Welcome back!

Yesterday was yet another action-packed day of fun, which included Mount Vernon (The Home of George Washington) and Arlington National Cemetery!

This entire day, we utilized a Greyline tour bus to go to each of the sites, and all that we did today was based on this entire excursion.

Without further ado, let’s begin!

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

After getting on the shuttle at Union Station (which in itself was a marvel to behold, and which I will show later).

A nice view of the Capitol Dome.

Another full-scale picture of the Washington Monument.

An even bigger view of the Capitol Building! The event the preceding night had wrapped up, and one can see that restoration work is being done to the House Chamber side of the building.

The Thomas Jefferson Memorial! Made 200 years after his birth, it stands tall as a memorial to the author of the Declaration of Independence, and our third President.

We were soon on the road into the south, and into Virginia!

We then came to Alexandria, Virginia, one of America’s oldest towns. Only 5 miles from the District of Columbia, Alexandria has played host to many famous Virginians, particularly George Washington and Robert E. Lee.

Just a taste of the architecture found here. Note the actual cobblestone road in the latter picture.

Our first of four stops on the excursion was actually this church in Alexandria, “Christ Church Episcopal”. This was where both Washington and Lee worshipped during their time here.

We would NEVER have known about this had it not been on the trip! Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones that you actually discover.

The church was originally to have Washington’s funeral here, but due to various complications, the body never left Mount Vernon.

This very same chamber was the one that Washington would worship at… while there are many other older churches in the U.S. than this, many had been gutted and converted for various functions, such as hospitals during the Civil War. This chapel was left relatively untouched during the War however, and still remained a place of worship.

In this very pew, George Washington would sit and watch the proceedings of the Church Service…

G. Washington.

Us sitting in the pew.

We soon left, and drove only a few more miles to the entrance of Mount Vernon itself!

The main gate of the Historic Site is known as the “Texas Gate” (how it got that name, I have no clue, for George Washington had likely never even heard of Texas when he lived).

The approach to the mansion. Though the weather was slightly chilly, the land was still very beautiful… I absolutely love Virginia land, especially that around Monticello (another story for another day!).

In the distance, and covered in scaffolding (for restoration work), was the home of the father of the country… General and President George Washington.

While still an impressive sight, it is still good to see it in the normal setting. Here’s a stock photo that does so.

Most of the rooms in the house prohibited photography, so instead, I will try to elaborate on a bit of history in the mansion.

Mount Vernon was purchased and built by General Washington’s father Augustine, and built the first version of the house around 1735. After he died when George was 11, the estate was passed down to his eldest son Lawrence (who was George’s half-brother). And when he died in 1752, George inherited the property, and over the years expanded it dramatically, to which it had a large dining room, a private section, and up to four floors. During the Revolutionary War and the Presidency, he was forced to spend time away from his beloved estate on the banks of the Potomac River, and only four months after leaving the Presidency did he pass away here in December 1799, barely falling short of the new century. Having fallen into disrepair following his wife Martha’s death, Mount Vernon was soon inherited by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, and has been preserved ever since as a memorial to Washington.

A very nice view of the back (actually front) of the house. It was not under restoration.

The same view from the porch that George and Martha Washington enjoyed (except for the slight curvature in the view, and the slightly distorted section, sorry).

Many were the buildings around the estate, each serving it’s own purpose within this community like setting. You could find a “paint” cellar, a salt storage area, a greenhouse, a clerk’s office, and a smokehouse, among others.

The kitchen! Slaves were an everyday part of Mount Vernon’s life unfortunately, like every other Plantation of the time would. It was they who would maintain much of the property, and as well as the food of the estate. The kitchen was separate from the house in case a fire broke out.

The spinning house was where one could spin cloth and textiles in a jiffy!

The overseer not only observed the slaves’ work, but also managed the plantation when General Washington was away. And that was often a common occurrence, he was a busy man.

This lower garden serves as a growing place for vegetables and other such plants. Nowhere near as extensive as Monticello’s Mulberry Row, but still impressive.

The Wash House was also very critical back then, and it was just as back-breaking for the slaves as the manual labor involved in the fields.

The Riding Chair was an inexpensive way to get around! Simply slap a rocking chair onto a wagon chasis, and your off to the races!

The Blacksmith Shop had an actual Blacksmith working there! Mount Vernon is well known for it’s practical demonstrations of work in Mount Vernon, and in many ways is a “living relic”.

Slave Quarters… Washington stipulated in his final will that all his slaves would be freed upon his wife Martha’s death, which came 2 years after him.

Washington kept his beloved horses in the stables, particularly an Arabian-breed horse that he used during the Revolutionary War.

Many live animals are located on the farm, including sheep with their precious wool!

George Washington is actually buried on the grounds of Mount Vernon, in a special tomb that millions come to visit to pay homage to.

And THIS… is not it.

That’s right, this is actually the Old Vault, where he was once buried. He was originally kept here, but following an failed attempt by grave-robbers to steal his head, and an reevaluation of his will, his remains were moved to the current tomb.

The actual tomb however, was close.. very close.

It was such a silent place… many people were gathered around it, in such a way of dignity and respect that was remarkable.

Countless people have come to Mount Vernon to give respect to this great man… from all parts of the world.

George is on the right, Martha on the left, and about 25 other relatives entombed behind the iron door in the back wall.

We had walked in on an actual ceremony taking place, and a special honor guard placed a fresh new wreath in front of the tomb! The eulogy that the man in charge gave to the dozens of us gathered there was rather chilling… Washington truly was “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of his Countrymen.”.

We also walked down to the wharf, which was right on the Potomac River!

On the other side of the river is Maryland. Any boats that pass by ring their bells in respect for Mount Vernon and General Washington.

We then spent the rest of our time at Mount Vernon exploring the “Education Center”, the small museum complex.

Nice statues of the First Family. They never actually lived in The White House, and George never actually had children of his own. He considered Martha’s children from her previous engagement to be his offspring.

The complex was not afraid to detail the more controversial aspects of Washington’s life, especially concerning his slaves. The museum did a great job at balancing the different aspects of his life.

Some of his early surveying equipment from his first job before he became a soldier. Even if he had no formal education, he was still a brilliant mind.

In case you were wondering, no. The Cherry Tree fable is really just a fable. Still, he was a very honest man, true to himself, and to others.

One of Washington’s special swords. Seeing him lead his troops into battle, including as a Colonel in the French & Indian War, must have been inspiring indeed.

Some of Martha Washington’s personal effects. George dearly loved her, and Martha helped set many precedents for following First Ladies to follow.

George Washington was over 6’0 Feet tall, and thus was an impressive figure to behold. He was just the right man for the job of Commander of the Continental Army.

Did you know that Mount Vernon was one of the largest distillers of whiskey in the entire country? Who knows how much he could produce in just a year!

Behold, the most famous teeth in America! Washington’s dentures.

Not made of wood, they were made out of anything from walrus tusk, elephant Ivory, to even Human Teeth. Washington had only one of his real teeth left by the time of his death (he liked to crack walnut’s with his teeth, which probably didn’t help too awfully much).

And it must have been painful too… not even places for gums are on there.

Aside from the need to keep good tooth hygene, there is one other thing that George Washington provided that helped to better society…

And that is a free-country.

For the fledgling United States, many people wanted him to become a king or monarch, such as that of Great Britain. One who would rule for a lifetime, and one that truly ruled the country thoroughly.

He refused all of that. After two terms, he stepped down. He RESIGNED his power invested in him by the people, and thus he returned to the people as well.

He WILLINGLY gave up that power. Think about it. Nowhere else in the world had that ever happened before. No lord, monarch or noble had ever done that. It was an act of true grace, and one that sets the Presidency apart from any other Head of State in the world.

He DEFINED the role of the President. He was the man the country needed for it’s infancy, and he guided it to the utmost of his ability, and set examples for those that followed him. Indeed, few names command as much respect in the entire world than Washington. With integrity that we can obtain from reflecting upon his lasting legacy, we truly can make sure that his vision of America can continue to be preserved.

