After an emotional first day, I was looking forward to an exciting touristy day 2. Little did I know this would be the most interesting and enjoyable day yet!
Smithsonian
I knew I had to start at the Smithsonian Museums. As a teacher, I use their resources all the time in class. I didn’t realize they had so many museums until I came to Washington, D.C. Luckily, they are all situated near each other and easy to access. Despite that, I wasn’t able to access them all in my short time, so I had to prioritize.
I boarded the metro for another long travel into the city. Upon arriving, I walked through the streets and took pictures of other well-known monuments (i.e. Washington Monument). I saw other tourists taking photos and offered to help with family photos. They were grateful and almost shocked that I was willing to do that for them.
I started at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. I wasn’t sure what to really expect, other than history. Surprisingly, it included everything history-related – not just war history.
One of the first displays that stood out to me was the Greensboro Four display. They had part of the counter and chairs from the diner that made history. Just outside of the display, the museum included chairs for visitors to watch a short documentary on the Greensboro Four. These four gentlemen do not receive enough credit for their bravery that day.
As I walked through the displays and rooms, I saw exhibits from the old American education system. The chairs and desks were so incredibly tiny. The outfits were traditional white-and-blue dress codes, with girls wearing modest dresses, even on their arms.
They brought an actual home from the 1600s into the museum. You were able to see the architecture of the time, and it included an interactive family having tea. It told the story of six families living in one home. I’m not sure if I could handle housing another family in my small home. Next to the home, they included a bucket of water that would have been the weight of the time. I didn’t realize just how heavy these buckets were for people to carry back and forth to the home for cooking, bathing, washing clothes, etc. They included a laundry wringer as well. I thought I was strong until I started twisting the wringer.
I made my way to the entertainment portion of the museum. I saw Dorothy’s red slippers. They were on display behind a locked enclosure, but there was a second pair, copper-colored, for patrons to feel. I couldn’t believe just how heavy these shoes were and were made of metal! The entertainment portion continued with original dolls from The Muppets, Mr. Rodgers, Sesame Street, and more. It was very nostalgic, and it made me sad to be a grown adult. It made me sad to realize many of today’s kids didn’t have such great influences as we had.
I remember reading that the COVID mask was brought into the Smithsonian Museum. I remember laughing about it at the time and thinking it was crazy. Sure enough… the mask was there in the Smithsonian Museum.
The Nintendo, old video recorders, old microphones, Nokia phones, pagers, and more were also on display at the Smithsonian Museum. I immediately felt old. I felt ancient as I watched kids walk around, asking questions about things that were popular in my childhood.
The coolest part of the Smithsonian Museum I saw was the First Ladies display. I’m not one for fashion, but I was 100% intrigued by the fashion of the times. One thing I realized was how tiny women were in the 1700s. They were both extremely short and extremely skinny. You can see how fashion evolves over time in its size and design. Long modest clothing (length and arms) became off-the-shoulder, sheer, and closer to the body.
After attending the Smithsonian, I wanted to explore the city for monuments more. I knew I had future days to see other Smithsonian Museums.
Monuments Galore
I rented a Capital Bike to travel around town. I definitely don’t recommend these, but I’ll get into that later. I knew that much walking would kill my back, though, so I took the chance at the suggestion of someone else.
The White House
My first stop would be the White House. I grabbed a bike and tried to find my way to the most famous building in our country. Like the previous day, I realized many streets were blocked off. I noticed many dark-colored vehicles with dark-tinted windows. My only assumption would be that it was the Secret Service. Another interesting thing about Washington, D.C. is that there are metal barriers all over the city – even for flowerbeds and trees.
After fighting with Google Maps for several minutes to get to the White House, I finally found my way there. It included a tumble on my electric bike. It left me with a pretty nasty injury and bruise that led me to limp the rest of the day and the next day. I finally got to the gates of the White House. I always see amazing photos of the place, but I can’t figure out how people get them. There was an incredible amount of security around the White House. I was even afraid to put my arm through the metal gates to get a clear photo of the famous building. I did it though! It was absolutely stunning!
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
My next stop would be the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a place I could get up close to or inside. Because I didn’t have a lock on my bike, and I couldn’t park it anywhere in particular, I had to just take photos from a distance. Its location is absolutely stunning as it overlooks a beautiful body of water. The building was undergoing restoration, so parts of it were closed off as well.
At about this time, the weather became extremely humid. I noticed the cloud coverage was getting darker, and a few drops of drizzle were falling. I didn’t prepare for heavy rain. I had a raincoat, but that was about it.
Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial
My next stop was the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial. This one wasn’t what I expected at all. It was a huge park of stone structures and waterfalls honoring Roosevelt, his family, and his causes. Another beautifully designed memorial. The stones were covered with famous quotes, pictures, and statues related to Roosevelt.
Midway through the memorial, it started pouring rain. At this point, I just had to embrace it. It was such a moment, though. I sat in the rain, taking pictures and enjoying the moment of being in the pouring rain and seeing history. It made me think that we, as humans, need to dance in the rain more often. It was so childlike to be poured on. The only downside is that my pants were soaked. Nothing is worse than jeans soaked in the rain!
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
I wasn’t going to let the rain stop me. I continued my trek through the city to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Walking between the two rocks, I noticed a huge statue. It was one of the biggest statues I’ve ever seen. On the side of the statue sat a famous quote from MLK Jr., “Out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.” It made sense why they chose stone to represent MLK Jr.
When you looked at the statue from another angle, the three stones (the two you walk into and his) are connected into one major stone. It made me look up some more information about the design behind it. The thought process behind this memorial was moving.
World War II Memorial
My next stop would be the World War II Memorial. By now, the rain had let up a little bit, but I was still drenched head to toe. Arriving at the WWII Memorial gave me a chance to sit and recover. The sun was peaking in and out. I watched people admire the memorial. I was in awe at the amount of respect and dedication put into this memorial. It was an absolutely stunning and moving memorial. Several people came to honor those who served.
It was perfectly placed within the National Mall. You could see beautiful views of the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Capitol, and more. About that time, it began to pour rain again. I sat in the middle of the National Mall, behind the WWII Memorial and by the Reflecting Pool, and just smiled. I looked at the sky and appreciated the moment of experiencing this blessing.
Other Memorials
I saw some of the smaller memorials on the National Mall.
The Vietnam Women’s Memorial was on the edge of the National Mall. A small but honorable statue expressed appreciation for the women who served during this war.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial was probably the most moving. As I walked by, I saw a line of people laying flowers along the memorial honoring those who served. The wall includes a list of names of people who were lost during this tragic war.
Band Parade
By the end of the National Mall, I was a bit exhausted. I was heading back to return my bike when I was stopped again by blocked streets. I heard music earlier but didn’t think much of it. As I made my way to the sidewalk, I realized high school bands were performing for the Memorial Day parade. They had color guards involved. In between the bands, they included military veterans. It was actually pretty cool to see the parade honoring those who served. As the parade ran, it rained on and off. I had to give major props to the kids who stuck out in the rain! This also explained the large number of schools I saw the previous day!
Back to the Hotel
I made my way back to the hotel to wrap up for the night. I needed the best shower of my life, but more so, I needed to get my soaked clothes off my body. The metro was packed with people, and I happened to be one of the few soaked. I felt bad trying to sit next to someone, but I just needed to sit.
I decided I’d do laundry. I definitely had to dry my sneakers because they were soaking wet. I didn’t pack well, in terms of extra shoes. I was trying to pack light, but I kind of regretted it at that moment. I threw my shoes in the dryer, ordered DoorDash, and finished laundry. I slept probably the best I’ve slept in ages.