Finishing up DC



Cherubics showing the different industries in America from farmer to scientists
There were about 20 of these carved into the wall

 When we called Senator Ensign office to request tours of DC -- Scott the intern that helped us, offered a tour of the Library of Congress.  I thought sure, but I truly thought it would be our least favorite tour.  Quite the opposite.  This was my ultimate favorite tour and I hope some day I can go back.  The library of Congress was started by an act of Congress and was originally found in the Capitol.  At one point Congress appropriated funds of $25,000 for a collection of books from Jefferson.  Unfortunately, some of those were destroyed in the fire of 1812 when the British burned the capitol.  Eventually funds were appropriated to build the library which was finished early and under budget.  Overall the library is an amazing architectural masterpiece.  They hired artists from the Chicago World Fair who were willing to come in and do their work only with a promise to be paid what was available in the budget once the project was finished.  I could have spent an entire day here.  This tour was at 8:00 AM and our capitol tour was at 11:00 we thought we would have a couple hours in between, but actually we were rushing to the Capitol.



These are the seasons with quotes underneath and no author to the quotes -- this was to inspire the reader to research the quote and learn more about the author

 


This is Minerva but in Greek mythology she is Athena, Sydnee shared that with me as the tour guide was sharing why she is painted here.  He was impressed she knew.



Capitol Building,  This is another great building in DC

Apotheosis of Washington (Washington rising to the heavens)  in the main dome of the Capitol

Ronald Reagan  the base of the statue has crushed stone from the Berlin wall  (Reagan just replaced another statue in the capitol for California.  Each state has two statues of people representing their state)





Jaqua





Just having fun at the Natural History Museum. 

Another Amazing Memorial -- This is definently worth the walk

Iwo Jima Memorial We were there as the Marines were raising the flag.  It was neat to watch

Another Great Phrase

Jefferson is facing the back of the White House, with not a tree in the view of the White House.  There are thousands of trees lining this corridor.  No one told us this, but we figured that Jefferson being the author of the Constitution and Declaration is facing the White House so that the Presidents can look out the window toward Jefferson to recognize and use the Constitution to lead this Country

Please NO MORE FAMILY PICTURES

Loryn was the "question asker" and my answers never seemed to satisfy her  question or she just always had another question after she asked the first 6.  Space was perplexing to her and as we would read the explanations surrounding the exhibits it only brought rise to more questions.  So one day in the Air and Space Museum we were exploring a hands on exhibit and this tire rotation showed how the shuttle moves on centrifical force in space.  As the tire spun and Loryn turned it from side to side she spun on the axis (chair) she was on.  This made more sense to Loryn than anything she read.

One last ride down the escalator to the Metro -- and yes we loved the Metro, but this last Metro ride gave us the experience of a lifetime!?!?  We truly are grateful for this experience and the faith and hope it taught us.  We are just as thankful for our tour of Washington DC and the spectacular country we live in and what we learned.