A favorite photo from the trip
Why did I make this picture first? Who knows. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Come to think of it, it WAS the first thing I started taking pictures of on my first stint in D.C.
Continuing the Washington Monument tour
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Washington Monument
A bit farther off as I was making my way to the Lincoln Memorial.
Washington Monument
Now at the Lincoln Memorial, looking back at the Washington Monument across the reflection pool.
Washington Monument
Why do we tourists take the obligatory shots? 😉
Washington Monument
More obligatory shots. You'll see a lot of those in this album.
Washington Monument
Okay, here are some that aren't so obligatory. Actually had to find these shots.
Washington Monument
My favorite vertical of the Washington Monument and…
Washington Monument
…my favorite horizontal of the Washington Monument.
Washington Monument
Runner up for favorite vertical.
Washington statue inside monument
We'll come back to the Lincoln Memorial. Here's the statue of George Washington inside the Monument.
Washington Monument west overview
At the top, above each window, is a photo illustrating what you're looking at out the widow. Obviously these guides were taken on a much clearer day than the day I was here. Starting off, looking toward the Lincoln Memorial.
Another photo hanging inside the monument
Another image of the Memorial (not mine, this was hanging on the wall.)
My photo looking west
Okay, here's my version. Yep. Icky day.
My photo looking west
A bit of telephoto applied.
My photo looking west
A bit more telephoto applied.
Washington Monument east overview
The guide for the opposite direction, looking at the Capitol.
My photo looking east
My version. Same icky day.
My photo looking east
Telephoto applied.
Washington Monument north overview
Guide for looking north toward the White House.
My photo looking north
My icky day version.
White House from Washington Monument
Telephoto applied. Fascinating that the grass virtually everywhere (see prior photo) was brown-ish green, but the White House lawns are immacuately green.
Old Post Office from Washington Monument
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Washington Monument south overview
And the south-facing guide, looking toward the Jefferson Memorial (which I didn't have time to get to).
Jefferson Memorial from Washington Monument
Telephoto applied on my icky day version. Sorry, no, I have absolutely no clue why I didn't take a wider shot in this direction.
Pentagon from Washington Monument
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Vietnam War Memorial from Washington Monument
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Capstone replica
Below the Washington Monument's observation level is a mini museum. This section has a depiction of placing the capstone at the top, as well as a replica of it.
Capstone close-up
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Capstone detail
The inscription reads, "Cornerstone Laid on Bed of Foundation July 4, 1848; First Stone at Height of 152 Feet, Laid August 7, 1880. Capstone Set December 6, 1884."
Viewing window area
Back at the observation deck, here's what one of the viewing window areas looks like.
Looking up from Washington Monument viewing window
Look up from the window and you can see the source of the bright red marker lights you see from outside. The lamps are only 2-3 inches in diameter, shining through a powerful lens.
Tip top of Washington Monument from the inside
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Lincoln Memorial
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Lincoln Memorial
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Lincoln Memorial
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Lincoln Memorial plaque
This plaque rests in the walkway leading to the Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial
O-B-L-I-G-A-T-O-R-Y
Lincoln Memorial
Ooo, at an angle! Bonus points.
Gettysburg Address inside Lincoln Memorial
No, I haven't memorized it, but a coworker of mine can recite it perfectly.
Vietnam War Memorial
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Vietnam War Memorial
Add a tree for photographic framing.
Vietnam War Memorial
Not sure if this one is obligatory or not. Surely creative reflection isn't that typical.
Vietnam War Memorial
This is the closest you're gonna get in this album to seeing a picture with me in it.
Three Soldiers statue at Vietnam War Memorial
Statue near the Vietnam War Memorial. I love this shot.
Korean War Memorial
This area was relatively new in 2000, the time at which I visited.
Korean War Memorial
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Sidewalk plaque
Why in the world did I take a picture of this sidewalk plaque? Because in 1984—during the Washington Monument's centennial—new walkways near the Monument were dedicated…on my birthday. 😉
Ford's Theatre
Where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.
Ford's Theatre stage
Performances are still held in the theatre, so the stage was not dressed as it appeared at the time of the assassination.
Ford's Theatre box
The theatre box where Lincoln was sitting, however, has been kept as it was.
Lincoln's box seat at Ford's Theatre
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Ford's Theatre stage and box seat
If you remember your history, you know that Booth jumped from the box to the stage. No wonder he broke a bone.
Ford's Theatre audience
I don't recall for certain, but I think the chairs are either the originals, or close replicas of the chairs in Lincoln's day—except that padding has been added to them since.
Lincoln's attire
In the museum under the theatre.
Booth's gun
Booth's weapon—a .44-caliber single-shot pistol made by Henry Deringer.
Pillow used by Lincoln
One of several pillows said to be stained with Lincoln's blood.
