Hey everyone!

Sorry for the lateness of my post again, we had yet another late-night excursion concerning the subway. I’m alright though!

By the time you read this, I will likely be outside of New York City and into Long Island!

Before I handle today’s post however, let’s have a recap of yesterday’s activities, shall we?

 

The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building was once the tallest building in the world, but it still casts an impressive shadow over the rest of Midtown Manhattan. It’s actually only 5 blocks away from our hotel, so thankfully not a major travel-breaker.

We entered from the base of our tower, and found a very long processing path.

Aside from the security checkpoints and all, this is a bit different from what it was a year ago, when we entered through the main lobby, and went on from there.

 The hallways of this place are very grand indeed…

After taking an elevator to the higher levels (up several dozen floors out of the 102 floors), we were met with breathtaking views…

Looking west towards New Jersey. Seeing all of this activity in this gigantic city is simply stunning.

When this was being built, they built a story per day, until it was finished in 1931, nearly a year after it began construction… I don’t know how they did it…

Also looking west.

Looking south towards Lower Manhattan, where the tallest buildings are. The One World Trade Center is the tallest one visible, and the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

Far off in the distance, one can see Liberty Island (and the Statue of Liberty!), and Ellis Island! We’ll be there in a bit!

We chuckled a bit at this.

We then proceeded to the 86th Floor, which had the official Observation Deck (which is out in the open, and is in the best of times windy and cold)!

There is a higher one on the 102nd Floor, but that’s reserved for special ticket advancements.

Looking out towards the Chrysler Building in the East (the one with the steeple on it). It also used to be the tallest building in the world, until other buildings like the Empire State Building popped up.

Looking up towards the pinnacle. This is so dizzying, because the clouds moving above make it seem like it’s moving.

I have slight irrational fear every time I look up at tall skyscrapers up close (or something of the like). So, I was clinging to the walls at most times.

Looking towards Central Park to the North, which is positively massive.

The wind is EVERYWHERE. The last time I came here was last year’s spring break, where after staying out for a bit, I couldn’t feel my facial muscles for a good hour or two until we got back to the hotel room. Thankfully it was warmer today, but still intense.

We departed down the elevator to the Main Hotel Lobby, ready to kiss solid ground again.

The Empire State Building, much like New York City itself, is visited by millions every year. It’s architecture is also a marvel to behold. Some of the ornaments in this building are made out of gold, which is fascinating. It’s simply amazing what human ingenuity could produce with the right drive and motivation.

And in case you were wondering, no. We didn’t see any gargantuan apes trying to climb the building. They would likely prefer the higher level of the One World Trade Center (hang on… why am I even talking about fictional primates? Sorry, let’s get back on track).

After eating at a nearby street vendor, we continued on a subway to the tip of Manhattan Island, where we would catch a ferry to a very special place, and one of the foremost symbols of America… The Statue of Liberty!

The Statue of Liberty

We soon arrived at the southern tip, and at “Battery Park”.

It’s a very nice green place on the edge of the bay.

Here is Castle Clinton, the reason why it’s called “Battery Park”. The fort served as a cannon battery installation early in the 1800’s, though it never saw any conflict.

It’s not an easy process to get a ferry to The Statue of Liberty OR Ellis Island. You have to go through a lot of screening and security checkpoints, and, if you do not have reserve tickets, you could be in the long line shown above which stretches from several meters to the left us, to around Castle Clinton and even further a ways. Thankfully, we were able to get reserve tickets beforehand, and could skip most of the line.

The ferries here can hold up hundreds of people… This particular ferry we were on served a crucial role of evacuating people from Ground Zero following the September 11 Attacks.

They really do pack you in like sardines here. Thankfully the ride is only a few minutes.

Looking back, one can see the full view of Lower Manhattan. No picture could truly capture the majestic scope of it.

Ellis Island in the distance. We’ll also be going there very soon!

There she is… Lady Liberty herself…

The boat took us around the island for a nice shot before it stopped at the docks on Liberty Island (which was originally called “Bedloe’s Island”, before the statue was created).

And here we are! Let’s get right to it!

Looking down the plaza towards the new Liberty Island Museum! Believe it or not, this museum is only 8 days old. It was opened just over a week ago, and I remember on our last visit that the site was covered by scaffolding and construction. Well not any longer! We’ll check this out later.

A beacon of hope to many immigrants and citizens of the United States alike, Lady Liberty was given as a gift to the U.S. by France, in accordance to the centennial of the nation’s founding.

Hello there.

Accessing the security checkpoint at the base of the tower (with our advanced reservations), we began to climb up… and up… and up…

This giant bolt holds the statue down onto it’s pedestal. Just look at the size of it!

Arriving at the pedestal’s balcony, we looked up at Lady Liberty… it was a very tight space, and being this close to the statue was absolutely exhilarating.

A view of Ellis Island to the northwest, with many of it’s facilities and out-buildings. Most of these, which previously served as barracks and storage rooms, have now fallen into dipilation and decay.

The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. Beyond of course, lies the Atlantic Ocean, and beyond.

Looking down the plaza towards the museum. It really is a very well laid-out design.

Don’t look down…

Down below are some other exterior levels that one can go on, which we’ll see in just a moment!

Mom’s having a bad hair day. You can’t really blame her though, considering the high winds up here.

A selfie of us in front of the Manhattan skyline in the distance.

Back inside, one can see through the glass ceiling the interior of the statue itself! Those with the right tickets (placed months in advance) can climb this spiral staircase, and enter the observation deck located in the Crown of the statue!

Down on the lower platform in the pedestal, one can see an impressive view of both the pedestal and the statue. I can’t remember if I said it before, but the statue actually used to be a copper-brownish color when it was first unveiled! As time aged however, exposure to the elements has caused massive oxidation to take effect, leading the metal to rust and obtain the greenish-tint that it has today!

 

Now let’s head in the museum!

Though small, the museum was very well put together, not only conveying the history and structuring of the building, but also analyzing various interpretations of what the statue stands for.

An original wooden brace from it’s constrution in France.

Original models of the Statue of Liberty, varying in size.

These HUMONGOUS FEET (again, a model of the real deal),

And the original torch that Lady Liberty held in the first set of years!

This torch was made of reflective glass and had lightbulbs in it to convey a brilliant light. Before, people could come out into this balcony for a terrific view of the skyline, but because of structural issues, it was replaced with it’s current torchhead (one with a pure-gold flame).

Looking back down the plaza towards the Statue of Liberty.

So, why does this statue continue to pique our interest? It is certainly for as much as the symbolism behind it as it is for it’s physical stature. But what is that symbolism? In the modern world, this concept can become convoluted, and easily lost on us… Is it a symbol of ignorant imperfection, or one of true resounding liberty? It could perhaps be both, but we can never forget the eyes of the immigrants that came to this place, who would become the very essence of our spirit.

Many immigrants’ first sight was indeed the Statue of Liberty, which welcomed them to the new world… to them, that torch held aloft by Lady Liberty was a beacon of hope… a burning passion for opprotunity and greater freedoms that perhaps were lacking in their country… it was one that perhaps encouraged them to strive to improve the United States as a nation. Few landmarks have such an immense and inspiring power as this. It’s a sign that I believe is reassuring… if that inspiration is still there, then hope will endure too. We can only hope.

 

Ellis Island

Departing on the last ferry to Ellis Island, we finally arrived at the massive complex, which once processed millions of foreign immigrants from all walks of life.

These massive halls are impressive…

Different medical tools that doctors used to examine each individual. They were very particular on any kind of diseases or deformaties.

A sideways picture of masses of incoming immigrants waiting to be processed. The entire ordeal lasts several months, and not all are lucky enough to be accepted.

Mind games and intelligence tests were very critical to an immigrant’s chance in the new world, which tested their ability to properly give meaningful contributions to society.

All had different backgrounds, ethnicities, relationships, and dreams… and those dreams united them all here… for a chance to live again.

The system was never perfect of course. Literacy Tests were designed to be difficult for even capable individuals. Tests like these were influenced by anti-immigration propaganda and political influence.

Original graffitti writing on the wall, which still remains to this day…

Chalk-marks were put onto people who had some form of further inquiry, such as a mental disorder, physical ailment, or anything else out of the usual.

These people, roughly 10% of incoming individuals, were questioned in this inquiry-hearing room. It was here that the court could decide whether to vindicate a person, or deport them back to their home country.

Even if we spent a limited amount of time here, it was still fascinating to learn about the policy of immigration back in the day. Perhaps it is a prime example that freedom is never easy, and that sometimes, fate is not favorable to some. Yet those that persevere will, with a bit of luck, prevail and accomplish what their hearts desire.

 

Sights of Wall Street/Ground Zero

The southern tip of Manhattan is unique compared to the other parts of the island, as everything tends to be so much more closer together, and more easy to comprehend. As such, we set about exploring assorted locations in the deepest part of this mega-city.

The U.S. Customs House, once one of the most corrupt establishments in the country, has been converted into the “National Museum for the American Indian” ! The place was about to close however, so we couldn’t explore further.

On Wall Street, one can find the entrance to the New York Stock Exchange, which is one of the largest financial hubs in the world. It was also here that the disastrous Market Crash of 1929 occured, creating a Great Depression that left scars upon the land and it’s people.

Federal Hall, located here, is the site of the first Presidential Inauguration, where George Washington was sworn in as the 1st President of the United States. It’s on the spot of that statue where he stood, and recited the oath, famously adding the precedent lines: “So help me God.”

Unfortunetly, the building was closed. Which was a real shame, because the very bible that George Washington was sworn on was located right inside! The bible is usually never in one place, and is loaned to Federal Hall for certain periods of time from the Masons Society.

The Spire of Trinity Church is an odd sight amid all the tall skyscrapers, but it is still a very impressive and historical building nonetheless!

Why do I say historic? Well, there are several famous people buried here… as the cemetery courtyards were closed however, we could only look through the fence.

First, there is Robert Fulton, the inventor of the Steamboat! He was an excellent engineering mind, and before you can say it, yes, it’s spelled “Fvlton” on his tombstone. This was a tradition done to many older buildings with chisilled letters in them, where the letter U was likely very hard to carve.

The other, and most famous grave of the lot however, is Alexander Hamilton, Founding Father, First Secretary of the Treasury, Signer of the Constitution, and the creator of our federal banking system. It’s his face that we see on the $10 dollar bill, and Aaron Burr, whose grave we saw a few days ago in Princeton, was the one to shoot and kill him in a famous duel.

We’ll come back later to get a picture of the front of the monument inside the courtyard.

No picture could truly picture the awesome scale of The Oculus! This very futeristic style was adapted after the September 11 Attacks, and the Oculus itself is a major transportation and shopping venue for thousands of people.

It’s inside looks like the inside of a Whale’s skeleton (or something of the like), doesn’t it? Though nowhere near as busy as other hubs in New York City, this serves as the main destination for those travelling in Downtown.

Once again, we come to the base of the One World Trade Center… looking up at it’s pinnacle is quite dizzying…

Our last stop on this day was, of course, a testament to the darkest hour of American History, which only occured 18 years ago…

The 9/11 Memorial.

For decades, the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center dominated the entirety of New York City and their surrounding area. Those who have seen it in person could well testify to their terrific height…

But now of course, none of that remains. Following the September 11 Attacks, the landscape has dramatically changed. Buildings have been torn down and rebuilt, debris removed, and in the very footprints of the twin towers, two memorial pools pour tears of water into two square gashes in the ground…

The names of every soul who was lost on that horrible day are inscribed on the black plaques surrounding both pools…

Nearly 3,000 lives that were lost to the hateful acts of extremists…

Those with a white flower on their name signifies that today is their birthday. This poor woman here is an example.

Waiting around until relative darkness, we looked at the place again…

The names are illuminated by posterior light, and the waters flicker like the crackle of a candle, or a fire.

It is sad that things like this have to happen… but they always will.. it will be our job to make sure that we remain strong, and stay on the course of hope.

Thank you very much for once again tolerating my lateness. Soon enough the post for the day after this will come around! In case that doesn’t happen soon, tomorrow will be an entire day dedicated to the ROOSEVELTS! Various sights throughout New York will explore two of the most prominant presidential figures in American History… I’m bursting with excitement!

I’ll see you soon, whether it be tomorrow or the next, take care!

Hey y’all, welcome back to NYC!

Before I begin, I would like to sincerely apologize for the lack of certain specific photos on this post. There was a mix-up of the photos, and a few of them got lost in the process.

Today, we explored much of Midtown Manhattan, as well as much of Central Park!

Though this day of our trip is more of a sight-seeing time than a “historical” one, but is nonetheless an exciting and fun-filled one, so let’s check it out!

 

Times Square

The streets of Manhattan run on without end… it is incredible that a city like this has multitudes upon multitudes of streets…

And this is us in Times Square! Possibly one of the most busiest places in the entire world, it serves as a junction for commercialism, tourism, and shopping all in one! The giant screens scattered around the place also provide much stimulation for a fresh eye, and hundres of people race around on their own agendas.

On top of the tower behind us is the Time Square Ball! This famous ball drops on every New Year’s Day at Midnight, heralding in the New Year for much of the United States (at least those in the Eastern Time Zome).

It’s a lot smaller than you would expect, but it changes color!

 

Central Park

Central Park cuts a massive swath of land through this urban landscape…823 acres of it to be precise.

Like this.

As such, we were not able to explore every single part of it, but we still explored most of the southern half of it. Here’s some of our highlights.

Central Park is a much needed respite from the constant traffic nearby… it’s still busy, but at least lush and welcoming.

Just one look through the trees at the nearby buildings. Though, there are some points in Central Park where skyscrapers can’t be seen.

Tons of horse-drawn carridges, that one can hire for a nice leisurely tour of Central Park.

Can you imagine playing baseball in the middle of this place? I’d imagine that a really far foul ball could be disastrous if it reaches outside the Park.

Unlike last year during Spring Break, this place was mostly in full bloom, with beautiful flowers to boot!

The Sheep Meadow is a wide expanse of land out in the open, offers terrific views of the surrounding area.

There were many animal “denizens” of the park that wandered about, including,

A very fat pidgeon,

Two ducks (probably a couple),

A squirrel, who isn’t too happy about me looking in at his buisness,

And an Albino Pidgeon.. i’ve never seen one before.

A Civil War Memorial Statue, likely dedicated to those who came from New York City. Statues and memorials like this dot the park.

See that crossroads ahead? This is a very special place.

This is none other than “Strawberry Fields”, which commemorates the memory and legacy of legendary musician John Lennon, who lived in the nearby Dakota Apartment Building.

Since Lennon’s cremated ashes were scattered through Central Park, it is perhaps here that there is the best resemblance to a Memorial Site for him.

