GENERAL DC UPDATES
For Immediate Release
November 5, 2010

                                           New Developments in DC

Civil War to Civil Rights
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and DC’s unique position in the fight for civil rights, Destination DC has organized “Civil War to Civil Rights.” The four-year promotion (2011-2015) unites dozens of attractions, landmarks, organizations and historic sites throughout the capital region. Museums, cultural institutions and theaters throughout the city and region will observe the sesquicentennial with special exhibitions, offerings and events. The commemorative events began this fall with the second installment of a two-part exhibition at the National Archives, “Discovering the Civil War: Consequences,” on display through April 12, 2012. The civil rights movement, born from this national struggle, will witness several significant developments between 2011-2015 including:

• The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum (opening in 2011)
• The Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial (opening in 2011)
• National Museum of Civil War Medicine (projected opening in downtown DC in 2011)
• Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture (projected opening in 2015)

Additional programs are also planned at Ford's Theatre, the National Portrait Gallery, President Lincoln’s Cottage, National Museum of American History and other locations, as well as at major battlefield sites throughout the region. 

Date Nights DC
Throughout February, 2011, Destination DC will spark new romances and rekindle relationships in the nation's capital with the month-long promotion, "Date Nights DC: A 28-Day Stimulus Plan for Love & Relationships." Inspired by the Obama’s “date nights” this initiative will engage visitors and locals with tempting, thematic specials at hotels, restaurants, museums and attractions including “An Affair to Remember” package at The Fairmont Washington, DC. Destination DC will list 100 date ideas as well as links to book special packages on their website. The incoming “Secretary of Love and Relationships” will be announced in January, 2011.

La Dolce DC Celebrates Italy in DC
This springtime, in addition to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC will celebrate its Italian connections with La Dolce DC, a cultural tourism promotion. The initiative will run March 1-May 30, 2011, timed to coincide with an abundance of Italian-accented arts events including the only North American stop for “Venice: Canaletto and His Rivals” (February 20–May 30, 2011) at the National Gallery of Art and “Philip Guston: Roma” at the Phillips Collection. The promotion is also designed to showcase the ways that Italians have contributed to the capital’s cultural fabric and grandeur. Some examples: The U.S. Capitol dome and its corridors are adorned by the frescos of Constantino Brumidi and the statues that anchor the Memorial Bridge were a gift from the people of Italy. Hotels and restaurants will also create packages and programs that tie into the celebration. Fans of fashion and film should also expect to find numerous special events.

Curtain Up! The Scene from Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
After a decade of planning and a budget of $125M, the curtain arose on the Mead Center for American Theater at Arena Stage in late October 2010. The new facility, dedicated to the creation and promotion of American theatre is the largest arts center to open in the nation’s capital since the Kennedy Center in 1971. The new space boasts exciting upgrades for longtime fans and actors. Three theaters serve as the architectural focal points, supported by state-of-the-art technology and spacious workspace for rehearsals, set design, construction and administrative services. The new Arena Stage addresses audience needs as well. A large, common lobby with a grand staircase links all three theater spaces both visually and geographically. The new facility features a single, efficient box office; readily available concessions and an onsite café with special menus crafted by local super-chef Jose Andres (Jaleo, minibar); as well as access to all areas of the building for persons with disabilities. To further its mission of supporting American theater, Arena’s staff roster will include professional playwrights in residence, who will receive healthcare, housing, benefits and salaries.  For its inaugural production in the new space, Arena Stage opened with "Oklahoma!" (through Dec. 26, 2010). Early next year, Arena will stage an Albee Festival and a Broadway-bound adaption of John Grisham’s “A Time to Kill.”

Inflatable Addition Planned for Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
The Hirshhorn Museum is planning an eye-catching project aimed to affirm its commitment to enhancing public engagement with contemporary art. The New York-based architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro (known for Manhattan’s “High Line”) has proposed a nearly 145-ft tall inflatable structure inflated within in the Hirshhorn’s courtyard and ballooning through the top of the building. It will be visible from all sides of the museum and transform its public space into a seasonal auditorium, café and meeting place filled with activity. If the project continues to move forward, the first installation of the seasonal pavilion will be May 2011.

Construction Underway on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
In late October 2009, the National Capital Planning Commission gave final approval to a new security configuration, clearing the way for construction to begin on the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial. It will be the first major memorial along the National Mall to be dedicated to an African American, and to a non-president. The structure will commemorate the life and work of Dr. King, honoring his contributions to international world peace through non-violent social change. The design features include a crescent-shaped-stone wall inscribed with excerpts of Dr. King’s sermons and public addresses, as well as a 30-foot likeness of Dr. King as the centerpiece. The expected completion date has yet to be announced.

Under Construction: Ford’s Theatre Education Center
Lincoln history buffs are eyeing the development of a new attraction across the street from Ford’s Theatre. Housed in an existing ten-story building, the Ford’s Theatre Education Center will span four stories, adding to the story of the fateful day with displays like a period Washington, DC street scene simulated to look like the day of his death and a recreation of Lincoln’s funeral train car. The center will also display artifacts like letters, a lock of Lincoln’s hair, the tools used to construct his coffin and the keys that were found in Booth’s pocket. The $60 million facility is slated to open in 2012, concurrent with Destination DC’s “Civil War to Civil Rights” initiative. 

National Museum of African American History and Culture: Opening in 2015
The Smithsonian Institution is preparing its latest museum on the National Mall, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The museum will be located between 14th and 15th Streets, adjacent to the Washington Monument and the National Museum of American History. While the museum’s content is currently under development, it will explore African American history on a national level, examining such topics as slavery, the Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance and the civil rights movement. Currently, exhibitions at the National Museum of African American History and Culture are housed inside the National Museum of American History. The architectural firm, Freelon Adjaye Bond/SmithGroup has been selected to design the new museum.

Gehry Design Unveiled for Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
In March 2010, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission unveiled a design concept by famed architect Frank Gehry for what will be DC’s newest presidential memorial. Slated to open in 2015, the suggested site sits on four acres between Fourth and Sixth Streets SW behind the National Air and Space Museum. One of three options from Gehry, the selected plan features a central area set back from a number of eight-story columns framed by large metal panels that will depict “photographs” of Eisenhower's life. In front of this metal “tapestry,” a grove of oak trees will form a contemplative and grove for discovering and reflecting on different aspects of President Eisenhower’s life and administration.