Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (National Capital Columns)

National Capitol Columns

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (White House)

After going through layers of security by Secret Service, including checking a metal detector, x-ray machine, a machine that smells for explosives, and chemical and biological weapons, and a handheld wand that scans for electronic devices, we were finally allowed to enter the White House. President Trump was not home. He was in France for D-Day ceremonies.

Library Room

Vermeil Room 

East Room 

Green Room 

South Lawn 

Blue Room 

Red Room 

State Dining Room 

Entrance Hall 

North Lawn 

Lafayette Square 

Protesters 

The National Christmas Tree 

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (White House Visitor Center)

You have to plan four months ahead to have a chance at visiting the White House. You must provide lots of information and some documentation for them to do a background and security check before you are approved and scheduled. Our tour time was on Wednesday, June 5th, at 11:30 a.m. We stopped in at the White House Visitor Center to look around there first. They have a really nice film to watch about the White House.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (American History Museum)

First, a quick picnic lunch of crackers and cheese on the National Mall. 

And next, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

I think this was our favorite exhibit.

Early fire engine. 

Looking out one of the windows while at the museum. 

The gunboat, U.S.S. Philadelphia.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Natural History Museum)

Smithsonian National Natural History Museum

You got gum gum dum dum? 

Hope Diamond 

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Walking around D.C.)

We took a Lyft to the Ford Theater, where President Lincoln was shot. The line was too long for it and the house he died in, so we walked toward the Natural History Museum.

Ford Theater 

Long line. 

House across from the theater where President Lincoln was taken after he was shot. 

F.B.I. building 

Department of Justice building 

National Archives building 

We will go to the National Archives building another day to see our nation's founding documents.

Finally, the Natural History Museum. 

And across the National Mall is the Smithsonian Castle.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Jamestown Settlement)

On Saturday, we took advantage of very nice weather, and drove back south of Washington D.C. to Jamestown Settlement. We had already been to the original Historic Jamestowne site, but didn't have time that day to see the recreation of Jamestown Settlement.

Destiny with a skunk (fur). 

This is a representation of the types of homes that the local native Indians would have had around the time of the founding of Jamestown in 1608. 

She is grinding corn into cornmeal to make cornbread. 

I think there is an Indian behind you. 

Notice the ventilation opening to allow for air flow. 

Three ships came from England to establish a settlement in Virginia. This was the biggest, the Susan Constant. 

Picture taken from the deck of the Susan Constant of the second and smaller ship, the Godspeed. 

And finally, the third and smallest ship, the Discovery. 

Walk up to the fort of the Jamestown Settlement. 

Inside the fort at the Jamestown Settlement.  

It wasn't easy for the first settlers. They had to bring everything they needed in the ships across the Atlantic Ocean. When they arrived, they had no buildings for shelter, and had no idea what to expect, or what the weather was like throughout the year.

They encountered native Indians. The two groups of people had completely different cultures and languages, which sometimes caused tension, and even fighting.

The first winter was the worst, as the settlers supplies ran low, and the temperatures became more severe than they were prepared for. Many settlers died.

Teach Carl travels to Washington D.C. (National Mall and National Zoo)

On our second full day in Washington D.C., we drove to the National Zoo, paid $25 for parking, and took the Metro to Union Station. Then we took the Circulator around the National Mall to see all the monuments and memorials.

It was a very long escalator ride to catch the Metro.

Washington Monument (closed) 

Jefferson Memorial 

View from the Jefferson Memorial. 

Inside the Jefferson Memorial. 

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool 

Lincoln Memorial 

World War II Memorial - Atlantic 

View across to the World War II Memorial - Pacific 

View as passing by the United States Capitol building. 

Pandas at the National Zoo.

After we saw the National Mall, we went back to the National Zoo to see the Pandas and other animals, as well as see a show about dinosaurs. Then we drove back to the bed and breakfast.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum)

We made to Washington D.C., and on our first day, we took the Metro to Union Station, where we spent an hour trying to find where we were supposed to catch the D.C. Circulator bus to take us to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Lunar lander model, and hanging above it, the actual 'Spirit of St. Louis' airplane, which was the first airplane that flew nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. 

Model of the Hubble Telescope. 

A model of a space shuttle main engine. 

A small model of the International Space Station. 

X-15 

Replica of the Wright brothers' airplane, the 'Wright Flyer'. 

Bell X-1 

SpaceShipOne 

Spirit of St. Louis 

Models of Voyager 1 and 2. 

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter 

Rutan Model 76 Voyager, that flew around the world nonstop. 

U.S.S. Enterprise, from the television show, 'Star Trek'.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Historic Jamestowne and Yorktown)

The second and third stops, after visiting Williamsburg, Virginia, were Historic Jamestowne, Virginia, and Yorktown, Virginia. All three of the colonial towns are relatively near each other, and played very important rolls in American history.

We first saw Historic Jamestowne, where we saw the original site for the town and archaeologist still digging to uncover artifacts.

Then we took a trolley bus through Yorktown, but did not stop to see anything, because we had run out of time, and had to continue our drive to Washington D.C.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Williamsburg)

On day three, before we went to Washington D.C., one of the places we visited was Williamsburg, Virginia. This is a very historical old town of the United States. There were so many things to see, do, and experience. But this was only one of three stops that day.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C. (Monticello)

Our first stop on the way to Washington D.C. was at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson. We had passes for a guided tour to see all of the home and grounds, although they did not permit pictures inside the home except in the dome room. This home is pictured on the back of the United States nickel coin. Please go to the links to read more about Thomas Jefferson. It is very fascinating to learn about this very important man in America's history.

Teacher Carl travels to Washington D.C.

It was wonderful weather for our entire vacation. We drove across Tennessee on the first day. We began to enter the mountain range toward the eastern part of Tennessee. We stayed in a hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee the first night, and continued the second day by entering Virginia. The mountain and valley views got more spectacular.