Return to DC

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

We gave our feet a day to recover and then returned to Washington. What a difference it was to make that commute on a work day. The mass transit system in DC is great but i would not have the stamina to ride the trains in that crush of people every day. Blessings on those who do. We had dinner the night before with Fred's cousin Geri and her husband John who live in the area. We were amazed as they described their strategies for avoiding gridlock.

Architectural Detail on the Renwick Gallery

We started the day by walking to the White house. On the way we walked past the newly reopened Renwick Gallery of Fine Art and through Lafayette Square enjoying the statues and the architecture.

Ford's Theater 

We were able to see Ford's Theater and had a deli sandwich lunch in Freedom Plaza with General Casmir Pulaski.

National Archiives

We were so impressed by the solid and classical look of the National Archives, that library of our nations records, engraved with the inscription:

The glory and romance of our history are 

here preserved in the chronicles of those who 

conceived and builded the structure of our nation

We walked by the J Edgar Hoover Building and commented on its solid structure, evident security procedures and food trucks.

Our final goal of the day was the National Air and Space Museum. We got there via a stroll through the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Garden where I discovered a new favorite bit of whimsy, Thinker on a Rock by Barry Flanagen.

Thinker on a Rock

The National Air and Space Museum was everything we hoped it to be. It was a wondrous experience to be so close to the reentry scorched surface of the Columbia Command Module and the Spirit of St Louis. 

Columbia Command Module

Spirit of St Louis

The primary reason for our visit was to walk the exhibit The Wright Brothers and the Invention of the Arial Age. We had visited Kittyhawk earlier in the year and wanted to see the actual 1903 Wright Flyer. 

1903 Wright Flyer, the actual real one flown at Kittyhawk

Minds full and legs tired we headed back to the train station for the long ride home.

To see more photos of our visit to Washington DC visit our Flickr Photo Album here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thefamileejewels/albums/72157660962423883

Veterans Day in Washington: Catching up on our Journey.

Fred at the National Mall

I have been so involved in our travels that I haven't taken the time to write anything down for a while. Sorry for abandoning you in Philadelphia. Although as places go it is a great place to spend a few weeks if a little cold right now.
Leaving Philly Fred and I drove to DC where we stayed in the FamCamp at Fort Meade, Maryland. From there it was a short drive to a Metro stop where we could purchase tickets and
ride the train into the city. where we picked up the subway to the National Mall.  Fred had visited the monuments on a prior visit to Washington but I had never seen them up close.

We were fortunate to be able to spend a beautiful, sunny Veterans Day in DC..  Our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial. what an impressive sight. It lived up to my every expectation. It was so inspiring to walk up that huge staircase pass by the stately marble columns and to read the words that are so explanatory of our history.

Rant Warning: I enjoy visiting monuments and memorials and always have my camera with me. I try to be respectful of the place itself and of other visitors by not letting my desire to put my memories on film ruin the experience for anyone else. Could someone please tell me what is up with people and their selfie sticks posing and posturing for the camera using a revered National Monument as a background for their own egoS?  Can't tell you how many times I bit my tongue that day.

 We left the Lincoln Memorial and walked down the stairs to the Reflecting Pool where we were surrounded by veterans of all ages. Many were Vietnam era veterans in jackets with insignia denoting their units and engagements. I was so happy to see them enjoying one another's company and receiving the thank yous that they didn't hear when they came home in the 70's.

Vietnam Memorial

We walked past the Vietnam Memorial and the Wall.where visitors were making rubbings of the names engraved there.

We walked among the figures of the Korean War Memorial and marveled at the faces of the life sized statues.

Korean War Memorial

We walked through granite portals into the WW2 Memorial in time to view a ceremony remembering those who served in that war.and honoring several survivors who were present.

There were Veterans everywhere, noticing one another, thanking one another and sharing their experiences. It was a wonderful experience for Fred to be among them and to enjoy that fellowship.

Washington Monument across the Tidal Basin

We stopped for a quick lunch at a food cart and then headed over to the Tidal Basin, walking around the cherry trees and admiring the Mallards in the water.  We enjoyed the Japanese pagoda inspired statues among them as we passed by and ducked under the twisted branches of the trees hanging over the walkway.

WW2 Memorial

The impressive and expressive monument to the dream of Martin Luther King.

The Martin Luther King Monument was the first of the great structures that we came upon. It is an impressive and uniquely modern colossus that looks as though it was blasted out of a massive stone wall. The 30 foot tall statue of Dr. King states directly across the Tidal Basin at the Jefferson Memorial and is adjacent to the FDR memorial. Words from his I have a dream speech."Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." are inscribed on the statue and provided inspiration to its creator.

