who was well known and beloved for her service to the poor and establishing schools, hospitals, and orphanages. She was a queen who would listen to the needs of her people and work to find nearly any solution to help – even theft! According to the parish, “One of the most endearing stories about Margaret…had to do with her stealing the gold coins which Malcolm had intended to use for the Maundy Thursday service, which is the Thursday before Easter. She gave them to a beggar who asked her for money. The King, who was quite aware of what she was doing, was greatly amused at this kind of theft, and sometimes, when he caught her in the act with the coins in her hand, would jokingly threaten to have her arrested. The building itself was designed and built in 1895, but has undergone numerous updates and renovations. One of the most significant additions – and what the church is so well known for – are the breathtaking Tiffany’s stained glass windows added in 1909, with additional windows installed in 1920. The windows, beloved by many prominent Washington families, truly are a sight to behold – please step in and enjoy their beauty.

If you’ve ever had a dream of visiting Russia, but don’t have the time, I’m here to make that dream come true – or at least tell you about a place that will make you feel as though your dream came true, which is basically just as good, right? I give you, The Russia House! It’s at the corner on your right. What was once an elegant private residence, is now a restaurant and lounge that goes above and beyond to give you the kind of experience you’d expect in the Motherland. When you walk in you can’t help but feel the atmosphere, it’s decadent, dark, and mysterious. The walls are covered in bordello-red silk and beautiful Russian oil paintings, in dimly lit rooms with candles on the tables, and chandeliers overhead. Traditional Russian songs can be heard above the low hum of friends gathering for drinks, or couples on a romantic night, or maybe even members of the mafia, distinguished by their expensive clothes and thick accents, as they raise a glass to the most notorious mob boss ever, The Brainy Don, and his knack for never being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And considering there are almost 200 varieties of Vodka, I’m thinking they’re going to be here for a while. If you come on a Wednesday or Thursday night, you’ll be even more impressed when you hear their traditional live music, making your experience feel so authentic you might actually be surprised when you don’t see the Kremlin as you walk out the door. This is one of those bucket list worthy places to experience. So check this one off, and go sit in the lounge, restaurant, or romantic booth, order the pierogis with shots of Vodka or Chicken Kiev with a rare bottle of wine from Moldova, or do what I do and order it all. Make it an all-nighter and tryout their late night Caviar menu. Just be careful, at this rate people might start suspecting you’re rather sophisticated. When you are done here, turn right on Florida Ave NW.

On your right is the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova. One of the many former Soviet Republics, Moldova is one of those countries most people have heard of, but aren’t really sure where it is. Well, in the event you strike up a conversation at your next work party and need to know, it’s nestled right between Romania and Ukraine. The country found its independence from the former Soviet Union in 1991, but didn’t open its doors of its embassy until December 1993. The building was originally constructed in 1898 and actually served as the private residence of James Wilson, who was then the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, more commonly known as the USDA. It is considered to have been built in the Beaux Arts architecture, which is known for grand embellishments and symmetry. You’ll notice that the building feels very balanced as though it was mirrored. In addition to Secretary Wilson, notable owners of the building include Assistant Secretary of the Treasury James H. Moyle and Director of the U.S. Reclamation Service Frederick Haynes Newell. Interestingly, the building also served as the office of the Legation for both the Ottoman Empire (now known as Turkey), as well as the Kingdom of Persia (which is now Iran). Keep walking. The Embassy of Albania is next.

Here’s the Embassy of Albania. As with the Republic of Moldova, Albania is a former Soviet Republic that found its independence with the fall of the Iron Curtain. The U.S. first started diplomatic relations with Albania in 1922, following the country’s independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912. Unfortunately, the U.S. ended its relationship with Albania in 1939 when it was then occupied by both Italy (from 1939-1943) and then, of course, Germany during World War II. The country, which sits directly opposite of Italy on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, is widely regarded as one rich with natural beauty, but many people have yet to visit as it continues to emerge from its communist rule for more than 40 years. Visitors to the country today find crumbling castles and archaeological mysteries surrounded by towering mountains. Keep following Florida Ave NW.

Take a look at the cute little garden area up on your right and the old grey stone building on the back side of it, up near Decatur Place, while I ask you a question. Do you know who the 31st president of the United States was? It was Herbert Hoover. Here’s a little factoid for ya. Herbert Hoover was a Quaker, and this old grey building is where President Hoover and his wife Lou Henry Hoover worshipped when they were in Washington. It was built in 1930 and was actually a gift to the Friends Meeting of Washington from a Rhode Island Quaker. The unique grey stone on this building is called Foxcroft stone and since the quarry from whence it came is no longer running, this building is really one of a kind. Inside the building is nothing fancy since Quakers use these buildings to withdraw from the world. There are long wooden benches for worshipers to sit and ponder life. There are no prepared lectures, no altars, no organ. Silence is the basis for worship here. Check out their worship schedule and give it a try! It is open to all. Keep heading south on Florida Avenue.

