Nation's Capital Welcomes New, One-of-a-Kind Visitor Attraction - Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Madame Tussauds Washington D.C., a
 new attraction where visitors can kiss George W. Bush, give Hillary Clinton
 a big ol' hug or simply see if they are taller than George Washington,
 officially opened today in the nation's capital. The premier wax attraction
 gives visitors an interactive, full-sensory experience; they can touch, see
 and hear major historical events and celebrities in a way unlike any other
 Washington D.C. attraction.
     Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. celebrated its opening with a gala on
 October 4, which was attended by Mayor Adrian Fenty as well as members of
 Congress and the City Council. The celebration also marked a partnership
 with D.C.-based non-profit Bread for the City, which provides food,
 clothing, medical and legal services for needy residents of the city.
 Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. will donate a portion of ticket sales from
 October 5 and 6 to Bread for the City.
     To open the celebration, Councilmember Marion Barry unveiled his wax
 figure - the attraction's 50th - on the red carpet in front of Madame
 Tussauds.
     Located within walking distance of the National Mall and the White
 House, the attraction is housed in the historic Woodies building with the
 entrance on the corner of 10th and F Streets.
     Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is divided into sections, and each
 section features an array of exhibits, interactive experiences and wax
 figures.
     "The Spirit of Washington D.C."
     This section takes visitors on an adventure through D.C.'s history from
 the Founding Fathers to modern day politics with hands-on exhibits
 featuring George Washington's inauguration, Abraham Lincoln's assassination
 and the Watergate scandal. As visitors travel through these historical
 events and rub elbows with today's leaders, they become part of the moments
 and can touch the people that shaped the nation.
     Another incredible experience featured in "The Spirit of Washington
 D.C." is a replica of The Oval Office where guests can veto a bill, address
 the nation or simply put their feet up on the most powerful desk in the
 country.
     Visitors will also experience history through the eyes and ears of the
 politicians and icons that lived it. For example, they can stand next to
 Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill and listen in on phone calls as
 they strategize during World War II. In the Civil Rights exhibit, guests
 can witness Rosa Parks' memory as she is asked to give up her seat on a
 Montgomery City bus. Visitors can learn about Watergate by researching
 actual press coverage and background information with Bob Woodward at his
 desk. They can also sweat it out in an interrogation with J. Edgar Hoover
 as he glares at them in his searches for communism in America.
     "Behind the Scenes"
     Visitors can "go behind the scenes" and learn the trade secrets used in
 the creation of Madame Tussauds' wax figures. Guests can test their
 hand-eye coordination in the "Feel Like a Sculptor" interactive test. They
 will also be able to compare their hands, feet and even eyes to those of
 lifelike replicas of notable celebrities and world leaders.
     "Glamor"
     It's not all politics at Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. Guests will be
 able to mingle with Hollywood's A-list as they step into a chic nightclub
 space and are transported to a high-profile celebrity party. They can hang
 out with superstars Will Smith or Brad Pitt after they take a picture with
 Julia Roberts. On the dance floor are bootylicious divas Beyonce and
 Jennifer Lopez.
     "Sports"
     After working up a sweat at the club, visitors can get "physical" with
 their favorite sports idols, including Evander Holyfield, who coaches
 guests as they box reactive light beams to gain points and hear sound
 effects. After throwing a few punches, visitors can test their short game
 by helping Tiger Woods line up his next putt for birdie.
     About Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.:
     Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is an interactive "must do" attraction
 that provides guests with unique opportunities to create memories with some
 of the country's most historic icons. The 27,000 square foot space is the
 seventh Madame Tussauds attraction globally, joining the hugely successful
 Merlin Entertainments Group operations in London, Amsterdam, New York, Las
 Vegas, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Prominently located on the corner of 10th
 and F Streets within walking distance of The National Mall and the White
 House. Madame Tussauds Washington D.C. is open 365 days a year at 10 a.m.
 For more information visit www.madametussaudsdc.com call 212-512-9600 ext.
 255.
     The Tussauds Group merged with Merlin Entertainments Group in 2007,
 bringing together two of the premier entertainment and attractions
 companies on the globe. Merlin Entertainments Group is the leading name in
 location based, family entertainment, which has seen the most successful
 and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years.
 The world's number 2 visitor attraction operator, Merlin aims to deliver
 memorable and rewarding experiences to its 30 million visitors worldwide,
 through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion
 of its managers and 13,000 employees.
 
 

SOURCE Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.