The song that this word comes from is of course, titled “Imagine”, which was perhaps his most powerful song. He endeared the hearts of millions through his passion of music and peace.

The Dakota is where John Lennon lived with his wife Yoko Ono for the last years of his life. The arch you can see on the left is where he was gunned down in 1980 by Mark David Chapman. Yoko Ono currently still lives in the top floors of the Dakota, which has an estimated room price of several million dollars.

Scattered Midtown Sights

A neat little world statue near the entrance to Central Park. You might remember it from television shows and movies.

Some of these hotels are really pricy! The hotels and properties around Central Park are the ones that cost the most in all of New York City.

Carnegie Hall, the famed performance hall named after monopoly tycoon Andrew Carnegie, it’s benefactor. He was a thorough believer of the “Philosophy of Wealth”, which ensured that the role of the rich was to benefit the poor through various establishments and foundations.

A neat fountain. We eventually had to take cover from torrential rain in the nearby news building to wait for it to pass by.

Radio City Music Hall is another well-known establishment, especially for it’s reputation as a premier performance space. America’s Got Talent and the Rockettes have all performed in this space, among others. Unfortunetly, it is closed to those who don’t have tour tickets.

Rockefeller Center… what even happened to the flags!? Why do they all look decayed and burned? I think that it’s not a matter of the rain, but some other vandalist purpose…

Also, the famous skating rink located here has disappeared! It seems that during the warmer seasons, this place is an eatery.

This is what it would usually look like in the colder months.

And this famous golden statue of Prometheus has always rested here… overseeing a court and entire unground complex of shopping venues and eateries… it’s really quite impressive down there.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. also adhered to the “Philosophy of Wealth” idea, and donated this center to the people. The Rockefeller family has had long ties and influence in American History and Society.

The tallest building of Rockefeller Center Complex… don’t even ask me to count the amount of floors there…

 

No picture can do justice to the majesty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the largest Catholic Churches in the entire country!

I just wonder how long it took to build this… theres dozens of churches and synagogues all over the Big Apple.

The massive vaulted ceiling and pillars, while, not as big as Washington National Cathedral, are perhaps even more ornate and decorated. The grandeur of this place could perhaps be compared on a larger scale to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (to which I am sad that much of the latter Cathedral was greatly damaged in that fire…)

A couple of Popes have even visited this special place, including Pope Francis himself!

Grand Central Station (or Grand Central Terminal, depending on who you ask)! This is one of the most busiest hubs in the world, for as many as 700,000 people frequent this place PER DAY. Think about that.

No, I will not count how many individual people are in this picture, and no, I sincerely doubt that Waldo is in here.

It must have taken forever to build this place.. it’s an architectural wonder…

This starry ceiling depicts several mythological constellations. Back in the day, the massive smog of cigar smoke covered this piece of art with black soot. Thankfully, it was restored several decades ago.

Sigh.. sweet release…

This day hit me harder than most, especially in the legs. New York City is a place that you can’t fully explore in a single day, week, month, year, or even more… it’s just THAT big. And according to mom’s fitbit, we had taken over 19,000 steps today… we felt EVERY. STEP.

Next time, we will check out some of the most iconic landmarks of the city, including The Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and who knows what else!?

Time will only tell what we do.. I can’t wait, and I’m sure you can’t either! Ill see you then for our next update on “Summer Trip 2019!”

Welcome to the Big Apple everyone!

That’s right, we are in New York City right now, and currently staying in our hotel on Manhattan Island! We have tons of suprises and discoveries to find in the next couple of days here, but in the meantime, how about I detail our travels from where we left off in Princeton last night?

I think I’ll do just that. Let’s take a look then, shall we?

 

Princeton Cemetery

The town of Princeton, New Jersey is home to Princeton University, one of the most prestigious Universities in the entire Country. It has also served as a major hub for many indiviuduals of historical significance. Both Presidents James Madison and Woodrow Wilson graduated from here, the latter of which would later become the University’s President (Wilson would help turn the campus from a “country club” into a rigourous and quality College). John F. Kennedy also studied here briefly before transferring to Harvard in Massachusetts. And of course, there was Grover Cleveland and his wife Frances, who retired here following the conclusion of his Presidential term.

Firstly, we came across “Westland Mansion”, the place where Grover Cleveland and Frances lived for the remaining years of their lives, from 1897, until his death here in 1908. Frances continued to live in this house for many years afterwards.

Though currently a private home, it is still a nice sight to behold.

We continued on deeper into Princeton, and came to “Princeton Cemetery, the burial place of many New Jersey Notables!

This cemetery is kept in much better shape than James Buchanan’s Cemetery. Many of the gravestones here are very old, and while some are in a bit of disrepair, it’s still a very beautiful and peaceful atmosphere here.

There is one gravesite that we considered to be of the utmost priority… and you guessed it, another U.S. President’s!

This is the gravesite of President Grover Cleveland, our 22nd and 24th President!

How is this possible you might ask? Well it’s quite simple. He was elected to a single term in 1884, lost reelection of 1888, and four years later won the election once more in 1892! He remains the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms (though we have had 45 Presidents, there have only been 44 men who have served in the office. We attribute this askanceness to Cleveland).

The grave to our left is of Ruth Cleveland, their little daughter, and to our right is that of Frances Cleveland, the First Lady.

The hourglass on his grave depicts his great value of Punctuality and time-management. He considered it to be a much more vital symbol to him than the Seal of the Presidency.

And the urn on top?… I haven’t the foggiest.

Poor Ruth… she was felled at only age 12 to a bout of Diphtheria. Her death heavily struck the family with a terrible blow…

Oscar Folsom was the father of Frances Cleveland, who died when she was just a little girl. This is located in front of Cleveland’s gravesite, as you can see.

And Emma Folsom was Frances’s mother. A widow, Ms. Folsom wanted to marry the new President, who was a bachelor. In an effort to get him to woo her, she invited him to a reception at her residence.

It didn’t go down exactally as planned… instead, Cleveland actually fell in love with her daughter… Frances, who was 27 years his junior.

It was true love however, and soon, they would get married in the White House, in a special ceremony that caused excitement across the nation.

 

Two other notable graves are in this cemetery. One is of an infamous early political figure that is reviled by unconstrained Hamiltonians…

I speak of course, of Aaron Burr Jr., Vice-President under Thomas Jefferson, and the killer of Alexander Hamilton in a legendary duel.

I felt tempted to do an impromptu jig myself on his grave, but I refrained from doing so.

Burr was buried nearby his father, Aaron Burr Sr., who served as a President of Princeton University.

And here he is.

The other notable grave here is of the reverand John Witherspoon, the chief delegate of New Jersey during the Second Continental Congress, which created the Declaration of Independence.

We’ve seen a whole lot on this trip haven’t we?

We had wrapped up with this cemetery, now bringing the “Presidential Gravesite Visit Count” to 27/39! 12 to go!

Our next stop was about an hour’s drive away from Princeton further in the north-east, to the small town of Caldwell (also in New Jersey). There is located the only museum dedicated to President Grover Cleveland… his birthplace!

Grover Cleveland Birthplace State Historic Site

Ooh la la.

Let’s head in!

Unfortunetly, various parts of the house were off-limits to photography (in order to preserve “item location confidentiality”, and prevent people from wanting to steal the stuff). Still, Some of my pictures here were my own, but others will be stocks.

A dress belonging to little Baby Ruth. She must have been the light in the family’s lives… she was also the first child to be born in the White House. That note at the top was handwritten by Frances Cleveland herself.

Believe it or not, the Baby Ruth candy bar was named after Ruth Cleveland! Many people believe it was named after the famous baseball player Babe Ruth, but the bars preceeded him.

The kitchen of the house. The building was made in 1832, and Grover Cleveland (originally named “Stephen Grover Cleveland” after the legendary war-veteran Stephen Grover) was born here to Ann and Richard Cleveland. Richard Cleveland was a presbyterian minister of the local church, and when he got on the wrong side of the church (sometimes church groups like this can be very pretentious), Cleveland resigned his position, and were basically evicted from the house (given by the church to those who served in it).

Though young Grover lived here for only 3 and 1/2 years, it is still an important place in his life, and has the largest collection of Grover Cleveland artifacts anywhere.

An example of a letter involving the Cleveland household. You’d think that Grover’s father would be nice enough to give a hand with the laundry every now and again…

The kitchen cabinet, with several original Cleveland plates, china and trays. Many of the objects in here were original, including the actual sturdy oak floor beneath our feet.

The very bed and room where Cleveland was born in 1837. The house was originally bought by enthusiasts who wished to provide a birthday present to the 71-year old Former President in 1907. A few years later (and after his death), it opened up to the public as a museum house!

Part of the museum area (not my picture). There was a terrific set of memoribilia here.

A young Grover Cleveland, who had to become the main breadwinner of the family following his father’s death when he was 16. Grover quickly rose through the ranks to become a lawyer, the sheriff of Erie County (in New York where Buffalo is located), the Mayor of Buffalo, Governor of New York, and then of course, President of the United States.

The first Democrat elected since 1857 (he was elected in 1884), Cleveland maintained a conservative stance on his actions, promoted the Gold Standard (the continued minting of gold instead of unlimited silver), strengthened U.S. defences through a modern Navy, and established the Interstate Commerce Comission (ICC) in 1887. Though by no means the best president out there (especially considering his inability to handle economic crisises, he is generally ranked in the mid-upper tier, especially because of his good-character and moral-centered ideals.

A picture of the marrige of Grover and Frances Cleveland. It was true love, and Mrs. Cleveland would become a prominant player in Washington Politics/social life.

A nice portrait of “Grover the Good”. He was one of our heavier presidents perhaps only exceeded in weight by William Howard Taft.

Some special coats and effects of President Cleveland. He had very large clothes to accomodate his weight.

Cleveland suffered a cancerous sore that damaged much of his upper mouth. On a trip that was publicly known as a “Fishing Trip”, he was operated on by surgeons, who took the tumor out, and replaced the area with a rubber jaw. The left cast was after the surgery in 1893, and the right one is from 4 years later.

An older, and much slimmer Grover Cleveland. It’s hard to believe that this is him… he looks very thin. He became a well respected elder statesman and trustee of Princeton University after retiring there.

Uh oh, it’s the President! All hands on deck!

Okay okay… it’s just a cutout. Still love this picture though.

Remember Woodrow Wilson on the $100,000 banknote? Grover Cleveland is on the $1,000 (though this is just a postcard, not the money, don’t get too excited)!

But you know, even though this was a relatively small stop, it’s still crucial to visit sites like this. Not only is this the only Grover Cleveland Museum, but it also offers a fascinating view into Cleveland’s life that you would not suspect until you visit the interior.

So, all I can say is, never underestimate the content of some places… you may be very suprised.

 

Unfortunetly, I regret to inform you all that by the time we got to West Orange, the Thomas Edison National Historical Park (a planned stop on our journey) was in the process of closing, and we weren’t able to get a proper look into the place. Combined with the fact that many of the buildings were under restoration (and the grounds and mansion of Edison’s home of Glenmont also closed to rennovation), we could only explore the outside of it.

Many people attribute his famous “Menlo Park” labratory (see the Greenfield Village post from my last trip to see the actual “Menlo Park!”) as his main factory complex. That is perhaps true, but he used Menlo Park to attain the status of a world-class inventor, such as creating one of the first efficient lightbulbs. This labratory here however, is his entire complex in the later part of his career, where he ran countless experiments and created thousands of inventions which he would mass-produce.

Had we the time, we would have loved to go inside, but we have other pressing matters to attend to…

Such as this… NEW YORK CITY!

Seeing the skyline of the largest city in the country is very exhilarating, and quite a sight to behold… though I have seen New York City only a little over a year ago, it’s impact has still not left me…

That impact kinda equals a love=hate relationship, but I think it’s only natural for everyone who doesn’t live there. You grow fonder of it when you have time to reflect on it.

For those unfamilliar to the layout of this massive city, allow me to elaborate on the five “Boroughs”; or sections of the city.

1. Manhattan: Manhattan Island is the cultural, political, and financial center of the city, and is what most people think of whenever they think of New York City. Famed landmarks such as The Empire State Building, Central Park, and The One World Trade Center dominate the landscape, and it is the most densely populated area in the Country.
2. Brooklyn: The most populous borough of the five sections, Brooklyn has become a center for financial buisnesses, fine arts establishments, and economic development, rested on the west end of Long Island.
3. Queens: The largest borough in terms of physical size, Queens also rests on Long Island, featuring key places such as John F. Kennedy International Airport, Citi Field (Home to the New York Mets), and various television/movie studios.
4. The Bronx: The Northernmost of the Five Boroughs connecting to Mainland New York State, the Bronx features landmarks such as the Yankee’s Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo.
5. Staten island: The smallest of the five boroughs, and likely the least populated as well, containing many parks, museums, and fine arts cultural excursions.

 

Since we are on a scheduele, we are sticking to must-see locations found solely on Manhattan Island, as well as Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

For now though, let’s head in!

Through the Holland Tunnel we go… and under the Hudson River itself!

We emerged onto the packed streets of Manhattan, filled with people of all shapes, sizes, ethnicities and backgrounds… you couldn’t help but wonder what each person’s story was.

Also, I would like to take this time to say that there is not a “fleet” of taxi-cars in New York City… by no means…

Instead, I am saying that there is a WHOLE ARMADA IN HERE!

Seriously! They number in the hundreds, and you can never go down a single block without spotting at least one.

And don’t even get me started on the amount of Starbucks in this place, there’s over 200 on Manhattan Island alone!

But I digress… let’s continue.

The One World Trade Center… the tallest-building in the entire Western Hemisphere, and the sixth tallest building in the entire world. It’s a marvel to behold, we’ll see it later this week of course, up close.

Our hotel room was way up on the 21st floor… it is very shocking, but it does offer a nice view… or at least, what one could find in a mass-city like this.

See that really tall building there? That is the Empire State Building, one of the tallest structures in the city, and once the tallest-building in the world!

We’ll also get a much closer look at it in a day or two. The observation deck up there commands a sweeping view of the entirety of New York City and the lands beyond.

 

And well… that is where we are right now! Tomorrow, we plan to explore many neat landmarks just to the south of Central Park (another stop of ours), such as Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Grand Central Station, among others!

We can’t wait to explore the “City that never Sleeps!” We’ll see you soon for our first day in this special city!

Welcome back to the blog!

Today we explored the colonial history of the country’s sixth-largest city:

Philadelphia!

The city of Philly serves as the birthplace of our nation, with key iconic locations and landmarks such as Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, and Christ Church Burial Ground.

