Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia, is the capital city of the United States. The city is located on the east bank of the Potomac River, which forms its southwestern border with Virginia, and borders Maryland to its north and east. The city hosts all three branches of the U.S. federal government, Congress, the President, and the Supreme Court, and the governmental buildings that house most of the federal government.[1]
Coverage[]
Washington, D.C. is one of the two main setting in The Capital Threat while one of the settings in the documentary, Crypt of Civilization, Sky's the Limit, and Take Me to Your Leader.
Beginning in 1 day after people, Washington, D.C. is silent as the Washington Monument is free from the daily visits of tourists, the United States Capitol is ghostly quiet, the statue of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln Memorial gazes at the pool without people and the United States Constitution remains on permanent display at the National Archives Building.[2] At the White House, Bo wanders through the West Wing and soon he would have to leave the White House.[3]
In 2 weeks after people, elephants in the zoos of Washington, D.C. breaks out of their enclosure and begins their new life in the urban jungle.[2]
In 1 month after people, the electric pumps beneath the city fails and unleashes the deluge from water aquifers causing the streets of the city to flood. David Brin stated that another problem in Washington, D.C. is that it was built on a swamp. The 3rd problem also arise in the Potomac River when beavers return to the city without park rangers to trap and relocate them to different places and begins to build beaver dams.[2]
The eternal flame is extinguish.
In 2 months after people, the eternal flame of the grave of former US President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery still alights but when electricity of the city turns dark, the electric relighter also fails allowing the first rainstorm to extinguish the flame.[2]
The flag is blown away from the Marine Corps War Memorial by a harsh wind.
In 6 months after people, the Marine Corps War Memorial remains undamaged but the polyester flag was subject to fading in the sun. 6 months of sun, wind, and rain have allowed the flag to torn to shreds and it took one gusty afternoon for the polyester flag blown away from the memorial.[4]
In 1 year after people, the national monuments are beginning to be under siege by nature as the stone of the Washington Monument already begins to deteriorate, the paint on the dome of the United States Capitol starts to deteriorates and rusts begins to be visible, and the drainage pipes on the Lincoln Memorial starts to crack and water begins to damage the roof of the structure.[2]
In 5 years after people, the great monuments is been swallowed by greenery and the National Mall have become a jungle, with zoo animals occupy the empty park.[5] At the Library of Congress, plant life begins invading the front facade of the Thomas Jefferson Building with swamp creatures returning to the capital.[4] Meanwhile at 8 years after people, Bo has survived thanks to his survival skills of his ancestors which allow him to scavenge through the banks of the Potomac River before ending up at the Chesapeake Bay.[3]
In 20 years after people, the walls of the White House have returned to grey, its original color, and the grounds are returning to the watery wetlands, which allows the surface of the sandstone White House walls to began turn into mud by being expose to moisture over long periods of time.[3]
The Spirit of St. Louis falls flat into the ground.
In 50 years after people, at the National Air and Space Museum, the 3 cables and clamps that secure the Spirit of St. Louis to the ceiling have been weaken from the elements combine with the chafing of the cable causing the bolts to each fails until the plane falls and crush to the ground.[6]
The dome of the United States Capitol after 100 years.
In 100 years after people, the encasement seals of the United States Constitution fails, which allows air molecules to enter the seals and oxygen content increases from 1/2% to 1%, however no known microorganisms that can attack the parchment without at least 2% and is still safe. Meanwhile at the Potomac River, new tree growth on the National Mall allows beavers to build dams and cut new water channels, causing the Potomac River to flood the National Mall and its surrounding areas. On the United States Capitol, the iron cast dome is rusting with moisture forcing the joints in the cast iron sheets that allow openings to attract pigeons and other birds, turning it into an ideal nesting place, which cause iron to continue to corrode.[2]
The White House collapse.
At 175 years after people, the White House is in a state of ruins with the walls still remain intact and parts of the roof have fallen. Steven S. Ross stated as water continues to rise, the sewer lines will fill with water, specifically south of the White House, and overflow right back into the sub-basement causing the sandstone to degrade to mud. This lead to the collapse of the White House into the swampy marshland.[3]
The Lincoln Memorial after 250 years.
In 250 years after people, water have damaged the steel girders of the Lincoln Memorial, causing it to corrode and leads to the steel roof girders snap, causing the roof to collapse and the Statue of Abraham Lincoln is destroyed in the process. On the United States Capitol, the 15,000 pound bronze State of Freedom is causing too much pressure on the weakened cast iron dome, which already lost too much weight. It then cause the dome to fail, allowing it to collapse and the entire statue slumps down into the rotunda of the United States Capitol. Meanwhile at the National Archives Building, the rotunda of the structure have collapse, exposing the United States Constitution to the elements, especially sunlight, causing the ultraviolet rays to damage the United States Constitution, fading the ink, and erasing the words of the Constitution.[2]
The Marine Corps War Memorial is still recognizable.
In 300 years after people, the Marine Corps War Memorial is still recognizable and although swamp weeds cluster the memorial, the monument would continue to endure.[4]
The dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building collapse,
In 500 years after people, the eight copper rods of the Washington Monument have failed and broken, allowing lightning to strikes the monument which damage parts of the masonry and leaving burned marks on the structure.[2] At the Library of Congress, the dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building puts too much strain on the supporting walls. Tanya Komas stated that domes have a weak point at the base of the dome where it want to expand, push down, and expand out. The pressure becomes too great for the dome and as concrete no longer resist the reticule of gravity, the dome of the Thomas Jefferson Building collapse into its main reading room.[4]
The Washington Monument begins to sink.
The fate of the entire city, including the Potomac River, is revealed in 1,000 years after people when it is completely flooded and consumed by the Atlantic Ocean. Tim Beach stated that a good portion of the National Mall and many of the monuments would be underwater and would be similar to the ruins of Alexandria. Meanwhile, the ruins of the United States Capitol still rises above the waves with explanation from Kim Roddis stated that the rooms of the United States Capitol would be exposed to the sky and would be similar to the Forum in Rome. The Lincoln Memorial is seen to remain intact, although parts of it have collapsed, the entire structure is submerge underwater, preserving it entirely. The Washington Monument begins to sink caused by erosion and the encroaching seas, and submerging may be the only chance to remain intact. Atop of it is the aluminum pyramid, although it had been discolored by lightning strikes, it is still recognizable. The inscription of the pyramid, "Laus Deo", translated to Praise be to God, may be the final words of the United States to the future.[2]
The Rosetta Disk in 2,000 years after people.
The last event to unfold in the city is in 2,000 years after people when the Rosetta Disk inside of Smithsonian Institution is still recognizable although the text of the disks are accumulate by microscopic goo causing it to build up. Eventually the structure of the Smithsonian Institution eventually crumbles, destroying various treasures within including the Rosetta Disk.[4]
Transformation[]
Washington, D.C. is transformed into a swamp.
The transformation is mostly focused on The Capital Threat, although it is also noticeable in Crypt of Civilization and Take Me to Your Leader. Washington, D.C., as stated in the episode, would return back into a swamp, with the Potomac River flooding much of the city including the National Mall, and plant life consume most of the city, including the rooftops of the buildings. Animal life also partake the conquest with beavers returns to the Potomac River and birds living on the dome of the United States Capitol till its eventual demise. On 1,000 years after people, the city would be consumed by the Atlantic Ocean, with remaining edifices and monuments submerge underwater and to be preserve into the future.
Gallery[]
