Evening star., 1950-02-19
Washington Major Point Of Departure for Popular Scenic and Historic Trips
By Walter w. Hubbord
American Automobile Association.


States, will visit Europe this year
1000 of whom will drive their own
or rented cars while abroad, &C
cording to the International
Travel Department of the Ameri-
can Automobile Association. But
interesting to Washingtonians is
the fact that nearly 4 million Wis
itorS will come to this one city,
the Nations Capital, during 1850
The majority of them will come
in motor vehicles, over the high
ways.
AS a travel objective. the Dis
trict ranks second only to New
York City But as base of
operations" for motor trips around
and outside of the city, Washing
ton bids fair to equal or surpass
New York this year because of its
Sesquicentennial celebration. One
hundred and fifty years prior to-
April IS, this year, the city off,
cially became the Capital of the
United States. Today it has more
cars registered, and more cars
visiting it, than any other capital
in the world.
All because, century and a
half ago, Thomas Jefferson, then
Secretary of State, decided to give
dinner party at his home in New
York City to group of congress
sional leaders and politicians.
Briefly, the selection of Wash
ington as the site of the National
Capital, came as a result of poll
tical upheaval in which Alexander
Hamilton played prominent
role. Defeated in an attempt to
have the Federal Government as
sumo the several Revolutionary
War debts of the States-amount-
ing to around $40 million, Hamil-
ton appealed to Jefferson because
the fight had become 50 bitter
that the Union, then but IS
months old, was threatened.
Result of Dinner Party.
The author of the Declaration
OF Independence, a Virginian, was
keener for the preservation of the
Union than he was for the appro-
baton of Southern Senators and
Representatives who had been
fighting the efforts of Northern
legislators to take over the States
war obligations and pay them
through the Federal Treasury.
So the dinner party was held
Congress reversed It's decision by
a narrow margin. and as q favor
q southern" capital was accepted
on the banks of the Potomac
rather than on the banks Of the
Delaware. Washington thus be-
came the worlds great Mecca for
motor tourists because OF Jeffer-
sons compromise dinner party.
Washington is focal point for
historic and scenic trips which
might take from three hours to
three days, the choice being al
most limitless. Good roads-rib-
bons OF concrete or macadam-
stretVh into nearby Maryland, Vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
West Virginia and North Carolina.
Even such popular New Jersey re-
sorts as Asbury Park, Wildwood,
Atlantic City, Cape May or Ocean
City can. with an early start, be
visited by the motorist who starts
from the District.
Ever popular with visitors or
residents, for example, Is the
hour-and-a-half drive to Anna
polls, capital of the Old Line State
Whether you go for a 'look-see"
at the United States Naval Acad-
emy, established there in 1s45
by George Bancroft, or to WELD a
crab net from a rowboat, you are
IN for a treat. The Old State
House, begun in l772. was the
scene OF the signing, in 1894, of
the Treaty Of Peace between Great
Britain and the United States.
Another popular motor tour
heads over U. S. for Fredericks-
burg. one of the most historic
small cities in thre Nation. Here,
In hallowed reverence, one may
visit in the Mary Washington
home at Charles and Lewis streets
the room in which George
Washington said farewell to his
mother, then on what later proved
to be her death bed, before he left
for New York to be inaugurated
first President.
Days Run to Gettysburg.
At the James Monroe's law Of
fice you will see the original desk
at which President Monroe sat
when he phrased the Monroe
Doctrine. 1t is the scene, too, of
the bloody and important battles
In the Civil War. Kenmore" in
all its Colonial beauty is another
must" in Fredericksburg.
Gettysburg with it's Philip
poteaux Cyclorama, it's electric
battle map, the National Gene
terry, and other historic associa-
tions and attractions, is but a
long days run.
Inc shenandoah Valley and
Shenandoah National Park are
worthwhile travel objectives, in
cluding the 96-mile run from
Front Royal to Jarman Gap
known as the Skyline Drive. The
valley was known, during the
Civil War, as the "granary Of the
Confederacy." Harrisonburg, in
Rockingham County, is a great
chicken and turkey growing area,
second to none in the East, en-
tirely aside from it's associations
with the family of President Abra-
ham Lincoln, in modern times, DR..
Walter Reed.
Frederick, which paid a ransom
of 100000 to gray-clad General
Jubal Early in 1864, is another
point of interests which visitors
to Washington - or car owners
living here-should not miss. It
Is the birthplace and final resting
place of Francis Scott Key. author
of "The Star Spanpled Ranner "