place

Old Naval Observatory

1843 establishments in Washington, D.C.Astronomical observatories in Washington, D.C.Buildings of the United States NavyBuildings of the United States government in Washington, D.C.Closed installations of the United States Navy
Foggy BottomHistoric American Buildings Survey in Washington, D.C.Infrastructure completed in 1843National Historic Landmarks in Washington, D.C.
US Naval Observatory (Washington, District of Columbia)
US Naval Observatory (Washington, District of Columbia)

The Old Naval Observatory is a historic site at 23rd and E Street in Northwest, Washington, D.C. It is where the United States Naval Observatory was located from 1844 to 1893, when it moved to its present grounds. The original observatory building, built 1839-40, still stands, and is a designated National Historic Landmark. The Washington meridian of 1850 passes through the Observatory. The property for many years housed the Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, which moved out in 2012. The property has been taken over by the State Department. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Old Naval Observatory (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Old Naval Observatory
US 50, Washington

Geographical coordinates (GPS) Address Nearby Places
placeShow on map

Wikipedia: Old Naval ObservatoryContinue reading on Wikipedia

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 38.895103 ° E -77.051443 °
placeShow on map

Address

Navy Medical Command Building

US 50
20522 Washington
District of Columbia, United States
mapOpen on Google Maps

US Naval Observatory (Washington, District of Columbia)
US Naval Observatory (Washington, District of Columbia)
Share experience

Nearby Places

United States Department of State
United States Department of State

The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs of other nations, its primary duties are advising the U.S. president on international relations, administering diplomatic missions, negotiating international treaties and agreements, and representing the U.S. at the United Nations. The department is headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building, a few blocks from the White House, in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C.; "Foggy Bottom" is thus sometimes used as a metonym. Established in 1789 as the first administrative arm of the U.S. executive branch, the State Department is considered among the most powerful and prestigious executive agencies. It is headed by the U.S. secretary of state, who reports directly to the U.S. president and is a member of the Cabinet. Analogous to a foreign minister, the secretary of state serves as the federal government's chief diplomat and representative abroad, and is the first Cabinet official in the order of precedence and in the presidential line of succession. The position is currently held by Antony Blinken, who was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 26, 2021, by a vote of 78–22. As of 2024, the State Department maintains 271 diplomatic posts worldwide, second only to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China. It also manages the U.S. Foreign Service, provides diplomatic training to U.S. officials and military personnel, exercises partial jurisdiction over immigration, and provides various services to Americans, such as issuing passports and visas, posting foreign travel advisories, and advancing commercial ties abroad. The department administers the oldest U.S. civilian intelligence agency, the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, and maintains a law enforcement arm, the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).

Charles E. Smith Center
Charles E. Smith Center

The Charles E. Smith Center is a 5,000-seat multipurpose arena in the United States' capital, Washington, D.C. Opened on November 17, 1975, it is home to the George Washington University Colonials men's and women's basketball teams, as well as the university's swimming, water polo, gymnastics, and volleyball teams. From 2014 to 2018, it was the home of the Washington Kastles of World TeamTennis. Smith Center also became the temporary home of the Washington Mystics as they made a run at a WNBA Championship in 2018. Smith Center is located on the main George Washington campus in Foggy Bottom, on the block bounded by 22nd and 23rd and F and G Streets NW. The arena also has hosted concerts and includes practice courts, a swimming pool, a weight room, and athletic department offices. The building was named for Charles E. Smith, who was a university trustee and chairman of the Committee on University Development. A $43 million update and expansion of the Smith Center began in February 2008, due in part to a $10 million gift from the family of Charles E. Smith. Renovations were finished before the start of the 2010-2011 Basketball season. Improvements include: New team locker rooms A new seating chart for students and Athletic Director's Club members The Colonials Club New scoreboards A new exterior design A new entranceway A new ticket boothOn September 11, 2018, the Smith Center's Jumbotron collapsed onto the court below while undergoing maintenance. No one was injured in the incident, possibly due to the Jumbotron's already-lowered position before the fall.

The Education Center at The Wall

The Education Center at The Wall was a collaborative effort between the National Park Service and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF). The Center was approved by Congress, and construction was planned for the National Mall site adjacent to the Vietnam Memorial and on the corner of Constitution Avenue and 23rd Street. The two-story underground learning facility would have been built in keeping with the design, tone, and mood of The Wall and so as not to detract from the historic vistas of the National Mall. VVMF canceled the project in 2018 due to fundraising challenges.The purpose of the Education Center was to inform future generations of the honor and sacrifices made by those who served their country. The center's core would revolve around seven traits that embody the American service member throughout the generations: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Service, Honor, Integrity, and Courage. A prominent feature of the Education Center was to be the larger-than-life pictures of service members whose names adorn the polished black panels of The Wall. The pictures would be displayed on the service members' birthdays and add faces to the more than 58,000 names on The Wall and tell the stories of those who served. Volunteers sought to find photos of each of the veterans, along with service background information on computers at the Education Center and online for non-local visitors. The Education Center would have also featured displays of the more than 400,000 personal articles, letters, and gifts that have been left at the foot of the memorial since its dedication in 1982. Like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Education Center at The Wall was completely funded through private donations. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund embarked on a multi-year campaign to secure the nearly $115 million needed. The campaign leadership included Gen. Colin Powell USA (Ret.) and Gen. Barry A. McCaffrey USA (Ret.). Actor Tom Selleck served as the National Spokesman. In September 2018 the Fund announced it would scrap its plans for construction of the center and instead focus on digital education and outreach.