In August 2018, I returned to Northern Virginia and Washington DC for work and had the opportunity to visit a few sights that I had not visited previously. The World War II Memorial consists of twenty-four bronze bas-relief panels flank the ceremonial entrance. To many, these panels stir memories as they tell the story of America’s experience in the war. Granite columns representing each U.S. state and territory at the time of World War II ring an impressive pool with water shooting high into the air. Quotes, references to theaters, campaigns, and battles, and two massive victory pavilions chronicle the efforts Americans undertook to win the war.
In addition, I returned to the Smithsonian and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The National Museum of African American History and Culture is an absolutely beautiful building, collaboratively designed by Freelon Group, Adjaye Associates and Davis Brody Bond. The museum has about 85,000 square feet of exhibition space with 12 exhibitions, 13 different interactives with 17 stations, and 183 videos housed on five floors and has close to 37,000 objects in its collection.