The FDR Monument was a short walk farther along the basin. It is perhaps my favorite of all that we saw because it is not only a monument to the man but it honors the people that elected him and whose lives were improved under his administration. The 7 acre site is divided into 4 areas separated by granite walls. There are bronze sculptures throughout the outdoor areas. Two are of President Roosevelt the first depicting FDR in his wheeled chair sitting alone and uncovered by the massive cloak that usually hid the chair.  The second, a much larger statue, pictures him with his dog. 

Eleanor Roosevelt as Ambassador of Peace.

There is also a statue of Eleanor with the emblem of the United Nations, and statues of men in a bread line during the great depression. Roosevelt's words are carved in the stone walls surrounding the site. My favorite are his views on having seen the horrible aspects of war.

FDR's I Hate War Speech.

 From the FDR we continued around the water until we reached the Jefferson Memorial and then the Washington Monument.  I loved how we had views of the Washington Monument from everywhere we went that day.

The Jefferson memorial as viewed across the Tidal Basin from MLK Monument.

It was a lot of walking  but What a day!  Fitbit clocked us each at over 15,000 steps. We left the city tired and inspired and thankful.

You can find more photos of our Washington Travels in our Flickr Album.

Philadelphia Museum District

Fred and Rocky

 We ventured back into Philadelphia on Saturday to visit Rocky and to explore Museum Mile.  We parked at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and never even made it inside the building as there is so much to do outside.

The museum is an imposing structure.  It has sky high columns topped by a colorful pediment. The most recognizable feature is the broad stone staircase that was made famous in the Rocky movie. It is surrounded by ornate landscaping and a sculpture garden.  That is where we found Rocky.

The Museum is an impressive Structure. It is even topped with Gargoyles.

Fred enjoyed having his picture taken with the statue and then running up that long staircase to celebrate at the top. 

View of City Hall from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art

 

We wandered the grounds enjoying the statues and the view down The Benjamin Franklin Parkway to City Hall which is topped by a bronze of William Penn. The view was so enticing that we decided to take a walk to JFK Park and it's famous LOVE Statue.

Moose!



Rodin's The Burghers of Calais at the Rodin Museum

 The Parkway is a flag lined Boulevard that is a pleasure to explore. Here you can find some of the most impressive art work in the world.  We passed the Rodin Museum and it's garden filled with bronzes. The Barnes Foundation was next with its collection of post impressionist and early modern art, and then the Franklin Institute.

Electric Plug at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

 

Holocaust on Benjamin Franklin Parkway

We discovered many little pocket parks that featured fountains and sculpture from many sources.

I

LOVE in JFK Park

 

AMORE at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

 

Fountain in Logan Square

 

 
I particularly enjoyed the fountain in Logan Square.

I am so glad that we spent our second Philadelphia day in the Museum District. The walk was a lot longer than we anticipated but worth the effort. Fitbit said 15,000+ steps and our feet were sore enough to make us believe it.

Civil War Monument on Benjamin Franklin Boulevard

There is much that we didn't get a chance to do in this city, as in most of the places we have traveled.    At the beginning of our adventure that made me sad.    Now we try to leave some things undone in each place we visit, to entice us to return.



Valley Forge

This life sized statue of General Washington is in the National Park's Visitors Center

 

While we were walking around Philadelphia and looking at historic maps of the area we were happy to discover how close Valley Forge is to where we are staying.

Turns out it is a short 30 mile drive to the west.

The timing was perfect. We had just visited Independence Hall and relearned it's history of British Occupation in 1777.

We had to make the trip to Valley Forge to walk in the steps of George Washington and his Continental Army in the place that they retreated to after failing to stop the British Forces.

 

Cannons in position at the first Redoubt

 

Valley Forge National Park is beautiful. It is on high ground with views of rolling hills below and mountains in the distance. There are many mature trees now but with a little imagination you can picture the bare landscape that it must of been as the approximately 10,000 troops used them to build shelter and fires to keep themselves warm.

 

Huts like these were constructed for shelter. Each 12x12 structure was meant to hold 12 enlisted men or 4 officers.

Winter itself must have been difficult on a hilltop with nothing to break the blowing wind. Add to that the lack of food and provisions and it made for miserable conditions. There was no battle fought at Valley Forge yet 2000 soldiers died there from disease, exposure to the elements and starvation.

The house occupied by General Washington and his family was Camp Headquarters as well.

