While D.C. was still mainly a swamp at the birth of this nation, it’s the center of celebrations of the Fourth – a grand concert, parade, and fireworks on the Mall.
The preparation
The Capital Fourth concert has a rehearsal the night before the Fourth, and is a great time to get to see it – large but not overwhelming crowds.
The Lincoln Memorial is a great place to spot people getting ready for the Fourth:
The Parade
The traditional parade draws large crowds, starting at the National Archives and marching down Constitution Avenue.
The fireworks
The Fourth represents hope but also despair for many, who have not been included in some or all freedoms the Declaration promised. Our late colleague Karen Ramsey wrote about Frederick Douglass’s famous speech “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?“