Days (7 and) 8: So Much History! Part 2

And we’re back… let’s continue our story from yesterday, shall we?

This morning started with a trip to the National Archives where I got to see three of the greatest documents ever written: the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the US Constitution. You weren’t allowed to take pictures, so you’ll just have to imagine them. But I did take a few other pictures to sate your thirst.

After an emotional trip to the Archives, I hit up the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. Unfortunately, about 2/3 of the museum was under renovation so there wasn’t much to see there. I did get to see a few cool things, though.

Next, it was down to the US Capitol building. Another crushing blow here because that building, the Library of Congress, the US Supreme Court… all closed because of Covid. I was bummed. I got a few pics from the outside, but that’s it. I’ll just have to come back when we’re not in a pandemic and see the rest of the (nerdy) sights.

Whoosh!!! I was off to a whirlwind tour of the memorials. First up, the Korean War Memorial. I struck out again because it’s under renovation, too. I got a few pictures, but it was all through fences. I headed across the way and checked out the Vietnam War Memorial. It was interesting seeing the range of reactions from people there. Some reverently placed a flag and copied their names from the wall. Some took pictures and pointed at names and were all smiles. And some, not many, refused to do none of the above, stating that they had their memories and that was enough. These reactions were almost more poignant than the memorial itself.

The final stop was to the Lincoln Memorial. It was amazing. The speeches engraved on the walls were awesome. The sculpture itself was overwhelming. And the view outside was breathtaking.

So I was blessed enough to enjoy a little DC rain shower…

I think it was fair to say, that was enough sightseeing for the day. I was soaked to the bone and shivering, but I was completely happy.

So I grabbed dinner and headed back to my hotel to reflect on the first leg of my trip. It was indescribable being around so much history. I realized how nerdy I truly am on this trip. I mean, I cried when I saw the Constitution (100% true), and was deeply disappointed that I couldn’t go to the Library of Congress. The people here were so incredibly friendly. The traffic was truly terrifying… it wasn’t bad when I was walking around, but if I took an Uber? I wanted to cry. One out of five stars… would not recommend.

I will definitely be coming back here one day. I’d love to experience it with my niece and nephews to see how it filters through their little minds. I’d like to do some of the museums with other nerds in my circle. Plus, with so much closed for renovation or because of Covid, I could do another trip like this and not do the same stuff twice. But for now, it’s time to pack up the souvenirs, readjust the suitcases, and get prepared for the next leg of my little adventure… New York City!

Days (7 and) 8: So Much History! Part 2

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