The DC Traveler

Join members of the Victorian Dance Ensemble, dressed in period costumes and familiar with the customs of the times as they recreate the style, grace and grandeur of Abraham Lincoln’s 1865 Inaugural Ball. Learn a few steps and join in the party.

 The ball was held at a large hall at the US Patent Office at 8th and F Streets, NW. Tickets to the event were $10 with the proceeds going to support the Union was effort.
A brass band played music in the foyer, welcoming the 4,000 guests, while upstairs, a string ensemble played popular dance music from …read more

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Well, if your name is John, Jim, Rich, Andy, George or Tom, you can get into Madame Tussauds in Washington D.C. for FREE any day during Presidents Day week.
Actually, free admission applies to anyone that has the same first name as any of the 43 presidents (a total of 27 different first names).
To celebrate President’s Day, you can pose for a photo with any of 13 presidents at Madame’s including George Washington, Tom Jefferson, Abe Lincoln, FDR, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, or either George Bush.  There’s also a waving Hillary Clinton wax figure in case you’re thinking…
2/16 …read more

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Happy 200th birthday to one of the nation’s most important and influential presidents, Abraham Lincoln.

Throughout his political career, Lincoln ran for public office a total of 11 times, yet lost 8 times (or 72% of the time).
Here’s a list of Abraham Lincoln’s political losses….
In 1832 Abraham Lincoln lost his first political election, for a seat on the Illinois State Legislature in 1832. Six yeas later, after winning a seat in 1834, he ran for Speaker of the State Legislature and lost.
His first run for Congress resulted in a defeat, but he won a seat three years later. Only to lose …read more

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In 1880, George Washington birthday* (February 22nd), 81 years after his death, was first celebrated in Washington, DC. Five years later, federal offices began to observe the holiday and close offices.  In 1971, Washington’s birthday was officially recognized as a national holiday and was moved to the 3rd Monday in February.
Abraham Lincoln’s birthday (February 12th) was also celebrated, but was never a legal national holiday. 
Various observances and parades are planned for Presidents’ Day – February 19th.
George Washington’s Mt. Vernon
An official wreath laying ceremony will be held at Washington’s tomb at 10:00 a.m.  Immediately afterwards, a Revolutionary War mock battle, as …read more

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