Capitol Architectural Elements - The Other Ones

The Capitol Building is probably one of the most photographed in Washington. But there are some very interesting architectural elements on the grounds that do not get the same amount of attention, and in their own right are quite interesting. With a beautiful blue sky and scattered clouds behind them, it was the perfect day to highlight some of the features. A Civil War memorial for marines and sailors sits unexpectedly in the drive as you approach the building on the west side. The light fixtures and iron fence work is intricate. I still don't know what those round grey buildings flanking either side are - some say it held gunpowder - but there are cameras mounted on top. The red brick water fountain was recently renovated. The little girl with the two balls on the top of her hat created an interesting fashion statement! The bus stop seating arrangement is repeated in several spots on the campus, and the lighting around and on the building is lovely. We take this walk all the time and appreciate the place and what it represents. It's a far cry from the streets of Milwaukee, and definitely more interesting. I never seen to tire of the views. 

The Navy Memorial

Along Pennsylvania Avenue across from the Archives is the Navy Memorial. It's not as obvious as some of the others, but a lot of folks do stop by and seem to be enchanted by the low key nature of it all. It is really a very pleasant area to sit, relax, and exjoy the crowds as they pass by. My mother was in the Navy during WWII, so it has some meaning. But the Women in the Military Exhibit is at Arlington. We once joined some friends for dinner at a restaurant located right next to this place. The view was wonderful, but the food was awful. Right up the street is the Spy Museum and the Portrait Gallery. And all along the Avenue are statues related to Civil War Generals and war time events. When we visited another country awhile back, we were struck by the fact that the memorials and statues were focused on poets and storytellers rather than warriors and statesmen. Interesting....

Scenes from WWII

Capturing some sort of action

The "P" coat - I had one in college

 

The ship mast

This place better have a water feature

First Ladies Water Garden

The US Botanic Garden is one of our favorite places to walk through either going to or coming home from the Mall. A special feature is the First Ladies Water Garden, which always attracts a variety of customers. It's a great place to sit, relax, and have lunch. The water always attracts the youngsters who are typically enamored by anything with a fountain or pool. One direction faces the American Indian Museum and the other faces the Capitol Building. It's not usually this warm in April. But regardless of the temperature, there are a constant stream of visitors. The gardens change with the season, and around here, just about anything grows. Folks get a lot of great landscaping ideas here, and all the foliage has information about what it is in case you'd like it in your own garden. So even if you don't have a yard or garden, there is always a place to stop and enjoy one - and it's right here in our neighborhood back yard.

Who can resist such an inviting landscape?



The First Ladies water garden



The kids love it

Maybe more than the grown ups?

Smithsonian Castle

As we walk along the Mall, the museums are generally cluttered with visitors. But one item stands out from the rest because of its sheer size and construction- and doesn't usually have the traffic the other places do. It's the Smithsonian Castle and gardens. The landscape changes with the seasons, and the Christmas wreaths have been hung on all the old lamp posts. There are exhibits inside, but we have most often stopped in during a hot summer day, or after a walk to get a soda and sit for awhile. One year there were Olympic medals from the winter games that were on display. If it weren't for Mr. Smithson, things would not be the same on this patch of land. It is amazing that so much green space has been maintained for everyone to walk, play, or whatever for a very reasonable price- free.

Not a lot of "castles" in the US

The Smithsonian Gardens and Fountain

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden - Ice Skating

For most of the summer, one can go to the Sculpture Garden and have a snack, sit on the lawn, listen to jazz, watch the water works, enjoy the sculpture, the sights and the sounds. A couple weeks ago, all the water fountains in the city by the monuments and art museums were turned off for the winter. However, the beautiful fountain in the National Gallery of Art took on another look for the fall/winter season. The shooting water cascades were silenced to make way for the very slippery ice skating rink. Once it is open, it is packed with newbies, tried-it-a-couple-timers, and really good skaters that show everyone else up. I vaguely remember trying ice skating in Connecticut on a real frozen pond- with TWO blades on each skate- when I was less than 6 years old. I guess I was never much for ice skating then and when we moved to Florida- never. Living in Wisconsin did not make a difference either. I gradually began to really dislike the ice and the snow and the cold. But for those who like it, and feel the urge to pretend you're a lot younger than you really are, the option is available just about anywhere these days. From a spectators perspective, it doesn't matter- just as long as it is warm enough to enjoy the show.

More spectators than skaters

Wonder what she's thinking?

