First Trip Home and Drive Back to D.C.

September 7th
I traveled back to Minnesota for the first time in two and a half months.  It was a welcome relief from the heat since it was 99 degrees when I left D.C.  I do miss the great State of Minnesota!  While I was back, I attend a Hopkins Raspberry Festival meeting, caught up with some of my friends and family as well as many co-workers.  Miss you all! 

One of the events that happened while I was in D.C. that I missed more than any other was the birth of my niece Jennifer's babygirl - Kaitlynn Rose.  Isn't she cute.....

September 18th
I began the drive back to D.C. heading South to Ottumwa, Iowa to see my Aunt Bernice and cousins.  As I drove to my cousin Terry's house in Eldon, IA, I saw the sign for the American Gothic House.  I always knew that masterpiece by Grant Wood was painted in Iowa but I had no idea where.  Since I was so close to the actual place where the home still stands,  I had to see the house and take a picture or two....

American Gothic by Grant Wood

September 19th
I had breakfast with my cousin and his wife and I spent several hours with my Aunt Bernice - miss her already.  I left Ottumwa, drove through Illinois and headed toward Indianapolis. 

September 20th
I drove into downtown Indianapolis to the Federal Courthouse where I met a friend, Greg Barnes, who used to work at the Minneapolis Courthouse.  It was wonderful to see Greg again and spend a few hours with him and other court employees.  We joined a tour of the 105 year old courthouse, given by a very pleasant and knowledgeable historian.   It is truly difficult to put into words the beauty and detail taken during the construction of this magnificent courthouse.  The two courtrooms in the oldest section of the courthouse have stunning murals and incredible stained glass windows with paintings behind each bench representing justice.  There is blue and gold marble in one courtroom, and pink and yellow in the other courtroom, I wish I had pictures to share because they were truly stunning, but they do not allow cameras in the courthouse.   So I could only take pictures of the outside of the courthouse.

Greg and I tried to enter into the Indiana World War Memorial because Lori recommended that I see the dome inside this monument.  However, it was closed!  Next time.......  I did walk around the Soldiers and Sailors monument, which was built in 1902.  It was pretty cool.

I left Indianapolis in the afternoon and headed East.  There was not a lot to see before Columbus, Ohio, but after that the hills and mountains engulfed the road and made my drive much more enjoyable.  I never would have imagined the countryside in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland would be so beautiful.  Some of the leaves were changing in a small portion of Maryland, which only makes me want to drive back to this area when more of the leaves have turned.  I would have taken pictures if they had areas to pullover, but they did not have such areas.  I have been told that Autumn is a wonderful time on the East Coast and I hope to capture the beauty of it while I am here.  I arrived back in D.C. in the afternoon on the 21st and I was happy to be "home."

Labor Day Weekend

September 4, 2010

It is Labor Day Weekend and the only plans I have are within walking distance of my apartment.  There is a lot within walking distance of where I live!   I heard the National Building Museum is beautiful inside but there is not a lot within the building; however, the gift shop is the best of all gift shops!  Both are true statements.  The building itself was built in 1887 and housed the US Pension Bureau.  The Great Hall, with its stunning columns, has held several Presidential Inaugural Balls over the past 100 years including the last three presidents.  The National Building Museum was established in 1980 by an act of Congress recognizing achievements in architecture, design, engineering, planning and construction.  One of the exhibits I wanted to see was that of Andrea Palladio.  He was a 16th century Italian Renaissance architect and his influence can be seen throughout the United States.  Thomas Jefferson's anonymous design for the White House (not selected) was based on one of Palladio's designs.  He wrote four books that according to the exhibit "...had more influence on the built world than any architectural treatise before or since."  The books were at the exhibit - how cool is that?  

I also went to the Old Post Office, which has the second best view in the city.  The Washington Memorial is the only other building taller than the Old Post Office.  The best part is that there are no lines at the Old Post Office.  Again, this a building with one or two attractions so there are not a lot of crowds.  Perfect for Labor Day Weekend!  The Post Office was originally built in 1899, it was the first government building to have its own electric power plant.  The  clock tower "houses the official United States Bells of Congress, a bicentennial gift from England celebrating the end of the Revolutionary War" and are rung every Thursday evening.    The best part is the view from the top of the tower.  Here are some of the pictures I took from up there:

CapitolWashington CathedralLincoln MemorialWashington Memorial

WWII Memorial (my personal favorite)

Baltimore I

On Friday, August 27, Debby and I took the Marc train to Baltimore.  Our first stop was to Westminster Hall at the University of Maryland's Medical School and Law Center, which is where Edgar Allan Poe's grave is located.  The hall used to be Westminster Presbyterian Church, but is now used for special occasions and is surrounded by the Westminster Cemetery.   There are graves dating back to the late 1700's along with several crypts and catacombs under the hall. 

We decided to walk to Poe's house/museum.  About five blocks into the walk we realized we were in the middle of  the "projects," but only about three blocks from the museum.  We ended up walking right past the museum because the projects were built right up to it.  We asked the mailman where the museum was located and when we got back down to the end of the block, there was a cop outside of the museum.  Turns out, it does not open until Noon and the "Lieutenant" was pulling an extra shift for some OT.  They have an officer outside the museum during open hours so people will feel comfortable stopping there.  I am not kidding when I tell you it is in the projects.  We talked football with the Lieutenant until the museum opened.  Once we entered into the museum, they locked the door.  When you leave they lock the door when you enter they lock the door.  Get the picture?   The house is very small.  The room Poe used is in the attic and  most people I know would not be able to stand up straight in that room.   

Next stop was Inner Harbor, via cab.   Edgar Allan Poe was all Debby, I wanted to see the ships!  The USS Constellation was launched in 1854 is was the last all-sail warship built by the U.S. Navy and was in service during the Civil War.  It is the only ship to be active during the Civil War and still be afloat.  The captain's quarters was much larger than I would have guessed, and it had two bathrooms!  However, the infirmary had the best looking beds that hung from the ceiling. 

Next was the Lightship 116 Chesapeake.  Commissioned in 1930, it was the most stable and efficient in use with the US Lighthouse Service.  This ship had two 5,000-pound anchors and twice it had to ride out hurricanes.  The chain broke to the anchor forcing the crew to drop the second anchor and head into the wind for hours to stay on their assigned station.  They also had dogs on the Chesapeake and they were listed by name and years of service - very cool!    (Sorry Kim, my camera battery died or I would have taken a picture for you.)

Lastly, we id not toured the submarine USS Torsk.  This sub was in service from 1944-1968 and was used during WW II from Pearl Harbor to Japan and was credited for sinking three Japanese ships.  There were more knobs, levers and gadgets on this sub than I have ever seen in my life.  I am not sure how the men operated in such small areas let  alone launch missiles.  In the end this sub was used for training before it was decommissioned in 1968.

Fell's Point was our final stop while in the Baltimore.  We found this great gallery by Robert McClintock and a few cute shops, then we went to the bar "The Horse You Came In On."  Just so happens to be the last place Edgar Allan Poe was seen alive.  We wrapped up the day eating Maryland crab.  First time I have ever had fresh crab, it was very good. 

There is a lot more to Baltimore that I did not see, so I know I will be going back.