Maine lobsterman statue, Maine Avenue SW
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11306

The Washington Monument. The Vietnam Wall. A monument to a lobsterman. One of these things is not like the other.

Along Maine Avenue SW, tucked into Southwest Waterfront Park, stands a statute of H. Elroy Johnson, who posed for the carving as a "typical" Maine lobsterman. Originally commissioned for that year's World's Fair, the statue was forgotten about when Maine ran out of money. Three copies now exist: one here in Washington, another in Portland and the third in Harpswell, Maine, where Johnson was from.

All roads lead to Rome -- unless you're in DC, where all roads lead to the Zero Milestone. Just south of the White House at the north edge of the Ellipse is this small, granite marker, commissioned in 1923 as the starting point for all road distances in the United States. Today, only roads in the DC area have distances measured from this point.

Washington is filled with memorials to those who gave their lives serving the country. Normally, these monuments are discreet and tasteful representations of the soldier on horseback or standing tall. And then there's the Run-Over Fireman Monument in The Glenwood Cemetery. Built to honor Benjamin Grenup, a 19th century fireman who died when run over by a fire wagon, the monument graphically depicts Grenup's agonizing death. The memorial plaque is more peaceful, stating, "A truer, nobler, trustier heart more loving or more loyal never beat within a human breast."

As proof that money can buy anything, just look at the Homeopathy Monument near Scott Circle. It's enscribed with the name Hahnemann, founder of the homeopathic school of medicine. Homeopathy, a form of alternative medicine, gives patients a low-potency dose of a disease similar to what they are suffering from, believing it is "miasms" and not germs that cause disease. It's been widely criticized for putting patients at risk with regards to vaccinations, anti-malarial drugs and antibiotics. Why is this statue in Washington? President William McKinley was a supporter and the statue was funded entirely by donations to the American Institute of Homeopathy.

He's best known as a U.S. representative and half of Sonny and Cher. But Sonny Bono has another claim to fame in Washington -- Sonny Bono Memorial Park. An 800-square-foot patch of grass near Dupont Circle, the park has a few benches, a vault of Bono memorabilia and a memorial plaque.

My fellow Terp Jim Henson is forever memorialized -- along with best buddy Kermit the Frog -- on the University of Maryland campus. Located right outside Adele H. Stamp Student Union, the statue was dedicated in 2003 as a gift of the Maryland classes of 1998 and 1999. It's become a popular place for both graduates and prospective students to pose with one of the university's most famous alumni.