So these apartments on your right are called Decatur and that makes me think of the historic Decatur House at 748 Jackson Place in Washington DC. You should go check it out sometime. But can I share a story with you about the original owner of that Decatur House at Jackson Place? Stephen Decatur was the first owner. At the age of 25 he was promoted to the rank of captain, making him the youngest captain in the history of the United States Navy. During his naval career he battled in quite a few wars and was known for his acts of heroism, exceptional performance as a leader, and genuine concern for those under his command. Aaaaand to make a long story short, Stephen Decatur died from a gunshot wound. But not just any random gunshot wound. After a 13 year grudge match with one of his friends, James Barron, Decatur and Barron decided to end their quarrel with a good old fashioned duel. So in March of 1820 in Bladensburg, Virginia, Decatur and Barron lifted their guns, fired, each man hitting their mark. Tragically, Decatur’s wound proved fatal and he died a few hours later. James Barron survived his wound and lived on to tell the tale. Ok, turn right on R Street. I’m gonna take you to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s home

Our next stop is the house on your right at 2131 R St NW. It’s made out of white brick and has glass double doors as an entrance. Do you know who the 32nd President of the United States was? It was Franklin Delano Roosevelt and this is the house he lived in with his wife Eleanor before he became the president of the United States. Did you know that he was the only president to be elected to four terms? It’s true. He came into office after beating Herbert Hoover. Back then the country was struggling during the Great Depression. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, or FDR as he is often called, started what was known as the New Deal, which was the first welfare system in the US. He also played a role in both World Wars I and II as a leader of the U.S. allies. Unfortunately he didn’t get to see the end of the war because he died from complications of polio just before the official end of the war. There is a marker outside the front door that acknowledges Franklin and Eleanor’s residency here. Currently it is used as the home of the Mali ambassador. Ok, keep heading west on R St NW and let’s check out some embassies. It’s fun to look for and count all the cool different flags on the buildings. I’ll meet you at the end of this block.

Alright. We just passed the embassy of Bulgaria on your left. If you missed it, just turn around and take a look. It’s pretty cool. Let’s cross over 22nd NW, heading west, and continue seeing some Embassies on R. St NW. On the left side of the street is the embassy of Bulgaria, Niger and the embassy of Guatemala. On the right hand side of the street you will find the embassy of Tanzania, of Cyprus, the embassy of Armenia and the Embassy of Kenya. Look for all the different country’s flags. I’ll meet back up with you near the Embassy of Kenya at 2249 R St where we will then go left toward a cool park that I want to show you.

I hope you’ve seen some cool embassies so far. It’s time to turn left and head into Sheridan Circle Park. Use the crosswalk to find your way into the middle of the park. I’m gonna teach you something about a statue. As you are making your way to the statue in the middle of the park, look around for some more embassies. Again, look for the flags. Among them you should find the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea, the Embassy of Latvia and the embassy of Romania. \rNow let’s talk about the statue in the middle of Sheridan Circle Park. That man on the horse is General Philip Sheridan. But I really like horses so I’m gonna tell you about the horse first. This was General Sheridan’s trusty steed Rienzi and the bronze sculpture depicts the scene of these two partners gathering troops during the Battle of Cedar Creek in 1864. They had just raced 20 miles from Winchester, Virginia to reach this battle. To give honor to his brave horse after winning the battle, General Sheridan renamed him Winchester. Good old Winchester passed away in 1878 and Sheridan had him stuffed and mounted. You can go check him out at the National Museum of American History. Now onto the General. He was only 5 ft 5 inches tall. Abraham Lincoln described him as “A brown, chunky little chap, with a long body, short legs, not enough neck to hang him, and such long arms that if his ankles itch he can scratch them without stooping.” Real nice, Abe.\rGeneral Sheridan spent his life serving in the United States military as an army officer and then as a Union general in the American Civil War. He was a close friend of General-in-chief Ulysses S. Grant. It was Sheridan’s cavalry that chased Gen Robert E. Lee and forcing his surrender at Appomattox.\rA little interesting history of the statue itself - The original design was done by Sheridan’s friend John Quincy Adams Ward. But Sheridan’s wife Irene HATED it, saying it looked like a “stout old officer atop a stilted horse”. The job was later given to Gutzon Borglum who is best known for his sculpt work at Mount Rushmore. Irene LOVED Borglum’s design of her late husband and trusty steed and the statue was completed and then dedicated in 1908.\rTo get out of this circle, you are going to exit on Massachusetts Ave,heading east. That’s the direction that Sheridan and Reinzi are facing. Meet me at the Embassy of Ireland at 2234 Massachusetts Ave NW and please be on the right hand side of the street.\r

Looks like you found your way out of the circle! We are gonna visit another statue now so keep walking east on Massachusetts. You need to be on the right hand side of the road. As you walk, look around for more embassies. The Embassies of Greece, Turkmenistan, The Bahamas, Togo and Sudan are all along our way here. When you get to 22nd St NW, cross the street and meet me at the bronze statue at the tiny triangle shaped park. I’ll tell you all about it when you get there.