Continuing on with our trip, and after stopping at the Visitor Center for lunch and souvenirs, we returned to Arlington, Virginia, and came across a number of special locations.

The Pentagon, home to the U.S. Department of Defense, is one of the largest office buildings in the entire world, and is massive enough to host 22,000 workers inside it.

The lighter part of this wall was where the third plane from the fateful events of September 11 struck the building… it is difficult to imagine the horror of those who didn’t know what happened… I can only assume that everyone was, one way or another, afraid…

The LBJ Grove on the Potomac memorializes Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States, and from Texas. The obelisk in the center of the grove is hewn from the granite of his home in the Texas Hill Country, which he so dearly loved. It is just wonderful to see a taste of home like this! (When it was being built, they had to resort to not using a statue, as tensions over the Vietnam War were still high).

The Iwo Jima Memorial is the largest bronze statue in the world, and commemorates all of the battles and wars that the U.S. Marines have participated in, from the Revolutionary War, to the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq,  and many others.

This famed memorial depicts the height of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which depicts 6 different soldiers hoisting the American Flag upon the summit. Only two of those soldiers lived to survive the battle.

One shutters to imagine what war veterans must go through continuously… we owe them much, those both remaining, and departed.

Soon enough, we arrived at our final stop, the most prominent cemetery in the entire country…

Arlington National Cemetery

The final resting place for hundreds of thousands of the most esteemed individuals of the nation… you’ll find anyone here… politicians, soldiers, astronauts, sportscasters, and yes, even Presidents.

Speaking of Presidents, up on a hill, one could spot the final resting place of 27th President William Howard Taft! Taft also served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a job he loved much more than the Presidency. We visited this place four years before, but this time we weren’t able to go up and see it from the trolley.

So here it is.

The sea of White, row upon row of tombstones, is a sight that truly is in infamy… freedom is never free… there is always a cost. And that cost is never small.

Also buried here in the Cemetery is Astronaut John Glenn, Generals Omar Bradley and George C. Marshall, statesman Robert Lincoln (the last surviving son of Abraham Lincoln), Supreme Court Chief Justices Earl Warren and Thurgood Marshall, and Washington D.C. architect Pierre Charles L’Enfant, among others.

We soon however, worked our way up the slope of Arlington Hill after departing from the tour trolley, and came upon the final resting place of an individual who’s fiery inspiration still endures…

John Fitzgerald Kennedy… 35th President of the United States.

President Kennedy was tragically gunned down by an assassin’s bullet in 1963, in a day that shocked the world… for those that can remember that day, it is a memory forever engraved into subconscious thought… after all, you never forget where you where when it happened, or of the agony and grief felt by the whole community, and those closest to you…

A humble gravesite, for the most idealistic of men.

Jacqueline Kennedy was a First-Lady like no other… beautiful, charming, smart, and yet, strong-willed… the iron-will that she maintained in the aftermath of November 22, 1963 is remarkable…

Born with the couple are two of their children. A stillborn daughter, and Patrick Bouvier Kennedy, who died two days into his short life…

The Eternal Flame has continued to burn bright since the day President Kennedy was laid to rest… the fires of human spirit were truly capable, and he knew how to show that.

As per this quote… One that truly resonates and echoes still with us.

Nearby were the graves of the other three Kennedy brothers….

Robert (Bobby) Kennedy, his older brother’s Attorney General (and later Senator from New York), who was shot and killed just 5 years after his brother…

Edward (Ted) Kennedy, the “Old Lion of the Senate” for nearly 50 years who died only 10 years ago after a powerful and long era serving in the Congress…

And the cenotaph of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., the oldest of the four brothers in the Kennedy Family. He was shot down during aerial combat in World War II, and his body was never recovered.

Arlington House is where Robert E. Lee originally claimed his dominance over this, his former property. Upon vacating it at the start of the Civil War, the Federal Government confiscated it, turning it into a National Cemetery, and thus today’s current setting.

Row upon row… 600 acres of it… it is truly a harrowing sight… “All give Some, but Some give All”…

The mast of the USS Maine, an American warship stationed in Cuba’s Havana Bay until it exploded and sunk into the waves. Whether it be by sabotage or accident, Yellow Journalism helped to fuel the flames that led to the Spanish American War…

The last part of the cemetery was special… one of ultimate respect and dignity… the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier…

A rare demonstration was going on… the wreath was being changed!

There are actually four tombs: A soldier from the First World War, a tomb from the Second World War, a tomb from the Korean War, and an empty tomb from the Vietnam War (the remains were identified and taken back to Missouri)

There was absolute silence from the dozens of people around… this was hallowed ground.

Every minuscule detail was performed to perfection by the National Guardsmen. The pace of their walk, the adjustment of their firearms, and the prompt salutes to the tomb… it was something truly intricate and fascinating to behold.

After the ceremony, the “Changing of the Guard” began, where every 30 minutes, the beginning for another guard’s shift will begin. Since 1921, the National Guard has protected this site 24/7, and continues to be a signature landmark in the Cemetery.

What kind of training must one go through to be in the Guard I wonder? It must be very strenuous training.

Once again, it is important to reiterate that freedom is never “free”… there is always a cost, and often times, that which is spent is very near and dear to our hearts. Heroes come, and heroes go, but their sacrifices still help to ensure that we as a people are able to go on and live the lives we want… though each name on the seas of white tombstones may in time be forgotten, what they did still remains. They gave the ultimate devotion to a cause truly greater than themselves, and for that, they deserve all the merit that we give them credit for. And so, we will continue to honor them, and carry on the day,

“Lest we Forget.”

We soon headed back to Union Station via the bus, our long day finally ended.

To think we’ll be going there soon… it will be exciting!

Union Station is absolutely massive, and is a major hub for both the city and the nation.

The main hall of Union Station is positively massive… the high vaulted ceiling is a wonder to behold…

Well, sorry for the late post everyone, we got back a little later than we had hoped, so I am posting it this morning. It might not be the last time that this happens, so keep your eyes peeled!

Today we will check out many of the famed Memorials in D.C., including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial, among others!

Thanks everyone, and see you soon!

Welcome back everyone!

Today was quite a busy day… we visited FOUR different museums today! Our bones our weary, our feet ache, and I have developed a bit of a chaffing problem in my legs.

Setting that aside however, it was amazing that we could cover all of that in a single day! So let me be your guide as we tour three of the Smithsonian Museums, AND the National Archives!

Smithsonian Castle

After taking the Subway to the south, we happened upon the Smithsonian Castle, which served as the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institute, one of the greatest museum associations in the entire world!

Or at least the back of it… on the other side is the National Mall.

And these gardens here are just gorgeous! We chose this day to do the Museums, mainly because it rained outside almost the entire day.

Nearby was the National Museum of African Art, which, while I’m sure that it had plenty of fantastic pieces in, we didn’t go into.

The main hall of the Smithsonian Castle. The castle itself serves as the visitor’s center for the Smithsonian Institution, with most of the main offices located here as well. I have a very vivid memory of eating lunch in this place four years ago, where I spilled a bowl of scalding hot Broccoli and Cheese Soup onto my hand, and suffered first-degree burns for the rest of the day… ouch.

This gigantic exhibit hall was the main display room for the Smithsonian Institution in the days of old. Now of course, with 19 different museum complexes (17 of which are in D.C. alone), it merely serves as a taste for all the museums. You’ll find things here such as cases with insects of all shapes and sizes, pieces of African art, stuffed animals, china plates, and even a shard from the Hindenburg Blimp (from the disaster of the same name), other things.The Hindenburg shard is the item on the left.

Also located in the Smithsonian Castle is the very tomb of science enthusiast James Smithson, the namesake and founder of the Smithsonian Institution!

The funny thing about Smithson is, that he had never even visited the United States when he lived. So imagine the surprise of Congress when it was revealed that, after Smithson’s nephew died with no heirs, his entire family fortune was donated to the United States to found the Smithsonian Institution for the “Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge”! 

And so, we walked outside, and onto the National Mall.

It’s a very nice building, even with the major restoration going on, as you can see with the scaffolding on the right.