So, without further ado, let’s check it out!

The skyline of Philadelphia.. we do not explore most of the downtown area however, the historical areas are located closer to the river.

This is Philadelphia City Hall, which was actually just next to our parking garage! It looks a lot like a castle doesn’t it? Especially with that tower.

William Penn is the one that you might recognize on a tube of “Quaker Oats”. Under him, Pennsylvania and Philadelphia served as the lands for Quakers, the “Society of Friends”. The namesake for Philadelphia however, doesn’t directly correlate to the superstitions that Philadelphians aren’t all that nice.

A statue of Benjamin Franklin, the venerable polymath and founding father! His artisan work into printing began his long path to fame and importance.

After stopping at the visitor center to gather information about the various landmarks around the place, we set out to explore!

These ruins were where the original “President’s House”. Before Washington D.C. was founded, Philadelphia served as the capital for the fledgling United States. It was at this house that George Washington served as president, as well as John Adams (until he moved into the White House). This house was torn down on accident when the surrounding area was being remodeled.

Thankfully however, these foundations of the original house still remain. Many relics have likewise been found here as well.

A long mall of grass dominates the center of the historic sites. This is looking to the north, towards the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Visitor Center, and the National Constitution Center.

And that’s the latter building in the distance. It serves as the main museum for the study of the U.S. Constitution. When we went here 4 years ago (Philadelphia was the other stop on our D.C. trip back then), we went inside, but for now, we don’t have time to go in.

Looking south, one can see Independence Hall, the very birthplace of our Nation. It was in this former Pennsylvania Statehouse that both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed, whcih signified the founding of the United States of America, and it’s federal government.

First however, we have a rendezvous with a symbol of American Liberty… the Liberty Bell!

The legendary bell is kept in this building, where it is on display for all the world to see (given that they make it past the security screening).

 

The Liberty Bell

Detailed exhibits showcase the proud history of the Liberty Bell, which hung up in the steeple of Independence Hall, and, according to legend, rang on the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed (July 4th, 1776). However, as the steeple was rotted at the time, this is considered unlikely to have happened. Still, it has remained in the memory of millions of people as a symbol of freedom, and for all the liberties that the founding fathers strived for.

And here we are…

The famous crack emerged sometime in the early 1800’s, and despite efforts to repair it, it remained there to this day.

I suppose, that just like the Liberty Bell, freedom is fragile… Yet, freedom still rings true. Even if the tones of the bell are now mellowed and weakened, it’s symbol still stands as testament to the ideals that it represents. It’s around this sort of idea that our democracy was based off of, and of our efforts to promote the rights of all peoples. Hopefully it will continue to inspire others to value that special concept as well.

The center also offers a terrific view of Independence Hall. Let’s check it out!

Looking back out the same window. The Liberty Bell rests back in the room, which is nearly impossible to see here.

Independence Hall

Though tours of the interior were filled for the entire day, the building is still impressive to look out on the outside.

There was more security around the place as usual, and so, we couldn’t cross the street as we could before. However, there was a security checkpoint that enabled access into the place.

Yet another statue of Washington. I’m beginning to think that Washington DOES indeed have over a hundred statues…

Seeing this sign is very exciting. I pointed it out with anticipation.

The East Hall of Independence Hall. It’s currently unavailible to the public, and thus closed off.

This is the back of Indepenence Hall. It’s a very nice building, and very well built!

The park and surrounding grounds were also very peaceful! One could just sit here and enjoy the sunny day…

The West Wing of Independence Hall was open however, and had several special artifacts, such as…

An original print of the Declaration of Independence,

An original print of the Articles of Confederation (the pre-Constitution document that detailed the self-government of the colonies,

And the inkstand used to sign both the Declaration and the Constitution. It’s preserved remarkably well.

The building next to the West Wing was “Congress Hall”, where the first Congress met in D.C. for every session until it’s move to Washington .C.

This is the House of Representatives floor (the Senate chamber above is inaccesible). I imagine that debate here was as fiery as that in the current Capitol Building.

Our second President, John Adams, was sworn into office in this very room, soon after Washington willingly gave up his power him. It was an event that would be repeated 43 times elsewhere.

 

The Speaker of the House’s original chair.

The subject of this particular statue, Benjamin Franklin, despised being depicted as a toga, and by extension of a “god” of some sort. Who can blame him? It does look a bit tacky.

The Second National Bank was once the most powerful faction in the Country, until Andrew Jackson declared all out war on it, which he believed oppressed the people. The bank collapsed, and so did the economy, creating the Depression of 1837.

Carpenter’s Hall served as the meeting place for the skilled Carpenter’s guild of Philadelphia, and served as the meeting place for the First Contnental Congress, which drafted a Petition to the King to properly address the high taxes imposed upon them. When the lack of an adequate response came about, the Second Continental Congress was formed to discuss further matters (eventually leading to Independence).

It’s amazing that everything we saw today was within a small vicinity of one another… down one street you’ll find a cemetery, and down this one you’ll find a famous house.. it’s nice really.

Franklin Court was our next stop, where Benjamin Franklin had his house, and his Printing facility.

Unfortunetly, the house is gone, and only the framework of what it would have looked like remains… it’s a shame that the only surviving house today that Ben Franklin lived in at some point is located in London…

Still, one can find foundations here. Dr. Franklin lived here for much of his life, and even died here at age 84 in 1790. He had barely lived to see George Washington become our First President.

Nearby was a small museum with several artifacts and relics of his.

A pair of his bifocal glasses, which he invented. Thank him every time you switch between reading and visual glasses with these babies!

Perhaps one of the first “electricians” in the country, it was he that perfected the concept of a “lightning rod”, which could protect people’s homes from fiery devastation. He really was a genius with a curious mind.

Benjamin Franklin was also a terrific diplomat, and it was he that nearly single-handedly secured France’s alliance with the United States during the Revolutionary War. He was very well liked by the French, and the ladies adored him.

Benjamin Franklin also provided the first concept for the seal of the United States! Did you know that he originally wanted the symbol to be a turkey instead of an eagle? He insisted that it was “a very noble bird”. I am very glad that it didn’t turn out to be that way.

And the piece of wood to the right is a reference to his famous quote when looking at the back of George Washington’s chair following the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, in which he stated:

 “I have often looked at that behind the president without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now I… know that it is a rising…sun.”

And that it was.

Being the oldest delegate to both the Second Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, Franklin was carried through the streets of Philadelphia on this little chariot, lifted up by prisoners from the local jail.

Back outside…

We came across the first Post Office in service in the U.S.! It was Franklin that served as first Postmaster-General. Did you know that he also formed the first public library, and the first fire-station in Philidelphia? He was really quite a brilliant man.

 

Christ Church Burial Ground

This cemetery is very special, because it serves as the final resting places of FIVE different signers of the Declaration of Independence.

It’s a very old cemetery, but nonetheless generally well kept. Given the most famous burial in this place, I am not suprised.

The grave of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, one of the most visited burial sites in the Country.

It’s tradition to throw a penny onto his gravesite, so we did just that.

Franklin’s self-composed epitaph. He was a very witty individual.

We then looked at the other four signer’s gravesites here.

Francis Hopkinson,

The graves of George Ross, and Joseph Hewes (the chief delegate of North Carolina to the Second Continental Congress).

Dr. Benjamin Rush is also buried here. His medical expertise led him to be called the “Father of American Psychiatry”.

From the outside of the cemetery, one can still gaze at Dr. Franklin’s grave, from a fenced part of the wall.

Franklin’s resume. God did he do a lot…

We continued on our path, down the street, past the Philadelphia Mint (one of two in the entire country, opposite Denver’s), and onward.

Betsy Ross House

Though we went inside the house itself on the trip 4 years ago, this was only a brief stop for the exterior this time around. Betsy Ross was the women who sewed the first American Flag, with the famous “stars and stripes”. It became a rallying symbol for the young nation.

The courtyard opens up into the House Tour and the Gift Shop. We only stopped briefly for one thing…

The grave of Betsy Ross and her husband.

Located in the courtyard, we only stopped briefly to pay our respects. We then continued onwards yet again.

 

Elfreth’s Alley

Hold onto your Jeans (or whatever you are wearing), this is a neat place!

Elfreth’s Alley is perfectly preserved to the way it was in colonial days, and is perhaps one of the last remaining testaments to that era in this city, let alone the whole country.

And people still live in these houses, but one can only imagine that the prices are through the roof.

A spotter window, which one could use on the second floor to look at visitors at the door who came to visit the shop, or gaze at passing pedestrians back in the day.

 

Christ Church

The “Christ Church” in “Christ Church Burial Ground”, this place has even more signers of the Declaration and Constitution buried here! Including,

Pierce Butler,

Robert Morris,

Jacob Broom,

And James Wilson, who signed both signifiant documents, and was one of the first Associate Judges of the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

City Tavern

For our final stop of the day, we checked out the “City Tavern”, a period restaurant that dates back to the colonial days, and served patrons such as George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere! Imagine the conversations that went on there!

If you ever find yourself in Philadelphia, I definetly reccomend this place, which serves top-quality food! Though on the expensive side, it is a Must-see sight!

With good rooms and tables of a historical vibe,

Good drink and cheer (I absolutely love drinking Apple Cider from goblets),

And best of all, Great Food! I reccomend the Turkey Pot Pie here. It is fabulous, with the best flakey crust. And Don’t even get me started on the Blueberry Cobbler!

 

Well, after stuffing ourselves full, we returned to our car, and began our trek to the next major city in the trip… New York City!

Though thankfully, that day isn’t here just yet.

After making our own “Crossing of the Delaware (River)” just like Washington and his soldiers did, we entered New Jersey, and travelled through Trenton and deeper into the state.

We are currently staying in Princeton, home of Princeton University, the famous Ivy-League University. We will be off to explore three different sites in New Jersey, before we arrive on Manhattan Island in “The Big Apple”!

How we are going to pull of that last bit, I am not certain yet. We’ll just deal with it as it comes I suppose.

So, until then, I will see you all later! Take care!

And we’re Live (not really), with day 9 of Roadtrip 2019!

Day 9 features our journey throughout more of Lower Pennsylvania,  including our exploration of the city of Lancaster (and the sites of 15th President James Buchanan), as well as Valley Forge, the very place where the Continental Army bedded down to withstand the harsh winters during the American Revolution, and where they trained to turn the tide of the conflict.

Let’s dive right in!

 

Lancaster (James Buchanan’s “Wheatland” and Woodward Hill Cemetery)

Lancaster is the sixth largest town in Pennsylvania, and was home to the only U.S. President that hailed from this state: James Buchanan!

Buchanan is often hailed by many to be our worst President in U.S. History, for either his incompetant abilities to prevent the Civil War, or his southern favouritism that hastened the Civil War, depending on who you ask.

The “Lancaster History” Campus is the only decent place where one can learn from a historic site of James Buchanan, for it contains his estate of “Wheatland”, where he retreated to escape scalding hatred and bitterness towards him.

It’s a gorgeous home, well tucked away in the more wooded areas of the city.

Buchanan purchased this federal-style brick house in 1848, and was his primary residence until his death in 1868.

Our guide was a sweet-old lady wearing a period dress of the time, hoop-skirt and all. Nevermind the temperature on this hot day, how is she able to move around!?

Well anyways, we went inside.

The entry hall was pretty symmetrical, as was the rest of the house. Many of the materials in the house were original pieces, some of which have never left the house since Buchanan’s time.

Buchanan’s dining room. He loved to host small parties, and loved to strike up terrific conversations. Unfortunetly, his infamy would cut those celebrations out, permenantly.

All of those pieces on the table were original china that the Buchanans used here, as well as in the White House. Fun fact, there were 500 different pieces to this china set, so Buchanan had no need to order new sets for the White House receptions. His favourite food was actually Sauerkraut, which might come from the german/dutch influence in this area, which the Amish frequent.

These original pieces of china were bought at a bargain price from the U.S. French Ambassador, and were also used in the White House. They certainly had an impressive collection.

Moving right along, we found the Parlor Room of the house, where Buchanan often entertained guests who would come. That portrait above the mantlepiece is Buchanan, who was a very natty dresser.

And this is Miss Harriet Lane, President Buchanan’s niece, in her late 70’s. She served as White House hostess in her uncle’s administration, and by extension, as the First Lady. Buchanan is our “Bachelor” president, for he was the only one of the 44 men to grace the office to never be married. Harriet Lane tried much to preserve her uncle’s legacy, and helped start art collections in D.C., and a pediatric foot-clinic in Baltimore.

And this is her when she was younger. Mary Todd Lincoln didn’t like her very much, likely out of envy.

Various sketches like this were scattered around the place, in an effort to show how similar the place was to what it is today.

A portrait of James Buchanan. One of his eyes was far-sighted, and the other was near-sighted, hence the slight leaning of his head. His holding of a book signifies his status of an educated man (he was by trade a lawyer).

Buchanan’s office, which he often used. The expertly-crafted desk there is the actual one that he used during his time in the White House.

And this is Buchanan’s library, which he used to a decent extent.

All of these books are original: he adored reading, especially about the Constitution, and his ultimate hero, George Washington.

Buchanan would often interview applicants to his small staff here at this table. Let’s get a closer look at that picture back there.

The man standing at the forefront of the picture is Henry Clay, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. This depicts the debate over the Missouri Compromise, which would ensure a clear and defined line between states that advocated slavery, and those that have abolished it.

Only a few days after he entered office, the infamous “Dred Scott Deision” was handed down by the Supreme Court, which mandated that slaves were property. Buchanan backed this decision, and various concessions that followed the decision would invalidate the Missouri Compromise, infuriating northern voters.

Buchanan was an oddity in that time period… he was a Northern Democrat with southern sympathies, which was easily how he got elected in the first place. As a compromiser, he tried to please everyone, but in the end, he would please no one. Perhaps his greatest fault was that he never viewed Slavery as a moral issue, thus dooming his chances of success.

A bust of Buchanan. Does he ever comb his hair?

Harriet Lane’s room. Note all the lovely wallpaper.

This is one of the most ornate pieces of furniture I have ever seen… who know’s how much it’s worth…

This was room of Buchanan’s nephew, “Buck”, who served as his secretary. It is comparatively smaller than the other rooms, he rarey spent time here.

Buchanan’s bedroom. It was in this bed here that the president passed away in the peacefulness of his home. Shortly before he died, he claimed that “History would Vindicate his memory.” He would turn out to be as bad a prophet as he was a President.

This is a nightchair, designed to have a lift-up lid, so a chamberpot could be placed underneath for “necessary buisness”. And all that makes sense, except for if you don’t need to go. Wouldn’t that handle be unconfortable to sit on?

