The Washington critic., 1886-06-10
THE VISITORS GUIDE.
Objects of Interest in and About the
National Capital.
TIE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
Parks, Squares, Statues, Gardens and
Other Points of Attraction.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.
TEE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS.
THE WAY TO REACH THEM.


most attractive city of the country. AS
the Capital of the Nation II presents
more objects of interest to the visitor
than any other on the continent, and
brief directory of its prominent points
will be of service to the vast number of
persons who annually resort to the po-
litcal metropolis. For 1t is estimated
that over three hundred thousand
strangers pay a visit every year to this
city to behold the varied objects Of In.
terest which so thickly stud the his
toric "Ten Miles Square" or these
objects the most conspicuous are of
course the Government buildings.
Chief among those Is, first
The Capitol.
This great building is the central point Of the
original District, and Is the largest edifce
In the country It's centre s, marks the Me-
Immediately under the dome, is the part
first built. II was partially destroyed by the
British In 1874, but was completely restored
remains re- Of washington were Intended to be
placed, the Library, the Rotunda, the old
Representatives Hall, now the Gallery of
statuary, and the old Senate Chamber, now
the supreme Courtroom. The old supreme.
Courtroom in the first story, Is now occu-
pied by the Law Branch of the Library.
The cornerstone Of the Capitol extension
1851, Daniel Webster delivering the Grafton
of the occasion from the balcony Of the
Library. The south wing contains the
House Of Representatives, and the north
tinguished for Its historic paintings, for the
famous bronze doors, with their alto
reliefs, and for Brumidfs frescoings. In the
BAL of are the natural in
freak @ Of nature. From the little rotnnaa,
Immediately north of the great rotunda, the
staircase to the top Of the dome begins its
winding way. From the top of the dome, or
as far as the visitor can ascend, the view
Of the surrounding country Is magnificent.
The Capitol grounds; which formerly were
been transformed into a beautiful
park and are now most exqui,itely beauti.
full; The east base of the Capitol Is s9l1
The total height from east base to the top
of the temple covering the dome Is 2SS feet;
the statue of the Goddess of Liberty, 1915
feet, making the total height to the crest OF
higher than the west gate Of the grounds,
and 397 feet above low tide in the Potomac,
or 24S feet lower than the apex of the Wash
west. The building is 75i feet long by asi
wide, and covers 3x acres. 1t is the finest
and largest public building in the world,
and in many respects the costliest and
handsomest. 1t Is moreover the growth Of
less than century-a fact which adds to
its beauty and interest. The original Capi-
tol, or centre building, is an imitation.
Carree at Nismes. The view from the west
portico at night, when the lamps are lit in
the public grounds and the lights Of the city
illuminate the darkness is one of the most
..l atNA Int la
Is well worth journey of thousand miles
The White House.
From the west balcony of the Capitol looking
down Pennsylvania avenue, the White
House Is seen rearing its snowy-hued walls
above the dense mass of opening that EN-
bowers 1t, like a gigantic calla lily springina
up amid It's enfoldlng green blades. Were
building H S' the % view ef Of the White House from
the Capitol would be full and complete. The
White House is the center of Uptown" as
the Capitol is the center of Down town.
1t Is beautifully located, the view from the
south windows covering the whole southern
front ofthe city, as the view from the nortl
up Sixteenth street west exhibits the best
part ,, Of the Northwest section to the gaze
the Duke of Leinster at Dublin, with the
addition Of large porch on the north front
which was added during Andrew jackson,
administration. The reservation In which
It stands embraces nearly 81 acres. Tn,
main entrance Is on the north reached by
the Pennsylvania avenue cars. 1t Is twC
| stories high on the north, Is built OF Whit
freestone, 40 feet long by 30 wide. IL con
tains on the first floor the famous Green
Red, Blue and East rooms, the State Dining
| Room and the great conscrvatories. Tit
Blue Room Is the Presidents official recep
tion room and the drawing.room of the ladie
of his family. The East Room, Originally
designed for banquet hall and so used a
late as 1887, and In the latter part of tn
/ tttru zaI n Irrt, for p1n la.
by Mrs. President Adams, is the largest. an,
most noted room In the building. 1t Is
feet high. 50 feet long and 40 wide. II !
open TO visitors every day except Sundays
offices; the Presidents Office the librar
and the family apartments. All thes
rooms except the latter are open to visitors
by special permission, at suitable hours.
Medical Museum.
ON Tenth street, between Z and F. round tn
corner westward from Masonic Temple,
the famous Medical Museum. This build
ing was once prominent Baptist Church, !
was converted about the beginning of tn
war into theatre, known the country owe
in April, 1865, that John Wilkes Boot
killed President Lincoln. The latter wa
carried to house iust opposite, where ere,
No. SIG Tenth street, commentaries TIL
fact. The theatre was then sequestrated b
the Government and turned into the Met
lcHl Museum uttdcHcu TO inc StlrseOH-u -uei
erals office. 1t Is full of interesting surgica
relics of the war, and has the largest med
cal library in the world. Among the cur
osties within Its walls is the articulate
skeleton of Guiteau, the assassin of Pres
dent Garfield. Coming down Tenth stree
from the Medical Museum the visitor wi
not fail to inspect the massive and beaut
full Post Building, in which is situated tn
| Office of THE CRITIo. This is the larges
newspaper establishment south of Philadel
| phia and east of the Ohio and Mississippi
rivers. Four of the leading and most ntll
ental journals In the country--two mornin,
one evening (TuE Carlo and one indepeI
dent sunday paper-have their home in tn
establishment.
The Centre Market.
The Centre Market occupies the square
south of the Avenue, bounded by Il stree
| on the south, Seventh street on the ea
/ md Ninth street on the west. II Is q YeI