What's New in DC

USA GROUPS
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Some Interesting & Special Things
To Do & See in Our Nation's Capital

Construction Continues on U.S. Capitol Visitors Center:
The largest project in the Capitol's 212-year history, the underground facility will include an exhibition gallery, orientation theatres, a 550-seat cafeteria, gift shops and restrooms, allowing greater access to public tours of the Capitol and shorter waits for tours. The Center is expected to open in late 2008. http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/

Pentagon Memorial Dedication - September 11, 2008

One hundred eighty four lives were lost in a single moment at the Pentagon on
September 11, 2001.
http://memorial.pentagon.mil/

Inaugural Period 2009:
56th Presidential Inauguration will take place at noon on January 20, 2009 on the steps of the Capitol Building when the new President and Vice President will be sworn in followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue in the afternoon. Contact your Senator of Congressional Representative regarding limited tickets to this free event. Large public areas on the National Mall and the Capitol grounds will be open to ticketed individuals and will indicate where your location for viewing will be; large screens will also be positioned around the National Mall area. Many events are planned from January 15-21st and will be publicized after November '08. Requests to participate in the parade must go directly to the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee:
http://www.jfhqncr.northcom.mil/afic/

National Museum of American History Reopens November 21st:
$85 million renovated museum, featuring 3 million items, on the National Mall will exhibit the actual Star Spangled Banner flag that flew over Baltimore's Ft. McHenry in 1814. http://www.americanhistory.si.edu

Ford's Theatre Renovation Opens for Lincoln Bicentennial Event February '09:
Closed since August '07, Ford's will be re-opening during the 200th Birthday of Abraham Lincoln and will feature: a new entrance, new seats, new staging equipment, new air conditioning and a glass enclosed exhibit of the overcoat President Lincoln was wearing the night he was shot: on display 24/7 and seen from the outside. The new entrance will be in just north of the old theatre and the old entrance will become the exit. A play about Lincoln's life: "The Heavens Are Hung in Black" will re-open the theatre in February for the Bicentennial Celebration. The Heavens Are Hung in Black captures the most trying time in the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and will run from February 3 through March 8, 2009.

Running from March 27 through May 24, 2009, Frank Wildhorn’s The Civil War will look as never before in the newly renovated Ford’s Theatre. Witness the voices of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass resonate. Experience the words and sentiments of soldiers, wives, slaves and free people as their music and stories are woven against the tumultuous landscape of the American Civil War.

Later in 2010 there will be an additional museum across at 514 Tenth Street, N.W.
Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership admission:
Timed ticketing admission policy: free with a convenience charge for tickets reserved in advance.
http://www.fordstheatre.org; 1-800-899-2367; Group Sales: groupsales@fords.org for performances and group discount tickets available in advance.

Textile Museum Opens in New Location:
Fall '08: 23,400 sq. feet at 421 - 7th St., N.W. http://www.textilemuseum.org

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial:
Scheduled for 2010 completion, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial will be the first major memorial along the National Mall to be dedicated to an African-American. The memorial is designed to commemorate and honor Dr. King's national and international contributions to world peace through non-violent social change. It will be located on the Tidal Basin, near the Jefferson and FDR Memorials. The design features a crescent-shaped-stone wall inscribed with excerpts of Dr. King's sermons, and public addresses will serve as the living testaments of his vision of America. The centerpiece of the $100 million memorial, the "Stone of Hope", will feature a 30-foot likeness of Dr. King

U.S. Air Force Memorial
Now open to the public across from The Pentagon in Arlington, VA
http://airforcememorial.org
http://airforcememorial.org/dedication/index.asp

Major League Baseball Returns to the Nation's Capital:
Welcome WASHINGTON NATIONALS to their new home
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com

Wireless Access Available on National Mall
Free outdoor hotspot in the Enid Haupt Garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. Two additional outdoor hotspots one at the Hirschhorn Museum and one on the plaza beside the Museum of the American Indian. Click here for the full press release.

