When we came through here last fall, the dome was covered for repairs and the building was closed to visitors. This time, we could see everything. Beautiful gold dome!
President Abraham Lincoln created the state of West Virginia by Presidential Proclamation in 1863. He cut it out of Virginia, which was in the Confederacy during the Civil War.This was a cool shot with the moon visible to the west in the morning sun.The rotunda. There is a chandelier hanging from its center.Here is a view that shows how the light hangs from the top of the rotunda.Senate chamber. The House chamber was closed.Stonewall Jackson was born in Clarksburg, Virginia (now Clarksburg, West Virginia), so his statue is on the grounds here and his bust is inside the building.
Beautiful capitol. Interesting lime green colored dome.The rotunda.The first floor is covered in Moravian tile, with many scenes depicting Pennsylvania history.Senate chamber.House of Representatives chamber.Pennsylvania Supreme Court.Supreme Court room rotunda.Impressive doors.
The Rotunda.Senate chamber.House of Representatives chamber.Lincoln outside the private office of the Georgia Governor.Former Georgia Governor and ex-President Jimmy Carter, 39th president, served 1977-1981.Robert E. LeeMartin Luther KingMartin Luther King statue.Atlanta skyline.Mercedes Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons.
President Zachary Taylor Home and Grave, Windy Hills KY
This monument honors the memory of President Zachary Taylor, our 12th president. He was president from 1849-1850, when he died in office. His grave is in the building to the right. His original grave was the small mound to the right in the back near the trees.Crypt of President Zachary and First Lady Margaret TaylorSpringfield, the home of Zachary Taylor. Born in Orange County VA while his parents were visiting relatives, Taylor grew to adulthood in this house in Louisville KY.
Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort KY
The Capitol as seen from an overlook from the westApproaching the Capitol from the north The Capitol is closed due to the Wuhan Flu, so I could not go inside.Kentucky Governor’s Mansion, just east of the Capitol
Historic Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort KY
This historic distillery dates back to 1792. It was closed when I came by for a look, so I couldn’t get any souvenirs. It still had a sweet “angels share” aroma in the air.These warehouses hold thousands of barrels for years!
Lincoln Museum, Hodgenville KY
Lincoln Museum is in the town square of Hodgenville. It is a pretty neat little museum. It is really everything Lincoln – hundreds of images of Lincoln throughout. This is the real Lincoln’s top hat!This is a very rare photo of the log cabin in which Lincoln was bornNewspaper announcing Lincoln’s deathSeveral scenes from Lincoln’s life are displayed in the museum. This is growing up in the log cabin.Lincoln the railsplitter.Lincoln calling on Mary Todd, his future wife, at her Lexington homeLincoln-Douglas debateLincoln writing the Emancipation ProclamationLincoln with son Tad sitting in Matthew Brady’s studio. Brady was the most famous and prolific photographer during the Civil War.Gettysburg Address stageLincoln’s second inaugurationLee surrenders to GrantThe Lincolns at Ford’s Theater
Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky contains the longest system of caves in the world, with over 412 miles of surveyed passageways! This is the Historic Entrance to the cave for the tour.Looking back up the stairs we just descended.Approaching the cave tour from the entrance. The temperature inside the cave is 54 degrees year-round. Same as Luray Caverns in Virginia.Artifacts from saltpeter mining, which was done by slaves prior to the Civil War.The Rotunda. This is a large flat circle ceiling near the entrance of the cave. These pictures do not do justice to the size and scale of this 1.5 mile passage. It is really: you have to see it to believe it.This is called the Methodist Church, because in the 1800s a small Methodist Church met for worship here. The preacher preached from atop a large rock ledge on the upper left.This is a close up at the Methodist Church. Notice the rock just left of center. It looks like the face of a man!This formation looks like a reptileThe “Giant’s Coffin” – this large rock formation looks like a casket!One of several stone houses near the end of one trail. These houses were part of a tuberculosis sanitarium. They had to walk in the cave over a mile to get here!The rotunda from a different angleAudobon Avenue
So we were able to score a tour of the White House for Christmas this year, from our Congressman. It was incredible! I have over 70 pictures to share, so it will take some time to see them all – enjoy!
