The Tourist

September 23 – October 13, 2014

We left Pennsylvania and headed for our Nation’s Capital. On the way we stopped for a few days close to Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Abington Maryland.

Our view during our short stay was of the Bush River but fishing didn’t happen out our door. The water was pretty churned up and rain seemed to be on the menu for most of our time. The weather didn’t deter this pilot from practicing his water landing and take-offs one morning.

 

 

 

We headed to College Park Maryland where we would spend part of our time close to Washington DC. The RV Park was close to a Metro station which was exactly what we wanted. They had a great place for Izzy to romp and run around. Oh yeah she could be queen of floppy catching there too!

 

Happy Camper

We spent time in the city to get immersed in monuments, museums, and remembering the fallen. I was glad to finally spend more than two hours every 10 years touring the sites. The weather was nice but most of the time overcast so the pictures simply do not display the beauty of all one sees while here.

Walking around you will come across many monuments. A few we captured in pictures include the World War II, Vietnam Memorial, Women’s Viet Nam Memorial, Washington’s, and Lincoln’s.

Abraham Lincoln Enshrined Forever

Reflections

Fountains for Memories

Remembering WWII

Much More Than Names

Honoring the Women

Soldiers Remembered

One statue that caught my eye was of John Paul Jones. I am glad they had a plaque with the statue as I couldn’t quite remember exactly what he did. He was a Scottish immigrant that accepted an appointment in the new Continental Navy following the start of the American Revolution. He captained several ships during the war and became a celebrated hero.

John Paul Jones

Both Steve and I had been to several of the Smithsonian museums but hadn’t gone into the first one which is the Smithsonian Castle. Inside this one you learn about the benefactor of the museums, James Smithson. He never visited the United States but his final resting place is within the Castle. They have a collection on display here including this tiny spider!

 

Smithsonian Castle

 

Giant Bird-eating Tarantula

We also spent some time in the Air and Space Museum. They have quite the collection of airplanes and propellers. The propeller display shows the history from 1903 to 1913, quite the change in a ten year span.

 Curtiss Motorcycle

Curtiss Headless Pusher 

The Start of Propellers

 Propelling Through Time 

 Throw Back - Way Back

Vintage 

Wright 1909 Military Flyer

Apollo Command Modular

Military history is found including the feeling like you are on a navy aircraft carrier. This brought memories for Steve as he had served in the Navy on such an aircraft. Would you believe they even had a picture of his ship!  

 



 

The Ship Steve Served On

We toured the Holocaust Memorial Museum which provides the visitor with an experience you will never forget. It takes you to a very dark place in the history of the twentieth century which many wish to forget but never will. It is one place to truly wonder and ask why.

 

Arlington National Cemetery is one of those places you should see once in your lifetime if you ever have the opportunity to be in this area. You are taken aback when you are walking around and looking at the grounds. I don’t think anybody that comes here doesn’t walk away with a lump in there throat and wondering what does it all mean.

 

Solemn

 

Civil War Unknown Soldiers Remembered 

Tradition and honor go hand-in-hand here and you are able to observe this up close with the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The vigil at the Tomb is kept 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year. Watching the changing of the guard is very solemn and peaceful.

Honoring

Inspecting

Ready to Change the Guard 

History is here in much more than honoring those that fought for our country or died serving our country. The Arlington House is maintained and reminds you of the history of this land. Arlington National Cemetery is comprised of land that once belonged to George Washington Parke Custis, grandson of Martha Washington and adopted son of George Washington. In 1857, Custis willed the 1,100-acre property to his only surviving daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis, who was married to Robert E. Lee. The Lee family vacated the estate in 1861 and on June 15, 1864 the War Department officially set aside approximately 200 acres to use as the cemetery.

Inside Arlington House

View from the Front of Arlington House

Taking a Break

George Washington had his own place in Mt. Vernon. I’ll tell you all about that in the next writing. By putting the history in two posts you’ll likely to remember everything for the quiz at the end! Just kidding!