Post by Dr. John
Recently, we spent a few days in Washington, DC. Mother Hen attended a nursing conference and my youngest son and me, on the first day, visited the sites on the Mall. Morning started with the National Aquarium located on 14th St. and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House. Although our map suggested it occupied a large building, we found it to be a small area in the basement. As the nation's first aquarium, it can be described as antique. However, the tanks are well cared for and represent various ocean ecologies found off of the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and few fresh-water locations such as the Amazon basin.
The next stop, the Air & Space Museum, holds icons of aviation and rocketry ranging from the first Wright brother’s airplane, to a Lunar Lander and aft engines of a Saturn 5 rocket (above), to SpaceShipOne, the first ship designed for near-space tourist travel.
For lunch we made our way to the multi-vendor Food Court at the east end of Air & Space Museum but were surprised it to find it consumed by a large McDonalds.
We decide to have lunch at our next stop, the Smithsonian Institution Castle and passed by Arts and Industries currently undergoing renovations (above). A highlight of a childhood visit when it was stuffed with artifacts, the Castle is now mostly empty and its café disappointing. The Smithsonian Institution has grown to a complex of museums spread throughout the Mall and in the nearby region.
Following a brief meal, we watched a ten-minute video tour only to learn the best cafeteria on the Mall is in the American Indian Museum. Straight across the Mall from the Castle is the Natural History Museum, a wonderful museum full of exhibits including Ocean Hall, Dinosaur Hall, Life in the Ancient Seas, Early Life, and the Hall of Human Origins.
Located next to the Natural History Museum, the NGA Sculpture Garden features a central fountain (top photo) and numerous sculptures including Moondog by Tony Smith (above).
From there we walked to the Capitol and positioned ourselves for a good view - a large stage was being constructed in the central lawn for the nation's 235th birthday celebration. A balance of size and grace, the building is photogenic in any light.
Later in the day, we visited a few of the monuments including the Jefferson Memorial (closed for renovations), the Lincoln Memorial, and - in my view, the most moving - the Vietnam Memorial (above).
As evening fell, the Capitol continued to shine.
Urban Field Notes: Images were taken hand-held with a Nikon D50 using an 18-200mm AF-S VR II Nikkor telephoto zoom lens. We traveled with carry-on luggage so the monopod and tripod stayed home. If anyone has experience on how airport security views monopod or tripod carry-ons, please let me know.