Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty Of The War Spirit of Freedom and Wall of Honor at the African American Civil War Museum African American Civil War Museum afroamcivilwar.org The 10-foot Spirit of Freedom sculpture, the first major piece of art by a black sculptor to be placed on federal land in the District, memorializes African Americans in uniforms and their families. Also find, the Wall of Honor, which lists more than 200,000 names of who served in the Civil War. Open daily. 1816 12th St. NW. THE PRICE OF FREEDOM: AMERICANS AT WAR National Museum of American History americanhistory.si.edu/index.cfm Surveying the history of US military conflict, this exhibit includes a campaign ribbon from Lincoln’s 1864 electioneering; the stump of a tree shot to pieces at on the battlefield at Spotsylvania; and the chairs that Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant used during the surrender ceremony at the Appomattox Court House. 1400 Constitution Ave NW. Open daily. COIN LAUNCH OF US MINT’S NEW $1 LINCOLN COIN Lincoln’s Cottage at the Armed Forces Retirement Home www.lincolncottage.org/index.htm The launch of the US Mint's new $1 Lincoln held at President Lincoln's Cottage. The coin features a portrait of Lincoln designed by Don Everhart with inscriptions “Abraham Lincoln”, “16th President”, “1861-1865″ and “In God We Trust.”  Launches on Nov. 18, 2010. 3700 North Capitol St. NW. National Museum of Health and Medicine www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum Now a repository for medical artifacts, anatomical and pathological specimens and other health-related materials, the Army Medical Museum opened in 1862 to help improve medical procedures during the Civil War. There's a significant collection of Civil War relics, including furniture from Appomattox Court House, the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln, and the probe used in his autopsy. One of the more unusual items on display is the shattered leg bone of Major General Daniel Sickles, who murdered Francis Scott Key’s son, Philip Barton, in 1859. Sickles was acquitted, in the first successful application of the “temporary insanity” defense. When war broke out, Sickles joined the Army to restore his reputation. He was struck by a cannonball at the Battle of Gettysburg and subsequently lost his leg. He donated the bone to the Army Medical Museum. Ever the character, Sickles would visit his leg on the anniversary of its amputation. Open daily, 10 am-5:30 pm. Closed Dec. 25. 6900 Georgia Ave. NW. (202) 782-2200. Admission is free. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site www.nps.gov/frdo/ The former slave who became one of the giants of the Civil War era, purchased this 21-room home in 1877. Known as Cedar Hill, Douglass’s final home is located across the Anacostia River, and offers spectacular view of Washington. Refurbished in 2007, the site offers exhibits, interpretive programs, and a film which tells the story of Douglass’ life. Open daily 9 am-4 pm between mid-October and mid-April, Cedar Hill closes an hour later in summer months. 1411 W St. SE. (202) 426-5961. African American Civil War Memorial www.afroamcivilwar.org Situated amid the sights, sounds, and tastes of U Street, this memorial honors more than 200,000 African American soldiers who fought to preserve the Union. The centerpiece of the memorial is “Spirit of Freedom,” by Kentucky artist Ed Hamilton, the first major work by a black sculptor on federal land in Washington, D.C. Located in the Shaw neighborhood, named for Robert Gould Shaw, the colonel who led the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, and was immortalized in the movie Glory. Near the memorial, is the African American Civil War Memorial Freedom Foundation Museum and Visitors Center (1200 U Street NW) open weekdays 10 am-5 pm; 10 am-2 pm Saturdays. U St. at Vermont Ave. NW. (202) 667-2667. Admission is free. Arlington Memorial Cemetery www.arlingtoncemetery.mil One of two national cemeteries administered by the Army, Arlington was established in 1864 when the Union converted the former property of Robert E. Lee into a Civil War burial ground to ensure Lee never returned home. Among the interred are Civil War troops, slaves, Civil Rights leader and Korean War veteran Medgar Evers, boxer Joe Louis and President John F. Kennedy. Arlington, VA. (703) 607-8000. Church of the Epiphany www.epiphanydc.org/index.htm At the time of the Civil War, this was a congregation divided. The church's members included Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. By 1893, the church claimed the first racially mixed vested choir in the city. (202) 347-2635. Clara Barton National Historic Site www.nps.gov/clba/ Founder of the American Red Cross cared for Civil War soldiers at the site of injuries, Clara Barton earned herself the moniker “Angel of the Battlefield.” A bullet nearly ended her career at Antietam on September 17, 1862. The museum in Glen Echo was her home for the last 15 years of her life and is full of items that illustrate her dedication to the care of others. It is open daily from 10 am-4 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. 