The sink of the 1800’s. It was not hard to get fresh water, given that three springs ran on the property.

A very deep bathtub, which I am suprised is in the house. Maybe it was an addition to the house after he died?

We then headed back outside.

Wheatland is still a very nice house. I can see why Buchanan loved it so. Solitary, peaceful and lush.

A stable installed after Buchanan’s death.

This outhouse has a fascinating history. One of the former owners of this estate had a large family with over 10 children, so it features two adult seats, a teenager seat, and two for children. I mean geez, you could have whole cabinet meeting in there (by no means am I saying that happened).

In the visitor center, we came across a few more items of interest.

This wax figure of Buchanan originally came from the Presidential Wax Museum in Gettysburg, which closed down three years ago due to a lack of funding. Likely, it didn’t get much buisness considering the quality of places like Madame Tussauds. Still, it’s a decent enough figure.

The wig and work-desk of Lancaster-native Thaddeus Stevens, who was a legendary Radical Republican during the days of the Civil War, and who helped to champion the efforts of the ratification of the 13th Amendment that ended slavery, and further equal rights for African-Americans.

A very beautiful dress of Harriet Lane on display. There was another dress like this back in the Smithsonian First Ladies collection in D.C.

Assorted relics and artifacts from local history. Lancaster is one of the oldest inland towns in the entire country.

A library that probably is a terrific archive for anything Lancaster-related, or Buchanan-related.

After getting a nice collector’s lapel pin, we hurried deeper into town to discover Woodward Hill Cemetery, the final resting place of James Buchanan.

Oh there we go. Let’s check it out.

This was a VERY old cemetery, many graves of which were too inelligible to make out.

On the right track.

While I am here, I would like to note how unkept this cemetery is… many of the tombstones and tombs were either leaned, toppled, or broken. It seems that few efforts have been made to repair the cemetery.

Like this. This is just disgraceful… there was even a family of marmots (or groundhogs) that were living in holes that led either next to or into a grave… I hope that this cemetery is fixed up soon.

And this is the gravesite of our 15th President, James Buchanan…

That decayed wreath on the right was likely left by the previous ceremony on his birthday. On the birthday of each President, a wreath is laid at their gravesite to commemorate their status as president. Buchanan’s birthday is only about 10 days away.

That marker below the grave indicates his service in the War of 1812, where he was only a private. Still, military service is still military service.

 

Well, at this point, I wonder if Buchanan was possibly in the wrong place at the wrong time? After all, his resume was exceptional. He previously served in both houses of the Pennsylvania State Legislature, both houses of the U.S. Congress, Ambassador to Great Britain, Ambassador to Russia, and as Secretary of State.

It takes a lot to be President, and he had to have some skill to get into office. And few know the burdens of the office that each of those 44 men had to undertake…

However, Buchanan’s actions of incompetence and misplaced beliefs led to the quickening of secession, to where many of his cabinet and citizens departed to create the Confederate States. His attempts to add some credit to his administration that circumvent his shortcomings were certainly not well impacted either.

So, who was the real James Buchanan? Was he truly a victim of his office, or a “traitor” to the Union?

You be the judge.

 

We continued on our trek further east, towards King of Prussia (yes, that is in fact a town), and Philadelphia.

After a directional mishap (in which we almost backtracked west to Gettysburg), and difficulty in dealing with the toll roads (Pennsylvania is practically laden with them), we finally reached the other stop of the day. Valley Forge!

 

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge served as the major hub of activity for the Continental Army led by General George Washington as they evaded the British. Throughout the harshness of winter and the throngs of pestillence, the colonists here trained and better prepared themselves to combat their opponents, before and after the famous “Crossing of the Delaware”.

We’ve a lot to cover. Let’s get to it!

This is what is called a “Redoubt”, which was a dug out trench camoflaged by grass and shrubbery. There were several of these scattered throughout the field.

For colonial times, these were very high-quality and well-built cabins, which was comfy to many of the soldiers. However, there was still the bitter cold and disease to deal with. None of the cabins here are original of course, having long since decayed or been dismantled.

These rolling plains are absolutely beautiful… it seems impossible to imagine that this place was once filled with hundreds of those little cabins… it took 10 full years for the land to recover after the marks left behind by the camp.

Another cabin. Let’s have a look in shall we?

Bunks lie on both sides of the house, and one can faintly hear the birds coming from a nest near the chimney neck. Doing the chores and tasks needed to build the houses helped keep the soldiers warm, and give them something to do other than sitting around and shivering.

This impressive monument is the Memorial Arch, which commemorates the struggles and hope that the soldiers were intertwined with here.

2,000 of the 12,000 soldiers stationed here died of cold and disease, and 4,000 more had left either due to desertion or of the need to treat the wounded. One can’t imagin what they had to endure.

Henry Knox, who can be seen in the lower left column of commanders on this wall in the last picture, would become the first Secretary of War, who would of course work under President Washington. Alexander Hamilton also served under Washington here at Valley Forge, and who would become the first Secretary of the Treasury.

A memorial of the Freemasons of Pennsylvania to George Washington, of which he was a member.

One of many division markers in the camp, similar to those of Gettysburg.

A memorial gate to the soldiers of Pennsylvania who were garrisoned here. Pensylvania had the most troups stationed here out of any other of the colonies/states.

A statue of Anthony Wayne, a firebrand of aggressiveness in the Continental Army, was an inspiring figure who was well respected by both Washington and his soldiers for his determination and willpower.

The woods on Mount Joy, the mountain located in the center of the area, was lush and filled with life. One could stay forever here..

Yet another Redoubt. Not the last one we’ll see here.

One of several farms here. This was Henry Knox’s headquarters in Valley Forge.

More cabins in the distance. Walking trails slither throughout every crook and dell of this place.

A neat bridge-tunnel… how neat it would be to go through there…

But we didn’t! We instead took the road to the right, further up into Mount Joy.

A nice building on the place, which we cannot remember it’s purpose.

Why is it called Valley Forge you ask?

If you can’t read the print all that well, this valley was indeed a small community that contained a large forge where one could supply vital ironwork to surrounding areas. Before the Continental Army came here however, the British Army swept through this area and sacked the small community, destroying many of it’s buildings, as well as the forge itself.

 

Well… down we go.

 

Ooh, getting close!

 

These houses hosted the guards who personally protected General Washington here. That little white hut there is a springhouse, which was located right under a natural spring.

 

And down it goes towards more of the property…

 

 

I would love to learn how man statues of George Washington there are out there… I would easily say over a hundred perhaps?

 

 

Washington’s headquarters in Valley Forge, as well as the headquarters for the High Command of the entire Continental Army. He stayed here for 6 full month, preparing for the bitter tasks ahead…

 

Some of the cramped offices in the house (Alexander Hamilton was one of the ones to work here).

 

George Washington’s office, and his study in the back. He often kept to correspondance and writing in this place.

 

The bedroom of General Washington, as well as his wife Martha, who was called “The Lady of Valley Forge” for her support of the soldiers there.

 

 

A guest bedroom, with assorted items and memorabilia.

 

 

The kitchen, with a large fireplace large enough to fit an an entire person inside… seeing those pies on the right makes me hungry again…

 

 

A very nice house, which was NOT built with the other cabins. It was built before the army came.

 

Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus Baron de Steuben was a prussian officer that had previously served under King Frederick the Great, and had moved to North America to aid in the endeavors of the army there. An expert in tactical strategy and drilling recruits, he didn’t speak a word of english. A undersecretary thankfully could translate his swearing and commands to the soldiers, who were whipped into much better shape and discipline that could rival the British Redcoats.

 

More lovely wooden glades on Mount Joy…

A memorial to soldiers of New Jersey. This is a similar pattern in honoring soldiers like in Gettysburg, isn’t it?

Though many cannons lay strewn across the place, these are only reproductions. Still, they look pretty accurate.

More special info on a Redoubt, along iwth the insides of a real one. Though it is covered with overgrowth, one can still see traces of the trenches.

Washington originally camped here, until moving to his more permenant quarters.

Whoops, pause one second. I’ll get right back to you.

Ah that’s better… This is the “Grand Parade” area, where gatherings and celebrations would be held. It’s large enough to hold an entire army (which is what just happened).

A statue of Baron Von Steuben. Looks nice and reflective now that the rain is gone.

This special Episcopal chapel was built to commemorate the memory of the Washington and his soldiers that braved thick and thin here.

A very beautiful courtyard.

Washington was especially impressed by the patience and resolve of his men… who braved the worst conditions that nature could throw at them, so they could still fight against tyranny that threatened their families and homes. Valley Forge is a terrific site of the sturggles that they went through, and a birthplace of resolve for those soldiers who needed inspiration to prevail in this very long and bitter war. The meadows may be silent now, but they still echo the sounds of hope that the soldiers had to have… it’s an encouraging thought.

 

We are now  “encamped” at the nearest hotel in King of Prussia (used to think three word towns were kept only in England, like “Stratford-Upon-Avon” or stuff like that). Tommorow, we drive onto Philadelphia, one of the most famous towns in the entire country, and the birthplace of the United States of America! After a day there, we will hurry on into New Jersey, and continue our adventure towards New York City!

Thanks for coming everyone, and i’ll see you soon!

Oh, I didn’t see you there! On account of the fact that I can’t see you!

Hehe, sorry, welcome to Day 8 of our trip!

Today we explored much of the town and sites around Gettysburg, home to the major Civil War battle of the same name, as well as the Eisenhower Farm, where General and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower lived for a good portion of his life. We easily spent the entire day here, as there was so much to cover.

Word of Warning: This is my longest post yet, so feel free to view this day at your own leisure. It’s a bit.

So, without further ado, this is our look into the extensive history and depth of Gettysburg, one of the most Historic towns in America!

 

Gettysburg National Military Park

 

First, let me start off by saying that we originally thought that we would only spend about 2/3 hours in Gettysburg. How wrong we were…

2/3 hours eventually turned into 8 hours…we had no idea how filled with content the entire vicinity of this park and it’s surroundings was.

We were very pleasantly suprised by the size and cleanliness of the visitor center, which was only 10 years old! Definetly one of our better ones to visit.

Our dear Abraham Lincoln (we’ve seen a lot of Lincoln stuff haven’t we?), immortalized in this statue.

He was our tallest President (which many of you might probably know), at 6’4.

After obtaining more information from the information desk, we got ourselves full-admission tickets, which encompassed a bus tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, the museum portion of the building, admittance to one of only two Cycloramas in the entire country (the other, in Atlanta, Georgia, we have actually seen! I’ll explain in a bit), and shuttle access to the Eisenhower Farm (the only way to get to the site).

First, we eagerly got on our battlefield tour bus, and we were off on our two-hour trek!

Situated near the Blue Ridge Mountains, Gettysburg has countless memorials and historical markers that dot the landscape. This was just outside the gate too, so this is just a taste of what’s to come.

First going through Gettysburg town, we could easily see that this was a city that was completely inside the ring of History that the Military Park surrounded it with. Imagine living in a town of such import like this.

This house on the outskirts of town was the site of the only civilian casualty of the entire battle. A young woman was baking bread in her kitchen, when a cannonball broke through the roof and killed her instantly. Now she is remembered by the statue in front of her house.

This Presbyterian Church is where General Eisenhower worshipped while he lived in Gettysburg (he is one of our eight Presbyterian Presidents, yet before he became so, he was a Jehovah’s Witness).

The Wills House was where Abraham Lincoln stayed during his time in Gettysburg, and where he finished his legendary “Gettysburg Address”. His room was on the second level, second window from the right.

We then entered onto the battlefield itself.

It was absolutely massive… makeshift fences, rolling hills, and regiment monuments as far as the eye could see.

The entire battle lasted three full days, from July 1st, to July 3rd of 1863. Confederate forces, led by General Robert E. Lee,

(That’s him,) sought to gain a foothold in the north by capturing Gettysburg, a crossroads town that not only could control major supply and reinforcement roads, but also levy pressure away from the siege of Vicksburg to the south.

Seeking to intercept Lee’s army was the Grand Army of the Potomic, led by Union General George G. Meade

(shown here), came upon the enemy by suprise, and three days of bloody fighting erupted…

These are just some samples of the regiment memorials located here. The first two are New York regiments, and the third is of a Pennsylvania regiment. They each vary in shape and size, and there is at least one marker for every state that participated in the battle (including those in the Confederacy).

Cannons of this like were used by both opposing sides, and rested all over the fields, especially along the fencelines and roads. This particular cannon has suffered heavy oxidation, resulting in it’s greenish tint (The Statue of Liberty has the same case).

This monument is called the “Eternal Light Peace Memorial”, dedicated by over 1,800 Civil War veterans towards the goal of “Peace Eternal in a Nation United”. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy had visited the site, and had so moved her, that she got the inspiration to add an Eternal Flame to the gravesite of her soon-to-be late husband.

Yet more memorials. Plaques like the one in the second picture above can be found all over the place. This particular one commemorates the actions of the Army of Northern Virginia: Robert E. Lee’s main fighting force.

A very expensive house property on the border of the Park. Can I say how envious I am of this house?

This neat memorial is dedicated to those who hailed from North Carolina who fought in the Confederate Army. Many people often forget that these rebels also haved loved ones and homelands just like those of the Union Army, and suffered equally disastrous carnage in their families.

More batteries overlooking to the east. Due to Union sighters, the Confederates had difficulty maintaining this strategic spot.

The wooded dells of this place are just beautiful…

One of several Equestrian statues in the field. This particular one is dedicated to Robert E. Lee.

A recently opened up field, where countless men on both sides fell. When not by ranged artillery and guns, fighting fell to close combat with bayonets and swords.

–

More Confederate Memorials.

This is looking towards the Eisenhower Farm! We’ll gt back there in a bit.

Yet more memorials. Behind them is the Peach Orchard, which sadly was dampened by the blood of so many of the fallen.

A makeshift barricade/fence.  I am sure that most of these are not original, yet were made in the same fashion as those that were.

Devil’s Den, a rugged place of rock and fern, became a valley of death, particularly when Texan and Alabaman forces tried to storm Little Round Top, the nearby mountain.

And this is Little Round Top (as opposed to Big Round Top, which was involved little in the battle). The majority of the highground in the surrounding area, this was a strategic point that the Union Troops continued to hold throughout the three days, and repelled all Confederate attacks on it.

The view from the hill was absolutely picturesque. Like something from a postcard or painting, but much much better…

Down the hill was “Cemetery Ridge”, which would prove to be an unfortunetly proper name..

Some of these markers are absolutely HUGE!

Like this one from Vermont.

Or this Equestrian Statue,

Or the largest of them all, the Pennsylvania Monument!

