
Together, they built a business that focused on building bridges, with clients across the United States.Īlexander & Repass hired both white and Black workers for their projects, who worked together in mixed work crews at a time in American history when this was almost unheard of. In 1929, Alexander formed an engineering company with Maurice Repass the two knew each other from both from engineering classes and the football team at the University of Iowa. Alexander, an African American, graduated from the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa in 1912, where he was also a football player. The bridge over the Tidal Basin and the seawall were completed by the engineering firm of Alexander and Repass out of Iowa in the 1940s. The Tidal Basin was first built in the 1800s. Water from the Tidal Basin is also used (via a pumping system) to maintain water levels in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting pool. The rush of water out of the Tidal Basin sweeps away any silt or sediment build up inside the Washington Channel, keeping it navigable As the tide turns, water trying to flow out of the inlet gates causes the gates to close, and the outlet gates on the Washington Channel side of the Basin open. Twice a day at high tide, 250 million US gallons of water from the Potomac River enter the Tidal Basin through the inlet gates. Fill lands separate the Washington Channel from the Potomac River the Washington Channel drains into the Anacostia River just above its confluence with the Potomac. It was built to harness the power of the tides in the Potomac River to flush silt and sediment from the Washington Channel. The Tidal Basin is about 107 acres in size and approximately 10 feet deep. It is the location most associated with Washington's Cherry Blossom Festival that takes place each spring. They can all be visited via the Tidal Basin Loop Trail. Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the George Mason Memorial, the John Paul Jones Memorial, the Floral Library, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Japanese Lantern and site of the First Cherry Tree Planting all surround the Tidal Basin. The Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. The Tidal Basin is part of West Potomac Park in Washington, DC. Photograph by Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz, 2014 (Creative Commons CC-BY-SA 4.0)

The Washington Monument at the left, and the Jefferson Memorial at the right.


#Tidal basin dc paddle boats free
What have you been up to this week? Feel free to link up your photo-related posts from this week below.Aerial view of the Tidal Basin, Washington, D.C. Have you ever been paddle boating? We can’t wait to go again! I wish I’d known about that before we went! Check their website for more info: / If you reserve paddle boat tickets online, you can reserve a parking spot before you arrive. * There is parking right there, but it tends to fill up. * At least one passenger in each paddle boat needs to be 16 or older. An hour out on the water made all of us thirsty. There is only one adult size and one kid size, and the adult jackets felt small on me. * Every person is required to wear a life jacket. You’ll get once-in-a-lifetime shots of the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the Tidal Basin. Don’t try to paddle too fast or your legs will get tired. * Current prices are $15 per hour for a 2-person boat, or $24 per hour for a 4-person boat. * Being on the water in front of the monuments provides the most amazing view and photo opportunities. What to know about Tidal Basin paddle boats in Washington DC: While none of the rest of us would have thought to go paddle boating in the Tidal Basin, we were all so glad that we did it! When he told us what we’d be doing, we were all shocked. In an effort to find family fun activities at home (and not just when we’re on vacation) my husband came up with the idea to spend Labor Day in Washington DC (we live in the suburbs).
