Climbing the steps of the moment and walking to the columns where Lincoln sat, I looked out at the yard where the George Washington Monument was in the distance. To be in a place where Civil Rights rallies were held was exciting. What I remember the most were the steps--plenty and abundant steps. People crowded around the seat where old Lincoln sat. The monument from the outside had the states on the top, except for Hawaii and Alaska. I posed for a few pictures on the steps. On the left side in front of the Lincoln Monument was the Vietnam Veterans Wall; the right side was where the Korean War Veterans was. Later in the morning, I saw each of them. And, if you stare at old Lincoln long enough, it looks like he's actually staring back at you.

Just sitting and reflecting on the steps outside can be a lesson in history. This is where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. In 1939, the African American contralto Mariam Anderson performed an Easter Sunday concert on the monument steps. She had been shut out of performing in Independence Hall by the D.A.R. Eleanor Roosevelt arranged the concert. More that 75,000 people gathered here to hear her amazing voice. There have also been numerous film scenes here. Remember Forrest and Ginny meeting in the reflecting pool in Forrest Gump?

You should really try to visit the monument both during the day and evening. It is brilliant when it is lit up at night. Once again, there were will always been tons of people here, making it very difficult to photograph without people in your shot.