It was nice to see the Mall fully green again, as four years earlier, much of it was upturned with construction and restoration work. Though as you can see, a major event honoring Policemen was being set up on the Mall. Though much of the mall obstructed usual openness of the Mall, one could still see pretty well…

Looking East, one could see the U.S. Capitol! The dome, under restoration four years ago, is now fully restored, and more impressive than ever.

And looking west, one could gaze at the full scale of the Washington Monument, which casts a major presence in the Mall. The Lincoln Memorial can also be seen right behind it!

And here, our second stop for the day, is the National Museum of American History, which contains artifacts and items from decades and centuries past! Let’s have a look shall we?

National Museum of American History

Immediately ahead of us as we entered, was the entrance to “The Star Spangled Banner” exhibit, which contains the Actual flag flown over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the National Anthem! As we couldn’t take photographs inside, I’ll provide a stock photo.

This massive flag, stitched together by a single patriotic lady from Baltimore, flew over Fort McHenry, a key installation in Maryland during the War of 1812. By 1814, Washington D.C., as well as the Capitol and the Executive Mansion (the name for The White House back then), was aflame, and British troops were closing in for the kill. During the battle, Francis Scott Key was located on a British ship, observing “the rocket’s red glare, and the bombs bursting in air”… it was a grim prospect, but yet, upon the dawn’s coming the next day, the battered flag still waved proudly over the fort, signifying an American Victory.

Though the flag is faded and torn, it’s symbolism still stands true, that through thick and thin, we were still able to persevere through hardship, so that our flag continued to fly “O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave”.

A very nice statue of George Washington. Neither he nor Benjamin Franklin liked being dressed in togas in this fashion, as it made them seem more like gods than human beings.

A terrific assortment of Presidential Campaign Buttons from across the eras! You could spot the large Kennedy head, or the LBJ license plate, or the Jimmy Carter smiling peanut figure.

iThese banners promoting Women’s suffrage made us chuckle a bit.

The original Cotton Gin of Eli Whitney, which ended the days of manually picking Cotton seeds out of the bushels, which was very difficult work. While slaves could find it easier to now process Cotton, it increased Cotton demand in the South, and thus, Slavery also began to grow as a byproduct.

On the left was one of George Washington’s personal containers, and on the left was Thomas Jefferson’s writing desk! He wrote the very first draft of the Declaration of Independence on that.

This memorial clock was absolutely MASSIVE. I mean, forget about bringing the whole darn thing in, but actually PUTTING it together!?

One of the original Menlo Park lightbulbs of Thomas Edison! Though not the first prototype created by any inventor, Edison’s ingenuity helped to make this the first mainstream lightbulb, which harnessed the power of electrical engineering!

More prototype lightbulbs of his. These were following models, experimented on to see which was more effective and efficient.

A fascinating collection of coins, which was very fascinating especially to a Coin Collector by myself.

Imagine finding this $100,000 dollar banknote laying in the middle of the street (though that is highly unlikely)! Not in circulation, the highest value banknote in the Country is decorated with the profile of Woodrow Wilson, our 28th President.

The Printing Press used by Benjamin Franklin when he first began to print newspapers in Philadelphia! This sort of device revolutionized the spreading of news.

And don’t even get me started on the amount of cars and vehicles here! It’s impressive. This particular train here, A Spencer, was certainly massive! Though it’s nowhere near as big as the Allegheny train engine back at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.

This very dumb commercial advertised Camel Cigarettes, and said that doctors recommended it as the best brand to smoke… this seems both ironic, and contradictory.

My favorite exhibit in the Museum however, was the “Presidential Gallery”…. are you ready!?

The inaugural coat of Grover Cleveland, who weighed over 300 Pounds. He was our 22nd and 24th President, having served two non-consecutive terms.

General/President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s trademark army uniform jacket.

Warren G. Harding’s special silk pajamas. Harding liked to live in comfort, though it didn’t help him much when scandals involving his office arose after his untimely death in 1923.

A chess set owned by 6th President John Quincy Adams, who was actually the son of our 2nd President, John Adams!

One of Bill Clinton’s signature saxophones, and one of Harry S. Truman’s vacation shirts from his Key West retreat.

The damaged file cabinet from the Watergate break-in. The circumstances surrounding the Watergate Scandal would have gotten President Richard Nixon impeached, had he not resigned first.

A little casket trinket owned by 18th President Ulysses S. Grant, the famous Union General.

Moldings of Abraham Lincoln’s hand, similar to the ones we found in Springfield. His hand was so swollen from shaken so many hands, that he had to grab onto a broomstick handle to steady it in order to make the cast.

George Washington’s personal telescope… he must have seemed a very imposing figure with it, since he was 6′ feet tall!

Me giving a speech. Imagine so many eyes upon you while you speak out to the crowd… it must be nerve-wracking.

But the most prized relic of the entire Presidential Collection is Abraham Lincoln’s ACTUAL stove-pipe hat, that he wore to Ford’s Theatre before his assassination (as you can read on the sign).

The black of the hat has long since worn down, but the shape still remains! He even used to keep notes tucked in there for access at a moment’s notice.

The First Ladies section was especially fantastic, with dresses and memorabilia spanning plenty of the wives of the Presidents.

A massive collection of White House China, mostly purchased by the First Ladies themselves. Caroline Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison helped to establish the China Collection in the White House.

Going from left to right, the inaugural dresses of First Ladies Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter and Nancy Reagan, respectively.

The Inaugural dress of Melania Trump, our current First Lady! Wow… that got here relatively quick.

Some dresses belonging to Lady Bird Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson’s wife. Lady Bird Lake in Austin is named after her, as well as the nearby National Wildflower Center.

Mary Todd Lincoln’s Dress. She loved fancy dresses like this.

We also saw, in a separate exhibit, a couple of items from the Wizard of Oz movie!

Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers are signature artifacts of the museum, and perhaps the only pair that survived to the present-day.

Also here are the Scarecrow’s Hat, and Glenda the Good Witch’s wand (that looks nothing like a wand, a wand is something that is only a few inches… that’s more like a staff! Meh, I’m not complaining).

Continuing on our way afterwards, we hurried to the Museum of Natural History, and began our exploration.

National Museum of Natural History

I’ll try to spend a little less time on this, just to provide a bit of mercy for you.

Thankfully, though there was much blockading done, we were able to get inside without too much of a hassle.

The massive central hall of the museum! Exhibits splitting off this way and that, and Henry, the giant Elephant, in the center of it all. Henry is sort of like the mascot of the museum.

In the aquatic section, we found several interesting items…

A Giant Turtle shell… imagine living in one of those…

A prehistoric sea-beast that I am very thankful doesn’t exist anymore…

Interesting fish skeletons, most notably a large Swordfish one.

And a giant squid, which was found only about a decade ago. The oceans are nice, but they are freaky sometimes, so I am thankful for living deeper in-land.

Next up, in the “Human Origins” section…

Many artifacts provided intriguing information regarding the origins of the human race, and of our evolution.

This early skeleton shows a pre-human species that could walk on two legs… it must’ve been freaky looking.

Two more “Human-like” skeletons. Getting warmer…

Gah! Hello there! (Is it just me, or does it look like someone hit him on the nose?)

A mummified… er, mummy. This was actually in the Egyptian section.

Dinosaurs!

I am severely glad that a beast like the T-Rex no longer roams the earth… though, with forearms like those, perhaps not so much.

For the “Mammal” section, I’ll just show a montage of photos, with occasional dialogue.

“Hey, a little privacy please!? I’m eating here!”

Someone’s having a bad… “quill” day.

Aww… little baby.

Gah! Don’t Eat Me!

To be fair though, many of these animal specimens are very realistic, and it’s just amazing how the Smithsonian has amassed this big and exotic a collection!

Now, to be fair, I might have went a little bit overboard with the “mineral/gemstone” section, but we’ll deal with it.