Cell Phone Use Law for District of Columbia
Effective July 1, 2004 drivers in Washington, DC will be fined $100 for any hand-held use of cell phones while driving. There will be a 30-day "grace/warning" period. Only hands-free/earphone cell use will be permitted.

Tour Bus Parking at Union Station
For about $20 from 7 AM - 6:59 PM; $10 from 7 pm to 6:59 AM coaches can park at Union Station.
For more info: 202-898-1950.

DC Transportation Updates
For the latest on downtown DC transportation including Metro and tour bus parking, visit:
http://ddot.dc.gov/ddot/site/default.asp
http://www.wmata.com/
http://dc.gov/index.asp

Downtown Circulator Service
To increase mobility and decrease congestion in downtown, the Circulator buses links downtown, the Mall and the Waterfront; Union Station and Georgetown and will run every 5-10 minutes 9 AM - 9 PM. Fare will be 50 cents; SmartCards and Metro transfers will be accepted; handicap accessible.

Ticketplace
Did you know you can purchase special discounted theatre tickets for same day performances at many area theatres? Visit: www.cultural-alliance.org and go to Ticketplace. Please note: Ticketplace has moved to: 407 – 7th St., NW (7th & E Sts., NW).

Cultural Diversity & Places of Interest: See the DC off The Mall:
Whether a new visitor or a frequent visitor, there's lots more to see in our city than just the monuments and museums. Discover the 70 museums not on The National Mall. Visit theatres, ethnic neighborhoods, restaurants galore, parks and shops in areas that include: Adams Morgan, Brookland, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Southwest/Waterfront, U Street/Shaw as well as the Capitol Hill and downtown areas. Most are metro-accessible. For more information visit: www.CulturalTourismDC.org.

National Museum
of the American Indian
Did you know that the National Museum of the American Indian is now the newest Smithsonian addition to our National Mall? This museum opened on September 21, 2004 on 4th St. and Independence Ave., SW. Admission is free to the public, but due to the expected large numbers to visit, timed entry passes will be necessary to enter the museum. Same-day timed entry passes will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can be obtained at the museum on the day of your visit. A new 40 minute film now plays hourly in the main theatre called, "A Thousand Roads." You may reserve your timed entry pass in advance for a nominal service fee by visiting www.tickets.com,or you may call Tickets.com toll-free at 866-400-NMAI (6624).Visit: www.americanindian.si.edu,

"Mitsitam," meaning "Let's eat," is the name of the new cafe-style restaurant at this new museum, and will feature Native American foods including buffalo burgers and other indigenous specialities. There is no voucher system in place at this time but we will keep you posted if/when there is.

Koshland Museum Marian Koshland Science Museum
Did you know a new Science Museum has just opened this spring? It’s the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences. For ticket price and group discount information visit: www.koshland-science-museum.org. The museum will be located on 6th & E Sts., NW near the Mall and metro.

Mt. Vernon: Orientation, Museum and Education Center Now Open
Be sure to visit George Washington's Estate and Gardens. Only minutes from downtown DC in Alexandria, Virginia, it's a site not to be missed especially for school field trips and families. A new $110 million addition features: high tech exhibits, adventure film, wax figures and artifacts of the period and of our first U.S. President. Group information: (703) 799-8688 or 1-800-429-1520. There is also an affordable food court and the Mount Vernon Inn for fine dining. Open daily including Christmas. Tickets required to tour the estate.

World War II Memorial

For more information: http://wwiimemorial.com/
On the above website, you can enter a name on the Registry of Remembrance (for free) by clicking on “WWII Registry” at left.

The WWII Memorial is now open to the public and is located on 17th Street, N.W. between Independence Avenue and Constitution Avenue. To the west is the Lincoln Memorial and to the east is the Washington Monument and The Capitol Building.

For special accessibility information throughout the DC area, visit: www.disabilityguide.org. Special guidebooks can also be ordered contact: 301-528-8664.

What's New at the National Zoo:
Panda Tai Shan, which means "peaceful mountain" is the official name of new Panda cub at the National Zoo.Tai Shan is on loan at the National Zoo.