Looks like you made it. This statue is of the chief founder and first president of Czechoslovakia, named Tomas Garrige Masaryk. Not sure I said that correctly, but let’s go with it. He was born in the poor working class, which at the time, was part of the Austro-Hangarian Empire - or what is now known as the Czech Republic. SPOILER ALERT - let me put it this way, if it weren’t for Tomas, there might not be an independent Czeck Republic. It started when Tomas was 32-years-old and founded Athenaeum, a magazine devoted to Czech culture. Not being one to beat around the bush, in the very first issue, Tomas challenged the validity of documents, supposedly dating from the early middle ages, that provided a false nationalistic basis of Czech chauvinism, which was fostered by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Basically, he was telling the people in charge that they were arogant, self-centered, and not better than anyone else. Yeah...this did not go over so well. By the time the First World War broke out, Tomas decided the best course of action was to seek independence for Czechs and Slovaks from Austria-Hungary. Over the next four years, Tomas was able to build a legion of about 40,000 troops, with the help of his European and American counterespionage networks, along with the Russians, to fight against Austria. With the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Tomas was recognized as the head of the Provisional Czechoslovak government. On November 14th of that year, he was officially elected Pres. of the Czech Republic by the National Assembly. Who better to dedicate a statue to, then a boy born in the poorest part of town, who fought to liberate his people, and became the President of the new, independent, Czech Republic. And interesting enough, Tomas modeled the Czechoslovak Declaration of Independence closely to the U.S. Declaration. That’s right he did. When you are done here, keep walking east to 2118 Massachusetts Ave NW.

Check out this really cool building with arches and a balcony, on your right. This building is known as the Anderson House, which is a museum that hosts, among other things, some of the world’s greatest collections of books and manuscripts illuminating the history of the War of Independence. It is also the headquarters for The Society of Cincinnati, founded in 1783, which is the nation’s oldest patriotic organization. What’s really cool, is one of the beginning members of the society was...wait for it...George Washington!! He was actually the first president general of the society. Hmmm, maybe that was like a practice run at being President. Clearly he nailed it. But before this house became the headquarters for the Society, it was the humble abode of Larz and Isabel Anderson. And by humble abode I mean, a fifty-room mansion that included a walled garden, a tennis court, three-story carriage house and stable, carved wood walls, gilded papier-mache ceilings, iron staircases, marble floors, and did I mention the two elevators??? Pretty sure not many people had elevators in their houses over 200 years ago. Here’s a little crazy fact to put it into perspective: The Anderson’s built this 45,000 sq ft home and only paid $750,000 to do it. But today, if you go just a couple of blocks down Massachusetts Avenue, you’ll find a townhome, approximately ⅛ the size of the Anderson’s house, selling for $8.5 million dollars - and the townhome doesn’t even have an elevator! The Anderson House itself was completed in the Spring of 1905 and is known to be one of the capital city’s most fashionable mansions. If you have time, definitely go inside and explore this museum and see the historic books, manuscripts, maps, paintings, sculptures and other historical artifacts. Although, once inside, maybe use the staircase ...not sure you want to get in a 214-year-old elevator - but that’s just me.When you’re done here, look across the street and find the statue of Gandhi. It’s before you get to the next block.

You hear about people whose lives were greatly impacted by someone or something that it inspired them, making them want to be a better person. Mahatma Gandhi is one such person, and there’s a neat statue of him right across the street. As a child he grew up hearing the stories of Shravana and king Harishchandra. If you’ve heard them, you can see how Gandhi identified himself from the values he learned in those stories. If you haven’t, you’re in luck, because I’m going to give you the short version, for both. See, I’ve always got your back. If you want the full stories, look them up and read them. \r Shravana is about a son who’s parents are old and frail and believed that if they could take a pilgrimage to holy places their souls would be purified. Too frail to walk, Shravan wove two baskets, placed each one on the end of a stick and carried them on his shoulders. When they stopped for water, Shravana went down to the river. On the other side of the river, a prince heard the rustling of the branches made by Shravan, and thinking it was a buck, he shot his arrow. When the prince got to where the buck should be, he instead found Shravana with an arrow through his heart. Shravana’s last words were for the prince to please take water to his parents. The other story is of King Harishchandra. Now this one is more complicated, so you might want to look it up to get all of the details. The story is a King whose body was taken over by a spirit and the spirit makes him beat up this important sage guy. The sage demands the King give him all of his worldly possessions to make up for it, which the King did. Then the sage said it wasn’t enough and wanted more. But the King didn’t have any more. The King’s wife said he should sell her and their son to an honorable old man, as servants, and use that money to pay the sage. The King agreed and sold his family. When he gave that money to sage, the sage said still not enough. This sage is greedy!! The King offered the only thing he had left, himself. The sage then sells the King to a chandala, which is a mortician. The King spent his years cremating bodies, collecting the payment, and giving it to his boss. Then one day his wife comes with their dead son in her arms. She asked the King, her husband, to cremate their son even though she had no money to pay for it. The King said he wouldn’t unless she paid, he could not be dishonest in his job, even for his wife and son. I know, right! Thankfully the deities were watching and praised him for his honesty and said he could go to heaven and be forgiven of all his sins from his past lives. Crazy story, right? This story in particular had such an impact on Gandhi that In his autobiography he said, “It haunted me, and I must have acted Harishchandra to myself times without number.” Now I don’t know if I’d tell those stories to my kids while they’re really young, but I’m glad Gandhi’s parents did, because the values Gandhi stood for, fought for, and ultimately died for began long before he started his first movement for civil rights. It started when he was a young child, listening to stories about sacrifice, loyalty, honesty, and love.