Each large plaque on the wall is inscribed with all the Union Participants of the battle, including those that were felled on the bloody fields.

Abraham Lincoln, who is no doubt honored for his famous speech here. My dad, who visited this place over 50 years ago, remembers this particular monument.

Up on the observation deck (yes, there is one here), one can see a terrific view of the skies and the field (thankfully, that raincloud came nowhere near us).

This statue is of the last surviving veteran of the Civil War, who lived until 1956, at over 100 years old! Can you imagine that?

General Meade’s headquarters, which he stayed in for most of the battle. Any building in the vicinity was converted into amakeshift hospital for the dead, the dying, and the wounded. The throng of screams and decay was enough to horrify even the strongest of souls.

Gettysburg National Cemetery has headstones very much similar to those of Arlington National Cemetery. Though we only caught a glimpse of it, it still conveys much of the same feelings as Arlington did.

 

Then, once we arrived back at the visitor center, we took some time to explore the Museum, and the Cyclorama!

Hm? What’s that you ask? Well, let me explain.

A Cyclorama is a 360 degrees panoramic painting, designed in perspective so that it feels that viewers feel immersed into the events that the painting portrays. They were kind of the “movies” of the 1800’s if you will.

Only 16 Cycloramas currently exist in the entire world. While four of those are located in the United States, only two are are still functioning: “The Battle of Atlanta” located in Atlanta, Georgia (which we have seen), and the one here at the visitor center, “The Battle of Gettysburg”.

I feel that this one is much more immersive than the one in Atlanta. The ground decor in front of the painting only lends to the realism of the piece.

The painting is slightly curved in perspective to create the illusion that the painting is 3D. It certainly looks like the mountains in the distance are really there, though no camera could truly capture the magnificence and scale of it.

Like this picture! You cant even tell where the real decor meets with the painting! It meshes in so well… my only regret is that we had less time to spend in it, since tours were on a timetable basis.

So, we proceeded to the museums.

A massive assortment of rifles and muskets used by both Union and Confederate soldiers. This museum has perhaps one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts in all of the world!

Various artillery shells, many of which have various effects, such as scattershot, grapeshot, or just plain power damage. Who knows what else might be found out in the fields of Gettysburg undisturbed for generations?

Various regiment buttons and signils. It’s amazing that they are still legible.

An impressive assortment of pistols. It makes you wonder the story behind each one.

The museum was both very detailed and very immersive, and delved into the very causes and leading factors that led to the Civil War. It also explored several key events and battles that occured during the war, such as Fort Sumter, The Emancipation Proclamation, and of course, Gettysburg.

This drum was used during the Mexican-American War, which helped to substantially increase the territory of the U.S. The increasing aquirement of new land often offered the question of introducing slavery to it or not. This bitter idea would only divide North and South.

Abner Doubleday, according was legend, was supposedly the creater of American Baseball, and his name might be found in certain Baseball Merchandise.

Four cannon shells that bombarded the Union fort during the Siege of Fort Sumter, which was the first conflict in the Civil War. Lincoln sent reinforcements to protect the Union, and more states seceeded to help form the Confederate States of America.

The leaders of both nations were U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, and Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis, in comparison with Lincoln, was more stubborn, domineering, and prideful in his leadership skills, which did not contribute well to fighting the Union, which was backed by the contemplative, decisive and morally-driven character of Lincoln.

Can you imagine carrying all this weight around like a Union Soldier had to back in the day? Together, a water canteen, a rifle, ammunition pouch and knapsack would weigh well over 30 pounds, and be enough to slow down anyone.

An officer’s uniform, as one might have seen during the battle.

The smallest chess set that I have ever seen in my life… soldiers often resorted to card and board games like this to keep their minds off the carnage of war.

A typical rebel uniform, which wasn’t always in unison with the other confederate uniforms.

A copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, and shackles that once bound a slave’s limbs together. Though the document is merely a copy, Abraham Lincoln’s actual signature is found here, written after printing.

A typical officer’s camp. It was a lot of effects, come to think of it.

The cot, desk, and other effects used by Robert E. Lee during the invasion of Pennsylvania. Lee might I add, was a distant relative of George Washington, his wife being General Washington’s great-granddaughter.

The cot used to carry away a mortally wounded Stonewall Jackson during the battle of Chancellorsville. The table was where they amputated his arm in an attempt to save his life… this is just plain eerie.

More assorted pistols.

Look at the sharpshooter rifle on the left. I have never seen anything like it in my life, and it weighs over 30 pounds…

Some shoulder braces that belonged to George Armstrong Custer, the same General who would fall years later at the Battle of Little Bighorn in his famed “Custer’s Last Stand”.

And for reference, this is “Custer’s First Stand” (Heh, I’m just kidding. I love Far Side Comics).

Photos of many of the participants of the battle. Looking into their faces makes me realized that many were young teens, who had to witness all of these horrible things.

Certain medical tools used by medics… and yes, THAT in the top is a bone saw, used for amputation. Infections couldn’t be treated back then, so that was the only way.

Words cannot express how sickening this is. I won’t even try.

And finally, the very pen used to sign the surrender of Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, which offically ended the Civil War. The telegram there was also located at Appomattox, used to relay the message of the surrender abroad.

 

The battlefields have long laid dormant since it was tinged with the blood and scorch-marks of the Civil War… long enough it would seem, that new growth has begun to heal this place. The battle was a turning point in the Civil War, and yet it’s intimate memory has faded into the past, forcing us to rely on such signs as the battlefields and artifacts here for us to interpret and understand.

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”

-Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln truly forsaw that the struggle and sacrifice would be remembered here. The last gifts of strength that all of the deceased have given together to provide special spirit into the burrows and heights of this place. It was here that individuals, just like you and me, struggled and endeavored to protect the prospect of freedom that was being threatened by the divisiveness of the war… We can never forget the sacrifices of the past that have been made for us, for they are the reason that we are living and breathing here today. And so, let us keep the Union. Let us keep the Union.

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth…”

-Abraham Lincoln

 

After visiting the gift shop, we then prepared to head to our final destination of the day, which can only be accessed via shuttle bus from the Visitor Center. And so, let us now pay tribute to a very esteemed man who called this place home.

Eisenhower National Historic Site

Ah, we’re here.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his beloved wife Mamie wanted a place to actually own and live-in… they had moved almost 40 different times over the past few years because of “Ike’s” military career, but all of which were only temporary venues. Seeing that this place was infused with special history (Gettysburg Battlefield, which he loved to visit), and it was a quiet place of simple-taste, the couple sought to create a farm of their own, and in 1950, they got just that.

Of course, it wouldn’t turn out that way. He would soon become temporary head of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and then as 34th President of the United States. In close proximity to the White House however, Eisenhower spent much of his time at this ranch, and it served as a personal retreat as well as a diplomatic tool. He welcomed esteemed guests here, such as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, and the most infamous of them all, Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev.

All that was relayed to us by our park ranger (the National Park Service owns both the farm and the Gettysburg Military Park), who went on further to explain that the Eisenhowers lived their retirement here, and, following “Ike’s” death in 1969, Mamie continued to live here until the late 1970’s.

The barn, served as a storage place for farming equipment,

such as this tractor.

This building served as a one-room guesthouse, where many famous individuals (like the ones mentioned before), stayed.

This sundial is completely useless… I mean come on, it’s not even in the sunlight!

And here, is the personal house of Dwight and Mamie.

Let’s step in, shall we?

This wallpaper seems very presidential, which is proper, considering.

The formal parlor of the Eisenhower estate. Eisenhower did not use this room very much, yet put many displays around to show their family’s history and items.

And there is Mamie herself! She’s just precious.

She is famous for popularizing the color “Pink” in fashion in the 50’s, as well as the “Pillbox” hat.

A picture of David Eisenhower, “Ike’s” grandson.

See the resemblence?

David Eisenhower would go on to marry Julie Nixon, who was none other than Richard Nixon’s daughter. The Nixon/Eisenhower Family union would become very well known, and receive much publicity.

Some prized items of Mamie. Mamie Doud originally hailed from a rich family in Iowa, thus she inherited many heirlooms. Her mother Elivera once told her to “Never learn how to cook”. That way, no one will expect you to do that”.

I’m not sure whether to laugh at that or scratch my head. I think i’ll do both.

This fireplace came from the White House! How they moved it all the way from D.C. is beyond me.

The porch room was the main hub of the Eisenhowers’ activity. Ike would often paint in this room, which was one of his many hobbies. In casual occasions, Ike and Mamie would eat from TV Dinner trays in this room.

When they visited, their grandkids would often watch TV here. The Eisenhowers loved the TV, and it’s said that Mamie adored the soap opera, “As the World Turns”.

The Eisenhower’s Dining Hall, used for formal occasions. Ike was actually a very good cook, and sometimes cooked meals for visitors.

We then headed upstairs.

The General’s personal bedroom, which is ironically small.

The Master Bedroom (which was really Mamie’s room). Much of the rooms are dark to help preseve many of the original items here.

Mamie’s Bedroom. She loved the color pink.

Mamie’s Closet,  She also loved the color pink (Do you seem to notice a pattern here?)

A guest room (formerly Mamie’s mother’s room, before she died).

The kitchen, which is also ironically small.

Ike’s den, which he likely used as a personal retreat.

This very small office was where Eisenhower would work on any official matters that came to him during his administration and his retirement. He spent nearly an eighth of his Presidency here at the farm…

Ooh, a windmill! This one is decorative, but still adds a nice touch.

And this is the back of the farmhouse. It must provide an excellent view of the lands around it.

Some neat railroad bells, alluding to the fact that Ike’s father worked on the railroads back in Kansas, where most of the former’s childhood memories were (and in the present day, his Presidential Library and gravesite).

Eisenhower loved to tend to the vegetables he grew on the property (he also maintained an excellent herd of Black Angus Cattle for show.

“Eisenhower’s Green”, where he practiced his golf puts. Eisenhower was one of the most enthusiastic golfers ever to be in the Oval Office. I look at this view and I chuckle, it’s easy to picture him swearing after hitting off a faulty shot.

 

Though this was only a brief stop, it was special to see a place like this. After all, how could a man, who is viewed like this:

Also be in this?-

It’s a fascinating comparison… places like this are where one can find the true nature of their subjects… Eisenhower was many things, a five-star general, a President, a farmer, and a proud grandfather. All of that could be found meshed in this special place, where he intended to “Leave the land better than he found it”. You’ve got to admire that. After seeing his personality imbued in this place, I can say with certainty,

 

Well, thank you for bearing with me (well, for any of you who haven’t fallen asleep yet), for what is currently the record-breaker for the longest post i’ve ever done!

We are currently staying in Mountville, Pennsylvania, an hour and a half away to the east from Gettysburg. We now plan to explore the town of Lancaster to discover the “botched” legacy of President James Buchanan, as well as the wooded crags of “Valley Forge”, where the Continental Army bedded down during the American Revolution.

Thanks again everyone, and take care!

Ah, welcome back.

As promised in the last post, here is today’s update to the blog, relaying our adventures from our final hours in D.C., to arriving in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania!

Let’s not waste any more time, let’s dive in!

Ford’s Theatre

Ford’s Theatre… a place that has truly been held in infamy ever since April 14th (Good Friday), 1865, where, in an act that shook the entire nation, actor John Wilkes Booth fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln just five days following the conclusion of The Civil War.

Situated in downtown Washington D.C., Ford’s Theatre had been a popular venue in the days of the mid 1800’s, known far and wide for it’s illustrious performances. The theatre was closed down following the assassination of President Lincoln, and fell in to disuse, until the National Park Service acquired the building, as well as the Petersen House across the street, where Lincoln died the following morning. Now a national historic site, it is also once more a fully-operational theatre with performances always going on.

First, we went below ground into the museum basement, which contained displays concerning the Civil War, and the path to that fateful day…

Just one example of the hallways featured below the museum, which was nicely laid-out and detailed the progression of the war.

A fragment of the flag from Fort Sumter (as can be read). The seizure of Fort Sumter by the Confederate Army was the battle that officially started the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln’s ultimate goal was to preserve the Union… he sacrificed much to achieve it, and it had certainly taken it’s toll on him. One couldn’t imagine the immensity of loss that he reflected upon daily…

Few could deny the age and stress that was imposed on him, particularly from this cast mold made of him. He looks like a skeleton… a man who had aged 20 years in just 5…

We then of course, came to the conspirators… towards the end of the Civil War, famous actor John Wilkes Booth,

(That’s him), swore to kidnap the President. He tried various times, but after Lincoln declared that freed slaves should be given equal citizenship, Booth (a southern sympathizer), vowed to end his life. Gathering the conspirators together (in the boardinghouse that is now that chinese restaurant in Chinatown), they hatched a plan to decapitate the head of the entire federal government… some of the other conspirators included:

David Herold, who knew many of the best paths throughout D.C.,

George Atzerodt, who was assigned to assassinate Vice-President Andrew Johnson,

And Lewis Powell, who was instructed to kill Secretary of State William Seward.

Thankfully, none of Booth’s co-conspirators succeeded in their missions. Atzerodt lost the nerve and got drunk (and later caught), Secretary Seward was assaulted by Powell with a knife, and barely managed to survive, and the rest of the conspirators were rounded up, and most of them executed by hanging.

But not Booth…

Being a famous actor, he was allowed full access into the theatre, which he found out would play host to the President during the comedy, “Our American Cousin”.

Wanting to act decisively as a hero to the nation, Booth wasted no time in ensuring that preparations were made. He drilled a small hole the size of a dime into the door to the VIP box (shown above), so he could peek in and see the president. Even worse, was the fact that not only had the locks had to be removed due to losing the proper keys, but also the fact that the guard who was supposed to be protecting the President was away and not on-duty when Booth entered the box. Like the JFK Assassination, the opportunity was too great…

And so, when Booth crept into the box late into the play, he stepped behind Lincoln, and fired…

Lodged into his skull, the bullet had hit the President at point-blank range, and he collapsed…

And this is the very gun that changed American History forever. A single shot derringer pistol, easily concealable and very deadly.

It makes you sick, thinking that something so small could create so large an impact…

And this is the very pillow that he died on. And yes, those are blood stains that belong to Abraham Lincoln… you can’t help but feel nauseous at the thought.

We then headed up into the theatre room, which still has live performances (Into the Woods was the current run it seems).

It’s a fantastic setting (Mrs. Stephenson, if your reading this, you’ll love it!)

Tons of technical lighting that I will never for the life of me be able to comprehend.

