Dean & Linda Stock
Well-known member
November 5, 2010 Day 5 College Park, MD (Washington, DC)
We drove into DC in a surprisingly short 30 minutes. We were to meet our nephew, who works in DC, at the International Spy Museum. We got there about an hour early (anticipating terrible traffic), so we dallied at the Spy Cafe next door. They have a great Monday Special for $4.95, but we'd already eaten, so we just had coffee. Admission to the Spy Museum was $18. They had many interesting exhibits, short films, and interactive features. Parking was $20 at a garage a couple of blocks away (with an on-line coupon). Danny found a spot in the street right in front where he could feet a meter for 2 hours. He didn't get a ticket, though we were there for about 3 hours.
Then, Danny went to work, and Dean and I went on to the US Capitol (picture 1). Be sure to look at the distant & tiny Statue of Freedom at the top of the dome. Parking could be a pain in the foot, but we have a Handicapped placard so we were able to park only about 2 blocks away. If you are able, definitely take the Metro to this site. The Metrobus takes you right to the main entrance. We could see the dome from afar (Picture 1). It is made of cast iron and weighs 9 million pounds.
You have to have reservations through your senator if you want to see the Senate/House in session. You usually have to make an appointment even for the Capitol Tour (free), but this is their low season, so we just walked right in. If only our government ran as efficiently as the Visitor Center tours of the Capitol. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and was outstanding.
The Interior of the dome was very high up (picture 2). The circle of people is George Washington, a figure representing victory and liberty, and ladies representing the 13 states. Washington has a sword representing strength and a book representing knowledge.
Lower on the dome was an amazing circular painting, which really looked like a 3-D carving. It shows 400 years of American history, starting with Christopher Columbus (Picture 3). The man who painted most of it was 74 years old, and he had a heart attack when he was working on it alone in the room. He fell off a ladder, and the shock of the fall killed him. It took 2 more painters 200 years to finish it up.
Picture 4 is a painting of Pocohontas being baptized, which was considered being "civilized." She had to be baptized before she was eligible to marry Captain John Rolfe. Her father gave Rolfe half of Virginia for marrying her (dowry?). Ladies & Native Americans, we've come a long way.
They made a prototype of the Statue of Freedom before they made the real thing, and this is the original prototype (picture 5). It enabled us to see details of the real one that appears so tiny, even when you get as close to the dome as possible.
Each state has two statues of famous people in the capitol. They are made of either marble or bronze. The guide wasn't with us to give answers when we saw the statue representing Hawaii (pictures 6 & 7), but it looks to me like it broke the rule.
Stayed at Cherry Hill RV Resort.
Weather: COLD, especially in the morning
!
We drove into DC in a surprisingly short 30 minutes. We were to meet our nephew, who works in DC, at the International Spy Museum. We got there about an hour early (anticipating terrible traffic), so we dallied at the Spy Cafe next door. They have a great Monday Special for $4.95, but we'd already eaten, so we just had coffee. Admission to the Spy Museum was $18. They had many interesting exhibits, short films, and interactive features. Parking was $20 at a garage a couple of blocks away (with an on-line coupon). Danny found a spot in the street right in front where he could feet a meter for 2 hours. He didn't get a ticket, though we were there for about 3 hours.
Then, Danny went to work, and Dean and I went on to the US Capitol (picture 1). Be sure to look at the distant & tiny Statue of Freedom at the top of the dome. Parking could be a pain in the foot, but we have a Handicapped placard so we were able to park only about 2 blocks away. If you are able, definitely take the Metro to this site. The Metrobus takes you right to the main entrance. We could see the dome from afar (Picture 1). It is made of cast iron and weighs 9 million pounds.
You have to have reservations through your senator if you want to see the Senate/House in session. You usually have to make an appointment even for the Capitol Tour (free), but this is their low season, so we just walked right in. If only our government ran as efficiently as the Visitor Center tours of the Capitol. The tour lasted about 45 minutes and was outstanding.
The Interior of the dome was very high up (picture 2). The circle of people is George Washington, a figure representing victory and liberty, and ladies representing the 13 states. Washington has a sword representing strength and a book representing knowledge.
Lower on the dome was an amazing circular painting, which really looked like a 3-D carving. It shows 400 years of American history, starting with Christopher Columbus (Picture 3). The man who painted most of it was 74 years old, and he had a heart attack when he was working on it alone in the room. He fell off a ladder, and the shock of the fall killed him. It took 2 more painters 200 years to finish it up.
Picture 4 is a painting of Pocohontas being baptized, which was considered being "civilized." She had to be baptized before she was eligible to marry Captain John Rolfe. Her father gave Rolfe half of Virginia for marrying her (dowry?). Ladies & Native Americans, we've come a long way.
They made a prototype of the Statue of Freedom before they made the real thing, and this is the original prototype (picture 5). It enabled us to see details of the real one that appears so tiny, even when you get as close to the dome as possible.
Each state has two statues of famous people in the capitol. They are made of either marble or bronze. The guide wasn't with us to give answers when we saw the statue representing Hawaii (pictures 6 & 7), but it looks to me like it broke the rule.
Stayed at Cherry Hill RV Resort.
Weather: COLD, especially in the morning
!