Capitol Building and Supreme Court in DC
Tours of the US Capitol are a walk through the halls of history. Think of standing where Abraham Lincoln had his desk as a senator, or where many presidents have given the State of the [...]
Smithsonian African American Museum
Opened in September 2016, this is the newest Smithsonian museum, one of nineteen. It is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture, telling the American story through [...]
Arlington Cemetery
Arlington House, or the Robert E. Lee Memorial, is situated in Arlington Cemetery. Originally, it was the Custis-Lee mansion, owned by George Washington's step-grandson, whose daughter married Robert E. Lee. For 30 years it [...]
Holocaust Museum in DC
The Holocaust Museum is intense, horrifying, and imperative to see. My words can't do it justice. To quote Martin Neimöller, Lutheran Minister and early Nazi supporter who was later imprisoned for opposing Hitler's regime, "First [...]
Mount Vernon, VA
After the Revolutionary War, General George Washington hoped to live as a wealthy gentleman farmer in Virginia. But his sense of duty to his country was so great that instead he went on to serve his [...]
Ford’s Theater and Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated five days after the Confederate Army surrendered. His assassin, John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, was an actor in the play he was attending. Lincoln had released his bodyguard until [...]
White House
Our tour of the White House was a delight, even if it took 1 1/2 hours to make it through all the security screening. Throughout the White House, there are 62 trees and over 70,000 [...]
Washington Monument in DC
Plans for the Washington Monument began before Washington was even elected president. Because he was commander-in-chief of the American Army during the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress voted in 1783 to erect a statue of [...]
National Christmas Tree Lighting in DC
We were delighted and surprised to be invited to the National Christmas Tree lighting in DC, which is not only about the tree, but 90 minutes of music from top performers, a speech from President [...]
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in DC
The Air & Space Museum (a.k.a. Mike's Candyland) captivated Captain Raney for hours. Mike is checking out the Apollo Lunar module that landed on the moon July 14, 1969...yup, that long ago. My favorite was [...]
WWII Memorial in DC
This newly opened WWII memorial was a sight to behold (pictured here with the Washington Monument in the background). Thanks to all the vets for your service, I know my grandfather would have been impressed [...]
Smithsonian delights in DC
Ruby slippers (size 5), Mohammed Ali's boxing gloves, and the 45 carat Hope Diamond (originally 112 carats prior to cut & polish). We also saw Abe Lincoln's hat, the inaugural gowns of the First Ladies, [...]