You’ll find anything here, whether it be…

Meteorites,

A drop of lava,

Glow-in-the-dark ore samples…

Gypsum Columns,

any assortment in the color rainbow,

Gold that DOES glitter (hats off to you if you get that Lord of the Rings reference),

Sapphires,

Rubies,

Emeralds,

Diamonds (such as this pair of earrings worn by Marie Antoinette),

Or magnificent jewels that were gifted from Napoleon Bonaparte.

However, the crowning jewel (no pun intended) of the entire collection, is the one, the only…

Hope Diamond!

The Hope Diamond is one of the most prized museum relics in the entire world, for millions of people view it each year… it is a very rare Blue-colored diamond, at a very rare size, and at 42 Carats.

The photo alone couldn’t capture the beauty and the deep blue that this diamond holds, but it’s history is very special indeed.

Found in Burma centuries ago by a diamond merchant, it was cut down and given to the King of France for his crown, to which it was then called “The French Blue”. Following The French Revolution however, it disappeared, was recut, and reemerged more than a century later in London as “The Hope Diamond”. It was generously donated to the Smithsonian by the owner in 1950.

That’s Mom looking at the Hope Diamond… she was truly stunned by it’s beauty, as it rotated on a circular platform.

With what little time we had left, we hurried over to our final stop of the day… The National Archives, the home of the Declaration of Independence, and the U.S. Constitution!

The National Archives

The building was truly larger than I remember it to be… but it is the main repository for many historical documents (The National Archives is also the administrator of the Presidential Library System, which entails the “Main 13” libraries).

There’s me to scale!

And this picture… well, I had just taken it, and the security guard told us that we were not allowed to take pictures in ANY part of the building… an honest mistake.

Since the trademark of the building was “The Rotunda”, I will finish off this post there, with stock photos.

The dimly lit Rotunda serves as a shrine to the very documents that our Nation’s Republic was founded upon… with surprisingly no line at all to hold us down, we entered…

The Declaration of Independence was the first that we came to… and it was even more weathered than I could ever remember it… it is very difficult to read the words, yet it is still legible in places, particularly John Hancock’s famous “John Hancock”.

In the center of the Rotunda was the original U.S. Constitution, with four pages of the founding of our Federal Government… by no means is our system of Government perfect, but the Founding Fathers were dedicated into making sure that it was close to that.

The Bill of Rights were the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution written by James Madison. They remain basic rights of ours that still endure today.

In drawing conclusion, these documents are the very fabric of our Nation, and yet, time has passed, and it is very possible that they will become beyond repair soon enough… stains are present on each, the letters are faded, and time has taken it’s toll on these legendary documents…

The ink may fade, but the words will not.

We still know their meaning and their purposes, we know the phrases and portrayals that each of them depicted. We still remember that this is a government of “We the People.” We still remember that “All men are created Equal”, and that we remember that, through trial and tribulation, we are still “The United States of America”. Unity has always carried us through even our darkest days, and, should we stay that course, it will do so for many long years in the future.

I’ll drink to that.

Returning to our hotel exhausted, we have now planned to visit tomorrow (or today, depending on when you are seeing this) not only Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, but also Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of the most revered individuals in our Nation’s history.

Thank you again for tuning in, and as always, i’ll see you in the next post!

Tally-ho!

Hey everyone, and happy Mother’s Day!

Sorry for not being able to post earlier this morning like I said I would yesterday, but it would seem that my Hotspot has been disabled, and it was a good while until I could establish wifi to post!

So, as you might have predicted, we are now officially in Washington D.C., the capitol of the United States of America! It’s chilly out here, as we stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown D.C., so while we bunker down for the weather, let me show you the first taste of what we have to offer on our trip!

Compared to last trip, we have packed a lot lighter, even if there is three of us this time around! I suppose that with an all-out road-trip such as last summer’s, the car could be a mobile command-center, while actually flying to our destination like this time requires us to pack moderately.

At about 9:00 AM, we took off from New Braunfels, and within the hour, arrived at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. It was not very hard to find gate to our flight, and we hopped into the A section of the plane with little complication.

And it wouldn’t take very long before the plane took off, flying towards the Northeast!

Some very beautiful clouds. I believe that I took this photo somewhere over Louisiana, I can’t really remember.

This was just after touchdown in Ronald Reagan International Airport 2 hours later, with the three of us ready and eager for adventure!

It had rained heavily before we landed, but thankfully, it had died down by the time we arrived. We had actually arrived 45 minutes ahead of schedule! I have no idea how that happened, but we had to wait for 35 of those minutes while the Airport Command tried to find a gate for us…  it couldn’t “dampen” our spirits though (pun intended)!
For those of you who didn’t know, I have actually been to D.C. ONCE before, about four years ago in the summer of 2015. It was a smaller trip then, and with just my dad, but I have one very vivid memory on that first day in Washington that I still remember not-so fondly.

It was on this subway platform that we took off from the airport, and 4 years ago, my dad and I had done so as well. The subways of D.C. are VERY punctual on their coming and going, since they are on an automated timer that dictates their opening/closing doors, and if your not careful… you’ll end up with something similar to my first experience with the subway.

To explain further, my dad and I were just about to get onto the subway, and for some reason we were prevented from making good time to get inside. The automated doors began to close, and soon, I found myself on the outside of the subway, and my dad on the inside, and within a few brief horror-stricken seconds, the subway zipped down the line, leaving me alone and trying to process what had happened…

Thankfully we met up at the last stop (thank god for Cell-phone communication), and we continued on our day as usual. So, as a heads up if you ever find yourself in the D.C. area,  DO NOT underestimate the Subway…

This is one of the typical subway stations that one would find in D.C. It reminds me a bit of something from a Sci-fi thing, like Star Wars. This particular station is McPherson Square Metro, which is right across the street from our hotel!

And so, we settled into our hotel, and checked the view out of our window.

EEEEE!!!

That’s the Washington Monument, which casts a terrific presence even over our hotel. It’s only a few blocks away…

This is an even better perspective, at ground-view.

So, with the bit of daylight that we had left, we explored around much of Pennsylvania Avenue, arguably the most famous street in the District of Columbia (which is what D.C. stands for, in case you didn’t know).

Pennsylvania Avenue is closed to all vehicle traffic, and is one of the widest streets that you could imagine! It certainly was a lot bigger than I remembered it to be.

This is the U.S. Treasury Building, which is of course, home to the U.S. Department of the Treasury (which you probably could have guessed)… And that’s me in front of it with my arms up, as happy as a kid in a candy factory.

Soon enough, we came to IT… a memorial to American Democracy, a symbol of the nation’s pride, and a shrine to the office of President of the United States… The White House!

Every U.S. President since John Adams has lived in this world-famous residence, and it has been there for most of our National History… It was even bigger than I remembered it to be!

This particular side of The White House is called the “North Portico”, and it is where Heads of State are often greeted. The lawn in front of it is called, “The North Lawn” or “The Front Lawn” (sorry if that seems a bit like a no-brainer).

This is the road that leads onto the gated street between the Eisenhower Executive Building and the entrance to the White House West Wing. We even saw people down that street, who can say what their purpose was there!

Unfortunately, our applications to tour the inside of the White House failed to go through, so we will not be able to tour the place on the inside (though the nearby White House Visitor Center is a stop that we will try to visit).

This map of not so-great quality is a decent depiction of the area that we visited. The Treasury Building is on the right, the Eisenhower Executive Building is on the left, and the White House is in the center. The South Portico and the South Lawn are located on the opposite side of the White House (again, might be a bit too obvious).

The White House Complex is split up into three areas. The East Wing (which has an assortment of functions including the Offices of the First Lady), The Residence (the most famous and central building in The White House), and The West Wing (where important executive offices and rooms are located, including the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office.

Next to the White House West Wing is the Eisenhower Executive Building, named after General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was “Ike” that saved this office building from demolition, and it was he that became the building’s namesake. Much of the Presidential Cabinet Staff have their offices here, including the Vice-President.

Across the street from The White House The Blair House is the official Guesthouse of The President, and is reserved for the most special and honored visitors to Washington D.C., particularly foreign dignitaries and Heads-of-State, some of which have included Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, French Republic President Charles de Gaulle, Japanese Emperor Akihito, Russian President Vladamir Putin, and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher!

