I have been blogging about our Washington DC adventures completely out of order, partly due to the fatigue and partly because we keep going somewhere, not allowing ourselves enough time and realizing we have to go back. Take for example the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. I went in with the kids today for round 3 and we STILL ARE NOT DONE.
Anyway, one thing that can be done well in a day is a tour of the Capitol Building, although you can learn from our mistakes. First, they allow no food or drink inside the building AT ALL, and unlike many of the museums and other places there are no lockers or coat check available. You can get around this problem by planning ahead and leaving your pack in lockers at one of the museums, but they are a good long walk away. We had morning tour reservations and lunch packed along because food in DC is crazy expensive ($6.25 for a McDonald's burger), so we left to do other things and eat then returned for a later tour. Thankfully you don't need an advance reservation this time of year.
Anyway, one thing that can be done well in a day is a tour of the Capitol Building, although you can learn from our mistakes. First, they allow no food or drink inside the building AT ALL, and unlike many of the museums and other places there are no lockers or coat check available. You can get around this problem by planning ahead and leaving your pack in lockers at one of the museums, but they are a good long walk away. We had morning tour reservations and lunch packed along because food in DC is crazy expensive ($6.25 for a McDonald's burger), so we left to do other things and eat then returned for a later tour. Thankfully you don't need an advance reservation this time of year.
The first part of the tour is a stirring movie with dramatic music to make you feel all warm and happy and patriotic, not unlike watching an Olympic medal ceremony wherein some American has just won the gold against all odds (and after you saw the smarmy video clip of their childhood in poverty or comeback from a bout with Restless Leg Syndrome). In this case the movie depicted the birth of our nation and the workings of our legislative branch as it was designed to work (never mind how it actually does, for that you will need gallery passes for the House or Senate, which we will share with you in a few days).
After the movie you get herded unceremoniously up the stairs to a holding pen, handed some crackly headphones and you follow your guide. Once again, I am fairly convinced we had the same young man who showed us around the state capitols in Texas and Wisconsin. Kevin remarked that this must be where you go to work if you major in history and don't want to teach. This guy knew EVERYTHING. Not only did we get the full scoop on the paintings in the Rotunda and the artist (who almost fell off his chair from way up high) plus all the people who have lain in state or honor here, but he could tell us all about each of the people honored by statuary downstairs.
Each state is invited to send to Washington a statue of someone significant in the state's history. People on our tour started just asking about their home states and our tour guide was not stumped once. Even the one time he said he couldn't remember as much detail he still gave far more information than I think even the state itself might know. While he was talking I turned around and happened to notice one of the Florida honorees behind me: Dr. John Gorrie. His contribution to Florida history? He invented air conditioning. OF COURSE.
The last thing we saw was the level called the Crypt. No one is actually buried there, but it was intended for George Washington. He preferred Mt. Vernon. I don't really blame him -- it has a better view. Our guide also pointed out that in the very center of the room the four quadrants of the District of Columbia meet and all roads lead there. My big philosophical thought was, "Cool. Another place we should play Four Square!"
My general assessment of the Capitol Building is that it is much more lovely from the outside and the tour mainly seems to focus on the architecture of the Rotunda plus the statuary below. There are way cooler things to do inside, like watch legislation being made. We did that, it was super geeky fun, and we will share it in our next post.
-Jenni
My general assessment of the Capitol Building is that it is much more lovely from the outside and the tour mainly seems to focus on the architecture of the Rotunda plus the statuary below. There are way cooler things to do inside, like watch legislation being made. We did that, it was super geeky fun, and we will share it in our next post.
-Jenni