December 9, 2006

• We have visited and returned from our trip to Washington, D.C. We lucked into some very nice weather and it was only on the last day that it started to get cold and windy. Unfortunately, I also came down sick on my birthday, so the last few days were rather quiet for us.

  Anyhow, my two favorite parts of the trip was the say at Mount Vernon, where George Washington lived, and a really cool tour of the Library of Congress.We had the very best weather of the entire week while at Mount Vernon and it was also a very quiet day for visitors, so the combination made for a fantastic day. They have just opened a huge new visitor's center, museum and education center a few months ago, so there was so much to see and do. Straight off, I discovered a huge, scale dollhouse replica of the Mansion in 1:12 scale! It was amazing and I will post some pictures of it in my next blog. Five years were spent building it, and everything works and is accurate to the real house, down to door knobs that turn and latches that catch! It is estimated to be worth half a million dollars and it eight feet long! Unfortunately, it is so new to the exhibit that there is not a book about it yet, so I am hoping one comes out soon.

  The grounds are very pretty and they were getting ready for some Christmas nights where they do caroling and such, with mulled wine. They had lanterns set up and period holiday decorations. Unfortunately, we were there a few days too early to enjoy the actual event. I was amazed at how large the grounds are, you can walk and walk and walk! There are fields, forest and path down to a wharf on the Potomac. The are large formal gardens, as well as working vegetable gardens, orchards, berry plant areas, vineyards, and grazing for the farm animals.

  This is my favorite photo I took on the grounds, it was just so pretty and captured the feeling of the area so well:

  

  And here is a photo down by the wharf, on the Potomac. I loved the last of the colors on the tree from fall.

  

  At the Library of Congress, we were lucky enough to know someone who works for Congress and thus was able to take us on a private tour, showing us places the normal tourist can't get into. Normally, if someone wants to look at a book, they fill in a request form, an employee goes to the stacks, gets the book and brings it back. So normally, visitors never see the stacks. However, my friend Becky took us in there.

  

  It had the wonderful smell of old books, with old, low ceilings and marble floors. In fact, the floors are just marble, several inches thick, held by a steel girder system and there is nothing else between each floor! Becky said if you go into the stacks at night and the lights are low, you can actually see light from other floors, glowing through the marble!

  The department she works for is also responsible for maintaining and restoration work within the building. She showed us how they have been stripping years and years of paint and such, and found the original wall decoration. They have been busy restoring the halls to their original and former glory. Here you can see an archway, partway redone.

  

  If you get to DC, I highly recommend exploring this building. It is just amazing at every turn. Mosaics on the ceilings, painted murals, gilding, you name it! Here are some other pictures I took there:

  

  Part of the stained glass ceiling and arches in the great hall.

  

  Detail of a wall mural in one of the halls.

  

  A gilded dome in one of the many hallways

  

  One of the many halls

  

  The main reading room, as seen from a private alcove, not open to the public.

  

  Higher up in the main reading room.

  Hope everyone is having a great week and enjoyed the pics. We are busy at home this week, getting ready to travel to see mom in Indiana and of course Christmas right after that. I will try to get up the miniature pics of the Mt. Vernon model in the next few days.

  • 9:55 pm
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