Roland Smith - N Is for Our Nations Capital: A Washington DC Alphabet

A Washington, DC Alphabet

Readers from sea to shining sea can explore the famous people, historical sites, monuments, and so much more in this childrens A-Z pictorial. From the Angel of the Battlefield to the National Zoo, these and other letter topics are introduced with simple poems for young readers. The sidebar text offers explanations and details to older children and adults.

P is for Powhatan people.
They were here long before
anyone thought of our capital
along the Potomac Shore.

Powhatan was an Indian chief in the early 1600s. Powhatan ruled about 30 native tribes that became known as the Powhatan Confederacy. Powhatans daughter was Pocahontas and is remembered for her kindness and generosity to the first settlers from England. The Powhatans lived along the Potomac and other rivers, which provided both food and transportation.

Detailed watercolor illustrations from Barbara Leonard Gibson create the perfect backdrop to the authors poetry and prose.

A Washington, DC Alphabet

Written by Marie and Roland Smith and Illustrated by Barbara Leonard Gibson

Dedicated to our family of veterans who served our country especially
Smitty, Hap, Mike, Granddad, Dad, Steve, Bob, Gary, and Shawn.

MARIE & ROLAND

For my sister, Karen.

BARBARA

Clara Barton was a clerk in the U.S. Patent Office in our nations capital when the Civil War started. She began taking care of the soldiers and was given permission to travel where she was needed mostthe battlefields. One night she arrived at a field hospital bringing a wagonload of supplies after a heavy battle. The surgeon on duty wrote later, I thought that night if heaven ever sent out an angel, she must be oneher assistance was so timely. Soon after, she became known as the Angel of the Battlefield.

Clara Barton helped start the American Red Cross. The home of the Red Cross is just a short distance from the White House and fills an entire block called Red Cross Square. It also has a monument for all women who cared for the sick and wounded during the Civil War and World War I.

A is also for Archives. The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are just part of the treasures stored in our national Archives.

A is for Angel of the Battlefield.

Clara Barton took the lead.

No matter what the danger, she helped soldiers in need.

Blair House was purchased for use as the official presidential guesthouse in 1942 after Eleanor Roosevelt found Winston Churchill in his nightshirt wandering the White House. He was hoping to meet President Roosevelt for breakfast!

Blair House was built in 1824 for Dr. Joseph Lovell, the first Surgeon General of the United States. The Blair family later purchased the house and held meetings here for many well-known Americans like John Calhoun, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and Jefferson Davis. Lincoln often visited here during his neighborhood walks. Blair House was where Robert E. Lee was offered, but refused, the command of the Union troops. Lee later became commander of the Confederate States Army.

Harry Truman, our 33rd president, lived at Blair House while the White House was being remodeled. During his stay at Blair House an assassination attempt was made on his life. One officer, Leslie Coffelt, was killed defending the president. Truman dedicated a plaque in front of Blair House to the officer.

B is for the Blair House.

Here the presidents guest, while visiting our nations capital, has a place to rest.

In 1912 First Lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two cherry trees on the northern bank of the Tidal Basin. The cherry trees are still standing and are two of over 3,000 trees the people of Japan sent as a gift to the United States. In Japan the flowering cherry tree is called Sakura and is their national flower. The blooming of the cherry trees around the tidal basin and the Jefferson Memorial brings hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to our nations capital.

The Tidal Basin is a pool originally dug by the Army Corps of Engineers during the 1880s to help with the yearly flooding of the Potomac River. The dredging of the river channel created new land that became the West and East Potomac Parks. Hains Point, the southernmost tip of East Potomac Park, was named after Major General Peter Hains, the engineer who directed the work.

C is for capital and capitol. Notice the difference in spelling? Washington, D.C. is our nations capital city. The building where the Senate and House meet is our nations Capitol Building.

C is for Cherry blossomssuch a lovely view.

To the people of Japan, we give our thanks to you.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. became known for his eloquent speeches and peaceful protests supporting civil rights in America. His most remembered speech called I have a dream was given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library located in our nations capital has a museum with information about his life. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an official holiday celebrated on the third Monday in January.

The Lincoln Memorial is in memory of Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president. Lincoln was called the Great Emancipator after he freed the slaves during the Civil War. His speeches are carved on the walls of his memorial. One, called the Gettysburg Address, starts out: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal

D is for a Dream of Martin Luther King.

He shared with everyone Let freedom ring.

Since 1878 an Easter Egg Roll has been on the south lawn of the White House. Before that it was on the lawn of the Capitol Building. All the children running around made the members of Congress unhappy about the expense and upkeep of the grass. Congress passed a law forbidding our nations Capitol grounds to be used as a playground, disappointing a lot of children. President Hayes and his wife Lucy heard about the new law and unhappy children. They officially opened the White House grounds for egg rolling. Every president since has continued the tradition using the south lawn. A few times the event has been canceled during war and bad weather.

E is also for Ellipse, the White House south lawn, named for its shape. The space is also used for other outside activities, including ball games.