Treasury Guards Flag
The Treasury Guards Flag. "When Booth leaped to the stage, his spur caught on a flag decorating the President's box. Booth fell heavily and broke his leg. Conflicting testimony describes it as this regimental flag hanging in front of the post or an American flag draped around the box. Best evidence points to this flag." If you look carefully on the right edge of the flag, at the same height as the handicapped lift controller, there is a rip that is supposed to be where Booth's spur caught on the flag.
Inner door to Lincoln's box seat
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The house where Lincoln died
Looking across the street from an upper-level window in Ford's Theatre.
Parlor in the house where lincoln died
"Between visits to her husband's bedside, Mary Lincoln waited in this parlor with her son, Robert, and friends of the Lincoln family."
Bedroom in the house where lincoln died
The room where Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m., April 15, 1865.
Bed where Lincoln died
The bed is not the original, but was similar to this one.
Old Post Office landmark
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Tower bell room
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Ringing of the great bells of Congress
This newspaper article about the bell ringers was interesting. If you click through to the maximum size version of this photo, and if your eyes aren't too bad, you can actually read the article.
Bell ropes
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Washington Monument from Old Post Office
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Capitol from Old Post Office
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Old Post Office bells
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Old Post Office bells
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Old Post Office bells
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Old Post Office clock interior
For some reason I found this fascinating to see. In the top right corner is the small mechanism with gears connecting bars on all four sides to operate the clocks on each outer face of the tower. Near the bottom is the nighttime source of illumination.
Old Post Office scale model
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Old Post Office tower through glass roof
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Old Post Office tower through glass roof
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Photo from when building was still being used as the Post Office
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Smithsonian Institution
Unobservant tourists take note of the following:
Smithsonian—not Smithson
Institution—not Institute
Smithsonian Institution
Unobservant tourists take note of the following:
Smithsonian—not Smithson
Institution—not Institute
James Smithson's tomb in entryway
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Voyager aircraft
Moving on to one of my favorite D.C. museums—the Air and Space Museum. This is the Voyager aircraft which made the first nonstop, unfueled flight around the world during nine days in December, 1987.
Spirit of St. Louis
Charles Lindburg's "Spirit of St. Louis" aircraft in which he made the first solo, nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 34 hours.
Spirit of St. Louis
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Spirit of St. Louis
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The X-1 aircraft—first to exceed the speed of sound
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The X-1 aircraft—first to exceed the speed of sound
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The X-1 aircraft—first to exceed the speed of sound
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Sputnik—first artificial Earth satellite
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Sputnik—first artificial Earth satellite
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Apollo-Soyuz spacecraft
The Apollo-Soyuz spacecraft—the first international manned spaceflight when the two craft docked.
Wright Brothers' flyer
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Wright Brothers' flyer
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Wright Brothers' flyer
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Original Star Trek Enterprise model
Indulge my Trek interest for a little while, okay? The original Enterprise model is in the basement of the Air and Space Museum! I won't retype this whole panel of the "factual" Enterprise but here are the specs: 11 feet long overall, saucer is 60 inches in diameter, warp nacelles are 72.25 inches long, engineering section is 53.5 inches, overall height is 32 inches, and total weight is 200 pounds.
Original Star Trek Enterprise model
Another plaque with the "fictional" Enterprise information. Overall length is 947 feet, saucer diameter is 417 feet, warp nacelle length is 504 feet, warp nacelle diameter is 60 feet, engineering hull length is 340 feet, and overall weight is 190,000 tons.
Original Star Trek Enterprise model
You'll notice you don't see this angle on the TV shows as often—especially the newer series.
Original Star Trek Enterprise model
Angles like this made the model a LOT more beautiful.
By the way, the very talented Dave Brasgalla secured permission and used my photo for an amazing rendering for free desktop wallpaper, depicting the Enterprise breaking through the Galactic Barrier.
Original Star Trek Enterprise model
Lower angle from reverse also looked good on TV.
Original Star Trek Enterprise model
Some guy standing near the model gives a good idea to its size.
The White House
I didn't get to tour inside the White House, but that didn't stop me from taking (obligatory) outdoor shots.
The White House
The opposite side of the White House, including the secret of the lawn's color.
The United States Capitol
And finally I made my way to the Capitol building during the second stint in D.C.
The United States Capitol
This shot was taken during the first stint. It was a prettier day, but this was as close as I got the first time.
The United States Capitol
Some more obligatory angles—the remainder of which taken during my "icky day" second visit.
The United States Capitol
Add a tree for depth and interest. 🙂
Washington Monument from Capitol steps
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The United States Capitol
A not-so-obligatory angle.
The United States Capitol
Details of the portico carving.
Upper rotunda dome inside United States Capitol
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Upper rotunda dome inside United States Capitol
Windows and carvings on the inner wall of the Capitol dome.
Rotunda inside United States Capitol
A bit lower still with some lower wall paintings visible.
Old Senate Room
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Capitol dome cutaway
Down in the basement museum I found a pretty neat cutaway view of the dome construction. Anyway, this is the last shot. Hope you enjoyed the album.
