such as icicles!
Uncle Erik came over for some fun.
We got to be cozy!
Friday we headed to DC. It was the perfect day to be there-we pretty much had the whole city to ourselves. First stop was a tour of the White House. All my HI friends-book through Hirono-they really went out of their way to book our tours and get everything lined up.
We couldn't get any pictures of the inside. Evan loved seeing all the Secret Service. One was joking with him. Okay-so what do you get to see when you tour the White House? You enter through the East Wing. White House Interactive Tour The White House So you see the East Garden Room, walk through the East Colonnade, the Vermiel Room, the Library and then we went up stairs White House Interactive Tour The White House. Here we walked though the East Room to the Green Room, through the Blue Room and Red Room then into the State Dining Room and out through the North Portico. It is spectacular but surprising in how small it is. I thought the rooms would be huge.
Here the White House is to our right, all we did was walk around the block, now when you look left you see...
the Capitol! Amazing huh? So the White House is to our backs now and we are going to head straight for the capital for our Tour.
On the way we pass the FBI-of course Evan has to have a picture here. (I am so glad my parents were along-my Dad knows just about every building and statue-what he doesn't know my mom does.)
This is the Archives which is on the agenda for next year's visit because the kids want to see the Declaration of Independence.
This is the National Gallery of Art-my mom had to remind me about the time we stood for 4 hours (maybe longer) out side in a freezing rain, bitter wind, in line that went down the block and around the building to see the King Tut Exhibit when it went on tour in the 1970's. Our family does THE nuttiest things for a bit of culture.
This is General George Meade, a General in the Civil war. It stands in front of the Federal Courthouse.
Evan and Erica are facing the Capitol, this is looking down the Mall at the Washington Monument.
The Smithsonian is on the left. We headed over to Congresswoman Hirono's office in the Longworth House Office Building. We met her staff and then were escorted through underground tunnels to the capital! The Architect's Virtual Capitol This Virtual Map is really cool.
This is the oldest part of the Capitol.
Old Supreme Court Chamber
The Small Senate Rotunda
The Crypt The Capitol Crypt -- Overview
Walking toward the Rotunda,
the spectacular Rotunda Capitol Rotunda
The dome of the National Statuary Hall. This is the Old Hall of the House, the meeting place of the US House of Representatives for 50 years.
The National Statuary Hall National Statuary Hall (The Old Hall of the House). There is an incredible phenomenon that happens in this room. The curved ceiling amplifies whispers in certain places. Attempts to improve the acoustics were not successful and the solution was to build a new Hall, the House moved into the current chamber in the new House wing in 1857. The Capitol is just gorgeous. There is so much art work Architectural Features and Historic Spaces at the Capitol. Definitely take the time to explore the rooms and art on this web site. Afterwards we went to the House and Senate Chambers. We could not take photos there. You must get passes from your Congressman or Representative in order to go into these wings. You can also see the Chambers while they are in session.
Afterwards we took a tunnel and headed over to the Library of Congress. We saw but couldn't take pictures of Thomas Jefferson's Collection of books and an original Magna Carta.History - About the Library (Library of Congress)
View from the Library of Congress.
Front of the Library of Congress.
Heading back to MD on the metro.
Saturday, January 15th we headed into Baltimore. I love this view driving in.
Where the Ravins play. When my mom said the name of the stadium I said, "What?? Empty Bank Stadium??" It's M&T Bank...would you put your money in a bank with that name??
Camden Yards
Washington Monument at Charles and Mt Vernon.
The Peabody
The Maryland Institute of Art
Mt. Royal Station
Edgar Allen Poe's House
B&O Railroad
Babe Ruth's House
Sail Cloth Factory
Squirrel at Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore Museum of Art
I used to come here a lot as a kid, I took classes and I would come just to see Rodin's Thinker and Degas' Ballerina.
She is so beautiful in person. There is no glass around her or the Thinker. There is a whole room of Degas. I love this Museum.
Across the street on the corner of Wyman Park is the Lee Jackson Monument. It also happened to be Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday which is a day apart from Gen. Stone Wall Jackson's birthday-go figure-learn something new everyday!!
That's my dad on the left.
This is Confederate Hill, where the Civil War soldiers from the south are buried.
Leaving Baltimore we saw a helicopter circling around overhead and big police escort with lots of big black SUV's. It could possibly have been the Presidential Motorcade.
Mercy Hospital...where I was born...downtown Baltimore between St. Paul and N. Calvert.
The first place where I lived.
Just around the corner is the 2nd place at N. Charles and Biddle, both are very close to the University of Baltimore School of Law where my Dad graduated from.
We then moved here to Patapsco Ave.
Then to here and finally to where my parents live now.
This was my elementary school.
My high school, which is on the National Historic Register, one of the top 50 schools in the US and it is ALL girls. It was founded in 1852 as a boarding school for girls that came from nearly all 30 states as well as Europe. It is gorgeous inside. The wife of Gen. Arthur MacArthur and mother of Gen. Douglas MacArthur graduated from here. I got to go all the way to the bell tower once-the view is spectacular.
Sunday morning my Dad took the kids for a walk by my parent's house. Once upon a time there used to be horse farms all over but those days are gone and the land it turning back to woods.
The kids were excited-they got to see an owl.
My dad and Evan.
We headed to Arundel Mills-so Erik could see the orks and ultra marines...don't ask...
I love this sign. Parking lots in MD are HUGE!
Monday, January 17th-Erik's birthday, we headed back down to DC to see my favorite structure in DC, the Jefferson Memorial. Can't wait to come back next spring when the trees are in blossom.
I love this picture. The design of this city amazes me. Every time I look at the Washington Monument it seems like it is in a different part of the city.
My dad climbing the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.
The US Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
The White House. 
Thomas Jefferson.
Looking across the Patomac to the Lincoln Memorial.
We headed to Arlington National Cemetery. It looks beautiful with the wreaths.
Looking straight down from the Eternal Flame to the Lincoln Memorial.
Robert E. Lee's House which actually belonged to his wife, Mary Custis's, family. The Eternal Flame is behind Erica.
Memorial Amphitheater
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. These guys look like clones of each other, they are tall but so tiny around.
USS Maine Mast Memorial. The Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor, Cuba, Feb. 15, 1898. We just finished learning about the Spanish American War.
On the base of the Confederate War Memorial are the words of a Confederate chaplain that read: Not for fame or reward
Not for place or for rank
Not lured by ambition
Or goaded by necessity
But in simple
Obedience to duty
As they understood it
These men suffered all
Sacrificed all
Dared all-and died
I think these are great words that can be a tribute to all our soldiers.
1 comment:
Great pictures and history! I love D.C. The last time I was there was the week of my birthday in 1998. It was really cold and we felt like we had the whole city to ourselves too. Loved it! Can't wait to go back and take the kids.
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