The J & L Roadshow

Friday, March 10, 2017

Washington DC-The White House

Today we toured the White House. Our tour was arranged thanks to an aide named Christina in Congressman Doggett's office. It was the first day of White House tours under the Trump administration. Our tour began at 11:30. President Trump came out and surprised the first tour group of the day. But we didn't see him.

We entered through the East Wing on the ground level. There were portraits on display and a China cabinet. We could also peek outdoors.

On this level we saw the Library which is used for teas, meetings and press interviews.

Next was the Vermeil Room where portraits of more recent first ladies are on display.

Last room on this level was the China Room. Here is a permanent display of tableware and a beautiful portrait of Grace Coolidge.

Then we walked upstairs. First was the East Room used for state dinners, receptions. concerts and weddings. Lincoln and JFK laid in state here.

Next stop is the Green Room. This is a parlor. The silver coffee urn belonged to John and Abigail Adams. The French candlesticks belonged to James and Dolley Madison. This is the view from this room.

This is the Blue Room used for receptions. James Monroe furnished this room. Grover Cleveland was the only president to get married in the White House and it happened in this room in 1886.

The Red Room is a parlor where First Ladies meet guests. This is the view from this room.

Then we came to the State Dining Room. They can seat up to 140 people at round tables in this room.

Then we were in the hall or entry at the front of the building.
Here was my favorite picture of JFK.

We then exited the front door of the White House.

Here's a view from outside the fence.

Sorry this got long but I loved this tour.

Washington DC-Day Two

US Capitol

The ceiling of the rotunda.

Library of Congress

Air and Space Museum

That's a model of the first dog to sail to Antarctica. He's my hero. I want to sail to Antarctica so very badly!

National Archives

Saw the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. No pictures allowed. A staff member told us that they stopped picture taking in 2010. It has helped preserve the life of the documents. One flash from a camera or phone was equal to the document sitting out in direct sunlight for 24 hours.

Pentagon Memorial

A view of the memorial looking away from the Pentagon.

A view looking towards the Pentagon. There was a bench for each person who perished in the attack. Around the perimeter was a wall with date plaques. Each plaque represented the birth year of victims in that row. The oldest was 1930 and the youngest was 1998.

Each bench has the victim's name on the edge and if they were at the Pentagon that day, the bench faces the building.

If they were on the plane, the bench faces the direction the plane was coming.

If there were family members, each member has a bench in the row signifying his/her birth year but also family names are listed in the water pool beneath the bench.

We have now been to all 3 memorials for 9/11. Each one is beautiful but I especially like this one.

More to come from our last day in DC.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Washington DC-Day One

We were in DC for 3 very busy days. Here are the places we visited on day one and the highlights of what we saw.

African Art Museum

A beautiful pool on center atrium, a necklace and amulet case by a Somali artist, a helmet mask from Nigeria, and a beautiful piece of artwork called Contact made from cowhide from Swaziland.

A doll from South Africa and a woman's head gear used to wear very heavy earrings.

American History Museum

The flag outside the Star Spangled Banner exhibit.

Jackie Kennedys State Dinner dress on the left. Michelle Obama Inaugural gown from 2009.

Picture of George Washington, his uniform and the top hat Lincoln wore the night he went to Fords Theater.

Updated presidential display.

Photo and the lunch counter from Woolworth in Greensboro, site of the student sit in.

Dorothy's ruby slippers

Martha Washington's China, Lincoln China, and a display of the presidential china.

Barbie inventor, Bert and Ernie, a fun Price is Right game where you try to price items from different eras, Chairs from All in the FamIly, Lego Statue of Liberty, Ali's gloves from 1974.