But of course, there is this… the very site of the shot that changed History…

When Booth had shot the President, he had hopped out of the balcony, and his spur caught on the flag drape (as resembled here). The fall broke his leg, and he limped off backstage, out the door, and into the night…

The chairs in there are not original however. For those that might remember in my 2018 Trip, we saw the actual Lincoln Chair in the Henry Ford Museum (which I still have no clue as to why it is there).

Such confusion and wanton despair was dealt that day… in the midst of laughter, a bang sound rang out. Ford’s Theatre would not see laughter again for a long time…

After witnessing a brief two-man play that featured two men playing as period characters who lived during the assassination (which was very good, and accompanied by very good technical and multi-character skills), we headed outside to explore a place that I had never actually been in… The Peterson House.

When Lincoln was shot, he had to be rushed to somewhere more private, so they dragged him here to this house across the street from the Theatre… the next morning… the President breathed his last…

The house, though relatively bare, was solemn in it’s simplicity.

Poor Mrs. Lincoln… she lost not only her husband, but also three of her four sons over the course of her life… no woman should have to bear that grief, and she was eventually institutionalized for a time in Illinois.

The very bed that Lincoln died in… they had to lay him down diagonally, because the bedframe couldn’t accomodate his tall frame.

To quote his Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, “He now belongs to the ages”.

The house led into a museum/education center that we were forced to breeze through, as we were on a schedule to get our rental car.

Several effects from Lincoln’s funeral.

Such as this sample of flowers from Lincoln’s coffin (which I find to be amazing that they are still intact).

Booth retreated with David Herold south and away from the prying eyes of the enemy… They raced through Maryland and Virginia, until they were surrounded by Union Troops. Herold surrendered, but Booth put up a fight and was fatally shot in the spine, where he died the next day.

He believed that he was saving the south, but they too cursed him as much as the North did, for any chance of Lincoln’s forgiveness was now vanquished.

And likely as would’ve been to his horror, killing Lincoln only transformed the fallen leader into a martyr, a man killed at his height who would be remembered for the rich promise that was cut so short, and that only emboldened his memory and likeness in the hearts of Americans everywhere.. Booth had done EXACTLY the opposite of what he wanted to achieve. And to this day, visitors to his grave in Maryland continue to lay pennies on his headstone, to represent that it was Lincoln after all, that got the last say. Not Booth.

A massive collection of books about Lincoln that stretches four stories tall… and yes, EACH of these books are unique in the pile.

Many argue that had Lincoln lived, he would have done much to ensure that the Reconstruction after the Civil War would run smoother, but he still had a terrific road to hew, and likely would have faced extreme difficulty, especially concerning his largely stressful mind.

So why do we remember Honest Abe?

I think that it is because that, in all honesty, he is a human-being, just like us. He is not perfect, nor infallible, nor invincible. And yet, through his sheer morality and commitment to his beliefs, he managed to preserve the Union, and end the bloodiest conflict that the U.S. has ever seen. That should be an encouraging thought. None of us are perfect, yet we can overcome our imperfections and strive for greatness. Who knows what could be accomplished under such drive?

 

We then made a brief stop at the White House Visitor Center, to kill some time before our rental car was ready.

White House Visitor Center

This well-crafted small museum (not on the grounds of the White House) was only an exhibit for the actual building, yet still infused with information.

A lovely map of the full White House complex. What would you do living in a house like this? This was a proposed victorian-style design for the west and east wings during President McKinley’s administration. Suffice it to say, i’m glad this didn’t come to be.

And that desk remains in use in the Oval Office to this very day.

Ronald and Nancy Reagan enjoying a good meal (sorry for the lighting). Did you know that they made a special jelly bean flavor in honor of his inauguration (and of his love of the confection)? It was Blueberry, so that they could finish the “Red, White and Blue” assortment.

An assortment of White House trinkets.

I wonder how much this artifact is worth… Anything Lincoln is highly valued.

In the same display case as Lincoln’s Stamp Seal, was also a letter-opener of William McKinley, and a typewriter of Woodrow Wilson.

This made me chuckle a (lot) bit. I wonder what President Nixon thought of this when he read it?

 

After viewing the Gift-shop, we got our rental car (which was conveniently nearby), and began to tour the rest of Kalorama (which we were unable to yesterday). After a short drive over there, we continued exploring it.

This house belonged to Warren G. Harding when he was a Senator from Ohio, and before he became President. It’s now the residence of the Ambassador of Monaco.

A few meters away was this giant house, which was home to an equally giant man, William Howard Taft! It was here that the Tafts returned to after the Presidency, and where he lived during his service as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He also died in this house in 1930.

The front view of the house. It’s now the Syrian Embassy.

This was my horrible attempt at trying to take a picture of the French Embassy.

And this is my lazy attempt at trying to cover up my horrible attempt (with a stock photo).

The reason I use this stock photo of this blockade instead of a photo of my own, is because I did not want to anger the policeman who was protecting this street. Why? Because this is the street that Former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama currently reside.

This expensive house is worth over $8.1 Million dollars, and used to could be seen by the public before they moved in (of course this is also a stock photo, no way i’m risking my skin by breaking and entering).

I’ve never even heard of the Bendirád Islands before, have you?

This house, only a block over from the Obama’s street, is this “white house”. This is where Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner currently live, and is surrounded by fencing and likely Secret-Service Protection. I’m kind of amazed there isn’t more security though (though i’m not willing to put that idea to the test).

And finally, the Islamic Center of Washington D.C., which no doubt represents many of the nations whose primary religion is Islam.

 

And that concludes the D.C. Portion of this trip! Seems hard to believe that we are already a third of the way to the finish doesn’t it?

Travelling north, we broke through to Maryland, and then onto Pennsylvania-

Thank you.-

-Where we are currently staying at our hotel in Gettysburg.

Where we are only staying just down the road from the battlefield itself!

And, sleeping by a cemetery *which i’m mostly sure isn’t haunted) that is literally feet away from our room window. Time will tell all that we get to see and do, but It will be a VERY busy one, rest assured.

So, wish me luck that I can make this next post on time, and I’ll see you whenever that will be! Bye!!!

Hello everyone, welcome back!

First of all, let me apologize greatly for falling behind on my usual posting schedule. Due to an late-night excursion last night, I am needing to post this afterwards.

We are now officially outside of Washington D.C., and staying at our hotel in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania! We will explore the massive battlefields and the Eisenhower Farm tomorrow. So while we are getting a much needed rest here, allow me to relay you yesterday’s events.

These two locations that we visited were both certainly impressive and exceeding of our expectations. They are the Washington National Cathedral, and the Woodrow Wilson House.

Lets explore these special places of western D.C. together!

Washington National Cathedral

After getting off a longer subway-ride than average, we got ready to head above-ground again, and…

… Oh.

We eventually emerged out into the sunlight, and taking a bus, we arrived at the World’s sixth largest cathedral in the world!

Washington National Cathedral!

This massive church is the largest Episcopal Church in the country, and is also the de facto church of the entire nation. It could be considered the Westminister Abbey of the U.S. for it as famous for it’s services and ceremonies as it is for the people who are buried here.

It is so detailed and intricate… words cannot describe the massive scale of this place, or the very deep details that concerned it.

As you can notice, there is much scaffolding on the structure, particularly on the tower. Even today, repairs are still being made to the building which suffered from the 2011 Earthquake.

The front of the structure looks much like Notre Dame in Paris, which has bell towers and rose windows much like this. Though nowhere as big as that particular building, Washington National Cathedral is still a very large and iconic church.

That’s me. I feel so tiny and insignificant…

Immediatly from the get-go, the immense scale of the interior caught us off-guard. It’s high-vaulted ceilings and immense pillars were truly wonders to behold…

The ornate front doors of the Cathedral seem to be made with expert craftsmanship.

Before our tour began in the main hall of the Cathedral, we went up into the bell-tower to get a bird’s eye view of the place.

Keep in mind, that this building was build over a period that spanned 89 years, from when President Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone in 1907, to when President George H.W. Bush witnessed the final pinnacle of the Cathedral being placed.

How on earth did they fashion all those knobs on the spires? It would be fascinating to find out.

That’s the Bishop’s Garden below us. I bet it has European inspiration of some sort.

This is a terrific view! See the dome of the Capitol Building on the left, and the Washington Monument on the right?

We then descended down the elevator, and explored the lower levels of the Cathedral.

Perhaps the most unique gift-shop we have ever seen, it was very long, and seemed to go on and on..

The Cathedral has various chapels that meet in its spacious halls. This particular one was pretty large.

And had fitting decorations to accomodate it.

On the foremost-left pillar of this room (3 pictures back), was the actual memorial marker of Hellen Keller, the famous blind literary writer, and her teacher Anne Sullivan. The Braille language that has been put onto the plaque has been much worn over the years, likely by those who still find inspiration in her works.

Some of these special crypts and chambers extend far beyond the public view, and since our tour was beginning, we were forced to return upstairs.

Yes. This is actually a sculpture on the building (the last picture is not mine)!

An actual stone hailing from Mount Sinai, which is said to be where Moses received the 10 Commandments from God. Ironically, a Mosque currently rests on the mountain in the present day.

As a side note, I have NEVER seen a sink like this! Where to even begin… those handle like things there are the hand dryers. It’s a clever idea, but I could still never for the life of me figure out how the soap dispenser worked.

Gorgeous.

 

Words can’t describe how beautiful the stained glass windows are, especially with the sunlight shining through them.

This entire front row near the pulpit is reserved for the President of the United States! My dad is sitting where President Trump sat during George H.W. Bush’s Memorial Service here. Next to him sat First Lady Melania Trump, and the first couples of the Obamas, the Clintons, and the Carters.

The main stage/platform of the Cathedral. This is where State Funerals  are carried out for the most distinguished individuals, especially Presidents. The people whose coffins have laid in the middle of this platform have included Presidents Eisenhower, Ford, Reagan, Bush Sr., as well as Senator John McCain.

The Canterbury Pulpit, a center relic in the Cathedral, has seen speeches and sermons from highly esteemed people, from the Dali Lama, to Martin Luther King Jr. (who gave his last sermon here before being gunned down in Memphis).

This podium is where eulogists give their speeches in certain events, such as George W. Bush did at his father’s funeral last December.

Another side chapel is this one, which is dedicated to Veterans from all over. A neat feature of this room is the presence of a catalog of all the names of every single soldier that stormed the beaches of Normandy during the D-Day invasion. It’s little touches like that that go a long way.

The choir aisles were adorned with special detail and intricacy. Pipe organs could be seen everywhere, likely as outlets for the larger one somewhere.

And this, well… I just don’t know what to say. It’s absolutely beautiful. That florist in front of the altar is one of many who’s sole job is to ensure that the flower arrangements are as fresh as they can be.

Another detailed altar, depicting the crucification of Jesus.

These stone pieces used to be a part of the pinnacle of the Cathedral, preceding the 2011 Earthquake. It’s a marvel that much of the stone shapes managed to survive the fall.

A statue of Abraham Lincoln,

And a statue of George Washington. Who could say how many things are named after Washington? He has a state, a holiday, a district, and who knows what else…

Us with our tour-guide, who was the sweetest lady you could imagine. Having worked at the Cathedral for over 44 years, she can remember some of the most vivid events that occurred here, including Presidential Visits, State Funerals, and visits by Queen Elizabeth II herself!

Many were the smaller figures that we found around the Cathedral, including…

Mother Teresa,

Rosa Parks,

And Eleanor Roosevelt.

In the gift-shop was the massive framework of a Lego Washington National Cathedral! In a clever method to raise money for the earthquake repairs, one can donate money to add bricks to the structure, and when it is finished in about 2-3 years, it will be the largest Lego Cathedral/church in the world!

However, even with all of the magnificence of this building, there is still one last landmark to see, and my primary goal for this place…

That’s right, A U.S. President is buried here.

Or perhaps I should say, “entombed.”

This is the tomb of Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President of the United States. Mr. Wilson was the one to lead us through World War I, and helped establish the Federal Reserve, Woman Suffrage (via the 19th Amendment), and the precursor to the United Nations, “The League of Nations”.

Woodrow Wilson is the only President buried in the District of Columbia, and the only one buried outside of a regular state. Note the cross on his tomb.

It’s hard to read, but it’s in the traditional gothic text that was popular back then.

On the nearby wall was this memorial marker to Edith Wilson, his second wife. The couple dearly loved one another, and Woodrow Wilson was a very romantic sort of man.

The official seal of the President was on the ground. Nearby were the flags of the United States and New Jersey, his home state.

This beautiful stained glass window in this bay represents the time that Wilson served in. The yellow window represents Peace, the blue window represents Forgiveness, and the right window represents the desolation of war and strife.

Woodrow Wilson wrote all of his own speeches… his skills as an academic were terrific.

We stepped outside to take some final pictures, AND eat at the nearby cafe.

Even if it is damaged, the structure is still as impressive as can be.

For a brand new destination, this Cathedral exceeded all of our expectations, and left a profound impact upon us. Few sights are as moving as the vivid colors of the stained glass windows, or the height of the pillars, or just all of the experiences that this place has hosted over the years. It is a place that has united in the past, and with hope (and a bit of funds to boot), it will continue to do just that.

Woodrow Wilson House/Kalorama

A long walk away, in nearby Georgetown (a village in D.C.), is the neighborhood of Kalorama, which is one of the most prestigious neighborhoods in the entire country. The value of these houses number in the millions of dollars, and is home to some equally prestigious people. Namely, Jeff Bezos, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and even Barack and Michelle Obama, among others. Located near Embassy Row (a street lined to the brim with Foreign Embassies and Residences), Kalorama is a place that is both beautiful and exotic, showing the finest houses that money could buy. It has also been a haven for Six different presidents over the course of History. One of those presidents is Woodrow Wilson, whose house is open as a museum.

The sidewalks here provide such ample shade and walking opportunities.

One of the various Embassies here. Any Embassy or Ambassador Residence is marked with a seal above it’s door.

And this is the Ambassador of Romania’s residence.

Franklin D. Roosevelt lived in this house from 1916 to 1920. It’s now the residence of the Ambassador of Mali.

Other presidents that have lived here include Herbert Hoover, Warren G. Harding, and William Howard Taft.

These “Spanish Steps” were modeled after the stairs of the same name located in Rome. A quick jaunt up the steps and down the road led us to our next destination…

This house was purchased by President Wilson in 1920, (a year prior to his leaving office), as a gift to his wife Edith. Though Wilson only lived for three years afterwards (dying in 1924), his wife Edith lingered on for 37 years, devoted to keep his memory alive, and bequeathing the entire estate for Historical Preservation. It now serves as the only Presidential Museum in Washington D.C. (other than the White House of course).

