2024 Saturday Aug 17

Washington DC

Another muggy day with threatening rain in the afternoon. Although we expected more tourists for the weekend, we were really unprepared for the effects on museum attendance. Most museums and monuments are free but require free or low-cost timed entrance tickets. By Saturday noon, there were no tickets available for most venues until Monday! We shifted our plans to visit more outside locations. It looks simple on the map since most items are along the National Mall or very close to the mall, but there are still long distances so we had lots of walking to do.

Richard has completed his Relive video for the day’s views:  https://www.relive.cc/view/v36AR33AGGq

First we returned to the Washington Monument for Richard to climb the tower, but, alas, it was not meant to be on this trip. We headed toward the White House.

General Sherman statue between the Elipse and South lawn of the White House.
The White House
Protestors exercising their right to express opinions before the White House.
The statue to Rochambeau, who led the French troops at the battle of Yorktown.
The Baron Von Steuben statue. Born in Prussia, he was the drill sergeant of the early American patriots.
The first division monument.
The World War II Memorial. On a hot day, the water is inviting.
The Oklahoma block in the World War II memorial. Both of our fathers served from Oklahoma.
Part of the platoon of statues showing the bitterness of the Korean conflict.
Freedom is not Free—from the Korean War Memorial, and the pool.
The Martin Luther King Memorial.
The Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin from the MLK Memorial.
FDR at his memorial.
A quote and waterfall as part of the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
FDR served as president during bleak times when Americans faced little hope. This memorial captured some American statues that he served.
Another quote from FDR in his memorial.
The Jefferson Memorial alongside the Tidal Basin.
Entering the Jefferson Memorial. We were lucky to just miss a fire alarm that kept visitors out for a half hour.
The Thomas Jefferson statue in his memorial. The walls are decorated with his statements and speeches.
Columns along the Jefferson Memorial. There is a basement area being updated in the next couple of years.
Part of the orchard of cherry trees that blossom every Spring along the Tidal Basin.

We headed back to our apartment on the Metro. Unfortunately there was a security issue at one of the stations so we disembarked and had a wonderful dinner. The issue was resolved by the time we were finished, and we finished our Metro journey.

5 Responses

    1. Saturday was indeed busy but we weren’t getting out too early in Washington. We were out later in the evening on Friday, but it was also dark on Saturday when we returned. We enjoyed staying in Arlington and riding the metro—not too expensive and it felt safe.

  3. Hi, I’m a little behind and just now catching up with you! Thanks for the memories of Washington DC. John and I visited in April of 2010 and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Even though every day I had to get up at 7am!! You saw a little more than we did, and I don’t think the MLK statue was there then.
    You take fantastic photos!