Since a young boy I wanted to visit Washington, DC. We finally made it on a tour with a neighboring senior recreation center group. Our capitol city is an impressive place and all the more impressive to know that many of our national treasures of history, art, literature and architecture are free to see.
The pictures that follow are in sequence of our visit and tour.
The faces of the Vietnam War.
The Wall...sobering.
Clark Walker was from my home town, Bronson, and just a couple years older than me. He was an outstanding wrestler and has our high school wrestling award named in his honor.
This is a relatively new statue honoring the women who served in Vietnam.
"I have a dream..." This marks the very spot where Dr. King gave his famous address at the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial is the single location I have most wanted to see since a boy. As impressive as I imagined.
I'm in the process of reading John Jakes trilogy of books beginning with North and South. This visit was made all the more interesting being in the midst of those books and the various representations of Lincoln by the sides. I recently read, Team of Rivals about Lincoln. A must read if you like history and Lincoln.
Looking across the Potomac River and the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington House sits atop the hill with the Kennedy grave and Eternal Flame at the base of the hill. I had no idea that Joe Louis is buried in Arlington, too.
Sadly, the reflecting pool is drained and undergoing a total renovation. Still impressive as was the entire National Mall beyond.
My biggest surprise was the Korean War Memorial shown here. Very haunting.
Amazing and frightening figures of the Korean "conflict."
The capitol building...the first of our visit to the three branches of government. An impressive structure.
Lady Freedom atop the capitol building dome.
The original model of Lady Freedom from which the casting was made.
The apotheosis of Washington on the dome of the capitol.
Gerald Ford and his bad knee.
Lewis Cass of Michigan in Statuary Hall.
Thomas Jefferson likes my hat.
The Library of Congress was another huge surprise to me. The architecture and mosaics were stunning. Not nearly enough time to spend here and I'd like to go back.
More Library of Congress.
One of only a few in existence.
Our little group on the steps of the Supreme Court, our second branch of government we visited. A big week before we visited with the presentation of the Affordable Care Act arguments.
The doors to the Supreme Court.
The Marine Memorial...another impressive site.
The White House and our third branch of government. The east and west wings are not visible.
A group of segway tourists.
The White House.
The treasury building and statue of Albert Gallatin. He was far more significant than most realize.
A night time view of the Washington Monument from the World War II Memorial.
So many lives....
The Kennedy grave and the Eternal Flame.
Looking back at the Lincoln Memorial from Arlington.
Most decorated US serviceman.
The pavilion of the Tomb of the Unknowns.
Changing of the guard. Very impressive and sobering.
We took a bus ride past embassy row and by the National Cathedral. We'd love to go back and see the cathedral inside!
The original Smithsonian 'castle.' The rest of the Smithsonian museums were a madhouse! It was a weekend, good weather and during spring break. You can imagine the crowds! But not many went to this original building.
The art gardens were amazing parts of Smithsonian.
The UP of Michigan got in the Smithsonian!
OK, not the capitol but this shows progress on the house next door after we returned.
1 comment:
Great pictures! You guys saw a lot in a few days.
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