Like a lot of locals, I don’t visit the monuments of DC very often, but I can say that my favorite one is Teddy Roosevelt’s, because it’s an entire island. The statue and monoliths are kind of in the center, with a circular trail – the best part of which is a boardwalk over some wetlands – around them. There are a couple miles of established trails as well as some smaller trails that aren’t on the map. It’s not a huge park, and frankly it’s not all that quiet being very close to National Airport, but it’s pretty. And I’m a sucker for boardwalks and wetlands. It’s even nicer when there is water in the memorial’s fountains and moats, which are currently empty while the plumbing is being repaired.
This is a view of the Key Bridge going into Georgetown from the shore of the island, taken yesterday afternoon.
For years I took the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge every time I drove into DC, without realizing it went over this charming little island. In fact, I didn’t even know that bridge was called the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge (unlike the Key Bridge which I’ve always known the name of); I just considered it part of Route 66 and knew that once I was over it I was in DC and not Virginia. Then I finally visited Roosevelt Island and found myself walking under that same bridge and had a whole new perspective.
Right after I took this picture, I heard – though could not see – a car crash happen on it. I was glad to be under, not on, it! I hurried away from the bridge and into the swamp, where I felt much more at peace.
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