The Blair House was built in 1824, and lived in by Francis Preston Blair, the namesake.

One fun fact that can be noticed above is that Robert E. Lee, the famous Confederate general, was offered the Command of the entire Union Army here before the Civil War, but he denied, on account that he could not raise arms against his fellow Virginians and Southerners.

Lafayette Square, also located across the street from The White House, is named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the famed french aristocrat who aided the fledgling U.S. in the Revolutionary War against Great Britain.

Here’s a very nice memorial to someone that I couldn’t even bother to take a picture of their name… sorry. 😦

This interesting statue is of General and 7th President Andrew Jackson, who to this day is a constant drawer of controversy within the U.S. Still, it’s a very nice statue!

And THIS, is St. John’s Protestant Episcopal Church. On the north side of Lafayette Square, every president since James Madison has worshipped at this church at least once during their time in office, and ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt’s time, every president has worshipped here the first Sunday following their inauguration.

… that’s what I just said…

Though it doesn’t look like it, this pigeon was FAT. The pigeons of urban environments are well-fed, and nowhere near as cowardly as the ones in Texas are. They are hardened scavengers!

And this is an Oriole, which you don’t find too much of in Texas.

After our temporary bout of “Bird-watching”, we ate at Subway, and finished the day off with briefly visiting Franklin Square, named after Benjamin Franklin, the legendary founding-father! We then walked a block away to our hotel.

And that was our first day in a nutshell! We are of course nowhere near as intense in our activities as we usually were, for this was just a warm-up, a preview to what is to come! My mom, being in D.C. for the first time, absolutely loved seeing just this sneak-peak, and rest assured, we will be ready to get going tomorrow!

Tomorrow, another chilly/rainy day, we will be visiting the key museum buildings of the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall, as it will be a very rainy day! Get ready for relics of the past in the Museum of American History, wonders in the Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Castle!

See you soon!

Hello Everyone…

In case you didn’t know…

THE TRIP STARTS TOMORROW!!!

I am so excited… this entire year has been building up to this moment, and together, we will see so many sights and experiences!

So, in respect for tomorrow, I will go over some of our finalized plans, as well as a couple of updates concerning our route of the trip!

Firstly, we will leave from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin (logic I can follow) tomorrow morning at around Noon, and we will arrive at Ronald Reagan International Airport in Arlington, Virginia at approximately 4:00 PM (Ronald Reagan Airport, though outside D.C., is still the main airport that services the Capitol).

(Sorry for the Poor Quality)

From the Airport (in the south of the map), we will take a subway deeper into the District of Columbia, and into the very heart of our country!

We will be staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Washington D.C., which is only a few blocks east of The White House!

Unfortunately, our applications to tour The White House were turned down, but we still have specialized tours of The Capitol Building on Thursday, so yay!

We will spend around 6 days in the District of Columbia, doing all of the items on our list highlighted in the Summer 2019 Trip Overview post (which you can access above via the link). From there, we will continue on to Gettysburg, and to the rest of out trip.

Also, as a minor note, we have added a new last-minute destination to out trip! At Point F on the map above, and just miles west of Philadelphia, is the Valley Forge National Historical Park, where General George Washington and his Continental Army bedded down during the 1777-78 Winter during the Revolutionary War, and how they persevered through thick and thin to turn the tide against the British and Hessians! We will visit there after we explore Lancaster, and before we visit Philadelphia.

And on a final note, the times of my posts may very greatly. In my 2018 Trip, the posts were mostly issued whenever the time of convenience would come about, so I will try not to make any assumptions that might be proven wrong. I typically either submit my posts on the evening of the post’s subject day, or on the very next morning. As long as we are flexible though, It shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

And well… I suppose that’s pretty much it! I’ll post again just before we leave our home in New Braunfels for Austin-Bergstrom Airport, and hopefully again after we are settled into our hotel in WASHINGTON D.C.!!!

Let the fun begin! See you tomorrow!

Welcome back everyone, to the penultimate post of our 2019 Historical Summer Roadtrip!

Today, I will…. hm? What? The site looks different?

Oh yes! I have given my blog a much needed facelift! Not only is it more appealing to look at, but it also is much easier now to navigate my posts!

Here, let me show you!

Visual Aid!

At the top of the website, you’ll find something that looks like this. I’ll go over each one!

2018 Blog Posts: The symbols below the website title that look like little chain links are actually my 2018 Summer Trip Posts! Click on any one of them (they are chronologically in order from left to right) to be taken to past experiences and memories at your own leisure!

2019 Blog Posts: Here is where you will find any recent blog posts for 2019! Check HERE for updates and any new posts as our trip progresses!

Follow Button: If you haven’t already followed me yet Via Email, then you can simply click the follow button and complete the directions to receive notifications whenever I post something new!

For everyone who follows this blog, this new site not only allows for more user-friendliness, but it also allows for better navigation and cataloging of the trip. No more will you have to SCROLL CONSTANTLY to get to a certain post! It’s just a click away.

Now that you know how to explore the site, I’ll see you later today with a final update on our trip plans! See you there!

There are some moments in your lifetime that you will never forget… For many people, it’s hearing your favorite song for the first time, or perhaps finding true love, or maybe even spending a single special moment with your family and loved ones. For me, there is one memory that I will NEVER forget…

On my trip to the tiny town of “Plains”, during our 2018 Georgia Spring Break Trip, my dad and I got to meet Former President Jimmy Carter!

I mean, studying the presidents is great, but actually getting to MEET one!? I was simply ecstatic. And while I had seen George W. Bush last December on Bush Senior’s funeral train in College Station, that was only from a distance. I not only got to shake Mr. Carter’s hand, but I also conversed directly with him, and took a picture with him! Not a day goes by that I don’t stop to think about this special moment, so perhaps it would be best if I just tell the whole story to you!

So, in celebration of ONE WEEK UNTIL THE TRIP, let’s dive in and explore Plains, the “Land of Peanuts”.

Plains, Georgia is the hometown of our 39th President, and to this day he still lives there. Plains is unlike any other town I have ever seen, for no other Presidential Town is quite like it. Experiencing Plains is so real, because in truth, “He” is so real. He is embodied in ever aspect of this small town of 700 people, and there was always the chance that one could happen upon him doing every-day things here.

So naturally, it was only fitting that my dad and I would travel 2 hours from Atlanta to just visit the town, which contains the “Jimmy Carter National Historic Site”, which preserves some of the most important places in Carter’s early, political, and current life.

Georgia has large expanses of no civilization other than the country roads with giant trees on the sides, particularly in the southern region. We passed mounds of Georgia Red Clay, and multitudes of farming fields, and we finally found it!

Plains

 (Not my picture)

As one can imagine, I was practically thrilled.. this sign was a true statement.

After checking in at the visitor center, we began to explore the different areas that Plains had to offer.

This is Main Street: Plains. It is literally only 6 or 7 buildings on one side of the street. Here, one could find the Historic Inn, Antiques Store, Buffalo Cafe, Trading Post (filled with campaign memorabilia from many past elections), and “Plains Peanuts”, which sells everything from Boiled Peanuts to Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

This famous sign is known by many, but seeing it actually in real-life only made me even more fidgety. There was always that rare chance of happening upon him… And mind you, he can often be seen doing ordinary things around Plains (naturally surrounded by Secret Service protection), such as buying nails at the Hardware Store, riding his bike, or even just taking a leisurely stroll with his wife, Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.

So we ate at the Buffalo Cafe (pictured above), and we could hear the various patrons, both residents and visitors, talking about Jimmy Carter in such a casual way! Around here, folks call him just “Jimmy”, or even “Mr. Jimmy”. You got to love that. The women on the TV on the wall is Lillian Carter, who was President Carter’s mother, who lived long enough to see the full term of her son in the White House (shoutout to my college classmate Carter, who’s mother is a second cousin to President Carter)!

So after we ate at the Cafe (with me having a delicious Chicken Fried Steak), we continued on to explore the town.

In the small town square was this marker that commemorated President Carter’s legacy here. It’s also decorated with the American and Georgia Flags.

