Trip to Washington, D.C.

[Sivart]

I recently went on a trip to Washington, D.C. and I wanted to share my photos of some of the sites I visited. I visited a couple sites where I did not bring my camera, or was not allowed to, and therefore I don't have pictures. I hope you enjoy.

Views of the capital

Left: Outside view of the Lincoln Memorial
Right: Gettysburg Address on the wall

Left: Typo on the wall of the memorial (where the E is filled in in "future")
Right: Outside view of Mount Vernon (there was some construction going on, so only one room was available for viewing)

\
Left: Inside Mount Vernon
Right: Arlington National Cemetery (I went to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but felt it disrespectful to take photos)

Left: Iwo Jima Monument (yes, I had to look up the name)
Right: Outside view of the Jefferson Memorial

Statue of Jefferson inside the memorial

Left: Exterior of the Supreme Court
Right: Statue of Lincoln in the memorial

Left: Exterior of the Lincoln Memorial
Right: Across the reflecting pool

Left: Another exterior view of the memorial
Right: Exterior of the capital

 

[Dan Kohli]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[TallTallMan]

Cool stuff!

 

[MWood1841]

Thanks for sharing. Unfortunate that Mount Vernon has significant renovations happening. Largest in its history. You can search c-span and they have some really cool video's of Mt Vernon's preservation director giving detailed tours to their video crew of all the renovation work taking place inside. I plan on visiting after the renovations have been finished and most of the mansion available for guided tours.

George Mason's Gunston Hall nearby is a really nice visit as well, if you've never been.

 

[donna]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Drew]

Thanks for sharing your trip. All should visit Washington at least once in his/her lifetime if at all possible.

 

[WestCoastSB]

I haven't been there since childhood; overdue for a return. Thanks for sharing!

 

[CWdiaryPA]

These iconic sites loom so large in our imagination, but then, when you see them in just someone's regular photograph, it brings them more down to earth. I've been to DC twice. First time as a teen in a college history class, & I remember standing at the White House thinking, "Wait, that's it? The whole thing? Right there?" I remember Lincoln being huge up in the chair. He's quite a sight.

What a typo

 

[Sivart]

These iconic sites loom so large in our imagination, but then, when you see them in just someone's regular photograph, it brings them more down to earth. I've been to DC twice. First time as a teen in a college history class, & I remember standing at the White House thinking, "Wait, that's it? The whole thing? Right there?" I remember Lincoln being huge up in the chair. He's quite a sight.

What a typo

I one-hundred percent agree with you. I always thought of all these monuments as these huge, impressive structures, and then when I visited most of these monuments, I realized it wasn't actually so impressive, it's sort of like every other building I've ever seen, just fancier, and with more significance. Now, I'm not saying each of them are just "eh", but I sort of have the same attitude as you with the "That's it?" One thing I must say, is that the Jefferson memorial surprised me. It was much bigger than I initially thought.

 

[CWdiaryPA]

I one-hundred percent agree with you. I always thought of all these monuments as these huge, impressive structures, and then when I visited most of these monuments, I realized it wasn't actually so impressive, it's sort of like every other building I've ever seen, just fancier, and with more significance. Now, I'm not saying each of them are just "eh", but I sort of have the same attitude as you with the "That's it?" One thing I must say, is that the Jefferson memorial surprised me. It was much bigger than I initially thought.

Right? Like, Valley Forge is just a few dinky little cabins. Goes to show the intangible is what counts, you know? What we decide on as humans, where we act on that which we decide. Why. And how. And whether it lasts, or succeeding generations mess it up or improve on all we'd done. I swear there remains some intangible energy at Valley Forge. I strongly felt it last time I was there, in 2000. Lived within walking distance, straight shot down the road ours turned off of, 1975ish,6? (Def. there for the Bicentennial)--1981, but we were just kids then, driving around the park passing a bowl back & forth, blasting the B-52s. So all that history was lost on us.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Every year, I take a bunch of 8th graders to Washington D.C. and see all these sites, among others. It's hard and stressful, but ultimately very rewarding. I've gotten many messages from kids who have now graduated college who say they remember the trip very fondly. And at least one couple that met on the trip are still dating.

