Washington, DC in 2006 - A Year in Review

2006 was a busy year in Washington, DC. Putting politics aside (I usually leave that to About’s guides to News and Issues to discuss), a lot of interesting things happened in the nation’s capital this year. Several new attractions opened, the public organized rallies to demonstrate their freedom of speech, groundbreaking ceremonies were held, the National Zoo celebrated some special animal birthdays and much more!

Uncle Toms Cabin Preserved as an Historic Site
January 16, 2006. Montgomery County, Maryland purchased the former home of Josiah Henson, a slave that served as Harriet Beecher Stowe's model for her novel on slavery, "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

Circulator Bus Expands Route Around the National Mall
March 2006. A new route of the public bus system provides inexpensive, frequent service around the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Immigration Rally on the National Mall
April 10, 2006. A national day to defend immigrant rights launched demonstrations in 75 cities across the nation!

Washington, DC's Rally to Stop Genocide - Save Darfur
April 30, 2006. Save Darfur Coalition led a rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC in an effort to stop the genocide in Darfur.

Washington Nationals Got New Owner and Broke Ground on New Stadium
May 4, 2006. Theodore N. Lerner, the owner of a Bethesda, Maryland real estate company, paid $450 million for the Washington Nationals Baseball Team. A new $611 stadium will be built near the Navy Yard and the Anacostia River. The new stadium is projected to open for the spring baseball season of 2008.

Godspeed Sailed into Alexandria - America’s 400th Anniversary Landing Festival
May 27-June 3, 2006. The City of Alexandria hosted a week-long series of events to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown. Look for more activities to come in the Summer of 2007.

Grand Opening of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum
July 1, 2006. The two museums reopened with a ribbon cutting and a fun-filled day of activities for all ages.

Washington Park Hyatt Reopened
June 17, 2006. The luxury hotel located a few blocks from Georgetown in downtown Washington, DC, re-opened following a $24 million renovation and redesign. The hotel’s new restaurant, the Blue Duck Tavern, features seasonally farm-fresh produce, meats and seafood with three quarters of the menu slow roasted in a wood-burning oven.

Tai Shan Birthday Party at the National Zoo
Sunday, July 9, 2006. Visitors celebrated the first birthday of giant panda cub Tai Shan with a special party.

Capital Fringe Festival
July 20-30, 2006. Washington hosted its first annual Fringe performing arts festival with more than 400 performances in 18 venues around the Penn Quarter neighborhood.

DC Launches Campaign for HIV Testing for All Residents
July 2006. The District of Columbia launched a citywide campaign urging every resident between the ages of 14 and 84 to be screened for HIV.

Tiger Cubs at the National Zoo Made Their Public Debut
September 2, 2006. The tiger cubs, one male and two females, were the sixth litter of this endangered species ever born at the Zoo. The National Zoo and FONZ sponsored a naming contest and the tiger cubs made their public debut.

National Museum of American History Closed for Major Renovations
September 5, 2006. The American History Museum closed for renovations with a projected date of reopening in 2008. Some of American History’s most treasured objects are currently on display at the National Air and Space Museum while the museum is being renovated.

New Spy City Tours
September 30, 2006. See more than 25 of Washington's most notable espionage sites used by some of the nation's infamous spies from the World Wars to the Cold War to the present.

National Garden Opens
October 1, 2006. The National Garden, a three-acre garden located on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol opened to the public, including a First Ladies' water garden, an extensive rose garden, a butterfly garden, and a display of a variety of regional trees, shrubs and perennials.

Dedication of the U. S. Air Force Memorial
October 14, 2006. The new memorial opened to the public with a dedication ceremony and an Open House featuring a variety of performances, interactive displays and exhibits of Air Force equipment, helicopters, and aircraft.

National Zoo Opened Its Asia Trail October 17, 2006. The National Zoo opened a new series of exhibits that are home to numerous Asian animals, with new habitats that let you get very close to the animals on display and interactive technology that teaches you throughout the trail.

Mount Vernon's Grand Opening of its New Museum
October 27, 2006. After more than a decade of planning, Mount Vernon opened its new Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center featuring 25 state-of-the-art galleries and theaters.

Groundbreaking for the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial
November 13, 2006. One of the most prestigious sites remaining on the National Mall in Washington, DC has been selected for a memorial for Martin Luther King, Jr. A special ceremony was held in honor of this important historical figure.

Future of the National Mall Symposium
November 15, 2006. The National Park Service launched a campaign to get the public involved in the planning process of revitalizing the National Mall.

Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum Re-opened
November 11, 2006 The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, one of the oldest pharmacies in the nation, reopened and are now allowed upstairs to view the original manufacturing room.

New National Marine Corps Museum Opened
November 13, 2006. The new museum is a tribute to U.S. Marines, using state-of-the-art interactive technology, multi-media exhibits and thousands of artifacts to bring to life the values, mission, and culture of the Marine Corps.

Gerald Ford Funeral
December 30-January 2. A state funeral was held for former President Gerald R. Ford including a public viewing at the Capitol Rotunda and a service at the Washington National Cathedral.