Newseum

The Newseum was my favorite place to visit on the whole trip.  There were videos to watch, interactive learning such as the news cast, and the 4D movie.  I loved learning about Hurricane Katrina and also 9/11, I found out information I did not know before.  The 4D movie was an interesting way to learn about the history of news reporting.

                                                 Different news reports all headlining 9/11.

 Some of the rubble from 9/11.

Written during Hurrican Katrina.

Holocaust Museum

After visiting the Holocaust Museum I felt depressed after seeing what the people had to go through.  Listening to the mother talk about giving her children away for there safety really touched me.  I also enjoyed reading about the girl from my ID card, Chava.  She escaped from the Holocaust but her son was shot down running away from SS officers.  I feel grateful that we live in a country that will never endure that kind of suffering and torture.

Smithsonian

                       "There's no place like home" is one of the famous lines from the Wizard of Oz.

                                The British army invaded homes during the American Revolution.

                                     Dumbo is one of the most well known rides at Disney World.

                                The three horned rhino beetle is also known as Chalcosoma atlas.

             Inside of the Natural History Museum they had many skeletons of animals, such as this snake.

A skeleton of a Triceratop's head.

Capitol Building

Before the tour began we were able to meet our Congress man Chuck Fleischmann.  After taking the picture we watched a short film about U.S. history where we were then split up and taken to view the main dome  with the Apotheosis of George Washignton on it.  Later we were ushered around looking at statues of presidents and other famous Americans provided by different states.  After the tour ended we were allowed to go visit the Library of Congress which concluded our tour.  My favorite part was when our tour guide showed us an interesting piece of tile on the floor where he could go to another section or the room and we could hear his voice from the piece of tile.

                The dome of the Capitol Building has a mural called Apotheosis of George Washington.



Night Tour

On the Night tour we visited the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Vietnam Statues, and also the Korean War memorial.  I loved being able to see them during the night.  My favorite was the Vietnam Memorial, because it means so much to our country and it showed all of the soldiers that fought in that war.

 World War II Memorial

 Lincoln Memorial

 The Korean War Memorial

 Vietnam Statue

 Women of Vietnam Statue

 Vietnam Wall

Jefferson Memorial

Iwo Jima Monument

The Iwo Jima Monument is also known as the Marine Corps War Memorial, and is located right outside of the Arlington National Cemetary.  The monument is dedicated to all United States Marine Corps that have served defending our country since 1775.  At the base of the monument every major Marine Corps engagement is engraved.  I would have enjoyed spending more time there to really understand the importance of the memorial.

Arlington National Cemetary

In the Arlington National Cemetary more the three hundred thousand people are buried on its vast six hundred and twenty four acres.  The cemetary began during the civil war at the Arlington house where General Robert E. Lee and his wife Mary Anna Curtis Lee lived.  The cemetary is divided into seventy sections.  On top of a large hill overlooking Washington D.C. is the famous Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which is dedicated to all of the unknown men that have died in a war.  I would have loved to have been able to explore more of the of the cemetary, and that it hadn't been so cold.

 The Kennedy Eternal Flame is located at the gravesite of President Kennedy.

 The Changing of the Guard and presenting the Boyd Buchanan wreath. 

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is one of the most popular sites to visit in the Cemetary.

Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon was located off of the banks of the Potomac River and is also sixteen miles away from Washington D.C..  Outside of the house were the slave quarters, stables, a dock, a dung repository, a kitchen and also an area that was for Washington's blacksmiths that were used during the war to make all of his weapons.  Inside of the house was a dining area, a living area, Washington's office, multiple bedrooms, and a seperate stair case for the Washington's use only.  I loved walking through the farm area with all the animals, and also seeing what the slave quarters were like.

This was one of the buildings that was connected to the main house.

George Washington and most of his family members were burried in this tomb.

Mount Vernon is located off of the Potomac River.

Washington wished to be burried at Mount Vernon in his will.

Monticello

In 1770 Thomas Jefferson began construction on his mansion in Charolettesville, Virginia.  Monticello is placed on five thousand acres and is located on the summit of South West Peak.  When first entering the building there is a large room with maps, animal skins, animal heads, and a large calender that continues into the basement.  On the left side of the house lies a small room which could have been used as a class room, a library, a small greenhouse, Jefferson's cabinet, and also Jefferson's bedroom.  Right behind the foyer lies a large room which was his parlor.  Off to the right was a large dining room that could be sectioned off into a tea room; the dining room included a large fireplace and two maitnence elevators.  To the right of the dining room  were two bedrooms that were often used as guest bedrooms.  Out side of the house was a large deck, but underneath that deck were maids quarters, wine cellars, run cellars, and also a privy.

Jefferson's grave is located on the property near his house.

Jefferson's house stood on the summit South West Peak.

Jefferson had a large garden that overlooked the valley below.

A side view of Jefferson's house.