Last Day in Washington DC

Union Station

Union Station; the statue honors Christopher Columbus and three flags represent his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

Flagpole base

Rose from garden around Columbus memorial.

United States Capitol

It seems like every time you turn a corner or go down a different street, there she is again, our National Capitol, in full view.

The Garfield Monument

This statue commemorates President James Garfield; Garfield the president stands at the top but I liked Garfield the student depicted at the base.  James Garfield was president for only 4 short months as he was assassinated by a disgruntled office worker. 

Beauty lies all around... this small frieze was set in a retaining wall.

See where the people are standing?  Can you find the balcony in the picture above?  This is where Scott and I stood for our photo with Representative Greg Walden.  It's the Speaker's Balcony and the door is where the president comes out and onto the platform for his innaguartion.

Pennsylvania Avenue

"Main Street USA" is the street in Washinton DC that connects the White House and the United States Capitol.  It is unique in another way as well, everything you see in the picture is removable!  On Inauguration Day all traffic lights, street signs, lamp posts, parking meters, everything is removed so the President and First Lady can safely walk down Pennsylvania Avenue.

Washington Monument

View from the Capitol towards the Washington Monument.

I took a picture of the Washington Monument again because today they started taking down the outside scaffolding.  85% of damage on the outside has been fixed but they still need to replace the damaged elevator shaft and repair interior damage due to the earthquake in 2011.  The monument is expected to reopen in the spring of 2014.

Jefferson Memorial

Lockkeeper's House

The only evidence of the old C & O Canal.  The lock keeper lived here with his family to collect the toll and keep records of commerce on the canal.

The Willard Hotel

A famous hotel landmark in Washington DC.  The Willard had many famous guests stay here including, magician Harry Houdini, Mark Twain, and P.T. Barnum.  Presidents included Abraham Lincoln who stayed prior to his inauguration and General Grant liked to smoke cigars in the lobby.  Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his famous "I Have a Dream" speech at the Willard in the days before his March on Washington.

View of the Capitol from the Willard Hotel.

Hotel Washington

Built in 1918 featuring a facade of beautiful cream colored sgraffito on a reddish brown background.

The White House

South face of the White House with round portico.

Can you see the Secret Service agent walking across the roof of the White House?

The American flag is flown over the White House 24 hours a day, every day!  

No one answered when I rang the bell!

Here we are at the White House!

Michelle Obama's kitchen vegetable garden; during the shut-down, the garden was looking pretty sad because gardeners were considered nonessential workers and the squirrels took over the gardening!  

North face of the White House with square portico.

Good Night, Washington DC...  I highly recommend visiting the monuments at night; we did this on our last night and they are truly magnificent!