The Third Leg: Washington
By Cheryl Tan
APPLE STATE
National state and political nerve center, Washington is also known for its landmarks – home to some of Hollywood’s iconic backdrops like the Smithsonian Museum, Washington Monument and White House. This capital is all about the sights.
The first stopover: the Smithsonian Museum and this did not disappoint anyone. This museum is enormous and it was compartmentalized by various themes. The most interesting one being the aviation-themed museum, which showcases plenty of historical artefacts that paved the way for the aviation industry; it also highlighted Emilia Earhart’s achievements and Antoine de Saint-Exupery, a man famous for his lyrical aviation writing and the book, ‘Little Prince’.
Venture out and look for the Natural History Museum, a place where dinosaurs, underwater creatures and animals of all sorts come alive in detailed ‘statues’. But for those looking to understand the history of the luxurious kind, the Smithsonian Museum has a gemstone section, housing the infamous Hope Diamond. This part of the museum, gathers the most audience as everyone is anxious to get a glimpse of this inanimate time traveller.
The second stopover for Washington: the White House, probably the most protected building in the world – taking pictures can only be done from a distance. Quite visibly though is their security force, there were bodyguards all around patrolling the area and there were even snipers on the roof, eyeballing every move made within the vicinity.
Next on the agenda for American history is the Capitol Hill and the Library of Congress, both places a great source of America’s uprising – from the declaration of independence to the history of US, this place is a must see for every tourist looking to understand the essence of America.
