Washington D.C. Vacation 11-12 June 08

This view is available only after completing a Capital tour. From the Capital steps, looking across the Mall, just behind Washington's monument is Lincoln's memorial. To the left in the distance is the first Smithsonian building, the Smithsonian Castle. A good place to go to learn about the 17 Smithsonian museums. To the right is the National Archives, records of the government's doings which anyone can search. Included are the most precious of documents: Magna Carta, Emancipation Proclamation, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, etc. The Declaration, sadly, is pretty faded due to mis-handling in the 19th century And I'm sure Nicholas Cage didn't do it any good either :-). Thank goodness for copies, because it would be difficult to read, especially the signatures at the bottom.

You might notice the lack of high rises in the skyline, outlawed in D.C.

Civil War monument. Very cool.

Ulysess S. Grant. The largest equestrian statue in the United States. The statue faces West, to his president's monument, Abraham Lincoln.

It was created by sculptor Henry Merwin Shrady. Shrady spent 20 years of his life working on the memorial and died, stressed and overworked, two weeks before its dedication in 1922.

There's definitely more than one way to tour D.C. Like ducks, everybody following momma Segway.

Opened to the public April 2004, the World War II Memorial. The pillars have state names plus territories. The southern end is dedicated to the Pacific theater and the northern end, the Atlantic.

The pool you is 246 feet by 147 feet.

Vietnam memorial wall

We were pleasantly amazed at everyone's, including rambunctious teenagers, quiet, respectful, and solemn demeanor at this and other memorials.

Lincoln's memorial. We heeded Heidi's recommendation to see the memorials as the light played on them, so we hung around for dark. (Even though, needlessly as it turned out, Dad was concerned about making the late Metro connection to the Twinbrook station where our P.T. cruiser patiently awaited to carry us "home" to our Fairfield in Germantown). The memorials are glorious at night. He is surrounded by 36 columns representing 36 states. Open to the air seems appropriate for Mr. Lincoln.

My favorite president "Abraham" Lincoln sits 19 feet tall

The Gettysburg Address is inscribed on the left wall

From his vantage point this great man can peer out over the city. The statue was carved in four years.

Soldiers coming thru the trees comprises part of The Korean memorial. Spectacular at night.

The looks on the soldiers' faces seems to be a combination of emotions, including weariness, fear, resoluteness and dedication.

The Depth of field and clarity are amazing on the wall, part of the Korean War memorial.

At 555 feet tall, it's the worlds largest free-standing stone structure. Begun 4 July 1848, then neglected until Ulysses S. Grant authorized it to be completed in 1884. Notice how the lack of funds and the delay caused a variation in stone color at the 152 ft. level. No structure in D.C. is permitted to be taller. How did they lift stones that high in 1884? What is it like inside and how is the view from the top? We don't know. We were unwilling to schedule standing in line for tickets from the snooty cashier.

Reflecting at the reflecting pool.