Entering the main hall of the house, we noticed right away that most of the items in the house were 100% originals, including the wooden floors. He received special guests here, such as British Prime Minister David Lloyd George, and French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau.

And here is the couple themselves! Woodrow dearly loved Edith, and really couldn’t function without her loving and nurturing spirit.

The parlor room of the house, on the second floor, is often where guests would be received by the President, and where receptions or gatherings would occur.

This large tapestry, which Woodrow really favored, had hung in the White House before being moved here. Wilson absolutely loved to view artistic pieces.

This ornate fez was given to Woodrow Wilson by a eastern European nation as a gift. He naturally had a large collection of state gifts, for people outside of America viewed him as the Messiah/Savior of World War I.

Interesting White House China, all of which Ellen and Edith Wilson owned (if your wondering who Ellen is, she was Woodrow’s first wife. I’ll get back to her in a bit).

Woodrow Wilson’s personal library! He loved to work here, and was a super-avid reader of History.

The books in the case are all first-edition copies of some of Woodrow Wilson’s history books, many of which were penned by himself. He remains the only President to have earned a PhD (In Political Science), and he was even Princeton University’s President, the campus of which he helped to turn into a first-rate University.

Woodrow Wilson himself. He had a very fastidious nature, yet was always a very emotional man.

Though not an original radio microphone piece to the House, this does allude to his famous radio address on November 10th, 1923, the 5th anniversary of Armistice Day (better known as Veterans Day). Wilson delivered an address that promoted the need for the United States to join the League of Nations, the Alliance formed by the nations of the world following World War I in order to prevent conflict. The speech was well received, though not enough to make the United States join the league.

For you see, after seeing many of it’s doughboys go off to war and die in the trenches, Congress and the country were tired of the idealistic mind of Wilson’s speech, and simply wanted to return to Isolationism.

Wilson campaigned extensively for the League of Nations, embarking on a nation-wide speaking tour, until he collapsed of exhaustion in Pueblo, Colorado, and then suffered a massive stroke that left the left side of his body paralyzed. Wilson’s refusal to compromise with the Republican Congressman of the time doomed America’s chance of joining the League, making the latter slightly weaker in structure (and perhaps allowing more nefarious threats to arise in Europe, which, considering that it is called “World War I”, I am sure you can guess what happened later).

We then stepped outside to view the gardens of the estate.

Suffice it to say, it was beautiful, even for an urban area like this.

To keep it’s funds full, the House rents the space to anything from conferences, celebrations and weddings, which, as the tour-guide explained, was the “Bread and Butter of our funds”.

Mom loves the flowers here. A gardener comes by once a week to trim the plants to perfection.

And there is looking back out at the house, which also has a balcony on the third floor so one can lookout.

This little portico served as the informal dining room for the Wilsons, which is now filled with plants.

And this is the formal dining room, where the President and Mrs. Wilson would eat at formal arrangements. In fact, Edith Wilson met with First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy for a brunch here.

And there’s Edith herself… she cared for Woodrow so much during the remaining year-and-a-half of his administration, during which he suffered from his massive stroke mentioned earlier. She wouldn’t let any see him in his poor condition, and relayed messages between him and Congress.

Some people claim that Edith was the first female President that we’ve had, because she had great control over how people viewed his husband, since he was immobile and barely able to move a muscle. She herself had stated that she did nothing that Woodrow wouldn’t  have done, and always counseled with him about certain matters. It can be argued how much control she actually had over Woodrow, but few could deny her devotion to him and his wellbeing.

And this is Edith in her older years, the sweet thing. This picture was taken sometime in the 40’s. She died on December 28th, 1961, Woodrow’s birthday.

Up we go, to the third floor!

Wilson’s first wife Ellen, along with their three daughters: Margaret (who acted as White House hostess after Ellen died, and before Edith came along), Eleanor, and Jessie.

When Ellen Wilson died in the White House, Woodrow was simply taken aback and shocked to his very core. To him, it seemed that all the life and goodness of the world had vanished in an instant… he fell into a lonely depression, and only the vitality of Edith Bolling Wilson could rejuvenate his spirit into what it would be needed for leading America into the Great War.

Wilson’s personal trunk taken with him to Europe, where he would partake in the Treaty of Versailles among other major world leaders. The ship that he sailed on was the U.S.S. George Washington, hence the lettering on the inside of the lid.

Woodrow Wilson’s bedroom. He and his wife slept in separate rooms.

It was here in this bed that he finally breathed his last at 67 years old. He proclaimed: “When the machinery is broken… I am ready.” His last word was simply: “Edith”.

The golden item on the right is the first artillery shell fired at the German Army during World War I. The boldness of the American aid helped to turn the tide of the war against Germany and it’s allies.

Woodrow Wilson had a large collection of canes, much like Benjamin Harrison (in reference to my post in Indianapolis in 2018). It’s unknown which was his favorite.

A medical kit. There were always staff in the house with the Wilsons, such as the nurse, and some assistant who would assist the President in walking around (he was limited to using a cane and personal assistance, following his stroke).

Edith Wilson’s Bedroom, which she likely used for a long time.

Some of her actual dresses, most of which were from when she was First Lady! She wore a lot of black in recognition of her husband.

Heading backstairs, we came to the still-working elevator, which was the only way for Woodrow to access the upper levels.

National Geographic has certainly evolved it’s design…

Part of the official State Dinner China set presented to Woodrow Wilson after he left office. The china is specially made in New Jersey, which Woodrow Wilson had several connections to.

Yet more china, much of which I couldn’t even dare to count.

The kitchen, which was very well equipped for it’s time.

And this is an ice-box, the ancestor of the refrigerator, with an accompanying ice-pick inside.

Edith’s heirloom china plates from her family (she was a distant relative of Pocahontas).

A plate commemorating the Formation of the United Nations (this was done back when it was thought that the U.S. would join the League, before it was shot down by Congress.

In presentations like the Woodrow Wilson House, Historical homes are not necessarily sterile relics of the past, but potential portals into the times that they portray. And when they pertain to certain individuals long since gone, it’s more likely than not to be a terrific representation of that person’s personality or mindset. If one finds the right signs, then stories become revealed to us, thus lending us more empathy to the past.

Fare thee well for now Mr. Wilson!

 

As for that “Nighttime Excursion” that I mentioned, we went to see a few of the monuments at night! I’ll only touch briefly on a few of these, since this is a bit of a long one.

The World War II Memorial.

Admiral Nimitz is actually from Fredericksburg, Texas. The National Museum of the Pacific War is located nearby his boyhood home in town.

The Washington Monument. Notice the Capitol dome in the background of the second photo.

And finally, the Lincoln Memorial.

Looking back down the Mall at the Washington Monument, and Reflecting Pool.

It’s even more beautiful and mighty at night.

Hopefully this great place can continue to be preserved for years to come, as well as it’s ideals.

 

Thanks again y’all, and once again, I apologize for the late notice. I’ll try to send my post for today ASAP, so hang onto your seats! See you soon!

Hey y’all, welcome back!

It seems hard to believe that most of our time in D.C. has already been spent. Only two more days remain before we leave a week before we got here! Today was a day well spent of course, having gone on a personal tour of the U.S. Capitol, as well as visiting Madame Tussaud’s, an unexpected stop that features every single U.S. President and many well-known figures in detailed wax sculptures.

Let’s dive right into the very heart of our lawmaking process, shall we?

 

United States Capitol

Having only been in the lower levels of the Capitol Building due to restoration located on the dome four years ago, it was a relief that we were able to get the full experience of the Capitol!

We had applied weeks in advance for a personalized tour from the office of our local Congressman, Chip Roy. Passing, we needed to arrive at his office in the Longworth Office Building by 10:00 AM.

The Longworth Building, named after Speaker Nicholas Longworth, is one of the buildings outside of the Capitol Building itself, that houses extra office space, particularly for Representatives.

This long hallway is one of several in the building that has the official offices of each Representative… we could see them from all over.. Wyoming, California, Florida, Nebraska…

We then found Congressman Chip Roy’s office! Inside, were much of his personal staff, which were maintaining the place in his absense (supposedly having gone off to listen to President Trump’s new immigration proposal).

A map of New Braunfels hanging in the wall! It was incredible to find a taste of home here in D.C.!

Soon our guide, Hannah, led us throughout the complex, and into a massive series of underground tunnels that run directly underneath the Capitol Building and it’s surrounding structures.

It was truly a magnificent scale to see… one tunnel led down to the other buildings, such as Rayburn and Cannon Office Buildings, or even the Library of Congress.

One long winding tunnel led further northeast and underneath the Capitol Building… seeing each person walking down the way was fascinating… who knew if they were possibly Congressmen?

… hoo boy…

Thankfully, Hannah and our group were able to skip most of the line, and begin our tour! The Capitol was just as extensive below ground as it was above it.

Looking up through the window, one can see the dome of the Capitol! The Statue of Freedom still rests upon it’s mighty pinnacle, as it has since 1863.

The Statuary Gallery of the Capitol is very well detailed and famous, two statues from each of the 50 states can be found scattered around the Capitol.

This particular statue is of Jeannette Rankin of Montana, the first woman ever elected to Congress. She is especially famous for being the only congressman to oppose going into World War II, following the Attack on Pearl Harbor.

The statue on the left side of Rankin belongs to Po’Pay, the pueblo revolutionist who led the charge of the Pueblo Revolt against Spanish Inquisition, leading to the preservation and survival of Pueblo Culture.

Oh, and remember that golden-ish statue a couple of pictures back? That is King Kamehameha I, who was the first King of Hawaii, and who united all the Hawaiian under his rule.

This was the original mold for the Statue of Freedom, the large statue mentioned earlier. It rests here in the visitor center, providing an adequate look for it’s otherwise inaccessible counterpart.

We hurried further into the bowels of the Capitol.

These were the original foundation stones of the Old Capitol Building. After the building was sacked by the British during the War of 1812, the building was enlarged. Few signs remain of the old building, though they do still remain.

This large room of pillars is situated directly under the Capitol Rotunda, and is lined to the wall with many more statues.

The center star of this room also represents the very center of the District of Columbia, since nearly every street in the city is centered or branched from Capitol Hill.

Fun fact, Congress originally planned to have George Washington buried underneath this star, but southerners, adhering to the late general’s will, kept his remains at Mount Vernon, his beloved home.

John C. Calhoun is one of our more controversial political figures in Early American History. The Vice-President of both John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, Calhoun was a master of senate proceedings, and was very proficient in his role as Senator from South Carolina. His pro-stance towards Slavery (and the attempted secession of South Carolina from the Union), continues to earn him the ire of many who evaluate his legacy.

Caesar Rodney of Delaware was a great patriot of the Revolutionary War, who was a member of the 3-man delegation from Delaware to the Second Continental Congress. The vote of Delaware for Independence was deadlocked between the other two members, and Rodney, having been bedridden with sickness in Dover, rode 80 miles on his horse in the pouring rain to make his vote in time, thus turning the tide for the vote. His likeness is still memorialized on the Delaware State Quarter.

Also note the neat bust of Abraham Lincoln next to Rodney.

This corridor branching off from the room is actually where the President emerges onto the West Front of the building, where he is inaugurated for his new term. It’s naturally off limits to the general public.

These old pillars are actually from the original Capitol structure. Note the Corn Cobs that make the top of the pillar; a plant of sustenance for the early settlers of the New World.

Looking up a smaller rotunda. Mom was very fond of this extravagent chandelier.

And this was the old Supreme Court room, where the body of 9 judges oversaw the most pressing cases for the first half of the 19th Century. These included cases such as United States V. The Amistad, Gibbons V. Ogden, and even the infamous “Dred Scott Decision.”

Soon enough however, we entered into the massive Rotunda… one of the most famous rooms of D.C.

(Sorry for the distortion.)

One neat wall of the rotunda. Those two statues are of Presidents James A. Garfield and Andrew Jackson.

This portrait depicts the Pilgrims of the Mayflower onboard the… well, Mayflower, creating the… er, Mayflower Compact. Hm.

A portrait of George Washington’s resignation from the Continental army. How on earth do they paint these with such high quality?

Even more statues surrounded the Rotunda, most of which were Presidents. Other than Lincoln and Washington, there was also…

Gerald Ford,

Ronald Reagan,

And Dwight D. Eisenhower.

This white circle also marks the center of the Capitol, and of the District of Columbia. Many deceased individuals have laid in state here, including presidents, politicians, and other worthy notables. President George H.W. Bush was the most recent to lie in state here.

Though not as tall as the Texas dome, this one is much larger and grandiose. It was certainly impressive to look at. Though, I do wonder how tall the ladder must have been to paint that entire ceiling…

We then headed into the Senate wing.

Here’s my Mom with that chandelier again!

This is the old Senate Chamber, which was used before converting to the current-day one. It was a lot smaller.

The Senate was much smaller then, but still resorted to the two seats per state rule as the current Senate does. Put that together, and you get 100 Senators currently serving.

The Presiding Officer occupies the top chair, which is officially the Vice-President’s chair. When he is not in session, a different individual, usually the President Pro-Tempore, steps up to lead proceedings.

As the entrance to the Senate Gallery wasn’t here, we went on to explore the House side.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi actually has her office here, not far from the rotunda. Though the House was in session, Speaker Pelosi was not present.

This massive room was the original House chamber, but has since been the host for the greatest portion of the Statuary Collection.

What detail…

Look! Sam Houston! This famous Texas Revolutionary led the fight for Texas Independence against Mexico, and attempted in vain to keep Texas in the Union before the Civil War.

Statues of Governor John Burke of North Dakota, inventor Thomas Edison of Ohio, and General John Sevier of Tennessee.

Senator Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, and Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona.

We then went into each of the galleries of the chambers, as they were in session. Security was tight, and we had to leave many of our belongings in safe spots (including our phones), yet we managed to observe each chamber for a time.

The large House chamber is where all of the major figures of government listen to the President deliver the State of the Union Address, or any other major speeches given by him.  The proceedings today however, did not seem to be of any importance at all, only concerning minor issues, some of which concerned updates on Police Week. We spent a long while observing the massive historic room, and after not encountering anyone recognizable for a while, we then proceeded onto the Senate Chamber.

Though smaller in size, the Senate Chamber was still very large, and got a view from about the perspective of this stock photo.

It seemed that a vote on some sort of appointment nomination was wrapping up, though there were hardly any senators in the room. We DID however, see Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky cast his vote, and then silently walking back and exited through a side door.