Before the tour, we stopped by the White House Visitors Center. At the front is a condolence register for President George H. W. Bush, so we all signed our condolences to the Bush family.There are several models of the White House in the Visitors Center. This is the north portico.The South Portico.Full model of the White House complex. On our tour we entered into the two-story building on the left, then through the connector which held all the cranberry trees, then upstairs to the entire first floor of the White House, and then finally, out of the doors at the North Portico.Lego model of the White House. It took 4 people 825 hours to build this model.South Portico on the Lego model.President Donald J. Trump display.French gilded beechwood armchair used during President James Monroe’s term (1817-1825).Original finial used on the White House flagpole from 1898-1993.Interesting mantel clock selected by President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877). The top is a clock; on the bottom, left to right, is a perpetual calendar, thermometer, and a barometer.“Hiawatha’s Boat” silver centerpiece used by the Grants in the Red Room. It was often filled with flowers.President Abraham Lincoln’s State china service (1861-1865).Mantel clock given to the White House in 1960.Chart of the Presidents.The Virginia ornament on the Visitor Center Christmas tree. In line, waiting to go in, holding our “passports”.Just outside the building.And I totally wore a Donald Trump tie.This is the first Christmas tree we saw when we entered. Every Christmas tree in the White House is a real tree, so you could smell the firs from the moment you entered the building!Apparently First Lady Melania Trump likes cardinals! This first tree had many of them all over!The hallway with all the red cranberry topiary trees! Quite festive!Wearing red was a good choice!There was much red throughout the White House!Coming Through the Rye, by Frederic Remington. These sculptures were interesting to us because we had just seen a lot of Remington and Russell art and sculptures in Forth Worth last month!Meat for Wild Men by Charles Russell.First Lady Laura Bush.China cabinet with state china settings from various presidencies.Ronald Reagan’s state china (1981-1989).James Monroe’s state china (1817-1825)Vermeil Room. Portrait of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.LibraryChina Room Portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge.East Room.Nativity display in the East Room.One of the East Room chandeliers.Each of the East Room fireplace mantels contains an American cityscape. Obviously, this one is New York City.San Francisco cityscape.President Theodore Roosevelt.This is the original official presidential portrait of President George Washington. It was originally hung in the White House when it opened in 1800, and has been here ever since , except for a few months during the War of 1812 for protection.Green Room. (duh!) Portrait of First Lady Edith Roosevelt (Theodore’s).Blue Room. This is the Official White House Christmas Tree for 2018.Red Room.The balls on the mantel garland say “Be Best”, which is First Lady Melania Trump’s slogan.Interesting wreath in the Red Room, with “Be Best” pencils. Zoom in to see detail.State Dining Room; portrait of President Abraham Lincoln. The Christmas Trees are topped with gold eagles.Everything on the top of this table in the State Dining Room is edible. The White House is made of gingerbread. Everything else is candy and sugar.President Ronald Reagan.Trees lining the Hall.This is where the Trumps had their official Christmas picture taken this year.Grandma kissing Santa Claus.Presidential podium in the Vestibule, just inside the North Portico.President Harry Truman.This is the reflection of the Vestibule chandelier onto the ceiling.The North Portico.It has been quite a few years since I was here, but we used to be able to go up to the iron fence, but no more. The entire street (Pennsylvania Avenue) is blocked off here, and they have these barricades to prevent you from going up to the iron fence. Still, a majestic and stately building!We had a late breakfast at Old Ebbitt Grill.Looking down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol.So after breakfast and before we left DC, we went to see the National Christmas Tree. We were a little, ahem, underwhelmed. As you can see, the shape is all mesh lighting. The tree under the mesh is a bit smaller. I guess at night when it is all lit up it is more impressive because you are looking at the lights rather than the tree. There are trees planted all around the National Christmas Tree, and each is decorated from a different state, so that was kinda cool.The National Christmas Tree.Virginia’s tree.Maryland’s tree.Nebraska’s tree. There are lots of trains all over the place… …lots of trains……lots of trains……and even a train wreck!While we were waiting for our driver, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came by in his convoy on his way to lunch with President Trump at the White House!
