June 7, 2016

Museum of American History, Library of Congress

Two venues today.

First the Museum of American History.  Amazing place.  Impossible to describe everything there or even give give an inkling.  As with the Air and Space Museum (and I presume the yet to see Natural History Museum) go see this place if at all possible.

Three of the more commonly known displays of American History.

Dorothy’s shoes

Abe’s hat

Mickey’s ears.

 

Library of Congress.

We had a congressman arranged tour and it was very good.  Guide was very informative about the building, history of the library, and the many historical and unique displays.  Many of the buildings in the capitol are ornate and filled with paintings and statues.  This is one of the best and the guide made it all come to life.

A few of the books from Jefferson’s library which formed the beginning of the Library of Congress.

Gutenberg Bible

June 6, 2016

Air and Space, and Capitol

Started our day with a visit to Smithsonian Visitor Center.  Quick visit then over to the Air and Space Museum.  Wow!  Could spend a couple of days there and not see it all.  We started with a tour but broke off after an hour to see things on our own more rapidly.  The building is full of originals in the history of flight.  Many rooms full of education done in  an entertaining and understandable manner.  Would have liked to spend much more time there.

Apollo 11 command module

Off to the office of Representative Tom McClintock to start our Capitol tour.  About eleven of us (from places I’d heard of ) escorted by intern through the capitol maze.  Interesting.  There must have been close to 50 or more of the same tour going on at the same time, each led by an intern.  That mixed in with tours done by people who just walked in to visitor center.  Despite the crowds, we did learn a lot and it was fun to see things we see or hear about only on TV. 

Photography is allowed in spots but results not very interesting without being there.

If you look at a map of Washington D.C. you will see four roads radiating out form Capitol.  This spot, one floor below Rotunda, is the exact intersection of those roads.  The Capitol was laid out as the center of D.C.

 

Very center of inside of Rotunda dome.  Everything else is covered in canvas during refurbishment.

Note to self and others:  Work out a technique for going through security checks easily.  Today we went through 5 or 6 in just two buildings. Quite a hassle.  Thought I had eliminated most extraneous stuff but there was still a lot of pocket emptying

June 5, 2016

National Cathedral

First- Happy Birthday Michael !!!

Took advantage of Sunday rates (free) and toured National Cathedral.  Very impressive spot.  It goes on forever and is filled with history and symbolism.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and passed on the information with a good dose of wit that made a fun learning experience.

 

The cathedral is filled with stained glass windows (lots of them).  Each window tells a story or has a theme.  The theme of the above is the voyage of Apollo 11.  The smaller circle is Earth eclipsing the Sun. Hence the rays radiating to the left.  The lines are the journey from Earth to the moon and back. The moon is the larger (closer) circle.  In the center is a dot.  That is the only piece of Moon rock not locked in a museum or vault.

 

Washington D.C. from the 7th floor of the National Cathedral.

 

These are grotesques. Not gargoyles. A gargoyle is carved such that water flows out of its mouth.  Does the one on the right look familiar? 

 

On the way back from the cathedral we stopped at the Goddard Space Flight Center. 

Very quick visit as visitor center was closing in 15 minutes.  Could have used a bit more time but it was interesting.

June 4, 2016

Mount Vernon

First – Happy Birthday Dad!  He would be 98 today.

Today a car trip to Mount Vernon.  Well worth the effort.  Of all we have seen so far in our touring and visits in this area this is the best so far.  Very educational and inspiring.  Best museum presentation I can remember seeing.  House and grounds very well done and informative.

Mount Vernon main house

Tomb of George and Martha Washington.  Martha is on the  left. 

 

This is called a ‘Necessary’.  Goes by different names today.  It definitely is not a ‘Porta-…‘

  

Washington denture. NOT made of wood.  Washington was a very healthy man in very good physical shape but suffered from poor teeth all his life in spite of his constant efforts to maintain them.

June 3, 2016

Tours, talks, and Sights

Little later start today.  Had noon appt. to tour Supreme Court.  Tour turned out to be a talk/lecture on building, court room and court.  We arrived early so toured various galleries on our own.

Supreme Court building.

John Marshall.  Fourth Chief Justice but man credited with establishing the roll the Court would play in the young federal government.

 

 

Capitol from steps of Supreme Court.

 

West steps of Capitol.

From Capitol building we worked our way west and north several blocks.

IRS building, saw this along the way.

House where Lincoln died.  Across street from Ford’s Theater.

Presidential Box where Lincoln was shot.

From Ford’s Theater west to White House visitor center.  Had to settle for that.  Our request for a tour was denied because of space even though we put in request nearly six months ago.  ‘

Then a walk west .

White House from South Lawn

Ditto

Boy Scout Monument

June 2, 2016

Monuments

Into D.C. to learn the Metro and start sightseeing.  Out of the Metro station, walked a few blocks, and saw we were next to the National Archives so that was our first stop.  Joined the line (lots of high school kids here too) which moved quite quickly.  Through security, cameras stowed and we are in.  Two floors of displays including the rotunda with the big three.  Lots of visitors but managed well making a pleasant and informative time there.

Out of the Archives and catch the Circulator, a neat bus line run by the Metro that runs a route circulating the National Mall and Monuments. Cheap, easy to use, not crowded, and busses come by every few minutes.  Takes much of the walking out of the long day.

  There is still a lot of walking.  We did over 15000 steps today

Washington Monument.

Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool from Washington Monument

Washington Monument from Jefferson Memorial

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial from Jefferson Memorial

 

Jefferson Memorial

 

 

FDR Memorial.  Actually quite well done.  It is a series of statues and FDR quotes engraved on walls with water features interspaced.  There are four sections tracing his four terms.  The whole complex stretches 20-100 yards.  Well done.

 

Korean War Memoral

 

MLK Jr Memorial.

 

Reflecting pool, Washington Monument, Capitol Building in distance.  Taken from in front of Lincoln Memorial.

 

Lincoln Memorial

Spot where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.

View from Lincoln Memorial

 

Inside Lincoln Memorial

 

 

Viet Nam Veterans Memorial.