Cherry Hill Campground, Washington DC

 Cherry Hill Campground-Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. is the capital city and federal district of the United States. It is located on the east bank of the Potomac River and is bordered by Virginia and Maryland.  The city was named for George Washington, a Founding Father, the first president of the United States. The federal district is named after Columbia, a female personification of the nation.

The U.S. Constitution provides for a federal district under the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress; the district is not a part of any U.S. state (nor is it one itself). The signing of the Residence Act in 1790, approved the creation of the capital district located along the Potomac River near the country's East Coast. The City of Washington was founded in 1791, and Congress held its first session there in 1800. In 1801, the territory, formerly part of Maryland and, officially became recognized as the federal district.

A view of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial as shown from a distance.  When the design of the wall was announced, many people felt the memorial would not adequately honor those that died in what we continue to claim was a "conflict" and not a war. The final memorial evokes much more emotion than many were expecting.  Personally, it is the most moving veteran memorial in Washington, DC and maybe in the nation.  The Wall, completed in 1982, has since been supplemented with the statue  of The Three Soldiers in 1984 and the Vietnam Women's Memorial in 1993. As a family of veterans, we have seen many veteran memorials across the country. This memorial evokes a deep, almost painful, visceral response like a tidal wave that washes over you. I (Mark) have seen it several times now and each time I feel this same response. I don't think I want to see it again. It is just too painful. 

  The Vietnam Women's Memorial was dedicated in 1993 to pay tribute to the women who served in the military. It was the first memorial in the Nation's Capital that honored women's military service. Many were not pleased with this depiction of the role of nurses in the military during this era. It portrays nurses seemingly providing nursing care in the field. Medics provided care in the field and nurses served only in the hospitals-never in the field.

The Lincoln Memorial is a U.S. national memorial built to honor the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is on the western end of the National Mall across from the Washington Monument, and is in the form of a neoclassical temple. It was completed in 1922.

The view of the Washington Memorial as seen across the Reflecting Pool from the Lincoln Memorial.

The Korean war is often referred to as the Forgotten War.  The Memorial to the Veterans of the Korean war was dedicated 13 years after the Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The Korean War Veterans Memorial was approved by Congress in 1986 but was not completed until 1995. The memorial was dedicated on July 27, 1995, the 42nd anniversary of the armistice that ended the war, by President Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam, the South Korean president, to the men and women who served during the conflict. 

The District of Columbia War Memorial was dedicated to the 499 Washington residents that died in WWI. It was completed in 1931. The structure was intended be a memorial and a bandstand so that each concert would be a tribute to those who served and sacrificed in the war.

The World War II Memorial is a national memorial dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

The memorial consists of 56 pillars, representing U.S. states and territories, with a pair of small triumphal arches for the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, surrounding an oval plaza and fountain. 

The northern arch is inscribed with "Atlantic" and the southern one, "Pacific."

The memorial includes two inconspicuously located "Kilroy was here" engravings. Their inclusion in the memorial acknowledges the significance of the symbol to American soldiers during World War II and how it represented their presence and protection wherever it was inscribed. I (Lisa) always think of my Uncle Frankie whenever I see anything about Kilroy was here. I recall him teaching me how to draw it after I had gotten in trouble in the 8th grade. I had written "Lisa was here" on my cheerleading coach's portable. She made me hand wash the whole thing. He told me next time to write "Kilroy was here" instead of my name.  I have very few family memories from my childhood, but that one seems firmly etched. 

The Washington Monument is an obelisk shaped building within the National Mall, built to commemorate George Washington. Construction began in 1848, but soon faced many obstacles. In 1854, construction was halted due to lack of financial backing and political turmoil. For more than two decades, the monument stood only partially completed. It was finally completed in 1888, proudly standing 555ft tall.

The Smithsonian Institution Building, located near the National Mall houses the Smithsonian Institution's administrative offices and information center. The building is constructed of Seneca red sandstone in the Norman Revival style  and is nicknamed the Castle. 

The Jefferson Memorial is a presidential memorial built between 1939 and 1943 in honor of Thomas Jefferson, the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence, a central intellectual force behind the American Revolution, founder of the Democratic-Republican Party, and the nation's third president.

The Jefferson Memorial features multiple Jefferson quotes designed to capture Jefferson's ideology and philosophy, known as Jeffersonian democracy, which was staunchly supportive of American republicanism, individual rights, religious freedom, states' rights, and virtue and prioritized and valued what he saw as the undervalued independent yeoman. Jefferson was simultaneously deeply skeptical of cities and financiers and hostile to aristocracy, elitism, and corruption. He is widely considered among the most influential political minds of his age and one of the most consequential intellectual forces behind the American Revolution.

Our view of the Washington Monument and the White House while we were at the Jefferson Memorial.

Views of the north façade of the White House as seen from outside the gates. This was as close as we could get to the White House. We rode our bikes around the city every day we were in DC. Having the bikes was perfect for us. We were able to see so much more of the city biking rather than walking or driving.  However, we had some serious helmet hair happening. Don't judge me.

This is the south façade of the White House. We thought Uncle Joe may come out and chat with us, but he apparently did not realize we were out there. Or maybe he forgot..... That must be it.... 

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. The term "White House" is often used as a metonym (am I the only one who had to look that word up?) for the president and his advisers.

When Thomas Jefferson moved into the house in 1801, low colonnades were added on each wing that concealed stables and storage. In 1814, during the War of 1812, the mansion was set ablaze by the British Army in the Burning of Washington, destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and President James Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed Executive Residence in October 1817. 