The Archives as a back drop

During the summer, facing the National Gallery of Art

US Botanic Garden Holiday

The preparations for Christmas are underway. Each week, the scene changes at the US Botanic Garden as the evergreens are placed in huge pots, the tracks and trains are assembled in the international landscape, and the Capitol Hill Village is placed under the huge tree in the foyer. It's a nice time to visit because the crowds are thin and you can actually see things. We wandered through the interior building to check a particular flower in the garden area, and along the way the decorations could not be missed. In spite of the fact that they are not completely finished, one can get the idea about what to expect and enjoy the views- and all the people enjoying the views - over the next several weeks. Both Milwaukee and Chicago have Botanic Gardens and "Domes," but it just isn't the same. But, I have to say that the streets along Michigan Avenue and the memories of Christmas there are just like in the movies. But, I could not just walk over whenever I wanted, just two blocks. And that makes all the difference.

The trains & greens are in place

The Capitol Hill Village is typically placed beneath the tree

The monuments are all made of plant materials

The Bartholdi Fountain- recently reopened across the street

The Library of Congress- a nice place to be associated with!

A handful of visitors in the cactus section

The real reason we stopped by

The "other" stuff to see

A view of the Capitol

The wreaths have been added this week

Two Follow Ups

First: Last week the sidewalk along First Street was being replaced with Capitol Hill red brick. The estimated time posted along the street to complete the work was one week. I knew before they started that it would take a lot longer than that- and it did. We are now in to the end of week 2, and I'm not convinced it will be done by tomorrow either. But, once it is done, it will be level and nice. It's just that nothing ever is on time around here- and we need the space for street parking. 

Second: Sometime within the last few days I had an appointment in the Adams Building of the Library of Congress, and the person I was meeting with had a beautiful office with a window that overlooked the Jefferson Building, the Supreme Court, and the Madison Building. This person moved in to a temporary space for renovation, but the view remains the same. I envy anyone who has a window - whether it has a view or not. This week, we went to visit a colleague who recently relocated to the Jefferson Building. Her window view is not overlooking an outside street- but rather- overlooks a courtyard with a fountain and garden that faces the center of the building. It's more like a hidden treasure. But I understand that the rats like it in the Spring- and that might be something interesting to observe. I, on the other hand, am in the biggest, most boring building with a window that is useless, has no view, and no light. The rats I observe are of a different nature, and they are there all year 'round.

Still not done

A great window in an 1897 or so building

 

Workman and rats to observe- but a great view!

National Gallery of Art

I am in search of a book about Washington DC for a set of four year old twins that live next door to my parents in Florida. The twins Dad helps my parents, and every once in a while I like to send them something as a small token of my appreciation. There are a lot of shops inside the many museums along the Mall, with a DC flair. So we took a walk over to the National Gallery of Art- East Building. The outside facade is having some exterior stone repair and there is scaffolding all around the building. Once inside, we made our way downstairs, then through the tunnel of light that reminds me of Space Mountain in Disney World, and in to the gift shop area. This place is always busy, and there is a great cafeteria and coffee shop to relax in and take a load off. There were a couple items I liked in the gift shop, but not quite what I was looking for. While there, we decided to check out the Small French Painting Exhibit with Impressionist paintings, which are my favorite. As usual, we were hot because it is now colder outside than inside, we were over dressed, and we could not wait to head out. But the stuff that catches our attention is typically not the art- but the people looking at the art. Even though I did not find what I was looking for, it was worth the trip.

Feels like Space Mountain

A really nice exhibit

More interesting than the art?

The other side was even more interesting

Not quite what I was looking for- I'm planning to personalize it!

Across the street to the West Building- the waterfall  is above
Space Mountain below. A tunnel connects the two buildings.

Capitol Fall

This weekend was really nice for walking about the neighborhood. The number of tourists is dramatically less, and on the weekends, it is so very quiet compared to the congressional activity during the work week. The skies are blue, there is a slight chill in the air, and the sun is bright. These are my favorite conditions- although I do prefer the heat. Every day the landscape changes just a little more as we inch our way toward the winter months. I really like the four seasons, and am happy to have escaped the wrath of winter in Wisconsin. But to be fair, fall is beautiful in any state. The difference is how long each season lasts in each state. I am thrilled it is no longer winter.

From the steps of the Capitol Building across the Mall

From the Capitol to the Jefferson Building- Library of Congress

From the East side of the Capitol to the Supreme Court

South side of the Capitol- Washington Monument (16 blocks away)

The Botanic Garden

Hirshhorn Museum of Art & Sculpture Garden

In the Botanic Garden- they are setting up for Christmas

Can't beat nature's palette