5801 Oxford Rd., Glen Echo, MD 20812. (301) 320-1410.Admission is free. Congressional Cemetery www.congressionalcemetery.org/ The gravesites of several noted Americans including Civil War photographer Matthew Brady, John Phillip Sousa, and David Herold, an accomplice of John Wilkes Booth. (202) 543-0539. Decatur House www.decaturhouse.org/ Near the White House, and named for original resident, NavalCommodore Stephen Decatur, this house was rented by the Union asthe headquartersof the Commissary General. Today it is the home of the National Center for White House History. 1610 H St. NW. (202) 218-4338. Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture www.reynoldscenter.org This imposing Greek Revival building was constructed between 1836-1868 to serve as the U.S. Patent Office. The ball following Lincoln's second Inauguration took place in the grand hall on the second floor - the first time a government building was used for the celebration – on the evening of March 6, 1865. The president would be dead five weeks later. Today the structure houses two of the Smithsonian Institution’s world-class art collections: the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Both hold significant collections of Civil War era art. The National Portrait Gallery’s collection of official presidential portraits is the only complete collection outside the White House. Open daily from 11:30 am-7 pm; closed Dec. 25. 8th and F Streets N. (202) 633-7970. Admission is free. Dupont Circle Metro The mouth of the station's north entrance is engraved with a five-line quotation from "The Wound-Dresser" by Walt Whitman. The poet volunteered as a nurse in DC during the Civil War. Q St. between Connecticut Ave. & 20th St. NW. Ford’s Theatre National Historical Site www.fordstheatre.org On April 14, 1865, President and Mrs. Lincoln were attending a performance of “Our American Cousin,” when Confederate activist and actor John Wilkes Booth shot the president. Lincoln died the next morning at Petersen House, located directly across the street. The theater closed its doors after the assassination and served as a warehouse, museum and office building for 90 years until President Eisenhower authorized its restoration in 1954. Ford’s reopened in 1968 and has since become a theatre known for staging classic American plays. Renovated in 2008, Ford’s waslargely restored to its 1865 appearance. The site also houses a museum packed full of artifacts such as Booth’s 44-caliber Deringer, and displays examining the assassination conspirators and their trials. Ford’s Theatre is open from 9 am-5 pm (except during matinee performances). 517 10th St. NW. 202-426-6841. Admission is free. Fort McNair Fort McNair was built at the point where the Potomac and Anacostia rivers converge. The fort was home to the Washington Arsenal where ships bound for battle sites in Virginia received supplies. John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators were imprisoned here after Lincoln’s assassination. They were later tried and hanged. Access to the property is restricted to Army personal. 4th and P Streets NW. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/douglass/ A 21-room Victorian mansion, Cedar Hill was home to this former abolitionist, orator and statesman. In addition to his acclaim as a public speaker and abolitionist, Douglass served as U.S. Minister to Haiti, and was a confidant of President Lincoln. He walked daily to Capitol Hill from Cedar Hill and enjoyed vistas, as visitors can today, of the federal city from his home. A short biographical video is shown onsite. 1411 W St. SE. (202) 426-5961. General George B. McClellan Monument North of Dupont Circle near the neighborhood of Adams Morgan sits a statue of Gen. McClellan, the Union commander who was victorious at Antietam. Despite his victory, tactical errors caused Lincoln to question his judgment and eventually relieve him of his command. McClellan ran unsuccessfully against Lincoln for the presidency in 1864, and later served as governor of New Jersey (1878-1881). In his memorial, designed by Frederick MacMonnies and dedicated in 1907, McClellan sits atop his horse looking down Connecticut Ave. towards the White House.Connecticut Ave. at California St. NW. General John Alexander Logan Statue The heart of a busy traffic circle in one of the District’s trendiest residential areas is punctuated by the statue of General John Alexander Logan, commander of the Army of Tennessee (the “Volunteers”). Logan fought with distinction in some of the war’s biggest battles: Manassas, Vicksburg and Atlanta, before losing a bid