We anticipate a major driving and parking problem near the Natural History Museum on 22 April because of the Earth Day Rally planned for the Capital Mall area that day.
We therefore request that people arrive as early as possible. We will open the doors to Baird auditorium at noon, and we expect quite a number of people on hand at this early hour with which to chat. The Natural History Museum itself opens at 10 am, and has several excellent exhibits. The 25th Annual Earth Day Rally begins at noon on the Mall and runs until 6 pm. The rally should be quite a interesting itself, include music by singers such as Mary Chapin Carpenter, and numerous booths focusing on our environment, many of which sell tee-shirts.
The main conflict with Earth Day is driving and parking. Both will be extremely difficult near the Washington DC mall area, where the Natural History Museum is located. We therefore strongly advise that you take the Washington DC area subway system known as ``Metro." Metro is not always a true subway, and in the outlying regions travels mostly above ground.
In any case, you will find it useful to bring the Washington DC Visitor Map we sent you previously - they include a Metro map as well as a detailed map of the DC mall area. The Smithsonian's Natural History Museum is labelled as ``Natural History" on this map and is on Constitution Ave. bounded by 9th street on the east and 12th street on the west.
Please allow yourself about one hour from the time you arrive at the Metro stop, wait for the Metro to arrive, ride the Metro into DC, and walk the few blocks to the Natural History Museum.
Metro stops are easy to locate. Metro maps are printed on the Washington, DC Visitor Map we sent you previously. When driving, Metro stations are clearly marked at several places on the Beltway - just follow the big ``M" signs. Signs typically guide you in from any major nearby road, and even direct you where to park.
We have found a trick that works during days of high Metro usage, which this day might turn out to be. The trick is to enter the Metro system as far as possible from the city - at the end of a Metro line if possible. At high peak times, the Metro trains fill up after a few stops, and many trains may pass those stations closer to DC without allowing additional passengers.
If you take Metro's Red Line, exit at ``Metro Center" and walk three blocks south on 12th street to the Natural History Museum. If you take either the Orange or Blue Lines, please exit at ``Federal Triangle" and walk one block south on 12th street to the Natural History Museum. If on the Yellow Line, exit at the ``National Archives" station, walk one block south on 7th street, and three blocks west on Constitution. If on the Green Line, consult your Metro map and trace a route to one of the stops near the museum.
Other Metro stations within 10 blocks of the Natural History Museum are titled: ``Smithsonian," ``L'Enfant Plaza," and "Gallery Place."
Union Station also houses a Metro stop, but on the Red line. Our concern is that it might be harder to board a Metro train there if the Earth Day turnout is high. It is about a twenty minute walk from Union Station to the Natural History Museum: for directions please consult your map.
A useful WWW site that contains much information about travel in and around Washington, DC is called DC Tourist and Travel Information
Please plan to arrive between noon and 1 pm. The debate program will start at 1 pm sharp. We thank you for interest in this event, and we look forward to seeing you on 22 April.
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