Then, after the affirmation of the appointment, TEXAS SENATOR John Cornyn walked into the chamber, stood at his desk, and delivered an address concerning the church shooting at Sutherland Springs, and how it could be used to enforce greater background checks concerning the sell of firearms, and better ways of ensuring less attacks from ever happening again…

His oratorical skills were certainly terrific, and his speech not only instilled tears of sympathy in us for the relatives of the victims of the shooting, but also made us connect deeper with his empathy for this sort of affair. It was quite a wonder to witness, especially on such a bipartisan and specific account.

After our tour was done, we walked outside.

Simply massive…

Until a couple of decades ago, this would have been the place where the Inaugurational Ceremony would be held. This is the East side, or the “East Front”.

The House of Representatives Wing had a bit of exterior restoration on it. I’m okay with it, since it didn’t hinder us in any way.

And here is the Senate Wing.

 

Mini-me.

Across the street from the “East Front”, were two notable buildings.

The first was the Supreme Court Building, the headquarters of the Judicial Branch of Government. A very grand building, with very grand pillars.

A brief stop, since guards patrol the front.

The other building was the Library of Congress!

Arguably the largest library in the World, the Library of Congress officially serves the U.S. Congress directly, and is the De-facto national library of the United States.

This library contains more than 167,000,000 items, of which include books (and other printed materials), recordings, photographs, maps, sheet music, manuscripts, pamphlets, film footage, and other forms.

The main Building is called the “Thomas Jefferson Building”, since Jefferson donated his entire private library to it’s founding. There are three other buildings besides it. The John Adams and James Madison Buildings are next to it, while another building is located in Culpeper, Virginia.

This neat fountain in front of the Library is of Poseidon, God of the Sea (or Neptune, depending on your favourite mythology. Whatever floats your boat).

Looking for some time to kill, we stopped at an unexpected venue on the trip, and secretly one that I had hoped we’d have time for…

Madame Tussaud’s: Washington D.C.

While there is technically one in San Antonio, this special attraction actually has the entire collection of U.S. Presidents! So, just to kill a bit of time, we entered into the Presidential Section… for the most part, we were pleasantly suprised!

Firstly, this is Madame Tussaud, who vowed to create life-like wax sculptures that were like pieces of art. Her legacy certainly makes it seem that way.

Even the early presidents like George Washington were completed in extreme detail. It really felt like I was gliding across the Delaware River into New Jersey on that cold Christmas Night, with Washington himself!

Thomas Jefferson was delighted to shake my hand! Or at least, as delighted as a wax figure could be (which I’m sure isn’t very much).

On the other hand, John Quincy Adams didn’t seem very emotional when wanting to meet me (again, likely for the same reasons as Jefferson).

While Abraham Lincoln was certainly lifelike, I’m certainly glad the theatre Booth wasn’t either (Upon editing this, I realized that I accidentally made a double pun there).

Woodrow Wilson is perhaps one of my favorites here. With his signature zygomatic cheekbones, it was certainly Woodrow Wilson (and yes, I had to look that up to make sure it was the proper term. My speciality is History, not Anatomy).

Though not a President, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was still in the same gallery, and just as in the flesh (or wax if you will) as the others were.

Truman was perhaps one of the most realistic of all of them. It really did feel like I was standing next to the fiery farmer from “Missoura”.

After taking cover to avoid enemy fire, we pressed the attack.

General Dwight David Eisenhower was actually the namesake for my dad and uncle, with the first two words of the name applying to both of them, respectively.

Alright! I confess! I was the one that ate all the oatmeal cookies when I was six!

Seriously though, J. Edgar Hoover’s stare is slightly menacing…

What presidential couple could better present the youthful image of the Camelot Presidency like the Kennedy’s?

Out of all the Presidents in the hall, Lyndon B. Johnson was the most realistic… the wheel-dealer from Texas could be quite the imposing figure at 6’3, particularly when he wanted to intimidate you…

Seriously… that’s LBJ through and through. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not!

 

We also met Jimmy Carter!

Wait… that’s not it…

Ah, that’s better!

George H.W. Bush was also very accurate, particularly in the face. Few realized that he was 6’3, though that was probably due to his use of a wheelchair in his final years.

And finally, I got to be President for a day (how I wish that would happen… but well, I suppose I can only dream.

After leaving, and resting at our hotel for a while, we walked a few blocks down the road at Night, to see the White House once more.

The Treasury Building looks great at night!

And so does The White House! The President is likely in there as we speak (or type).

I’m not sure if I was either falling asleep, or blinded by the camera flash. Could it be both?

I love this photo. That’s going in my favorites collection.

And that was our day in a nutshell! I won’t try to do anything too philosophical this time around, I’ll save that for the next post (be very afraid).

When next I post, we will have gone to not only Washington National Cathedral, but also the Woodrow Wilson House in the prestigious Kalorama Neighborhood of D.C. Can’t wait for you to see it!

See you then!

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to D.C.! The memorials of the District of Columbia are both numerous and grand, and this third official day in Washington was dedicated to seeing nearly all of said landmarks around the Reflecting Pool and Tidal Basin.

Let’s not waste any more time, this is Day 4 of our trip!

Reflecting Pool Memorials

Hence the subtitle of this section, all these memorials are located near or around the Reflecting Pool, the long lane of water that stretches between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Here, the full grand scale of the Washington Monument can be seen once again. Unfortunately, as the elevators are non-operational, we are unable to go inside and up to the observation deck.

If you look closely at about a third of the height up, the Monument slightly changes color… at the time it was being built, they ran out of money, so it was not completed for a couple of decades, then finished much later, after The Civil War.

The base of the memorial features 50 U.S. Flags, one for each of the 50 states.

President Zachary Taylor dedicated it’s cornerstone on July 4th, 1850. Only five days later, he died of mysterious causes, likely due to the treatment of the copious amounts of raw cherries that he had consumed.

Opposite the Washington Monument is the National Mall, with the Capitol building just in the distance! I know i’ve said it before, but it’s impressive to look at.

And this is the South Portico of the White House! Sorry for the crooked photo, I’ll try to do better the next time we are on this side of the White House.

We then came to our next memorial…

World War II Memorial

Dozens of veterans had arrived here for a special photo. Only a small handful of them were World War II Veterans… within only a few years, the last of their kind will fade into legend…

Each of the fifty-six pillars that surround this hallowed ground feature each of the 50 states, the 5 Territories, and the District of Columbia… These brave came from all corners of our land to answer the call of duty.

Looking towards the Pacific Side.

And looking towards the Atlantic sign.

Looking back to the Washington Monument.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped to rally much of the spirit against the axis powers, and for most of the war, led the country with resolution and strength… his terrific oratorical skills were hard to match, particularly following Pearl Harbor.

What else need be said here? Words cannot describe the pain and anguish in each of these stars, their importance becoming hundred-fold.

Some fresh wreaths left behind by the veterans from earlier. The quote above is from President Harry S. Truman, who suceeded Roosevelt upon his death, and ended the War in the Pacific via two atomic bomb droppings on Japan.

The Texas pillar. Its special to see it represented here at such a quality memorial.

Looking towards the Lincoln Memorial, and the Reflecting Pool.

We soon began our approach along the Reflecting Pool…

This poor little thing was alone by itself, unaccompanied by the other older ducks that frequented the pool.

The three virtuous women, “Faith, Hope, and Love”… One praying on the ground in Faith, one looking up in the sky with Hope,

The next memorial was much more solemn… and a much more controversial conflict…

Vietnam War Memorial

This memorial casts a giant black gash across the National Mall… a bitter scar that will forever remain in society’s mind.

Name after name… thousands upon thousands…the War in Vietnam brought to light the brutalities of war, and debunked much of the over-glorification of war as a triumphant subject.

Those soldiers left behind more wreaths to honor the remembered dead…

As well as other effects such as notes, flowers, and even vodka. Only a relative or friend of a departed soldier could truly understand the misery and grief that is involved with such buisness…

But yet, one still feels that sense of loss as well… I had tears in my eyes… and i’m sure many others did as well.

The next memorial is perhaps the most famous one of them all…

Lincoln Memorial

Enshrining the memory of perhaps our greatest President, the Lincoln Memorial is a landmark in itself, and is known far and wide to millions of people.

It was even bigger than I ever remembered it to be…

Several California Police officers had also come to pay homage here (Who knows how they got their motorcycles all the way from California, but they’ve come a long way)!

Looking down the mall, one can see the Washington Monument, as well as the U.S. Capitol further in the distance.

On this very tile, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech, to thousands of people that observed along the entire Pool.

Just imagine, thousands as far as the eye could see… And he saw that with his own eyes, right here in this perspective. Only months later, President Kennedy would be gunned down.

In we go…

The legend of Abraham Lincoln is known far and wide, and most know him as this grandiose persona instead of that of the humble man that came from the backwoods of Illinois. His character however, demands much more respect… after all, who else could bear the burden of the Civil War like he did?

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, which he delivered at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the Gettysburg Battlefield. Though short in length, it was packed with the finest of Lincoln’s oratorical skills.

And his Second Inaugural Address was also infused with his great wisdom… his commitment to his ideals was only made more special with his martyrdom.

This shot looks almost picturesque (not just because it is indeed a picture), especially with the Washington Monument in the background.

We continued on to the last of the war memorials on our list… Korea.

Korean War Memorial

Yet another battle that can be argued as a non-winning battle, the Korean War only provided a tense stalemate that still lasts to this day.

19 Soliders upon the 38th Parallel… just a couple of years after the conclusion of World War II, many were sent out into the field again, into completely foreign territory to combat the new rise of fear… Communism.

Each warrior is instilled with terrific detail. The creators of the memorial certainly had outdone themselves.

When it rains, the memorial is even more accurate, with the stones reflecting up at the soldiers, creating the 38th parallel.

Even the soldiers who die in these stalemate wars still deserve all the merit that we can lay upon them… after all, they still vowed to protect their loved ones and country. That is a detail that cannot be ignored.

Eating Lunch, we then proceeded to the three memorials situated around the Tidal Basin of Washington.

Jefferson Memorial

One of the “Big Three” memorials (also including Washington and Lincoln), the Jefferson Memorial honors one of our most esteemed founding fathers, Thomas Jefferson.

This impressive building, though with slightly less traffic than the others, is no doubt an impressive structure no matter what.

Those policemen were also here too! They were quite a popular sight with the tourists, many of which took pictures of them! With a fun-loving group like the squad (they often joked and talked a lot), it gives me a bit of optimism…

Let’s go inside.

This is an absolutely massive statue, commemorating the statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, planter, founding father, and President.

And there’s me to scale. It made me dizzy whenever I looked up at the high-vaulted ceiling.

Jefferson, though he owned slaves, was an idealist, and he truly knew what he was talking about when he wrote that “All Men are Created Equal…” Though in different context in today’s terms, it’s message still rings true. it was this mantra after all, that made the United States into what it is today. And of course, it will be our job to ensure that it remains so.

My mom and I at the giant pillars. This place has a terrific view of the surrounding area.

In particular, two things stood out.

The White House far in the distance…

And the MLK Memorial to boot!

For our second-to-last memorial, we visited yet another place dedicated to a president…

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

This memorial, unique from the others, covers a lot of ground, and actually is painted out like a story.

Though raising controversy at it’s reveal, this statue of FDR in his wheelchair is perhaps proper… it is important to paint the proper picture of this special man. After all, even if he was crippled with polio, he still led us through 12 critical years of the presidency, through the Great Depression and World War II.

Wartime Presidents tend to be the forgers of our best leaders, but they always take their toll on them… Roosevelt was no exception.

A “room” in the Memorial.

Roosevelt in his “Yalta Conference” cloak, accompanied by his beloved dog Fala… FDR absolutley adored Fala, who loved being in the spotlight and interest of the nation… he is perhaps the only presidential pet honored in such a way.

Aside from the slight greenish age, the statue looks very realistic and detailed.

Many jobless individuals were forced to resort to makeshift-kitchens to rely on food… it was a difficult time, and one that those who had lived to remember it, such as my maternal grandmother, would never wish to happen to their family ever again…

And yet, FDR’s famous “Fireside Chats” were legendary, for the first time, his voice could reach out to the common people. They inspired hope and optimistic prospects in individuals, and helped to see the people of America through such a difficult time.

These falls were supposed to represent his championship of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which enabled hydroelectric power to surrounding communities. Unfortunately, the water tanks were out of commission. Were that not the case, they would look something like this breathtaking picture.

Eleanor Roosevelt was a power-tool of FDR, for she was his eyes and ears in the more out-of-reach places. She was a true emissary of the U.S., and her work towards the founding of the United Nations is also valued.

The four freedoms… the basic rights of man that FDR noted that every individual should have.

His goals can be considered both wise and responsible, for individuals themselves, though they could rely on their government when times turned bad, could still rely on themselves thanks to their new resources and improved-way of life. You’ve got to admire that… of course, we’ll explore more of his story in Hyde Park, in several days…

MLK Memorial

The final memorial which we visited was the Martin Luther King Jr, Memorial.

This was another special view of the Jefferson Memorial. When late March and early April comes around, the entire tidal basin is surrounded by the pink flashes of Cherry Blossoms, which are a signature tree and symbol of Washington D.C. Of course, that time is now past, and not yet ripe for next season…

The MLK Memorial is only 8 years old, yet is just as proper for D.C.’s setting as any other memorial.

The idea behind this monument came from the phrase “Out of The Mountain of Despair, A Stone of Hope”. That stone of course, was Martin Luther King Jr. the promoter of non-violence for racial equality and justice. His faith in the goodness of man and the brotherhood of friendship was undoubtedly vital to the essence of our nation’s survival…

Yet another very intricate statue.

The Stone of Hope.

It wasn’t very easy to push these two rocks apart… they are absoultely HEAVY.

At this point, I was suffering from Heat Exaustion, so I was a bit out of it by the time we arrived back at the Hotel later on.

After taking a bit of a break, we ate in Chinatown, a special place ripe with Asian Culture.

It was a nice little excursion. We eventually found a very good restaurant to eat at.

We chuckled at this a bit.

And look! A bit of surprise as well! Mrs. Surratt’s Boardinghouse was where the conspirators of John Wilkes Booth sought to decapitate the entire Union Government by killing it’s highest officials. Booth was the only one to successfully carry out his part in the infamous task.

The food was absolutely delicious… And this was the first time I have ever used Chopsticks to eat actual Chinese Food! It was fun adapting to it, but it is NOT easy! I suppose I need more practice.

And finally, the ornate gate of Chinatown. This is similar to San Francisco’s Chinatown, though on a much smaller scale.

And that was our latest day in Washington! Our next agenda is the Capitol Building itself, with a specialized tour from our U.S. Representative’s office, and perhaps even some other surprises afterwards!

Thanks everyone, and as they say in Italy (instead of in China, since i’ve no clue how to say bye in Chinese), Ciao!