Take a look at the huge building on your right. While the last mansion we saw was quite impressive, for sure, I think it’s met its match with this one. Not only is this a massive behemoth of a home, it’s got a pretty cool history. Long, long ago, when all the cool kids were building their homes, this cool kid was not to be outdone. It was 1901 when an Irish man named Thomas Walsh decided to build a home for his daughter, Evalyn. I mean, what doesn’t say, “You’re my favorite child” like a 60-room house in Washington, DC? So Evalyn gets this beautiful house and eventually marries Edward McLean, whose family owned the Washington Post, not that that really matters, I just thought I’d throw that in, not like it’s really NEWS worthy. See what I did there? Back to the newly wed couple. Can you imagine the kind of pressure Edward must have been under to not only impress his new father-in-law, but to also impress his new beautiful bride? While others might be a little intimidated, Edward McLean was not. He simply used one of the rooms in the home to give Evalyn, the one and only, drum roll please…..Hope Diamond. Seriously. The actually Hope Diamond. Evalyn Walsh McLean was the last private owner of that beautiful, infamous necklace. Over the years, the home was eventually used by different government agencies. The Red Cross was the last organization to use the home before it was purchased, in 1951, for Indonesia. It’s a beautiful home for the Indonesian Embassy and I like that they have a statue that represents their island of Bali. If you think about it, Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, where the island of Bali practices Hinduism. Maybe by having a Hindu goddess, Dewi Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, in front of the embassy, is their way of symbolizing the unity between the two religions, as one nation. Well done, Indonesia. Well done.Continue east on Massachusetts to our next stop.

As you near the next intersection, you’ll see a very old, tall, historic house on your right. The sad part to me is now there are a lot of modern buildings and places to eat all around it. To see pictures of this home, back when it was in its day, it’s really cool. Reminds me of the house in the Adam’s Family show. Du-du-du-dut, snap, snap, Du-du-du-dut, snap, snap, Du-du-du-dut, Du-du-du-dut, Du-du-du-du, snap, snap. I totally just nailed that. You should watch the intro to The Adam’s Family on youtube, you’ll be doubly impressed with my talents. But enough about me, let’s get back to the home you’re here to see. It was built from 1881-1882, and what’s crazy to me is that it’s famously known as the James G. Blaine Mansion. To be clear, while Blaine was the first resident of the home, he only lived there for one year! Sure, his claim to fame was he served as Secretary of State under President Garfield and President Harrison, but still, he only lived here for one year. After he left, there have been numerous tenants, and I’m not talking about the Smith’s or the Jones’s, I’m talking about the new headquarters for the United Service Club, eventually being leased by the Japanese Embassy for their ambassador and staff’s headquarters during a conference, to name a few, and in more recent years, it has been used for commercial purposes. People forget I even lived in the neighborhood five minutes after I’ve moved, yet this home is still known for its one-year resident, from over 200 years ago. Hat’s off to you, James G. Blaine.

We made it to Dupont Circle. As you follow the crosswalks and sidewalk into the center of the circle I’m going to tell you all about the cool fountain you’ll see there. First, it’s important to know how it came to be Dupont Circle. In 1871, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed this circle, following plans drawn up by L’Enfant. They named it Pacific Circle, which doesn’t really fit, right? It’s like coming up with a name for your baby and then when he’s born, you’re like, yeah, he definitely doesn’t look like a Vladamir, more like a Gus. Thankfully Congress decided to rename the intersection, Dupont Circle, and eventually recognize the service of Rear Admiral Samuel Du Pont, in the Civil War.. \rIn 1917 the Dupont Family commissioned to have the Fountain built to honor their patriarch. And who do you commission when you want something really memorable...how about the same team that collaborated to construct the Lincoln Memorial. You’ll notice three classical figures in the fountain that represent the Arts of Ocean Navigation - the Sea, the Stars, and the Wind. Fair warning, the statues are a little PG-13, but only because nudity is considered “art” nowadays. First, the only dressed statue, a female figure who is holding a boat in one hand, a seagull on her left shoulder, with her foot resting on a dolphin. She represents the Sea. The Stars are represented by the nude female figure, who’s holding a globe and her face is downward. The nude male figure represents the Wind. He’s draped with a ship sail and holding a shell in his left hand to use as a horn. \rThe inscription on the outer rim of the lower basin states: “This memorial fountain replaces a statue erected by the Congress of the United States in recognition of his distinguished services. Samuel Francis Dupont, United States Navy. 1802-1865.” Unfortunate wording, but all things considered, pretty cool statue.I’m mostly grateful the intersection is now called Dupont Circle, instead of Pacific Circle. Thank you Samuel DuPont! Ok, time to make our way out of the circle. You wanna exit on the exact opposite side that you entered. Specifically, head east on Massachusetts Ave NW.

