The Pentagon and the USNO - Two Unique DC Attractions

 Washington D.C. is one of the most visited cities in the nation. We all know the President lives there. We know about Capitol Hill, the monuments, and the museums. There are almost unlimited ways to theme a tour to this great city - government, anthropology, history, civics, and countless more.

Two attractions, sometimes overlooked, will be the focus here. Both might be excellent choices for those with an interest in our military and its various duties. The second is also for the astronomer and for the seeker in all of us who likes to contemplate our place in the vast universe. They are the boulderpentagon and the US Naval Observatory.

Both of these amazing attractions require advanced scheduling - at least two weeks for the Pentagon and four to six for the Naval Observatory. Tours of the Pentagon are arranged through your representative to congress. Both tours, however, will be an irreplaceable experience.

The Pentagon is, of course, the headquarters for our nation's Department of Defense. The tour was established in 1976 to help support the nation's bicentennial. It continues today because of its immense popularity from that time. The tour covers over one mile of this unique building with a tour guide well-versed in the military. Each one is a member of the capital's ceremonial units. You'll glimpse different aspects of all four branches of our military - the Army, Airforce, Navy and Marine Corps. But there are many other highlights to the Pentagon tour as well.

The Hall of Heroes, for instance, displays the names of every recipient of the Medal of Honor. Visitors can even see a Medal of Honor on display. The Native American display pays tribute to our nation's earlier residents. And the Pentagon holds the first completed September 11 memorial among the crash sites from that day. Beautifully designed benches memorialize each victim according to their age. The placement of the names tells the visitor whether the victim was working in the Pentagon that day or on the flight that struck it. Trees planted in the memorial further enhance the peaceful atmosphere.

These memorials and so many other highlights make the Pentagon a truly unique touring experience for any D.C. visitor. Another great one, and also a part of our military, is the US Naval Observatory (USNO). It is here that important data is gathered through the study of the stars and planets as well as earth's relationship to them. This data is then translated toward timekeeping and accurate navigation. Most of us probably fail to realize how important astronomy is to our daily lives.

Tours of the Naval Observatory are only offered on select Monday evenings throughout the year. They include a history of the Observatory and its important role. Weather permitting, visitors are even able to observe celestial bodies themselves.

Other trivia you may not find common knowledge in school or the workplace is the fact that the home for the Vice President's family is on the USNO grounds. A beautiful Victorian house, it was originally built for the superintendent of the Observatory and then occupied by the chief and from then on often referred to as "the Admiral's House". The Vice President, however, has been given the honor of living there since 1974. Although the home is a residence and not available for tours, this beautiful house is located on the USNO grounds, and you may win an office pool someday for knowing it.