Those conditions could have been the end of the Continental Army, yet in the 6 months of the Valley Forge Encampment only 42 soldiers were tried for desertion.  Battling the harsh conditions and surviving made them a cohesive group.  Prussian officer Baron Friedrich von Steuben began to train the soldiers in precision fighting and military marching. He also instituted sanitation practices in the encampment to fight disease.
Officer Nathanael Greene took over the job of procurement and successfully negotiated supplies for the weary troops by March.

Statue of George Washington representing peacetime years after the War.

The Army left their Winter Encampment in May a force to be reckoned with. Soldiers from 13 States had transferred their allegiance from home States to a united Continental Army.

The National Memorial Arch
Inscribed across the top of the arch is a quote from General Washington, "Naked and starving as
they are we cannot enough admire the incomparable Patience and Fidelity of the Soldiery."

Valley Forge National Park offers 27 miles of trails for hiking and bike riding. There is a 10 mile road that winds through the park with stops at various monuments and places of historic significance. Along the trail are monuments erected to honor the Free Mason's, the Patriots of African Descent and  the soldiers of the original colonies.







Historic Philadelphia

Independence Hall

We have begun our meandering trip south with a first stop in Philadelphia.  We actually stayed at Timberlane campground in Clarksboro, New Jersey as it was the closest to Philadelphia we could find  that had the space to accommodate our rig.
We found it to be convenient to the bridges and to a train station, making transportation easy.

Philadelphia is great for walking. Our first trip into the city we took the train and got off at 8th and Market near the Independence Visitor Center where we obtained out tickets to tour Independence Hall. The Visitor Center run by the National Park Serve is an experience in itself. It has museum style rooms that offer short films and exhibits that review the history of  Philadelphia and its importance in the birth of our nation.

Our timed tickets gave us 90 minutes to explore Historic Old Town before our appointment at Independence Hall.

Signer's Park

Signer's Park a pocket park located across 5th Street from Independence Hall. The bronze statue there was inspired by George Clymer from Pennsylvania, a signer of both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklins Post Office

Archway leading from the street to Benjamin Franklins house, now the Ben Franklin Museum is here.

We saw the Benjamin Franklin Museum, It was a wonder experience to visit the Post Office and Print Shop and to walk the same covered archway that Franklin did to get to his home. The house was actually located behind the businesses, in a sheltered courtyard surrounded by buildings on 4 sides. The Franklin home is now an exhibit called the ghost house. It is a steel outline of the 3 story building where it once stood, with covered exhibits explaining the purpose of the various rooms.

Architectural details

As we walked back toward Independence Hall there were beautiful old buildings with marble facades decorated with columns and pediments, lions and gargoyles, and stone masks with open mouths and tongues sticking out. What is up with that last one anyway?

Bell Tower of Independence Hall

Independence Hall is beautiful. We entered through a security gate and followed our tour guide to an ante room where we were given a brief history of the building.
The tour began on the first floor where we were shown the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and then the Assembly Room. In this room the Declaration of Independence was adopted. In this room the   Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. The Park Ranger was kind enough to point out the table for the New York delegates.



Table for the New York Delegation

We climbed and ornate staircase to the second floor where we visited the ballroom. You can see across the street and down onto the glass enclosed Liberty Bell from the second floor windows.
Fred found the staircase to the third floor but there was no joy in his discovery as visitation was limited to park employees.

Second floor Hallway, Independence Hall
 

Happily there were no reenactments of National Treasure this day. He was jealous to look up and discover our guide enjoying the view from the roof as we left.


There was no access to the third floor for us.

Christ Church Burial Ground is only a few blocks walk to the South. We headed in that direction to place our lucky pennies on Benjamin Franklins grave.



Wishing good luck for ourselves.



Pyramid and All-Seeing Eye

The cemetery is hauntingly beautiful. I was delighted to see pyramids, an obelisk, and images of owls and the all seeing eye. Many of the stones have no markings on them any more but maps are available that will identify them for you. Five signers of the Constitution rest in this shady corner of the city.

Our next stop was the US Mint. We were tired and not sure about how much more walking we wanted to do but decided to follow the self guided tour. We were both so happy that we did. It was a great experience and it was fun to learn about the artistic process in the development of a coin.
Our first day in Philadelphia was great. We were tired and our feet were sore but our hearts were happy.

Note: There was no charge for visiting Independence Hall. It is administered by the National Park Service. There is no fee to tour the US Mint. Both of these venues have security checkpoints with metal detectors and X-ray of bags.
There is a $5 charge for adults to enter the indoor portion of the Benjamin Franklin Museum.
There is a $2 fee to enter the Christ Church Burial Ground.

Fitbit clocked us at 11,685 steps.