Richard Halverstadt: June 21 - 26, 2015: Washington DC

June 21 - 26, 2015: We arrived in Washington by train from NYC and checked into our hotel. We were not far from the White House, a short ten minute walk. The following pictures are of the buildings near the White House.

White House - north side

White House - south side

Of course we spent time going to the Smithsonian museums. We started at the museum that described all the other museums and selected other museums we were interested in visiting.

Smithsonian Museum

Ruth's hobby - riding merry-go-rounds wherever she visits

One of many interesting gardens adorning Smithsonian Museums

Beautiful foliage in gardens around Smithsonian museum

One of the first museums we visited was the Smithsonian Aeronautical Museum which housed many exhibits from NASA. Having worked at Jet Propulsion Laboratory for 26 years, I was interested in seeing which of the displays were of projects I had worked on. It was nice reminiscing about this work from the past.

Model of Wright Brothers' Plane

Poster of Magellan Project which traveled to Venus (I was Ground Software Manager of this project)

Here are some pictures of other Smithsonian museums.

One morning we took a tour of the Kennedy Performing Arts Center.

Kennedy Performing Arts Center

Kennedy Performing Arts Center - sitting room for President

From the roof of Kennedy Performing Arts Center, we could see the neighboring Watergate Building, home of one of the largest political scandals in US history.

Watergate Building

We also visited other memorials on the Mall:

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument as seen from Lincoln Memorial

Viet Nam Memorial

Women's Memorial

Korean War Memorial

As you can see, the Viet Nam Memorial and Korean War Memorial were sobering to witness.

The following day we went on a tour of the Capitol.

Capitol Building

Capitol Building under construction

Capitol Building

Capitol Building - Ronald Reagan

Capitol Building - ceiling fresco

Capitol Building - signing of the Declaration of Independence

Capitol Building - bust of Lincoln

A long tunnel took us from the Capitol to the Library of Congress, a magnificently decorated building storing thousands of documents, all of which are available on-line. The Library of Congress surprised both Ruth and me with its grandeur and beauty.

Library of Congress

The next day we went to visit the Ford Theater where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.

Ford Theater where Lincoln was assassinated


pistol used to assassinate Lincoln

House where Lincoln was taken after being shot and later died

Books written about Lincoln on display at the house where he died

Box where Lincoln sat the night he was assassinated

The Newseum is a very interesting museum devoted to news throughout history.

Newseum - News Museum

Part of World Trade Center brought down during 9/11


Newseum map of countries of world that are free (Green), Partially Free (Yellow)	and Not Free (Red)

Newseum map of countries of world that are free (Green), Partially Free (Yellow)

and Not Free (Red)

Part of Berlin Wall (seen from East Germany)

Part of Berlin Wall (seen from West Germany)

Next to the Newseum is the Capital Grille, a bar where politicians go to have a drink and discuss legislation they are working on. While we were seated at one of the last available tables for four, the waitress timidly approached us and asked if we would mind moving to a table for two so that four patrons could sit at our table. Of course we agreed and went to sit at the new table. She returned to say that the four patrons were paying for our drinks because we agreed to move!

Capital Grille, site where politicians go to discuss politics

One day we went to the Round Robin Bar for a mint julep. This bar is famous because every President has gone to this bar for a drink. The recipe for the mint julep is the same one used at the Kentucky Derby from the beginning of time and our waiter showed it to us. He also showed a list of what drinks all the Presidents had when they visited this bar. Although Abraham Lincoln enjoyed an occasional drink in his "youth", he gave up drinking anything alcoholic after he took office. Jimmy Carter's drink was also nonalcoholic.

Hotel where the Round Robin Bar is located.

Hotel where the Round Robin Bar is located

Round Robin Bar - where every President has had a drink

We visited a number of art museums, part of the Smithsonian Museum. I was surprised at how many familiar masterworks are housed in these museums.

Daniel in the Lions Den

Renoir

Van Gogh self portrait

Toulouse Lautrec

Gilbert Stuart's Washington Portrait

We took a tour of Arlington Cemetery, a very memorable visit to honor the veterans who have fought to keep our country safe. Among things we did was to witness the changing of the guard.