We stayed at a hotel in Arlington. On Wednesday morning we took the subway into DC and started at the Capitol Building. The structure is pretty magnificent. Construction began in 1793 and different parts were completed over the next 20 years. We were not able to go into the building but took some great photos of the outside.
We walked from the Capitol headed west to the National Mall. The next stop is the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial.
From there the next step is the Washington Monument. There was an earthquake in DC in 2011 and the Washington Monument was damaged. Repair has not been completed and the federal budget issues have stopped the repair. The scaffolding is up around the structure. So sad that it is not repaired. An interesting fact is that when George Washington commanded the Continental Army, his troops were seldom paid, poorly fed and not well clothed due to lack of finances of the new government. Things haven't changed much as the government cannot afford to repair the monument to this great man.
The next stop is the World War II Memorial. This stop is very touching and many of the quotes from the leaders of the time are engraved in the granite walls.
It is difficult to view this memorial and not feel a great sense of sadness and gratitude for what was sacrificed by so many for our nation as well as for the entire world.
After the WWII memorial we headed to the National Archives. On display is the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. The line was long to get in but well worth it. The documents are difficult to read and no photos are allowed. The documents have faded over time and are in protected vaults. Even though you could not easily read them, there was a great sense of patriotism when viewing and reading excerpts. Reading the first part of the Declaration where it says "When in the course of human events" and at the end where it says "We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General
Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the
rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good
People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United
Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they
are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political
connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be
totally dissolved..." will give you goosebumps!
Dad purchased what he thought were copies of the Declaration, Constitution and BoR to take home, just like Nicolas Cage did in National Treasure, however, only the Constitution was in the package. He misread the label. He was hoping to find a treasure map on the back!
From the National Archives we walked to the White House. We could not get real close but were able to take some good pictures. Currently you cannot tour the White House due to budget cuts. While we were standing at the fence taking photos, security came around and asked everyone to move away from the area. Caleb later saw a motorcade coming up to the White House. We don't believe it was the President though. After the motorcade cleared, people were able to go back up to the fence.
After the White House, we decided to call it a day. Olivia was tired of riding in the stroller and we were worn out. We walked for hours and hours to see the sights. We went to dinner and back to the hotel to relax. The best sights of the day were of Caleb, Cambely and Olivia.
Grandma sang Rock a Bye Baby to Olivia and she did some of the signs.
On Thursday, Dad went to his meeting and Caleb's family went to the zoo. Mom waited for Dad to get back and the two of them went back to the mall. The first stop was the Vietnam memorial. There were so many people that we did not get a good photo. The next stop was the Lincoln Memorial. This is a very special and reverent place. Unfortunately there were so many kids running around and screaming. Regardless, this is one of the highlights of the National Mall.
We then walked over to the Korean War Memorial. This was very moving and reverent. There were not a lot of people at this one but all were very quiet and respectful.
The Jefferson Memorial is not actually on the Mall with the other monuments so we took a long walk around the Potomac tidal basin to see the memorial. It is also very inspiring and moving.
Caleb, Camber and Olivia had called to tell us that they were back from the zoo so we headed back to the subway to go back to the hotel. We went by the Holocaust Museum but did not have time to go in before they closed. Another long day and lots of walking. It began to rain after we returned, the results of the tropical storm that hit Florida. We walked over to a restaurant, The Village Bistro, that was recommended by the hotel for crab cakes. They didn't have crab cakes but there were plenty of other things to order. The food was great but the service was awful and Camberly saw a huge bug on the floor behind her chair. We would not recommend!
On Friday it rained all day. We wanted to save all of the indoor activities for Friday but we also wanted to see Arlington National Cemetery. We saw the Kennedy burial plot, the Tomb of the Unknowns and Arlington House. It was all very moving.
The above plates were at Arlington House and we the actual plates handed down from George Washington to his wife's family. George Washington did not have any children of his own but his wife Martha did have children from a previous marriage. These plates were most likely touched by and eaten off of by President Washington!
After the tour of Arlington we headed to the National Air and Space Museum. They had aircraft all the way from the Wright Brothers, WWI, WWII, modern jets and the space shuttle Discovery.
We headed back to the hotel and then to dinner at the Quarterdeck Restaurant. They had crab on the menu and Caleb and Dad went wild breaking, cracking and devouring crab! We highly recommend but if you don't like seafood, you need to go somewhere else.
All in all a great trip. If you ever have an opportunity to go to DC, "GO". It is a very moving and patriotic place. We will go back again, for the history and the crab! We only scratched the surface on the sites to see.
It was especially great to be with Caleb, Camberly and Olivia. We greatly enjoyed the time with them and the opportunity to bond with Olivia. Dad is back in Portland, Caleb's family is back in Rochester and Mom is in KC for the week. We love all of you!