As one can see in the picture, I was, to quote Ebeneezer Scrooge, “Giddy as a schoolboy.”

And this is… wait… my leg. Must have taken it by accident, sorry.

Across the street was in fact the former service station of “Billy Carter”, who was the president’s brother! Billy Carter, for those of you who could remember, was a typical southern “good old boy”, who was famed for his briefly popular drink “Billy Beer”. The service station now serves as a small museum for Billy, which we didn’t go in.

 It was at this very train depot along the tracks, only a few yards from Main Street, that Jimmy Carter hosted his own Campaign headquarters for the 1976 Presidential Election. The folk of Plains pitched into help with the efforts, and it was here that Carter received the news that he had beaten incumbent Gerald Ford, and secured himself as the 39th President of the United States!

The depot, part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site was filled with Carter memorabilia, which, as you can see, leaned rather heavily on Peanuts. Plains was one of the greatest growers of Peanuts in the entire country, and Carter himself was a Peanut Farmer, from when he inherited his father’s farm.

A bit of Carter memorabilia.

This made me chuckle a bit, as it sounds like something that would happen in a small rural town.

This private home was where Rosalynn Carter lived for much of her childhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. Carter were both born and raised in Plains, and it was to this town that they returned to no matter what.

The former “Plains High School” was now the visitor center for the overall Historic Site. It was here that the Carters went to High School.

This auditorium reminiscent of older style schools shows a small documentary of life in Plains. It was fascinating!

In case you were wondering where I got that picture from my 2019 trip announcement, here it was (of course I don’t own a replica of the Oval Office, but who wouldn’t?).

Young Jimmy’s classroom, which was taught by a woman named Ms. Julia Coleman.

Having taught at Plains High School for over 50 years, and even received special recognition from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Ms. Coleman was one of Jimmy’s most inspiring figures in his life. She once told everyone in his class to “Study hard, one of you could become President of the United States.” And of course, she was telling the truth.

The “Lillian G. Carter Health and Rehabilitation Center”, or “Wise Sanitarium” as it was known back in the day, was where Jimmy Carter was born on October 1st, 1924. To this day, at the age of 95, he remains our longest-lived president, having recently passed up George H.W. Bush, who was only 100 days older than Carter.

This famous statue is a signature landmark of Plains, which note’s the town as the capital of Carter and Peanuts. Jimmy Carter of course is well known for his toothy grin, and he once joked that his toothpaste bill was through the roof.

It wasn’t easy to lift this, let me tell you that.

And this, is Maranatha Baptist Church. With only a regular congregation of 30 people, it would seem normal, except for the fact that a President preaches Sunday School here.

And that is why on the given dates, hundreds of people from across the country and the world come to Plains to watch Jimmy Carter give one of his famous lessons! Of course, not all of them are guaranteed access since it fills up quickly, and many arrive as early as 5:00 AM or earlier in the morning for the chance to be first in line.

It must be so inspiring to listen to him teach… and of course, one could have a picture with Mr. and Mrs. Carter, but only briefly, as the Secret Service prohibit shaking hands, talking to the president, or touching him in any way… how lucky we were for what would happen.

We then went down the road west, and we came across the entrance to the Carter Compound… the very place where the Carters currently live.

Naturally, as one can expect, the entire place is gated off, with another gate that encompasses the entire street. But, with our great luck, because of the season, we could actually see the house through the trees!

And we thought, “he’s probably in there right now!” He was.

My dad tried to take a picture of me in front of the gate that led to the compound, but a big bearded man (who we found out later to be a Secret-Service man) from the inside of the compound walked up to us, and deterred us from doing so. Not wanting to be on the wrong side of the Presidential Protector, we quickly left for the boyhood home.

Since there was no clear shot of the house, here’s one from Google.

President and Mrs. Carter also plan to be buried in the front yard whenever their time comes, at which point the house will likely be opened to the public.

We continued onto the final part of our trip to Plains: The Boyhood Home.

After passing by Lebanon Cemetery (a small plot of land that had most of the Carter Family interred within), we came to the Boyhood Home!

He drew in this very tile. It was actually relatively recent, given it’s from 2010.

Well hello there.

Animals often roamed this farm, such as these chickens.

Looking out into probably what would have been a very accurate portrait of the landscape in the farm.

The back portion of the house. Jimmy, his parents, and his four siblings all lived in here.

This is the Living Room, where the family often spent time together. Young Jimmy would lie on the floor listening to the Radio, which was back then the outlet to the outside world. Whether it be listening to classical or 20’s music, or listening to one of FDR’s Fireside Chats, he eagerly soaked it in. We’ll come back to this room in a moment.

This was the dining room, where, at mealtimes, Jimmy would always have a book with him. He was an avid reader, and easily helped to engage him in literary work.

It was in this Breakfast room however, that the casual setting would often be for meals.

Nearby was the kitchen, where Lillian Carter would often cook.

This was Jimmy’s bedroom, where he could often be found reading books. That model junk boat in the back was a tiny detail that inspired him to become a navy man, and a Submarine Commander under Admiral Hyman Rickover.

A small pair of young Jimmy’s muddy jeans. He had many memories on the farm, and almost all of his playmates and friends his age were African-Americans, who often lived around Plains and Sumter County. It was these special interactions with him that he really found his humanitarian spirit, and his love for Civil and Human Rights.

Due to our excitement upon the next event that happened at the Boyhood Home, we took few pictures. So, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll have to tell the story with mostly words, if that’s possible.

So, as one could normally predict, we thought were pretty much done with Plains. So we were about to head back to the rental car and leave. Before we got out through the door however, the park ranger in charge of the house came up to us, and said, and I quote,

“Heads up, The President is coming in.”

…

It took a couple of seconds to process this single sentence. We were shaken. We looked out the window, and there he was… 94 year old Jimmy Carter, ambling up the sidewalk with two Secret-Service men (one of which was the one to tell us off earlier). It took us a while to recognize him through the screen door, but the instant I saw him, I began trembling.

The lead park ranger then told all of us who were gathered in the house certain ground rules when meeting with the President, such as calling him “President Carter”, “Mr. President” or simply “Mr. Carter”, not overcrowding him, not making sudden movements, and being polite to him. I however, was mostly still trembling, and I swear that it almost created an earthquake. My shaking hands dropped my glasses, and I hastened to pick them up.

Soon enough, he entered the house, and we could tell that it was him… a unique J.C. belt buckle, a Carter Center T-Shirt, and that famous toothy grin. And when you looked at that smile, you couldn’t help but smile along with him too… that’s my most vivid memory of him.

When he came in, he smiled at all of us who were gathered in the room, and, shaking our hands (with a strong grip for his age might I add), he asked where we were from, and we replied “Texas Sir”.

Continuing to smile, he walked around to the various rooms, likely reflecting on nostalgia of the past. Then, he came into the living room, and, unhooking the rope barrier that blocked the room, sat down on the sofa corner, and began conversing with all of us, and telling us special stories of his childhood in that home.

Like the story of one of his greatest Christmas Days, where, after being disappointed at only getting underwear, was told by his father to look outside, and there was a pony out there just for him. He told all of us in the room that he liked that pony very much, and that he often spent time with it.

He talked of all sorts of misadventures in his youth, lessons he learned from his neighbors, and, he personally asked my dad to press the nearby audio button. Now we can say that my dad fulfilled a “Presidential Order”.

The voiceover of President Carter came over the speakers, discussing the importance of the radio, and it seemed so surreal to us to be listening to the voice, and yet seeing “the man” right before our own eyes. All this while, the two secret service men were eyeing us for anything suspicious, and especially the agent that we had encountered earlier.

Soon enough, Mr. Carter got up, walked out the back door, and walked to the nearby store that his family ran back in the day.

It sold anything from provisions, equipment, and whatever might be needed in the rural area of Sumter County. We took this picture while President Carter was inside, and my dad was formulating a plan to get a special picture of me with President Carter, without it seeming too suspicious. That man in the blue shirt on the right is a Secret Service agent by the way, and is likely disguised in civilian clothes for obvious reasons.

