The Story Of Washington D.C.

Produced by NBC News Productions, the latest entry from Questar Video details the history of our nation's capital: Washington, D.C. Designed by French military engineer Major Pierre-Charles L'Enfant, our capital, while gaining numerous accretions to existing buildings as well as new monuments, has not veered much from L'Enfant's original conception. Andy Cosentino of the Library of Congress; George White, Architect of the Capitol; and Betty Monkman, Associate Curator of the White House are among the interviewees who help recreate the building of the city with vivid stories and anecdotes. In addition to seeing how the branches of government (executive, legislative, and judicial) each came to receive their own special buildings (the Supreme Court building would not be completed until 1935), the tape chronicles the creation of the great monuments: the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Vietnam Memorial. Since its official assignation as the seat of government in 1800, Washington, D.C. has survived fire, war, protests, and political scandals. Despite its reputation as home to a den of thieves, its stunning monuments remain a major draw to tourists every year. A good introduction to the sights and history of our nation's capitol. Recommended. (Available from most distributors.)