This trip was going to be the full-on tourist bit! I had a list of things to see and a full day to do them. It was just barely enough time.
We left in the wee small hours of the morning and got there a little after 11:00am. After a little hiccup finding parking (the place I had found online turned out not to be public parking) we walked past the Capitol Building. There was a yearly memorial taking place for fallen police officers on this day so we didn't approach the building because of the crowds.
But I got pictures.Then we proceeded down the National Mall. We took a bit of a side trip north to see the U.S. Navy Memorial. One of the highlights for me. It is a very cool layout and the centerpiece is just an ordinary sailor, not some idealized God figure. I like the realistic memorials enshrining what things actually are rather than some impossible ideal. (not that there's anything wrong with big 'worship' type monuments, more on that later)
Petty Officer 2nd Class, with his hands in his pockets... :)
We visited a Sculpture Garden with some cool stuff in it and a nice big fountain in the center.
As you might expect there were some cool sculptures as well.
Next we visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
DINOSAURS! - Who knew the Jurassic was so blurry? (ha ha)
And Very Big Rocks!
We also visited the Smithsonian Museum of National History.
Lincolns top hat.
He wore this to the theater!
Next, more monuments/memorials...
The Washington Monument is really rather large!
Look, there's me! (wave)And, to answer the burning question in everyone's mind "What would the Washington Monument look like if it were a Batman villain's lair?"...
Whatever...
The World War II monument is a very cool place. I just wish certain people would pay attention to the signs and realize that it isn't a wading pool! Keep your damn feet out of my monument!
The Vietnam Memorial is only but so interesting as I, thankfully, don't know anyone whose name is on it. I think the statue is very cool and appropriate.
Regular guys doing their job.
Then for another 'shrine': the Lincoln Memorial.
As I said before I really like the realistic memorials, as these commemorate 'ordinary' people who have done great things under horrible conditions. But, I also see the grandeur of these larger than life temples to the great individuals who have risen above the tide of history. I like both approaches and feel that the monuments in the Capitol each approach their subjects appropriately, the 'thinkers' who have wrestled with the ideals that make this a Great Nation and the 'doers' who make things work and do what is necessary to preserve those ideals. Each have their place and each receives their recognition.
And speaking of 'doers' here is the Korean War Memorial.
Finally we visited the Jefferson Memorial.
In the parlance of the Internet "Great man, or Greatest man?"
That wraps it up for the places we went and the things we saw.
As a personal aside; Sorry Keith, if I had known your feet were in that much pain we could have taken an easier pace... you should wear comfortable shoes when going on walking tours.
Also, my brain is really dumb. The whole day all I could think about was seeing these sights in the game 'Fallout 3' I mean really, a video game?
I would have liked to stay and see some of the monuments lit up after nightfall, but I was really exhausted when we reached home again and I don't think it would have been safe to drive that tired, so I'm glad we came home when we did. Maybe next time!
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Now playing: The Ink Spots - I Don't Want To Set The World on Fire
via FoxyTunes
