Tag Archives: George Washington

Washington Monument

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Thomas Jefferson envisioned Washington to be “an American Paris” with light and airy streets and low and convenient buildings.

To help fulfill this vision, Congress passed the Height of Buildings Act in 1889 which originally limited the height of any type of building to 110 feet. Years later, Congress changed that restriction to 130 feet.

Consequently, there are no skyscrapers in our nation’s Capitol. Instead, this is a low and sprawling city where the Washington Monument is like a beacon, always present and visible from across the city. At 555 feet, its simple design and marble construction draw the eye and provide food for thought about how George Washington’s legacy continues to be felt across the city and nation today.

The cornerstone for this Egyptian obelisk was laid on July 4, 1848 and it was the world’s tallest building when it was completed in 1884. The monument was officially dedicated the day before Washington’s Birthday in 1885. Progress was slowed by financial difficulties and by the Civl War. In fact, the original design called for it to be 45 feet taller and to be ringed by thirty 100 foot tall obelisks. This ambitious design was scaled back to cut costs.

It seems we’ve always battled the budget.

We walked by but didn’t go inside. You can only get your timed tickets the day prior to your visit by reserving them online. All the same, it’s impressive from the ground both up close and from afar. Want to learn the complete history of the Washington Monument or find out how to reserve your ticket to the top? Click here and get the facts at the NPS page.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about another Washington Monument that we visited this trip.

A Long Weekend In D.C.

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When it comes to adventuring, it’s always nice to have a partner in crime who has a similar temperament and interests. It’s helpful when they can expertly navigate their way through your destination when your destination is a place like Washington D.C.

I spent a long weekend in D.C . with my friend Nichola who has more oomph than the Energizer Bunny combined with a deep knowledge of the best things to see in the city. We had a fantastic time touring the monuments, museums and neighborhoods.

One of my favorite stops was George Washington’s Mount Vernon. It has been open to the public since before the Civil War and has been beautifully preserved. This dining room is magnificent.

We toured most of the monuments.

Looked at airplanes.

Enjoyed art – some old and extraordinary.

Some that I didn’t understand so well but that is visually striking.

We had the trains mostly to ourselves. The city was mostly empty this weekend and we were never once in a crowded train.

I faced a fear.

Admired beautiful skies.

We even stopped to smell a lot of flowers.

And looked for art in every nook and cranny.

I have not downloaded my camera pictures. In fact, I’m not even completely unpacked and return to work today. Yet, I have a ton of stories to share and am trying to figure out where to start. Look for many pictures and stories in the weeks to come.

All of D.C. feels like a monument to our nation’s past and future. Simply walking around felt like a privilege and some places felt so profoundly meaningful that it was difficult to process the weight of what it represents. Staring into the slave quarters at Mount Vernon was one of those moments. Staring at a wall of stars that represents the 405,399 souls lost in World War II was another.

All I can say is stay tuned. I’ll try to keep the stories interesting and show you lots of images to give them life. It was an incredible weekend and I’m grateful to my friend for making it fun.

Mt. Rushmore

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Mt rushmore presidents.jpg

There are certain landmarks in this country that everyone should see at least once. One of those is Mt. Rushmore, a destination of my western adventure.

Mt. Rushmore is an easy drive from Rapid City, South Dakota where we stayed. There are several fun and interesting things to do in Rapid City and the vicinity including Mt. Rushmore, Badlands National Park and the Crazy Horse Memorial to name a few.

Mt. Rushmore is sort of a mess right now as a portion of the property has been torn up and is behind a chain link construction fence. You can only admire this magnificent monument from afar.

Mt rushmore constructionHonestly, it’s a bit smaller than I expected but impressive nonetheless. It’s incredible when you consider what can be accomplished with dynamite, jackhammers and chisels.

It took fourteen years for a few hundred miners, sculptors and rock climbers to create this granite masterpiece that features Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson,  Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt.

Mt rushmore ice creamPortions of the monument can be seen from the road below but it’s worth the $10 parking fee to get out of the car and look around. There’s a great visitors’ center with a gift shop and ice cream shop where you can taste Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream recipe.

So many of the employees are clearly immigrants and it’s great fun to hear all the accents working at and visiting this monument to some of our nation’s great presidents. For this country girl from Appalachian Ohio, the exposure to different languages, accents and people of nationalities across the world is a treat.

If you go, know that your National Parks Pass will not help you here as that pass only covers park admissions. Mt. Rushmore is free but there is a fee for parking not covered by the pass. Never heard of the National Parks Pass? My pal Johnna, who I was traveling with, has one (it’s actually called the America the Beautiful Pass) and it’s a great deal if you plan to make many park visits in a year. Click here to learn more.

Want to know more about visiting Mt. Rushmore? You’ll find everything you need at the National Parks website!