You’ve made it so far. Great job! Now go ahead and follow Massachusetts Ave to the east, getting out of the circle. Our next stop is just past 18th St NW. Let’s get moving!.

Up on your left is the Carnegie. It makes sense why this building is about dead center of Embassy Row, surrounded up and down on both sides by embassies of so many different countries. I wonder if they ever feel like putting a note on all the embassy doors saying if they can’t learn to play nicely, share their toys, and be kind, then they’re going to have to go to time-out and lose electronic privileges. The fight to gain world peace started in 1910 when Andrew Carnegie donated 10 million dollars to start the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace. He believed that war could be eliminated by stronger international laws. The Endowment had only been running for eight years when some of the personnel were invited to sail on the USS George Washington to accompany President Woodrow Wilson to join the peace talks in France. I wish I could say that in those first 50 years it was all smooth sailing and no scandals….but seeing as this is DC that would be totally unrealistic. For example, in 1946 Alger Hiss became the new president of the Endowment…buuut that was short-lived as three years later he was indicted by the United States Dept of Justice on two counts of perjury and was rumored to be a communist and a spy. DOH! One might think it was bad planning by the Soviets to place a spy in an organization intent on international peace. I mean, what kind of secrets would he smuggle out? That the US actually has a secret weapon to bring about world peace and he’s going to smuggle it out one peace at a time? Get it? Peace? Orrrrr, was it actually a brilliant and cunning move by the Soviets, because who would be wary of the guy whose career is working towards international peace? He wouldn’t try to betray us because he’s a lover, not a fighter. And just like that, he’s got our secret weapon for international peace. Very tricky of you, Soviets, very tricky indeed. Now go ahead and keep heading East. Look for the embassies of Uzbekistan and Columbia.

Embassy Row has so many beautiful structures and statues, each unique as they represent the country they are from. It’s hard to not wonder what it would be like to live in one of these townhomes in the heart of DuPont. While you’ll probably never be able to live in an embassy town home, up on your left are the Boston House condo’s, and for a mere $300,000 you can life in a 450 sq. ft home that includes a bathroom. Seriously, that’s the description on the available condo’s for sale, all it says is one bathroom. Maybe the tub doubles for a bed? While it’s tempting to live in this beautiful area, I think I’m going to have to pass on the one bathroom condo. This beautiful building on your right, when you hit 17th street, is the Peruvian Embassy. Did you know that the United States has had a pretty solid diplomatic relationship with Peru since 1826? If you did, then I would ask if you knew that it took almost 100 years, 94 to be precise, before Congress raised Peru’s representation to Embassy level?? I don’t know why it took so long, but better late than never. Seriously, how do you not love a country who’s working hard to strengthen human rights and cares deeply about what they can do to help alleviate poverty. And don’t even get me started on their flag, I mean they’ve got some pretty good creativity going on there. First, you’ve got the vicuna (vi-coon-yuh), which is kind of like a llama), standing next to a cinchona tree (siN-cone-yuh) which is a source of quinine, above a cornucopia full of gold coins, surrounded by a green wreath. So basically, we’ve got an enchanted forest protecting a llama who’s immune to malaria, sitting on some serious cash. Sounds good to me. Now let’s go say hi to Daniel Webster. Keep walking.

Who is Daniel Webster and why is there a statue of him coming up on our right, you ask? I’ll tell you – Daniel Webster was a pretty big deal in his day. And by “in his day” I mean the early 1800’s. Webster’s career in government started when he held office in the United States House of Representatives. Later on he became a leading attorney before the Supreme Court of the United States. I’m talking winning cases like Dartmouth College v. Woodward – which ultimately led to the rise of the American free enterprise system. He also won the McCulloch V. Maryland case, which proved to be a powerful moment in federalism, which forms the balance between federal powers and state powers. Eventually Webster was drawn back to the government side of things and became a US Senator under President John Quincy Adams. While in the senate, he and Senator Robert Y. Hayne had one of the most famous debates in the US Senate, ever. During this debate, Webster gave what is known as the “Second Reply to Hayne” which is now regarded as “the most eloquent speech ever delivered in Congress.” In fact, his description of the US government was “made for the people, made by the people, and answerable to the people.” So beautifully stated that even Abraham Lincoln paraphrased it in the Gettysburg Address as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” Makes sense why we’d have a memorial built to honor someone who made such an impact on America’s history and ultimately, it’s future.

