Presidential Pursuits By Maura McCarthy Washingtonpost.com Staff Writer Thursday, January 11, 2001

(J. Scott Appleman, Associated Press)

Beginning at the National Museum of American History, the newest exhibition at this Smithsonian Museum, "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden," features an unprecedented array of presidential newsreels, videos and artifacts. Items include Washington's uniform, Lincoln's top hat and a speech and eyeglass case from Teddy Roosevelt's pocket that halted a bullet and foiled an assassination attempt. A floor below is the ever popular exhibit "First Ladies: Political Role and Public Image." Along with many inaugural gowns, the exhibition showcases the changing social and political role of the first lady.

Just down Constitution Avenue, stands the National Archives and Records Administration, home of our nation's most treasured documents and a number of records related to unique events in presidential history. As we know by now, not all presidential elections are decided handily. The Electoral College tallies of the 1800 and 1824 presidential elections, both later decided by the House of Representatives, are on display. Other presidential artifacts include John F. Kennedy's speech cards from his 1963 visit to Berlin and an exhibit dedicated to "When Nixon Met Elvis," one of the most popular images at the Archives.

At the southeast end of Independence Avenue, sits another great repository of history and knowledge, the Library of Congress, and its permanent, rotating exhibition of "American Treasures." If you don't have tickets to this year's inauguration festivities, examine mementos from inaugurations past, including handwritten inaugural addresses by Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant; inaugural photographs, invitations and programs; and inaugural ball booklets and dance cards.

One of the smallest and most somber presidential sites in Washington is the House Where Lincoln Died (Petersen House) on 10th and E streets NW, across from Ford's Theatre. In the midst of the hustle of downtown development, the modest house stands much like it did on that fateful evening of April 14, 1865. Tours are brief, but offer a sobering reminder of the power and meaning of the presidency.

No tour of presidential sites is complete without a visit to the White House. Celebrating its 200th year as the president's official residence, the White House offers tours of eight of its rooms, including the East Room, State Dining Room and the Blue, Red and Green rooms. To obtain tickets, visitors must begin at the Visitors Center and prepare themselves to wait in line. Although typically closed on Sundays, the White House offers an inaugural open house on Sunday, Jan. 21.

Only two private presidential residences in the Washington area are now open to the public, the Woodrow Wilson House and George Washington's Mount Vernon. Wilson lived at his Kalorama home for only three years after he left office in 1921. Since his death, his wife, Edith, and later the National Trust for Historic Preservation preserved the house much as it was during the last years of his life. Just outside the District, in George Washington's home state of Virginia, the estate of Mount Vernon offers tours of our first president's home, gardens, slaves' quarters and tomb.

Our most telling tributes to presidents past are the monument and memorials that stand in their honor. The Washington Monument is closed temporarily through Feb. 4, but is still a sight to behold. The Lincoln Memorial, site of kickoff activities for inauguration weekend, models itself after the Parthenon in Athens, but remains uniquely American in its testament to freedom. Nearby, along the Tidal Basin, stand the classical grandeur of the Jefferson Memorial and the sublime landscape of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, each with its own impressive views of this presidential city.