Oooh! Aaah! Faces In The Fireworks

By NPR Staff

Published July 5, 2013 at 1:26 PM EDT

1 of 9 — Emanuyani Yamni (left) and her sister Kaiar, both of Rochester, N.Y., enjoy the fireworks over the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial on July Fourth.

Emanuyani Yamni (left) and her sister Kaiar, both of Rochester, N.Y., enjoy the fireworks over the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial on July Fourth.

2 of 9 — A look at the crowd on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

A look at the crowd on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

3 of 9 — Thousands gathered at the National Mall to watch the show.

Thousands gathered at the National Mall to watch the show.

4 of 9 — Greg Dix (right) and Jessica and Nick Noton, all from Maryland.

Greg Dix (right) and Jessica and Nick Noton, all from Maryland.

5 of 9 — Fireworks light up the sky.

Fireworks light up the sky.

6 of 9 — Watching the fireworks is a tradition for Ramon Romero of Leesburg, Va., wife Elisa and son Relson. The family emigrated from El Salvador more than 20 years ago

Watching the fireworks is a tradition for Ramon Romero of Leesburg, Va., wife Elisa and son Relson. The family emigrated from El Salvador more than 20 years ago

7 of 9 — The heat and humidity didn't keep these visitors away.

The heat and humidity didn't keep these visitors away.

8 of 9 — John Dougherty and Erica English of Kingston, Pa.

John Dougherty and Erica English of Kingston, Pa.

9 of 9 — Here's what everyone was looking at.

Here's what everyone was looking at.

We assigned our trusty interns to document the feeling of watching fireworks on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. They focused on the crowd's reactions while basking in the warm glow of the display. The images capture the gasps and sheer amazement from spectators of all ages.