Benjamin visited Washington during the annual Cherry Blossom Festival in April. While there, he walked over 20 miles to visit many of the numerous monuments, memorials, and museums that Washington has to offer. Some of the many sites he visited include the African American Civil War Memorial, Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Logan Circle (which is a site along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail), Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, the Martin Luther Monument at Thomas Circle, the Black Lives Matter Plaza, Lafayette Square, World War I Memorial, Freedom Plaza (which is a site along the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail), and the White House (Presidents Park) where he toured the White House Visitor Center, but did not tour the house.
Around the National Mall and Memorial Parks area, he visited the Washington Monument, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Constitution Gardens (and the Signers Memorial), the George Mason Memorial, DC War Memorial, the Floral Library, East Potomac Park, West Potomac Park, and the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail.
Other Washington attractions he visited during his three-day stay included the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove on the Potomac, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial, the Albert Einstein Memorial at the National Academy of Sciences, Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, Pennsylvania Avenue National Historic Site, the US Navy Memorial, Navy Merchant Marine Memorial, Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, Ford's Theater National Historic Site, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument, the grounds of the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court of the United States, Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II, and Stanton Park (which is one of the Capitol Hill Parks, and part of the National Capital Parks-East unit of the National Park Service).
In addition to the various cherry blossoms, Benjamin also had an opportunity to tour the United States Botanic Garden and its many blooming trees and flowers. He also toured the National Archives and saw the Declaration of Independence, Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. While in the District of Columbia, he enjoyed meals at the historic Ollie’s Trolley and the Hard Rock Café.
We spent several days in the District during the first week of July. We took a nighttime bike tour of the monuments and memorials along the National Mall where we saw the Old Post Office Pavilion, the White House, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Constitution Gardens, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial.
The next day we toured the United States Capitol, United States Supreme Court, and the Library of Congress. We also attended a play at Ford's Theatre National Historic Site about the night President Abraham Lincoln was shot.
On July 4th we attended the National Independence Day Parade, toured the Smithsonian American History Museum and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and toured the National Archives of the United States. That evening we watched the fireworks show from the base of the Washington Monument.
On our final day, we toured the National Zoo and attended a special service at the Washington National Cathedral with a performance by the Memphis Boys Choir. While in DC we enjoyed several good restaurants including Ollie's Trolley.