Sept 19th, Washington DC

September 19

A beautiful day to tour Washington DC.  We took the hop on and off trolley and toured many sites.
The tour proved to be the easiest way to get around town.  Thank goodness we had our walking shoes on, there were so many wonderful sites to see and just not enough time in the day to visit all of the attractions. 

White House South Lawn

 

The White House was designed by James Hoban, an Irish-born architect who won a competition organized by
President George Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson in 1792.  It was constructed from 1792-1800.
Its interior was rebuilt after being burned by British soldiers during the War of 1812.  It has been the home of every president of the United States since John Adams.

 

National Archives Building

 

 

 The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is an independent agency of the United States government charged with preserving and documenting government and historical records.  It holds the original copies of the three main formative documents of the United States and its government:  The Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.  It also hosts a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I.  These are displayed to the public in the main chamber of the National Archives, which is called the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.  We viewed these documents and they had a special showing of the seldom seen 5th page of The Constitution signed by George Washington.

 

 

 

 

Study of the Past...Ken's favorite subject, history. 

 

 

 

 

The United State Capitol is the most widely recognized symbol of democratic government in the world.  It has
housed Congress since 1800.  The Rotunda was closed today because of a medal ceremony, but we were able
to tour the House of Representatives chamber while it was in session.

Capitol Building

 

 

 

Chief Washakie was a renowned warrior who led a band of Shoshones to the council meeting of the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1851. His efforts for peace, and his commitment to his people's welfare made him one of the most respected leaders in Native American history. Upon his death in 1900, he became the only known Native American to be given a full military funeral.

 

 

Replica of the Statue of Freedom which is atop the Capitol Building.  During the Civil War, on December 2, 1863, the

Statue of Freedom, sculpted by American artist Thomas Crawford, was placed at the top of the dome, 287 feet above

 the East Plaza.

 

 

 Freedom is a bronze statue atop the Capitol Building and she stands 19 feet 6 inches tall

and weighs approximately 15,000 pounds.