The National Zoo has recently added a $5-million Kids' Farm featuring 2-acres of hands-on fun and educational exhibits. Located near the Picnic Pavilion and Parking Lot D, it's theme is to better inform our children about animals including grooming and feeding. 62 animals & 52 birds are featured, petting is allowed. Visit: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/

National Museum of the Marine Corps & Marine Corps Heritage Center: Opens in Quantico, VA
Open 9 AM - 5 PM daily except Christmas
Admission is free.
http://www.usmcmuseum.org

NEWSEUM: World's Most Interactive Museum
The 250,000-square-foot Newseum offers museum-goers an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Featuring 14 major galleries, 15 theaters, two state-of-the-art broadcast studios and more than a dozen additional exhibits and displays, the museum takes visitors behind the scenes to learn how and why news is made. Main galleries explore news history, electronic news, photojournalism, world news and how the media have covered major historical events such as the fall of the Berlin Wall. The museum’s first special exhibit, “G-Men and Journalists: Top News Stories of the FBI’s First Century,” is an exclusive look at the stories behind some of the FBI’s highest-profile cases, and the men and women who reported them. This dynamic exhibit, open through June 2009, features more than 200 artifacts drawn from the FBI evidence vaults and the collections of other museums, reporters, law-enforcement professionals, private collectors and the Newseum. It explores the role of the media in shaping the bureau’s image and the sometimes cooperative, sometimes combative relationship between the press and the FBI.

The Newseum also features a dedicated groups entrance, retail space and a self-service food court.
Located at 555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Toll Free: 888/NEWSEUM
www.newseum.org
Group Sales/Ticket discounts: 202-292-6322/6321

National Museum of Crime & Punishment
Explore the technology and science behind fighting and solving crimes, discover the heroes of law enforcement, and venture into the dark side of the criminal mind through this intensely interactive experience. The National Museum of Crime & Punishment, a Washington DC museum, includes a crime scene lab and the filming studios for America's Most Wanted with host John Walsh.

The museum is located on 7th Street NW between E and F Streets in downtown Washington, D.C. at the Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro (Arena exit) and on the web at www.crimemuseum.org. For information about Group Sales, call (202) 621-5553.

International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage. Open since July 2002, the museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display – many have never been seen by the public. These artifacts – from a 1777 letter by George Washington authorizing a New York spy network to a 1980s coat with a camera concealed in a button – bring to life the people and techniques behind some of the most influential espionage actions in world history. Operation Spy™, a new and groundbreaking immersive experience, opened in 2007 and provides guests with the chance to adopt the role of an intelligence officer on an international mission.

International Spy Museum is at 800 F St., N.W.; Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro or National Archives/Navy Memorial Metro This museum offers special student and group discounted tickets and is not to be missed!
www.spymuseum.org
For Group Sales contact Bill Adams at 202.654.0944 or Chas. Lum.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Washington DC
Madame Tussauds is the hottest new attraction to open in Washington DC! Madame Tussauds is located in the heart of our nation’s capital just steps away from the historic Ford’s Theatre. This full sensory attraction also pays homage to some of the most influential and important political figures in U.S. history from Presidents to activists and assassins to First Ladies.

The fully interactive attraction features exhibits such as “Behind the Scenes,” where visitors are able to learn about the trade secrets used to create Madame Tussauds’ wax figures. Madame Tussauds Washington DC shows off its glitzy side in signature celebrity style with a “Glamour” area that allows guests to rub elbows with A-list celebrities. There are also areas in the attraction dedicated to sports greats. Stand toe-to-toe with a boxing legend Muhammad Ali or putt with Tiger Woods. Do this and so much more.
Tickets required: www.madametussaudsdc.com;
202-942-7300; Group Bookings: 1-800-923-0334

GROUPS SHOULD ALSO VISIT:

The Pentagon
The Pentagon offers free escorted tours for special groups: Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 9 AM – 3 PM. Group tour request guidelines are available and advance reservation request is required at least 2 weeks prior to visit. Contact: USAgroups@aol.com and leave your email (or fax number) and the guidelines or contact information will be forwarded. The Pentagon is now not only the world’s largest office building, serving all branches of our nation’s armed forces, but is a memorial to those fallen on 9-11.

