Beltway Bambinos

When many think of the nation’s capital city, the National Mall is undoubtedly one of the first areas that comes to mind. The landscaped strip spanning from the US Capitol to the iconic Lincoln Memorial is a national treasure trove chock-full of monuments, memorials, museums, and art installations that help make up the fabric of the capital city and country. It’s been estimated that more than 24 million people visit the National Mall each year: that’s more visitors than the Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks combined.

In this second guest blog post of her DC Scavenger series, local author JoAnn Hill takes us on an active pursuit throughout this national treasure. Below are 4 of 23 clues featured in the National Mall chapter of DC Scavenger. This time no photos are included. Take your Bambinos on a hunt and let us know in the comments if you had luck finding the 4 clues below! Check out JoAnn’s book DC Scavenger to solve and discover more clues and sites around the National Mall and throughout the entire city.

JoAnn Hill is the author of Secret Washington, DC: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure and DC Scavenger, which goes beyond the typical guidebook; it’s an interactive treasure map spanning seventeen distinct neighborhoods throughout the District. If you think you know everything there is to know about DC―even the most weird, wonderful, and obscure parts of it―get ready to embark on an adventurous discovery of DC’s most cherished gems.

National Mall Clue #1
The House that Roy built may trip you out,
Looks to be moving, may cause you to doubt,
Black edges and colors of yellow and red,
This optical illusion may mess with your head.

National Mall Clue #2
Garden named for a gal, a nice reprieve,
Ripley, believe it, you won’t want to leave.
Amble on through, this fountain’s at its core,
Revel in the flowers and plants galore.

National Mall Clue #3
A more recent addition to the Mall,
Tribute to Black life, history, and all.
Learn of stories, culture, present and past,
Museum so huge, walk slowly, not fast.

National Mall Clue #4
A rare tribute here to the women’s role,
Risking their lives when the war took a toll,
We honor these women who gave their all,
Find this touching statue near the famed wall.