I knew this was going to be my last day in the city. I had one more long trip I wanted to take before I left the area, so I had to make the most of my time in D.C. today. Yesterday was completely exhausting, but I was going to make use of every moment and opportunity.
Supreme Court
My first stop was to see the Supreme Court. Unfortunately, they were closed to the public the day I went (Memorial Day), but I was glad to have seen it in person. One of my dreams growing up was to be a lawyer. I made the mistake of talking myself out of it. I regret it quite often, but I also believe everything happens for a reason. The Supreme Court always held a special place in my heart – not only because of my dreams, but also because of the things fought for in that building and on those steps.
Capitol Building
With the help of Representative John Carter, I was able to schedule a tour of the Capitol Building. I didn’t realize how big the building was until I arrived there. I stood there in awe, thinking about how this was built long ago, burned down, and rebuilt with minimal tools. The building’s details respected both its past and present history.
One of the coolest facts I learned while here is that they built a Tomb for George Washington at the very bottom of the Capitol. In the center of the Capitol Building, there is a compass that points to a straight shot to his tomb. It is sectioned off on each floor to ensure no one disrupts or disrespects the idea behind it. However, because of Washington’s Mount Vernon Tomb and the family’s wishes, they kept him at his home there.
Another interesting piece of information I learned concerned the rotunda. Around the rotunda is an art piece that serves as a timeline of American history. It dates back to Christopher Columbus and modern-day Space Exploration. It was interesting to see how they tied allthe pieces of history together to show the growth of our country.
Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
I missed my chance at the Holocaust Museum, so I made my way to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. I’m not big on fossils, gems, or minerals, but I figured, why not?
The part I spent the most time on was the jewels. There was such a beautiful display of jewels from all around the world, gifted to famous U.S. Diplomats.
Holocaust Museum
Though I missed my first chance, I made my second visit to the Holocaust Museum.
I was given a card of a special person who was involved in the Holocaust. My person was a survivor, but we know that was rare. As we made our way through the museum, I learned things I didn’t know previously. I knew Hitler was evil and the period was dreadful for Jews, but this museum really opened my eyes to much more. They had many artifacts to show how bad things were during the period. It walked us through how they brainwashed the country into believing the propaganda.
It took days to get tickets for this, but I highly recommend going.
Washington Monument
Another place I recommend getting tickets to is the Washington Monument. Again, it took a couple of days to score tickets, but I’m grateful I did!
We took a ride up 500+ feet to the top of the Washington Monument. Just like a plane, you felt the pressure change. I had to pop my ears at least twice on the way up. It had stunning views of the entire city of Washington, D.C. It put into perspective just how small we really are.
Library of Congress
My final pit stop was the Library of Congress. I signed up for a tour. I’m glad I did. The columns honored famous authors such as Longfellow, Scott, and Gibbon. As a teacher who teaches reading and writing, I was in awe of the building. I came at the perfect time to visit the Reading Room as well, which is a rare opportunity.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Washington, D.C. I learned a lot and lived through moments I normally wouldn’t have had the chance to experience. My appreciation for art and architecture grew tremendously after visiting most of these places. Although I didn’t get to see everything, I experienced a lot.