Ahead of its big birthday America is pulling out all the stops to win tourists over
The USA celebrates 250 years of independence in 2026 so Eugene Masterson checked out what visitors can learn about its history
Half a billion dollars is being spent on upgrading the Mall area of Washington DC as the countdown begins for a milestone known as the country's semiquincentennial.
I am of an age when, as a boy, I can remember one of my aunts who lived in New York sending me a birthday card with a US postage stamp marking America's 200th anniversary in 1976.
With Donald Trump in charge now, we can expect a truly spectacular year of celebrations. With all that in mind, I recently decided to check out what preparations are being made in the Washington DC area, and also in its neighbouring states of Virginia and Maryland, both of which have a rich history predating the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Eugene at the National Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center
Arriving into DC, I checked into the sumptuous Willard Intercontinental Hotel, where every US president since the 1850s has either stayed in or visited.
Guests often found Ulysses S. Grant in the lobby, drinking whiskey and smoking his signature cigars. Woodrow Wilson's League of Nations began to take shape there, and Calvin Coolidge took his second Presidential Oath of Office on its opulent property.
The hotel has a French style restaurant, Café du Parc, where you can enjoy a wide variety of choices for breakfast, while its Round Robin bar boasts an array of inviting cocktails.
Located nearby is the Old Ebbitt Grill, which is a historic Washington institution established in 1856 and famously frequented by presidents, journalists, and visiting dignitaries, and known for its classic American fare.
The Mall area houses most of the 17 museums in the Smithsonian Institution in the DC area, many of which I've visited before, including the National History Museum — a must for lovers of dinosaurs.
One site I was eager to check out for the first time was the National Museum of the American Indian — a truly interesting look at their history, cultures and contributions.
The fancy interior of the Willard Intercontinental
Numerous tribes are documented, and I was hoping to find out more about the Choctaws, who famously donated more than $5,000 in today's money to the starving Irish during the Great Famine, but all that is on display from them there is their tribal flag.
The National Archives building is located nearby and here you will see the most famous documents in American history: the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Needless to say, there are large queues to see them. It's fascinating to see thumb and palm prints left on some of the pages by signatories. There's also a rare copy of the Magna Carta elsewhere in the museum. On the outskirts of the city, near Dulles airport, is the giant National Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center, which has free admission unlike the smaller downtown one I've visited a couple of times before.
The one at Dulles is mind-blowing, with huge hangars housing more than 200 military and commercial aircraft and spacecraft, many of which are from World Wars I and II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Colonial Williamsburg is the world's largest living history museum
The standout craft for me were the Discovery space shuttle, a Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, and an Air France Concorde.
Having visited Hiroshima in 2002, it was eerie to see for the first time the Boeing B-29 Enola Gay, the plane which dropped the atomic bomb on the Japanese city in 1945.
Later that evening I took a DC at Dusk Tour with USA Guided Tours, which is a guided night tour by bus of various monuments and buildings.
Riders can hop off at various illuminated stops, including the Jefferson Memorial, MLK Memorial, World War II Memorial, as well as the Lincoln Memorial, where about $60 million is being spent on a new downstairs museum to be open for the 250th celebrations.
Given that the city centre is so compact and easy to get around, there's lots of opportunities to get the obligatory tourist photos outside the White House and Capitol buildings (non-Americans can get tours of the Capitol, but sadly, unless invited, we are not allowed a peek inside the White House).
Eugene at the White House
Maryland was next on my visit with time to check out some rural locations at Kent Island and Queen Ann's County.
Historic Kent Island Resort is a lovely retreat house, nestled on the shores of Chesapeake Bay and a good base to explore the surrounding area.
This part of the eastern seaboard was one of the first areas to be settled by the British in the 17th century, and among the new arrivals was John Smith, famous for his association with Pocahontas of the Powhatan tribe, in 1607.
Among the sites I visited with the help of Jack Broderick, President of the Kent Island Heritage Society, was the Broad Creek Cemetery, which dates back to 1632.
I also got to tour the quaint village of Stevensville, which has perfectly preserved old buildings such as banks and post offices.
Eugene at Mount Vernon
Maryland is famous for its crabs, with offerings ranging from crab cakes to crab soups and even crab pizza on menus.
The Old Wye Mill has been grinding grain on Maryland's Eastern Shore for well over 300 years and it's fascinating to see it is still intact and operating.
Ferry Point Park is accessible from the Chesapeake Heritage and Visitor Center and has more than 40 acres of tidal wetland rich in wildlife, such as eagles, herons, bullfrogs and deer, while you can get a boat trip around Chesapeake Bay to hear about the local history.
The oldest courthouse in continuous use in the State of Maryland is located in the town of Centreville, where there is also a statue of Queen Anne.
Some local culinary delights include The Narrows restaurant and Libbey's, both of which are renowned for crab soup and oysters.
Virginia was next stop on my itinerary. I based myself in Fairfax County and checked into the Courtyard by Marriott at Tysons McLean, and later at the Hampton Inn and Suites Williamsburg Central in Williamsburg.
Eugene on Chesapeake Bay
A spectacular attraction is the Great Falls 800-acre park, where the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge forming whitewater rapids in parts.
For something completely different, I enjoyed a night of pitch and putt at The Perch on top of the Capital One Center skyscraper, where you can enjoy beers or cocktails as you play.
The next morning was spent at a must-see on the trip, Mount Vernon, which is American's most visited home. It belonged to George Washington, the first President of the United States.
There are beautiful restored gardens here as well as the stunning mansion, while at the New Tomb guests can visit the final resting place of George and Martha Washington.
The city of Richmond has been named in many surveys as the No1 town in the US to visit, and St John's Church is one of America's most important historic sites, where — swayed by Patrick Henry's powerful 'Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death' speech delivered in 1775 — delegates made a decision that changed the course of history, lighting the spark of the War for Independence.
Eugene at Great Falls
The 'Give Me Liberty' exhibit at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture features much of the south's Confederate past.
I had dinner at Christina Campbell's Tavern in colonial Williamsburg, which George Washington frequented for its exceptional seafood in the 18th century.
Williamsburg itself was founded by English settlers in 1632 and features period houses, shops and pubs from that era, many of which have been lovingly restored.
Nearby Jamestown was founded in 1607. The museum there explains how the landgrab from the native Americans was modelled on the Munster plantation in Ireland, in which our country met a similar fate at the hands of the British.
Between the colonial history of Virginia and Maryland, and the unique and vast heritage which Washington DC has to offer, curious visitors to this part of the US are guaranteed a treat in what is a truly wondrous part of America as it gears up for its momentous celebrations next year.
FACTFILE: WASHINGTON DC, MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA
■ Aer Lingus flies direct from Dublin to Washington Dulles. ■ 3 x nights in The Willard, Washington DC ■ 3 x nights in Kent Island Resort (Maryland) ■ 1 x night in Marriott Tysons Mclean (Tysons, VA) ■ 2 nights in Hampton Inn and Suites Williamsburg Central (Williamsburg, VA) ■ Car rental throughout the trip including full insurance, from €2,790 (£2,149) per person, based on two travelling in September/October. ■ For further information log on to www.PurelyAmerica.co.uk
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