Because of crowding within the executive mansion, President Theodore Roosevelt had all work offices relocated to the newly constructed West Wing in 1901. In 1909, President William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office, which was eventually moved as the section was expanded. In the main mansion (Executive Residence), the third-floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927.  A newly constructed East Wing was used as a reception area for social events; Jefferson's colonnades connected the new wings. The East Wing alterations were completed in 1946, creating additional office space. By 1948, the residence's load-bearing walls and wood beams were found to be close to failure. Under Harry S. Truman, the interior rooms were completely dismantled and a new internal load-bearing steel frame was constructed inside the walls. 

A statue of Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans is in the Center of Lafayette Square.  Erected in 1853, it was the first bronze statue cast in the country and the first equestrian statue in the world to be balanced solely on the horses hind legs.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building, built from 1871-188,  was originally the State, War, and Navy Building—is a U.S. government building situated just west of the White House. It is currently occupied by the Executive Office of the President, including the Office of the Vice President of the United States. In 1999, it was named for former president and general Dwight D. Eisenhower.

 It was initially built to house three departments. It was for years the world's largest office building, with 566 rooms and about 10 acres of floor space, until it was surpassed by The Pentagon in 1943.

The First Division Monument sits on a plaza in President's Park.  The monument was built to honor the valiant efforts of the soldiers who fought in World War I. Later additions to the monument commemorate the lives of First Division soldiers who fought in subsequent wars. The World War II addition on the west side was dedicated in 1957, the Vietnam War addition on the east side in 1977, and the Desert Storm plaque in 1995.

The Jefferson Memorial as seen from the White House.

The Supreme Court Building houses the U.S. Supreme Court and serves as the official workplace of the Chief Justice of the United States and the eight Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.

 

The Library of Congress is the research library that officially serves the United States Congress and is the de facto national library of the United States. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the country. The library is housed in three buildings on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The library's functions are overseen by the Librarian of Congress, and its buildings are maintained by the Architect of the Capitol. The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. Its "collections are universal, not limited by subject, format, or national boundary, and include research materials from all parts of the world and in more than 470 languages."

Most of the original collection was burnt by the British during the War of 1812.  The library began efforts to restore its collection in 1815 by purchasing Thomas Jefferson's entire personal collection of 6,487 books.

Lisa standing on the edge of reflection pool in front of the US Capitol Building.  

You can see the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial from the Capitol Building.

Here is a close-up of the pediment, named The Genius of America, above the door of Capital. The central figure represents America, who rests her right arm on a shield inscribed "USA". The shield is supported by an altar bearing the inscription "July 4, 1776." America points to Justice, who lifts scales in her left hand and in her right hand holds a scroll inscribed "Constitution, 17 September 1787." To America's left are an Eagle and the figure of Hope, who rests her arm on an anchor. It was created in marble from 1825-1828. 

The pediment, called the Progress of Civilization, above the North and South Entrance of the Capital building was erected in 1863.

The center figure is America, who stands with an eagle at her side and the sun at her back. On the right, a woodsman, hunter, Indian chief, Indian mother and child, and Indian grave represent the early days of America. On the left the diversity of human endeavor is suggested by the soldier, the merchant, the two youths, the schoolmaster and child, and the mechanic. Completing this side of the tympanum are sheaves of wheat, symbolic of fertility, and an anchor, symbolic of hope; these elements are in contrast with the grave at the opposite end of the tympanum.

 This memorial to the Seabees is found at the entrance to Arlington Cemetery.

Lisa was standing in front of John F Kennedy's eternal flame with Arlington house in background.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a historic monument dedicated to deceased U.S. service members whose remains have not been identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. presidents who presided over their funerals. The monument has no officially designated name.

The Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the unknown Soldier is as emotional and as beautiful as people describe it. The precision of the movements is hard to imagine.

We were in the front lawn of Arlington House looking out towards DC.

This natural sandstone formation is made of quartz and stands about 4 feet tall. The Lord has given us so many beautiful gifts found in nature. 

These were some of the various gems we saw in the Smithsonian.

Lisa was unaware she was about to be attacked by a tiger in the Museum of Natural History.

I promised Lisa we would see a moose. We spent the last 5 months up north looking for a moose and this was the only one we have seen. 

Lisa was being accosted by a grizzly bear. I think she could take him. 

These were a few more of the animals we saw.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was definitely well worth the time we spent there. 

 

The basilica houses 82 Marian chapels, as well as other sacred images, flanking the sides of the Great Upper Church and the Crypt Church. They were designed to reflect the origins of Catholic Americans and the religious orders whose generosity erected them.

Its Greek-styled interior is crowned with numerous domes decorated in mosaics, similar to the Basilica of St. Mark in Venice, Italy, but much larger. The mosaics feature American renditions of traditional Catholic images.

 The Basilica has a grand total of 206,301 sq ft. It is the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America and the 10th largest church in the world. The planning of the church design began in 1846, but the construction did not actually begin until 1920. Over a million people visit the basilica annually which houses the world's largest collection of contemporary ecclesiastical art. 

We somehow got very lucky at the Basilica. Lisa stopped to ask a question at the desk and they offered us a private tour. Our guide spent well over an hour telling us all about the history and the art of the Basilica. There were many guests touring the church, but we seemed to have the only guided tour. After our guided tour ended, we spent another hour or so going back to see things we had missed.  

We thoroughly enjoyed touring Washington, DC and touring by bike was phenomenal. We were able to cover so much more area by bike instead of walking. We could not have visited half the things we saw by foot in the same amount of time.