Then, a pair of SUV’s pulled up on the road across from the house (one white and one black), and President Carter left the store to head inside, but before it was too late, my dad asked him if I could be in a picture with him, saying that I was a big Presidential History buff. The president agreed, and then, we made History!

He then asked my name, and I replied, “Mark Sir”. I was bubbling with emotion, and about to burst.

My dad then told Mr. Carter that even though we were Republicans, he was our favorite Democrat. Mr. Carter then responded, “Well thank you, that’s high praise!”

Smiling to the end, he waved goodbye, hopped in the backseat of the white SUV, and sped down the lane, and away from where we were standing…

The moment the vehicles were gone around the corner, my dad and I broke out in to hysteria, and began hugging, fist-bumping, and doing anything appropriate to that post-mortem moment.

After spending several minutes viewing the footage and photos that we took, as well as calling mom to let her know (I was practically bawling at this point), we headed back to the car, and drove off to continue our trip in Andersonville.

Of course, after this, almost nothing we did on the trip could outdo what we had just done, and we instantly had pictures laminated, framed, and hung up on our walls. Every time I see this picture, or whenever my mind drifts back to Plains, I think of our encounter with Jimmy Carter, and I smile, no matter what I’m doing, or where I am.
By no means am I trying to say that Jimmy Carter was the greatest President we’ve ever had, not by a long-shot. He had many faults, and some crises’ that he just wasn’t able to handle. But many forget in our evaluation of the 39th President, that Carter arguably had the greatest Post-Presidency of all, with all his work through “The Carter Center,” Habitat for Humanity”, and all of his travels overseas that helped to establish fair and free elections, the eradication of diseases, electricity to power the homes of the depraved, and as an ambassador of Humanity to dozens of nations. There are good reasons why he won his Nobel Peace Prize, and all of these actions go to show for it.

It was in Plains that he had imbued his qualities of Humility, Kindness, Integrity and Charity, and growing up as a humble peanut farmer, he sincerely connected with people in poverty, and always had the greatest intentions. In the tumultuous times that we live in, I think that we desperately need the integrity that people like Jimmy Carter brought to the nation in his time, that any person of political belief could partake in. And hopefully, we can do just that.

Thank you all very much for seeing my last post in this countdown to our trip! It seems hard to believe that exactly a week from today, we will be flying to Washington D.C., and to new horizons! And I am very thankful that you will all be with us as we explore many Historical Sites from D.C. to Boston!

Thanks again everyone, and I’ll see you next weekend for the final preparations!

Welcome back to the blog everyone!

It’s hard to believe that the trip is only two days away… I’m certainly counting down the days, and there aren’t that many obstacles left to overcome in order to get there!

So, while I am bunkered down here at college, studying vigorously for my Exams, let’s talk about my Georgia Spring-Break Trip shall we?

I have technically visited Georgia before, but only on a layover flight from Philadelphia to get back home to Texas, at the Atlanta Hartsfeld-Jackson International Airport (actually the busiest airport in the entire world!). Spring-Break was the perfect opportunity to fit in a 1- week trip with my dad to visit some of it’s special historical sites (unfortunately, my mom could not come with us due to other matters)!

The four stars that you can see on this Google Maps Image are the four towns/cities that we visited at some point. I’ll go over each of them now, with the places we visited!

Atlanta (Northmost star): The capital of Georgia, Atlanta is rich with History and culture, and is both an epicenter for international and national affairs! It was here that our hotel was located, and it was in the general vicinity of Atlanta that most of our time was spent. Some of the iconic places that we visited included:

• The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum: The official Library/Museum of Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States. One of the Main 13 Presidential Libraries, this facility is also home to “The Carter Center”, one of the most prominant humanity/charity foundations in the world.
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site:  The prominent Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s roots were based here in Atlanta, and this site includes his birthplace home, the famous Ebeneezer Baptist Church, “The King Center”, and Dr. King’s Tomb. (Editor’s Note: Since this post’s release, the MLK National Historic Site has been reconverted into a “National Historical Park”.)
  

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• Georgia State Capitol: Home to the state government of Georgia, this building is rich with history and politics, and a monument to prominant Georgians in America’s long story.
• Georgia Aquarium: One of the largest aquariums in the world, The Georgia Aquarium is also known for having one of the largest saltwater tanks in the world!
• World of Coca-Cola: The official Museum for the popular soft-drink, this facility is filled with Coca-Cola lore and memorabilia, and details it’s history from it’s start in the 1880’s, to the present day.
• National Center for Civil and Human Rights: A special museum dedicated to the struggles and accomplishments of minorities around the world who strove for Civil Rights.
• Atlanta History Center: Similar to the Bob Bullock Museum of Texas History, this massive complex showcases the proud history of Georgia, and is also home to a rare Cyclorama, which depicts the legendary Civil War conflict, “The Battle of Georgia”.

Warm Springs (Next star below Atlanta): Warm Springs is primarily known for being the location of the “Little White House”, the summer retreat of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and where he treated his polio in the warm waters nearby. He died of a massive stroke at this place on April 12th, 1945.

Andersonville (second southernmost star): Andersonville National Historic Site was home to perhaps the largest Prisoner of War camp in the Civil War, where over 5,000 Union Soldiers and other prisoners died due to the poor conditions. The site of today’s time contains The field where the prison camp was located, the “National Prisoner of War Museum”, and a massive cemetery where many of the prisoners were buried.

Plains (Southernmost star): This very tiny town is the current home of President Jimmy Carter, as well as the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, which encompasses much of the 39th President’s early and present life.

Going over each of the towns that we visited in great detail would be very exhausting, so I will just separate each town into different pictures, by the days that we visited each. I’ll show the most prominant photos in our trip EXCEPT anything related to Plains, which I will post on a later date (likely next weekend.)

Day 1: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and MLK National Historic Site 

Carter Library: 

The front of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library (I took the traditional picture of me holding up my presidential passport here, but I cannot seem to find it).

The large rotunda located in the Exhibit Hallways. The Carter Library was actually very extensive! Jimmy Carter, for his flaws, was still probably one of our most underrated presidents, especially considering his background.

A nearly identical replica of the Oval Office as it was during the Carter Administration. Seeing each of these replicas at the different libraries is cool, as there are different arrangements of furniture and colors that are provided in each.

Jimmy Carter’s 2002 Nobel Peace Prize! He had won this due to his tremendous work through “The Carter Center”, “Habitat for Humanity”, and various other roles as an ambassador of Human Rights.

MLK National Historic Site:

Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. was born in this very house, on January 15th, 1929.

And this is the inside of the nearby “Ebeneezer Baptist Church” where he and his father, Dr. Martin Luther King Sr.,  preached sermons. This likely helped the younger Dr. King hone his oratorical, and lend special emotion and depth to his speeches.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s actual Nobel Peace Prize! He won this in 1964 for his work in promoting Civil Rights for African-Americans. We had actually seen two Nobel Peace Prizes on that same day: Jimmy Carter’s, and MLK’s.

The Plaza of the King Center, featured with an incredible pool with one of Dr. King’s most famous quotes: “We will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

The tomb of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and his wife Coretta Scott King. It was a very solemn spot with dozens of people watching it.

Day 2: Jimmy Carter National Historic Site and Andersonville National Historic Site

As I am saving Plains for next weekend, I’ll just show Andersonville for this day.

Andersonville National Historic Site:

The “National Prisoner of War Museum” was actually dedicated to all the Prisoners of War in the various conflicts of the United States, from the Civil War, to both World Wars, and to Korea, Vietnam, and the skirmishes of the Middle-East.

Just one perspective of the massive field where the massive Prison Camp was located.

Memorials still dot this place, and the road circumvents the entire plot of the Camp. The White markers strewn down the field is where the palisade wall was located.

A small recreation of the tents and wall of the Prison Camp. Things were very unsanitary here, and dysentery was the doom of both soldiers and prisoners alike.

The cemetery was packed with so many white tombstones of soldiers that were reminiscent of Arlington National Cemetery.However, even Arlington Cemetery’s headstones were not as packed closely together as they were here, where it would just seem to be a gigantic sea of white… it was very moving either way.