See that statue in the middle of that circle ahead? Well that is General Winfield Scott and this statue is infamous with equine sculpture historians for being the WORST horse and rider statue in all of Washington DC. Why? Hmmm… I’d love to tell you, but UCPlaces actually has a tour with all the information you could ever want on the subject. Yup, we actually offer a Horse Statues in DC tour that will fill you in on the wonderful and wacky history of these statues. Check it out soon! But for now, you need to head west on Rhode Island Ave NW. We are heading to a pretty sweet cathedral.

Well as long as I’ve got your ear, let me tell you about a few other tours that UCPlaces has to offer you right here in Washington DC. Over in the Georgetown area we have a Walk through the Past tour, which has some very interesting and beautiful 18th and 19th century stops, along with a pretty amazing ice cream place. Also in Georgetown is a ghost tour that includes the Exorcist Steps that were made famous in the 1980’s thriller The Exorcist. We also have a driving tour that covers most of the major bridges going from Virginia to DC and back, along with some fantastic sites along the way. Ever wanted a quick tour to show you where all the cool stuff is at the National Mall? We have one of those too. Actually, if you haven’t scrolled through all our UCPlaces tours, you are missing out. Get it together.

Up on your right we’ll see the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle. While it might not be one of the most impressive cathedrals’ you’ve seen on the outside, the inside is absolutely exquisite. The construction began in 1893, but the people were too excited to wait until it was finished, so they had their first mass there two years later, in 1895, and continued worshiping there throughout the next 18 years when it was finally finished and dedicated in 1913. Now those are some serious patrons. The cathedral first drew worldwide attention after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. The cathedral was filled to capacity while it held a Pontifical Requiem low mass during the state funeral, which was followed by the procession to Arlington Cemetery. There’s even a commemoration of where Kennedy’s casket was placed for his requiem mass. Because of its location, this cathedral is known for one of the most famous Red Masses in the world. Each year, the day before the term of the Supreme Court begins, Justices of the Supreme Court, members of Congress and the Cabinet, and many other dignitaries attend this mass. In fact, Dwight Eisenhower became the first to attend as president in 1954. Before we leave here, I want to tell you about the monument across the street. It’s called Nuns of the Battlefield. It’s a tribute to over 600 nuns who nursed soldiers of both armies during the American Civil War. On each end of the structure you’ll see a seated woman. One woman has wings, a helmet, robes, and armor, depicting her as an angel who represents patriotism. She is weaponless to represent peace, but still holds that air of fierceness. On the opposite end is another seated woman, this one wearing a long dress, a bodice, and a scarf around her head, representing the angel of Peace. Inscribed on the granite is “They comforted the dying, nursed the wounded, carried hope to the imprisoned, gave in His name a drink of water to the thirsty.” This is one of my favorite monuments and if you have time, you should go get a closer look. Maybe it will become one of your favorites as well. Please turn right on Connecticut Ave at the end of this street.

You should be heading north on Connecticut at this point, but I wanted to let you know that if you were to head south, you’d come across the DC Improv Comedy Club. This club opened its doors back in 1992 and their very first show featured Ellen Degeneres, Dave Chappelle and Brian Regan! If you haven’t heard of those three comedic superstars, you need to look them up. Anyway, as you continue walking north toward our next stop, please make note of all the restaurants, bars and nightclubs along this block that you know you are gonna want to come back to later. We are gonna stop at that little triangle in the intersection with the statue just ahead. See ya there!