Tours can now be requested ONLINE.
Visit: http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil/

The Archives
The Constitution of the U.S. is preserved in the newly-renovated National Archives (700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW), free. Also featured are the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. A special exhibit gallery which opened Spring '05 features 9,000 square feet and is called "Public Vaults," where you can listen to President Theodore Roosevelt and view the 1865 wire scripts from President Lincoln to then General U.S. Grant. Hours vary: www.archives.gov .

The National Air & Space Museum
The National Air & Space Museum now has TWO LOCATIONS and both are free: One on the National Mall, downtown Washington DC and the new Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA (open daily except Christmas Day). Now has added a 53,000 square foot exhibit hall featuring the space shuttle Enterprise. There is a fee of $12.00 per car for parking in Chantilly; motorcoaches park free. Visit: www.nasm.si.edu. Shuttle service to Chantilly available from the National Mall for $7.00 round-trip per person. For info on all (free) 14 museums of The Smithsonian Institution: www.si.edu.

A new 53,000 square foot exhibit hall: James S. McDonnell Space Hangar, featuring the space shuttle Enterprise, will be opening November '04. Included also in this latest exhibit will be the Gemini VII and Mercury 15B spacecraft.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

2009 National Cherry Blossom Festival

2009 Festival Dates: March 28 - April 12, 2009; with the Parade on Saturday, April 4, 2008! This festival will celebrate the 96th anniversary of the gift of 3,000 trees from the Japan to the people of Washington, DC and the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity between the U.S. and Japan in 1854.

For more information on Cherry Blossom events contact: www.nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. For groups of 10+, call 202-661-7580 or email: parade@downtowndc.org for ticket information for the parade. You can also obtain a Grandstand Ticket Order Form on the website here.

National Police Week is held annually in Washington to commemorate and honor the contributions and sacrifices of America’s law enforcement officers. Events and activities are sponsored by various national law enforcement organizations, primarily NLEOMF, Concerns of Police Survivors and the Fraternal Order of Police.

Call: 202-737-3400.
http://nleomf.com/

Arlington National Cemetery:
www.arlingtonnationalcemetery.org:
arlington national cemetery | info @ arlingtonnationalcemetery.org | 202 427 6356

Wreath Laying Protocol at Arlington National Cemetery:
http://arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/wreath_layings.html

Tomb of the Unknowns:

http://arlingtoncemetery.org/visitor_information/tomb_of_the_unknowns.html

The American Battle Monuments Commission
www.abmc.gov

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall):

http://www.nps.gov/vive/index.htm
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (National Park Service)

The Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima):
http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/usmc.htm
The Marine Corps War Memorial

Korean War Veterans Memorial:
http://www.nps.gov/kowa/index.htm
Korean War Veterans Memorial (National Park Service)

FDR Memorial:
http://www.nps.gov/frde/index.htm
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (National Park Service)

African American Civil War Memorial:
http://www.afroamcivilwar.org/
African American Civil War Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial

The Navy Memorial:
www.lonesailor.org/

The U.S. Navy Seabee Memorial:
www.nsva.org

Vietnam Women's Memorial:
http://www.nps.gov/vive/memorial/women.htm
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Vietnam Women's Memorial

National Museum of American Jewish Military History:
http://www.nmajmh.org/index.html
National Museum of American Jewish Military History

USA GROUPS wants to continue to offer group planners news-worthy information to make your visit to our Nation’s Capital special: We welcome your comments and suggestions on what else you would like us to include on this information part of our website: email us: USAgroups@aol.com.

USA Groups only suggests attractions and events: no events, dates or times are guaranteed and always subject to change and or cancellation/closing. We accept no responsibility in any erroneous information provided on our information pages. It is highly recommended to check all websites provided and/or call in advance of plans. Our intent is to pass on news-worthy information that may be group-oriented and lists of attractions, museums, theatres etc will be also added at a later time although these listings may be obtained by visiting other destination sites such as: www.dcchamber.org or www.washington.org or www.dcvisit.com
(call 1-866-DCISFUN; 1-866-324-7386).