DC at Night

On so many of my visits to DC, I've been with younger family members.   Since this was a visit just with friends, we visited the monuments at night.   Sooo glad we did.... 

Washington Monument at Dusk 

Lincoln Memorial.... a bit later....

Inside the Lincoln Memorial at Night.... EXTRA Impressive.... 

 

White House Christmas

 Several friends and I visited DC with the express purpose of seeing the White House decorated for Christmas.... it did not disappoint!   There was a controversy that year over the red trees in one of the major hallways as selected by Melania Trump.... I am not a fan of the Trumps, to put it mildly, but the decorations were stunning.   I found the controversy a bit absurd.... 

National Building Museum

This brick structure was erected between 1882 and 1887 as the U. S. Pension Bureau and as a memorial to Union soldiers.  The architect was General Meigs (Civil War) who was also Quartermaster General of the U. S. Army under President Lincoln.  He wanted a building that promoted a healthy work environment so he designed an air flor plan that allowed fresh air to enter through a gap in the bricks beneath each window.

The 3 missing bricks under each window are visible in this photo. 

In the photos below you can see the 75 foot high columns.  Each one contains over 70,000 bricks and they are covered in plaster and painted to look like marble.  This Great Hall has hosted many Inaugural Balls, and while we were there you can see the Craft Fair going on in one of the photos below. 

Renwick Gallery

The gallery is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museums and it focuses on American crafts and decorative works.  Only a block from the White House, it was formerly the Corcoran Gallery of Art, and is listed as a National Historic Landmark.  Referred to as the "American Louvre" by some, it was built in 1859.

This creation of Ginny Ruffner and Grant Kirkpatrick required guests to grab an ipad and hold it over what appeared to be a tree stump.  Once engaged a 3D image of a plant would "grow" …. Each stump in the room held a different image. 

Michael Sherrill's pottery masterpieces.....

A Reassembled Temple

Brought from Burning Man, this Temple is not permanent, and when removed it will be burned.... 

What appeared to be a quilt, was actually images from film placed together to look that way..... 

Household objects artfully joined to create the sailfish below...… so clever! 

Chihuly chandelier in the museum......

Smithsonian Portrait Gallery

 Perhaps because of its location which is NOT right on the DC Mall.... we have never visited the Portrait Gallery before.  The building itself is worth a visit, but the contents were amazing as well.   As are the rest of the museums of the Smithsonian.... they are free.   It is only a few blocks away from the mall area... well worth the extra steps.

Atrium.... perfect respite from a hot day outside.... the little pools of water on the floor are perfect for little ones.....

The restoration of the building opened up the ceiling with massive skylights.....

Controversial Portrait of Michelle Obama

Clinton Portrait - Interesting Artistic Technique... See Below......

I read at a later date that this portrait was only placed in the museum AFTER Clinton rejected the original more formal portrait that was done of him. 

Barack Obama
One of the joys of viewing this portrait is to watch the lines of people waiting to take their photographs WITH the portrait.

Folded Paper - Silhouettes

Arrangement of Numbers Creates the Portrait

Part of an Exhibit of Portraits - All from 1968

Great Variety of Exhibits - This One is CANES

If Michelle Obama's portrait were done more in this style, I would imagine it would be more popular... Most people think that it does not flatter her at all. 

Holocaust Memorial Museum




The Holocaust Memorial Museum has timed entry passes that are available online.  Currently the cost is $1 per ticket and it allows you to enter the main exhibit which starts on the top floor and winds down 3 floors to the main floor.   It traces the systematic persecution and annihilation of European Jews by Nazis and their collaborators from 1933 through 1945.  Because of the nature of the exhibits, it is a very somber experience and I took few photos.  This was my second visit to the Museum.... this time with my two 10 year old grandchildren who had been reading books about the time period.  They were curious visitors who read and listened throughout the museum.  If you do not arrange to see the main exhibit ahead of time there is an exhibit on the main floor called "Daniel's Story" which is available to everyone and takes the story of the time to a level more appropriate for younger children. 

Jolie and Abby Listening to Background Information