for the vice-presidency in 1884. The imposing bronze was dedicated in 1901. Logan Circle, Vermont Ave. at 13th at P St. NW. General Philip Sheridan Monument Sheridan Circle Surrounded by some of Washington, DC’sgrand embassies and top diplomatic addresses, this equestrian statue was crafted by Gutzon Borglum, perhaps best known for his sculptures at Mount Rushmore. Sheridan led the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac on the eastern front, pursuing Robert E. Lee and forcing his surrender at Appomattox. Massachusetts Ave. and 23rd St. NW. General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument Sherman Square This elegant landmark honors General Sherman, who served valiantly under Ulysses Grant at the Battle of Vicksburg, succeeding him as Union commander in the western theater of the war. Sherman led troops to capture Atlanta in September 1864, ensuring Lincoln’s re-election. Afterwards, his armies embarked on a devastating march through Georgia and the Carolinas. He is commemorated in an equestrian statue in the small park nestled between the White House Ellipse and the Department of the Treasury. Unveiled in 1903, the statue cost $150,000.15th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. General Winfield Hancock Scott Memorial Dedicated in 1896, this statue honors General Scott, best known for his triumph over Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg. Considered one of the most capable commanders of all time, Scott is also credited with developing the Union’s Anaconda Plan, which brought down the Confederacy. Pennsylvania Ave. at 7th St. Holy Trinity Catholic Church www.holytrinitydc.org DC’s oldest Catholic church in continuous operation, Holy Trinity was converted into a hospital during the Civil War. During the civil rights movement, President Kennedy and his family often worshipped here. 1325 36th St. NW. (202) 337-2840. Major General George C. Meade Monument This statue celebrates the achievements of General Meade who was instrumental in securing Lee’s defeat at Gettysburg. By positioning his troops for defensive attacks on the left, right and center, he successfully fended off Pickett’s Charge. The marble monument, crafted by Charles A. Grafly was dedicated in 1927. Pennsylvania Ave and 3rd St. NW. Major General James B. McPherson Monument McPherson Square Constructed by Louis Rebisso from a seized Confederate cannon, this equestrian statue honors McPherson, Ulysses S. Grant’s chief engineer, who commanded the army of Tennessee and faltered near Atlanta. It was dedicated in 1876, and stand within three blocks of the White House. Vermont Ave. between 15th and K St. NW. Mount Olivet Cemetery Alleged Lincoln assassination conspirator Mary Surratt is buried here as is Henry Wirz, commander at Andersonville prison, and James Hoban, White House architect. The property abuts the US National Arboretum. 1300 Bladensburg Rd. NE. (202) 339-3000. National Museum of American History americanhistory.si.edu It is little wonder that the Smithsonian Institution is known as “America’s Attic.” This museum collects artifacts of all kinds—from gowns to locomotives—to preserve for the American people an enduring record of their past. The Civil War-era is represented by artifacts including Abraham Lincoln’s top hat and chairs from the courthouse at Appomattox. Items including the Woolworth’s lunch counter, site of the student sit-in in Greensboro, NC, preserve the history of the civil rights movement. The museum is open daily; closed Dec. 25. 14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. (202) 633-1000. Admission is free. Oak Hill Cemetery http://www.oakhillcemeterydc.org Among the notables buried in this Georgetown cemetery is Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. The chapel was designed by James Renwick, architect of the Smithsonian Castle. 30th & R Sts. NW. (202) 337-2835. The Peace Monument Sculpted by Franklin Simmons in 1877 to honor U.S. Navy casualties in the Civil War, this 44-foot marble statue and fountain sits in front of the U.S. Capitol. The Peace Monument, also known as the Sailors Monument, is imbued with classical symbolism. Facing west, toward the National Mall, look for the female figure representing Grief who hides her face on the shoulder of another woman, the embodiment of History. She clutches as tablet reading, “They died that their country might live.”Below Grief and History, another female figure, Victory, holds a laurel wreath and oak branch. Mars and Neptune, representing war and the sea, sit just below. A classical figure, Peace faces the US Capitol and extends an olive branch. Pennsylvania Avenue at 1st Street NW. Renwick Gallery of Art americanart.si.edu Now the Smithsonian Institution’s museum of decorative American arts and crafts, the Renwick building served as a supply depot for Union forces during the Civil War and as headquarters