May I present, John Knox Witherspoon! He was scottish born, a minister, an influential professor, and as most people know him, one of the signers of The Declaration of Independence. But I’m going to tell you a little more about this great man standing in front of you...well, a statue of a great man standing in front of you, that is. Witherspoon was born in Scotland in 1723. His father was a well respected reverend, so it’s not surprising that John followed in his father’s footsteps later in life. In fact, when John was only 23-years-old he became a minister for a presbyterian church, the Church of Scotland. In 1966, Witherspoon was approached by two men asking him to come to America to be the president and head professor at a small college, whose primary purpose was to train ministers. It was the Presbyterian College of New Jersey, to be precise. Well, John declined the offer. Ugh! John, what were you thinking??? I know you think I’m being a little dramatic, but him never coming to that small college could have had a MAJOR impact on life as we know it. Thankfully, two years later he changed his mind. Which brings to 1768 when the two men approached John again, and this time, Witherspoon said yes! Because of that one decision, the future of America was influenced in a very important way. Because of that one decision, at the age of 45, John became the sixth president of this small college in New Jersey, a college that due to his influential direction, later became the one and only…. anyone? Anyone? I’m talking about the one and only, Princeton University. It wasn’t an easy transition. Upon his arrival, Witherspoon found the school in debt, with weak leadership, and a library collection which clearly failed to meet student needs. How could the students be expected to learn, if they had no books to learn from? Not one to give up easily, he immediately began fund-raising, not just locally, but back home in Scotland as well, and eventually he was able to add three hundred books to the library, and was able to begin purchasing scientific equipment, along with many other much needed school materials. But he didn’t stop there. Once the school was properly equipped, it was time to get serious. Witherspoon began instituting a number of reforms. Starting with modeling the syllabus, along with the university’s structure, after ones used at the University of Edinburgh and other well known Scottish universities. He was set on making this school great, and that meant having students who were serious about their future. So he firmed up the entrance requirements, thus eliminating those who were looking for an easy, free pass through life. By doing all of this, John was able to transform a failing college into a University that would compete with Harvard AND Yale for scholars. Let me give you some examples of the scholars he inspired and equipped to become future leaders. Leaders who would play a prominent role in this new nation’s development. I’m talking about James Madison, Aaron Burr, Philip Freneau, William Bradford, and Hugh Henry Brackenridge, to name a few. And if that wasn’t impressive enough, there were also 37 judges (three of whom became justices of the U.S. Supreme Court), 10 Cabinet officers, 12 members of the Continental Congress, 28 U.S. senators, and 49 United States congressmen that came from this College. Wow John Witherspoon, way to go! \rWhen you’re ready, let's turn left and head west on N St NW toward our next destination. We still have a few amazing things to see. You’ll want to make sure you’re on the right side of N st.

Up on our right, just past 19th street, you’ll see the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights building. Robert Kennedy’s mission was to help make this world a better place for all of us. He didn’t have all the answers or solutions for some of the problems we face, but that didn’t stop him from working hard to find those answers and to help where he could along the way. Tragically, Robert Kennedy was assassinated on June 5, 1968. Following his assassination, his family wanted to honor his public service by establishing a non-profit organization, which today is known as Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. As of 2018 this organization has given over 100 awards to honor the extraordinary work and efforts people have made in the name of human rights. His wife said it best, "He wanted to encourage the young people and to help the disadvantaged and discriminated against both here and abroad, and he wanted to promote peace in the world. These will be the goals of the memorial." Well I sure can get behind that! Let’s keep walking and then turn right on 20th St NW

Ok, just in case you are super curious about what that cream colored building is on your left, it’s the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau, otherwise known as the ECEB, of the Egyptian embassy. The ECEB does a lot of interesting things, like putting together Egyptian art exhibits and music performances, showing Egyptian subtitled movies, and visiting schools in DC to teach students about Egypt. They do a lot of other cool things, and you can check it out on their website.You have probably already noticed that incredibly beautiful grey stone mansion ahead on your right. That’s our next stop.

This massive piece of history is one of the oldest Victorian homes in the area. It is known as the Christian Heurich Mansion. Before I tell you about the home, let me tell you a little bit about its owner, Christian Heurich, while you take in this extraordinary place. Christian immigrated to America, Maryland to be precise, in 1866, only 24-years-old with nothing but $200 in his pocket. But he was used to surviving on his own, as he was orphaned when he was only fourteen years old. His decision to come to America forever changed his life, and the lives of generations to come. I know that sounds dramatic, but seriously, this guy was legit. At one point he owned more land than any other land-owner in all of Washington, DC. The beginning of his claim to fame, was in 1872, when he went into business with a guy named Paul Ritter. Together, they leased a brewery in downtown, NW Washington, D.C. Now here’s where it gets interesting...within a year of signing on as partners, and leasing a brewery, which was doing quite well I might add, Mr. Ritter dies! Natural causes, accident, foul play, we’ll never know. So, Paul dies, which dissolves the partnership, leaving Christian sole owner of the brewery. Interesting. And if that wasn’t enough, Christian immediately marries Paul’s now widowed wife, Amelia. What??? Then the next year, Amelia dies of pneumonia. What some might call karma, others might call a tragic ending to true love, we’ll just never know. I’m leaning towards true love, because the first time around, he married pretty quick, but this time around it takes this very eligible bachelor three years before he remarries. It was for this wife, Mathilde (Matilda) he built the lavish mansion you see before you. This guy doesn’t mess around - the mansion had full indoor plumbing (reason enough to marry him right there), central vacuum system, (I don’t get it, 150 years ago Mathilde has access to a central vacuum system, and I’m still using a regular one. It’s just wrong). And did I mention the elevator shaft with no elevator? Hmmm, it does make you wonder...why the elevator shaft with no elevator? Easy access to an “accident” waiting to happen, or does he just like to build things he never plans on using? He did go to extreme lengths in making the home completely fireproof, yet he had 15 fireplaces throughout the house that were never actually used. You should definitely take the time to walk through this beautiful victorian home and take in the hand-painted ceiling canvases and room after room of original items from Heurich’s family collections. Just when you thought it was all blue skies from here out, life would deal Christian a harsh blow eight years later. His wife, Mathilde, dies. History says she died due to “miscarriage and a carriage accident.” Seriously, that’s how it’s worded, “miscarriage and a carriage accident.” Did the carriage accident cause the miscarriage, or did the misscarriage cause the carriage accident. Sooo many carriages sooo many unanswered questions. At this point, Christian has had enough and throws himself into his work. In 1894 he opened his new brewery, which had a capacity for 500,000 barrels of beer a year. I soooo want to be this guy’s best friend. The Christian Heurich Brewing Company became the second largest employer in Washington D.C. Our boy was creating an empire in the capital city. Eventually, Christian does remarry...a much younger woman, 20 years younger. If that wasn’t scandalous enough...she was the niece of his first wife. Come on Christian, your niece? Pull yourself together. Regardless, they seemed happy enough, they had four children together and stayed married the rest of Chirstian’s life. All 102 years of it. Yes, you heard me correctly, he was 102-years-old when he died, making him the world’s oldest brewer to date. Hashtag life goals. When Christian’s wife, Amelia, eventually passed away in 1956, the home was willed to the Historical Society of Washington D.C. It served as their headquarters until 2003, when two of Christian’s grandchildren purchased the home, and made it into the functioning museum we see today. Before we head to our next destination, here’s one last interesting fact. The actual brewery, the one he opened in 1894, was located along the Potomac River in Foggy Bottom, but in 1962 it was torn down and replaced with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Arts over beer? I’m not sure I support that decision. And frankly, I’m pretty sure Christian wouldn’t support that decision either. What about you? Team Art or Team Beer? Or maybe Team Beer, while looking at Art? It’s all about the loopholes, my friend. I mean, we are in DC, where we know our loopholes. Ok my fellow explorers, we are just around the corner from our final destination. Keep heading north on 20th St NW and then turn left on O St NW.

