Passage IV

An Evening Walk in Washington

During the day, Washington, D.C.,bustles with visitors, but even after sundown many people gather at they're famous buildings and monuments. I'd heard that the city's attractions appear even more impressive after dark, not only the historic monuments but also the excellent museums.

Beams of light enlightened the exterior of the White House, and every window glowed as the work of governing continued into the night. Tourists peered through the fence, pointing when they saw a figure passing by one of the windows. Could that be the president? Families from all over the world—speaking in a wonderful variety of languages and dialects—posed for photographs with the brightly lit White House as the backdrop.

A few blocks away, in the National Mall, I climbed the Iong flight of marble stairs to the portico of the Lincoln Memorial, located here even though Abraham Lincoln is buried in Illinois. The statue appeared to gaze down on the Reflecting Pool, where a little girl watched as her father twirled a flashlight to make its beam dance across the still water. (52)

[1] Across from the Lincoln Memorial, I joined a group of visitors heading toward the Korean War Veterans Memorial. [2] Spotlights near the soldiers' feet, lit up the men's faces, showing expressions of fatigue, concern, and determination. [3] The surrounding darkness enhanced the drama of the scene. [4] The memorial featured nineteen statues of soldiers arranged in a triangular formation. (55)

Nearby, light reflected off the polished surface of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial's black granite wall. (56) Etched with the names of fallen soldiers, visitors had adorned the wall with flowers and American flags left in remembrance.

Indeed, evening proved as an excellent time to visit the White House and the Mall. Many of the city's most important historic sites are located in this area. What remained visible were the buildings and monuments that represented some of the most significant events of this nation.