for General Montgomery C. Meigs, Army Quartermaster, in 1865. Today, magnificent paintings and crafts hang where uniforms, tents and other essentials were once meted out to soldiers on their way to fight in Virginia. The gallery, directly across the street from the White House, is open daily, 10 am-5:30 pm, except for December 25. Admission is free. 17th Street and Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 633-2850. Petersen House www.fords.org/PetersenHousetocloseSept26 A mortally wounded Abraham Lincoln was carried across the street from Ford’s Theatre to the home of a German tailor, William Petersen on April 14, 1865. Law enforcement officials, cabinet members, and physicians attended to the dying president here. The house is currently closed for significant renovations and is expected to open Spring 2011. 516 10th St. NW. (202) 347-4833. President Lincoln's Cottage www.lincolncottage.org During the Civil War, President Lincoln and his family escaped the heat of swampy downtown and resided here between June-November of 1862, 1863 and 1864. After a $15-million renovation, the property was opened to the public in 2008. Call ahead to book tours. 3700 N. Capitol St. NW. (202) 829-0436. The Rock Creek Park Forts Rock Creek Park www.nps.gov/rocr Washington, DC’s vast urban park is home to the remains of the system of forts that protected the capital during the Civil War. At Fort Stevens (13th and Quackenbos Sts. NW), Jubal A. Early’s Southern forces took on the Union defenders in 1864 as federal notables, including Abraham Lincoln, looked on. Just north of the fort, Battlefield National Cemetery is the final resting place of the 41 Union soldiers who died defending the fort. At Fort Reno (Belt Rd. and Chesapeake St. NW), the highest point in the city, the grounds offer an incredible view. Also nearby: Ford DeRussey (Oregon Ave. and Military Rd, NW) and Fort Bayard (Western Ave. and River Rd.). You can find some parts of the forts still standing at Fort Slocum Park (Kansas Ave., Blair Rd. and Milmarson Pl. NE), Fort Totten near the Fort Totten Metro stop (Green Line) and Battery Kemble Park (Chain Bridge Rd., MacArthur Bvd., 49th St. and Nebraska Ave.). 3545 Williamsburg Lane NW. (202) 895-6000. St. John's Episcopal Church www.stjohnsgeorgetown.org Founded in 1796 by Georgetown social leaders including Francis Scott Key and Thomas Jefferson, the church was designed by the architect of the US Capitol, Dr. William Thornton. During the Civil War, the congregation sided with the Union and a school for the children of former slaves opened in its basement in 1864. 3240 O St. NW. (202) 338-3294. Metro: Foggy Bottom. St. Patrick's Church www.saintpatrickdc.org The oldest Catholic parish in the Federal City, St. Patrick’s was attended by Lincoln assassination conspiratorMary Surratt. Father Jacob Walter, a staunch defendant of Surratt’s innocence, stood beside her at the gallows. 61910th St. NW. (202) 347-2713. Surratt Boarding House www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=16585 Was the plot hatched here? Mrs. Surratt was tried and convicted of conspiring to assassinate President Lincoln because she rented rooms to John Wilkes Booth and his cohorts. The site is now home to a fast-casual Chinese restaurant, Wok & Roll. 604 H St. NW. (202) 347-4656. Tudor Place www.tudorplace.org Owned by Robert E. Lee's first cousin, Martha Custis Peter, a granddaughter of Martha Washington, the Georgian-style mansion was rented to Union officers during war. Civil War history tours are available. 1644 31st St. NW. (202) 965-0400. Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Union Square Set against the backdrop of the U.S. Capitol, this striking tribute to Grant was sculpted by Henry Shrady and dedicated in 1922. The statue itself—the largest equestrian statue in the country and the second largest in the world—was modeled after a sketch that Grant drew of a soldier from Massachusetts after the battle at Spotsylvania Court House. 1st Street NW. (202) 426-6841 The White House www.whitehouse.gov At the time of the Civil War, the executive mansion was much smaller, and quite crowded with the Lincolns and their young family. Conditions were also much less sanitary. Sewage emptied onto the Ellipse, fueling diseases like smallpox and typhoid, which may well have claimed the life of Lincoln’s young son, Willie. The White House Visitors Center, located at 15th and E Sts. NW, sheds light on the building’s history and its role in the Civil War. Touring the building requires advance arrangements. Visitors must contact their Congress member up to six months in advance to book timed tours. Tour are available Tuesday- Saturday from 7:30 am-12:30 pm, barring private events, for groups of ten or more. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. (202) 456-7041. Admission is free. |
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