Before we turn left on O St, look at the small garden in the triangle shaped median to your right. If you haven’t noticed spots like that before, keep an eye out for them. They are all over DC. The DC department of parks and recreation wanted communities to feel like they were contributing to the city by being able to adopt one of these grassy areas. The normal agreement is for one year, and that person or business is responsible to design the landscape and take care of it throughout the year. This particular park you’re looking at was adopted by Geary Simon in 1998, shortly after his friend, Sonny Bono, passed away. It is said that Simon poured tens of thousands of dollars on this little parcel of land for grass to be planted, bushes, a tree, along with these little square benches people would call Chers, instead of chairs. Quite the punny community. See what I did there? It’s all about the laughs or rolling of the eyes, I’ll take either. The last little treasure I’ll tell you about is literally a treasure. Underneath the round plaque at the entrance dedicated to Sonny, is a manhole-shape vault! What could be in it you ask? The rumor is that Simon once said the vault contains Sonny’s congressional cufflinks, along with sheet music for Sonny and Cher’s 1967 hit, “The Beat Goes On” Ok, turn left and let’s get to our final stop.

I think the history on the giant mansion to your left is pretty awesome. Back in 1892, when this was just a plot of land, Edward Clark designed a cluster of three row houses for himself, two brothers, and a sister. The siblings all wanted their own home, hence the row houses, but they also wanted to hang out and see each other without having to go outside and knock on their door. Clark’s ingenious mind came up with the solution that the residences could connect through the basement and the main floor, but kept the third floor separate so they could still have their privacy. Go figure that one out. Just under 100 years later, H.H. Leonards purchased the connected brownstones and renovated it into a bed-and-breakfast and private club. Now that’s awesome! But it gets even better. A few years later Leonards bought the entire O Street, you heard me right, O street. I’ve never gone street shopping before, I wonder if it’s fun or exhausting, and do you have to have street insurance, is there even such a thing as street insurance. These are the questions that will keep me up at night as I imagine what street I might want to buy. Anyway, back to O street. Eventually Leonards combined all the townhomes to be administered under his non-profit membership association. In 1998 Leonards opened the O Street Museum that not only has all kinds of cool art, sculptures, music, and memorabilia, but it also hosts concerts, book signings, and film screenings. As if the Museum wasn’t enough, you’ve got to see inside the Mansion on O Street. It has this crazy awesome eccentric styling of different architectural, artistic, and design periods. The best part – this mansion incorporates maze-like passageways and secret rooms behind hidden doors. And when you fall in love with this place, which you will, you don’t have to be too sad when you leave, because this place can go with you! Ok, not the whole place, but all the furnishings, fixtures, and decorative items within the rooms can be purchased!!! I’m thinking this place should be at the top of the list of places to visit when in D.C., right?? And speaking of visiting places in DC, don’t forget that UCPlaces has many more tours for you to check out. I’m reminding you of that because this was the last stop on our tour and I am already sad that our time on this tour is over. Please join me on another UCPlaces tour very soon! If you need help getting back to your car, just keep heading west on O St and then turn right on 22nd St NW. That will take you back to the Spanish Steps, where we began. I hope to spend more time with you soon! Until then, so long and happy touring!