traveldk.com

On August 28, 1963, African-American leaders led 250,000 people to rally in front of the Lincoln Memorial in support of equal rights. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s eloquence in expressing his dream for America, along with the size of the march, gave strong impetus to the struggle for justice for all races.

Smith (1897–1995) publicly condemned the anti-Communist smear tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

In 1939 the singer was barred from Constitution Hall because of her race, so gave her Easter Sunday concert at the Lincoln Memorial instead.

Martha established the role of the First Lady imitated by her successors. She was famous for accompanying George on military campaigns.

This handsome building was dedicated in 1972 as a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. and as a public library. In the lobby is a mural by Don Miller depicting the life of Dr. King and the civil rights movement.

A former cotton-picker, Bethune rose to be a leading educator of African-Americans and an activist for equal rights. Her house was the headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, which she founded. During the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, she was a valued adviser.

Mary’s pleasure at being First Lady was marred by the Civil War and her husband’s assassination in 1865.

While the MCI Center is principally a sports arena, it has also become an unofficial community center. It draws crowds night after night with college and professional sports events, big-name concerts, circuses, figure skating performances, and other events (see MCI Sports Center).

The McMillan Plan of 1901, named for its congressional supporter, Senator James McMillan, was the first application of city planning in the US. It created much of the layout of the Mall and President’s Park seen today.