This year, we'll be doing an excursion to Gettysburg, but sadly we won't have all that much time there. Just the museum and the short bus tour.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

I recently went on a trip to Washington, D.C. and I wanted to share my photos of some of the sites I visited. I visited a couple sites where I did not bring my camera, or was not allowed to, and therefore I don't have pictures. I hope you enjoy.

View attachment 541762View attachment 541763
Views of the capital

View attachment 541736View attachment 541739
Left: Outside view of the Lincoln Memorial
Right: Gettysburg Address on the wall

View attachment 541740View attachment 541741
Left: Typo on the wall of the memorial (where the E is filled in in "future")
Right: Outside view of Mount Vernon (there was some construction going on, so only one room was available for viewing)

View attachment 541742View attachment 541743\
Left: Inside Mount Vernon
Right: Arlington National Cemetery (I went to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but felt it disrespectful to take photos)

View attachment 541745View attachment 541746
Left: Iwo Jima Monument (yes, I had to look up the name)
Right: Outside view of the Jefferson Memorial

View attachment 541764 View attachment 541748
Statue of Jefferson inside the memorial

View attachment 541765View attachment 541770
Left: Exterior of the Supreme Court
Right: Statue of Lincoln in the memorial

View attachment 541767View attachment 541768
Left: Exterior of the Lincoln Memorial
Right: Across the reflecting pool

View attachment 541769View attachment 541751
Left: Another exterior view of the memorial
Right: Exterior of the capital

Good sharing.

 

[Kearny The Magnificent]

I one-hundred percent agree with you. I always thought of all these monuments as these huge, impressive structures, and then when I visited most of these monuments, I realized it wasn't actually so impressive, it's sort of like every other building I've ever seen, just fancier, and with more significance. Now, I'm not saying each of them are just "eh", but I sort of have the same attitude as you with the "That's it?" One thing I must say, is that the Jefferson memorial surprised me. It was much bigger than I initially thought.

I've lived here since 2016 (grew up visiting family/school trips more than anywhere else) and the thrill of just seeing them casually never gets old. I'll be doing something mundane, like going to a doctor's appointment, and cut across the mall in full view of all of the major ones or just walking to my neighborhood grocery store in full view of the Capitol dome. I get what you mean, but I still find it neat!

 

[JPChurch]

You visited at a good time of the year. How was the traffic for you??? I've lived in Northen VA all of my life. I was born in DC as were both of my parents and my grandparents on my father's side. I have several family members at Arlington. We went to see Kennedy's funeral procession in DC. I remember the horse with no rider and the boots in the stirrups placed backwards. When Reagan was president I got to attend a private ceremony in the Rose Garden that featured Lionel Hampton's jazz ensemble, then a big luncheon inside. There were G men all over the place; I got to see Ron and Nancy up real close almost face to face. My brother worked for the architect of the Capitol and his wife was big in the Repub party under VP Bush Sr. They have great stories to tell. Lots about political scandals like Elizabeth Ray/Wayne Hays and Wilbur Mills/Fanne Fox. Great stuff. Never a dull moment in DC, even still to this day.

 

[Sivart]

You visited at a good time of the year. How was the traffic for you??? I've lived in Northen VA all of my life. I was born in DC as were both of my parents and my grandparents on my father's side. I have several family members at Arlington. We went to see Kennedy's funeral procession in DC. I remember the horse with no rider and the boots in the stirrups placed backwards. When Reagan was president I got to attend a private ceremony in the Rose Garden that featured Lionel Hampton's jazz ensemble, then a big luncheon inside. There were G men all over the place; I got to see Ron and Nancy up real close almost face to face. My brother worked for the architect of the Capitol and his wife was big in the Repub party under VP Bush Sr. They have great stories to tell. Lots about political scandals like Elizabeth Ray/Wayne Hays and Wilbur Mills/Fanne Fox. Great stuff. Never a dull moment in DC, even still to this day.

Very cool stuff! Car traffic was fine, I don't have any complaints about that, but some of the lines I had to wait in...