Probably the prettiest architecture in Washington, the Capitol was the final leg of our walk through the park, although behind it were the National Archives and Supreme Court. The Capitol was very close to our hotel room so we took a couple pictures from the roof of the hotel of the Capitol building at night (the roof of our hotel also hosted the swimming pool, which made it a real fun place to visit). Part of the Capitol was under construction while we were there, making for some interesting pictures of a work in progress. Like many of the other huge structures in Washington the closer we got to the structure, the worse the pictures looked because the buildings and monuments are so big.
Category: Monuments/Buildings
Monuments and special Buildings
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Washington DC Capitol 2018
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Washington DC White House 2018
Between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument (a little closer to the Washington Monument) is the White House to the North. From the park it is very small but we walked as close as we could get to the front. The next day we had a cab take us to the rear, which allowed us to get much close. As usual, some people were protesting but only a handful and not enough to bother anyone. Across from the rear of the White House are monuments to Andrew Jackson and LaFayette in a park which I believe is called LaFayette park. After visiting we went to the White House gift shop and bought souvenirs including the first six pictures which were taken at a studio. If you buy something in the store you get one free picture, any others you have to buy. The pictures of us in the White House desk and White House podium were obviously taken there.
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Washington DC Vietnam Memorial 2018
The Vietnam Memorial was incredible with all the names of those brave souls who lost their lives in that war. The monument starts off small then continually gets bigger and bigger as you walk through it. It really shows how terrible war really is as there were so many names, over 58 thousand, written on the wall. The wall is very close the Lincoln Memorial and blends in to the natural surroundings so well that it would be easy to miss on a casual stroll through park. The granite is so polished that it is reflective and in some of the pictures you can see our images reflected on the wall. -
Washington DC WW2 Memorial 2018
As we made our way from the Vietnam Memorial to the Washington monuments, there were two beautiful monuments flanking each side of the monument. Both were World War 2 Memorials, one for the Pacific and one for the Atlantic. In between the two memorials there is a beautiful fountain. The pillars of the memorial contain the names of the states and territories of the United States in 1945, James was quick to find Michigan as you would expect. This monument is relatively recent, opening in 2004 during the Bush administration. Supposedly the words Kilroy Was Here are inscribed in two places on the memorial, although we did not notice them. -
Washington Monument 2018
Right in the middle of the monument strips is probably the most recognizable one of all, the Washington Monument. Surrounded by flags and flanked with the World War 2 Memorials (Atlantic and Pacific) it towers above everything else in the area. In fact, the closer we got to the monument the harder it was to take pictures as it was so big. We thought it was really cool when a full rainbow peeked out for us right over the monument and we got several pictures of this. While rain was always a threat, we were very fortunate to miss it as we were indoors when the worst of it hit, fortunately we were able to enjoy the bi-product of the rain (the rainbow) and also the remainder of the wonderful summer day. -
Washington DC Lincoln Memorial 2018
This was James’ favorite monument in Washington, so much so we visited it on two different days. James has always liked Abraham Lincoln and he was sure glad to see such a wonderful monument to one of his favorite (if not favorite) Presidents. This monument is the beginning of several great monuments all in a row, simply walking from one to another was alot of fun, but by the end of the day you were worn out because of all the walking you did. Still we determined it was better to walk or take a cab as the traffic was pretty heavy most of the time in Washington DC. -
Statue of Liberty – Liberty Island 2012
It had been quite the whirlwind tour but finally James got to see what we promised him, the Statue of Liberty. We had communicated with James teacher before we went to make sure James would not miss anything important in school and it was his teacher who suggested we take him to the Statue of Liberty (originally we were thinking the top of the Empire State Building).From the first time he saw the statue James exclaimed “its big”. Upon leaving the ferry we walked around Liberty Island, had our pictures taken as a family in front of the statue, then stopped in the gift shop and bought some souvenirs and reviewed our pictures. Liberty Island is really a small island and you could walk around the whole thing in about 20 minutes or so. After shopping for a bit we walked around the island again continually snapping pictures of the Statue which would have to go down as one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen.
Not only was this the first trip to Liberty Island for James, it was also the first time for Mom and Dad. It would be a tough choice to pick who was impressed the most.
THE NEW COLOSSUS
Emma Lazarus (1849–1887)
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” -
Ellis Island 2012
The first stop on the Liberty Ferry was to Ellis Island which is located right next to Liberty Island in the New York Harbor. Ellis Island was the place most immigrants were processed into the United Stated including James ancestors from Europe. Ellis Island closed in the mid 50’s and was added to the Statue of Liberty National Park in the mid 60’s. It is now a museum.A little history about Ellis Island. The first Ellis Island Immigration Station was made in 1892 and made of wood. It burned down in 1897. Three years later the second Ellis Island Immigration Station (the one most of us are familiar with) opened on Dec 17, 1900. After 1924, Ellis Island became primarily a detention and deportation processing station.
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Liberty Park 2012
To visit Ellis Island and Liberty Island (aka Statue of Liberty) we had to take a ferry from Liberty Park which is located in New Jersey.At this location is a monument to the World Trade Center and (as you can see in the picture to the left) if you take a picture of it head on it recreates the New York Skyline with the Twin Towers. In front of this are a couple beams from the wreckage of the towers. I had heard about this display already because an atheist group says it is in the shape of a cross and should be removed since it is a religious symbol. Believe me, when I saw this the last thing I associated it with was a crucifix or any religion.
James did his own honor to the fallen by striking up a “Liberty” pose with souvenirs he had purchased from Liberty Island.
Once we got home, James went a grabbed an encyclopedia from his room and put batteries in his “torch” flashlight and asked us to take one last picture of him in his Statue of Liberty pose before he went to sleep.
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A Drive Through New York City 2012
We came into New York via the Tappan Zee bridge and stayed in Tarrytown. Dad got to attend a banquet where he was honored for 25 years of service to his Company. The banquet was held in a beautiful banquet hall at the Knollwood Country Club in Elmsford.The next stop was not a stop but a trip through New York City for James. From a time perspective it would have been much better to go back through New Jersey to get to the Statue of Liberty but James’ favorite city on earth is New York so we made sure he got to see it. Most of the pictures of the New York Skyline were taken from the New Jersey side at Liberty Park and the Statue of Liberty Ferry.
Truly this must be the greatest city on earth, just beautiful!