Day 3: “The Little White House” and the Georgia State Capitol.

It really is a “Little White House”…. FDR often retreated here in Warm Springs in order to treat his polio. Having only a few rooms, it was here that Roosevelt died in 1945.

One of his trademark wheelchairs (which was very narrow), and some of his leg braces! He had several of these at key locations where he would need them, such as in Warm Springs, The White House, or his home in Hyde Park, New York.

FDR’s bathing suit that he wore when he swam in the warm waters of the retreat! The picture behind it is him wearing it, having a great time as he played with boys and girls who were also diagnosed with polio.

The study room inside the Little White House. It was at the desk on the left that Roosevelt had his fatal stroke, while he was posing for a portrait.

And in this room, was the very place where FDR breathed his last… a death that truly shook the nation to it’s core in shock and horror…

These now empty pools are where FDR swam with many children and other patients to treat his polio.

Warm Springs, a poor settlement in it’s early days, and the common people in poverty that FDR had come to known so well, was where he had become inspired to pass many of the landslide legislation bills that he issued in his “New Deal.” It was quite a fascinating story to learn about, for Roosevelt was truly one of the greatest communication presidents.

This famed painting, known as the “Unfinished Portrait”, was the very one that Roosevelt was posing for when he collapsed during his stroke. It has become a testament to the exaustion and stress that he endured during the Great Depression and World War II.

Georgia State Capitol: 

In case you were wondering, that actually is a dome made of gold! It is always fascinating to see other state capitols, but this one is naturally nowhere as big as the Texas State Capitol in Austin is.

This special plaza commemorates Georgia’s status as one of the original 13 colonies. One of the 53 copies of the Liberty Bell rests in the center of the plaza, and the names of the Georgia Delegation signers of the Declaration of Independence are inscribed on the wall behind.

A statue of President Jimmy Carter, the only president to hail from Georgia. He was previously Governor, and had served in this same building.

A panoramic of one of the large halls of the Georgia State Capitol (sorry for the morph in the middle).

Here is the Georgia Senate Chamber…And here is the Georgia House of Representatives chamber!

Day 4: World of Coca-Cola, National Center for Human and Civil Rights, and Georgia Aquarium

All three buildings were on the same plot of land, crazy!

This is the World of Coca-Cola, the official museum of the most popular soft-drink in the world!

Coca-Cola memorabilia everywhere… ever since it’s creation in the 1880’s, Coca-Cola has become an integral part in American Culture.My favorite part of the museum was this area! Coca-Cola brand drinks from all over the world! Each station had drinks from a different continent, and one could try an apple drink from Chile (shoutout to my friend Martin in Santiago!), and walk a few steps away to another stall that had cucumber-flavored Sprite from Russia (What even…)! Of course, my favorite was the Golden Peaks Sweet Tea from North America!

The National Center for Human and Civil Rights focused on many struggles in the name of Human Rights, including the Civil Rights Movement of the 50’s and 60’s, and advancements towards gender, racial, and social equality.

The outside of the Georgia Aquarium, which was absolutely massive!

One of the largest salt-water aquarium tanks in the world! Mere photos couldn’t capture the true scale of it. One could see fish and other creatures of all kinds, from stingrays, to turtles, sharks, and many others.

Many other exhibits in the museum also showcased Penguins, puffins, otters, jellyfish, shrimp, and who knows how many other aquatic animals!

Centennial Olympic Park was a brief spot on that day, where the Summer Olympics were once held! It was a brief stop mainly because a large marathon event was going to be held the next day, and as such was crowded with barriers and pavilions.

Day 5: Atlanta History Center (None of the pictures here are my own).

The outer facade of the building.

The building had a fantastic Civil War Exhibit, which had a giant collection of Confederate and Union relics!

The “Texas” was a famous train utilized in a legendary chase across the train-tracks to catch Union Spies during the Civil War. It’s a prime of example of what types of trains were used all those years ago.

The Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta is one of only two in the entire country (the other is in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A Cyclorama is basically a 360′ painting, and this particular one portrays the Battle of Atlanta, a major conflict in the Civil War.

Looking from an observation deck, one can observe the immense scale of the battle, which was reported to have made both Union and Confederate soldiers cry upon seeing it at it’s unveiling.

Again, no photo could properly capture the scale of the painting, and these generic photos can’t do it justice with it’s low quality.

And that my friends, is my Georgia Spring-Break Trip in a nutshell! It was very fun and fascinating, and, I got to meet an actual U.S. President!

What? I haven’t mentioned that yet? Well… It’s a long story… too long in fact, to tell it all in this post. That is why next weekend, I will dedicate the entire post to visiting Plains, Georgia, and meeting President Jimmy Carter himself!

Thank you all so much for visiting my blog, and i’ll see you next week!

Hello everyone, welcome once again to my weekly countdown as we get closer and closer to “Summer Trip 2019”!

Today, I would like to touch base on one of our nation’s most prominent political families… The Bushes.

No no no, these Bushes!

There ya go!

As I am sure that most of you are aware, Former President George H.W. Bush (left) passed away last November at his home in Houston, just 7 months after the passing of his beloved wife Barbara (who he affectionately called “Bar”). This brought a close to the longest married Presidential couple in U.S. History, at 73 years. (Editor’s Note: This record has since been passed by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter on October 18th, 2019.)

I think that in most of our minds, we thought that it wouldn’t be long until Bush 41 would join her, as he depended on her and loved her so very much. Not to mention, his rapidly failing health was likely evident to everyone. But nonetheless, when you hear the official news of a death close to you (in our minds, Bush 41 felt like family), you still get hit with a fairly decent amount of shock.

When my mother came into my room at 11:00 PM at night to relay me the news, I was indeed, shocked. A president hadn’t died since that of Gerald Ford’s in December 2006, and that was well beyond my recent memory. Twice had we been to Bush 41’s burial plot at his Presidential Library in College Station (one during this last summer trip), and it would seem that the gravesite would soon be occupied after all this time…

I returned to Texas Lutheran University to prepare for studying for my semester finals, and on Tuesday, I got a phone call from my dad. He suggested, that, on Thursday December 6th, we (me, my mom, dad, and a family friend), could go drive to College Station and witness the actual Funeral Train of President Bush stop there!

Though at first hesitant because I needed to study, I found out that Thursday was in fact a school-free study day, so we eagerly awaited that fateful day…

George Bush of course, was well known for wearing his crazy socks (he was in fact buried in a pair), so it was only fair that we pay tribute to him…

Comfy and patriotic, my perfect combo.

On that Thursday morning, my parents picked me up from my dorm room on campus, and we drove two hours to College Station… home of Texas A&M, one of the largest colleges in the entire country.

The town had also paid fitting tribute…

We were certainly surprised that thousands of people arrived on this cold and dreary day to pay their respects to this wonderful man… says a little something about the community’s respect towards him doesn’t it?

Through miraculous circumstance, we managed to get front row seats in front of the famous Kyle Field, right in front of the border fence of the road, and right in front of the tracks where the train would pull in. What luck!

The picture turned out horribly for trying to read the sign, but upon this balcony, a group of heartfelt students held a sign that read, “Gig ‘Em 41″. That just warmed my heart…

The weather was absolutely miserable, and soon, it began to rain on us periodically. Though we did have our umbrellas, the rain got into every orface of our body (though I almost caught a cold from all of this, I do not regret one bit of it).

This was an hour of history. Not since Dwight Eisenhower’s funeral in 1969 had a train been used as part of a Presidential Funeral. Not only that, but there was also the slim prospect of getting to spot George W, Bush, the late president’s son! We tracked the train’s progression from live-news throughout all the Texas towns from Houston to College Station: Spring, Magnolia, Stoneham, Navasota, and Wellborn. All along the way, thousands more had lined the tracks to get a glimpse at the casket of George Herbert Walker Bush… it would only be a matter of time…

The first sound we heard as it neared College Station, was the train horn of Union Pacific 4141… just like any other Union Pacific engine… it sent shivers down our spines… Then, we could hear and see the News Helicopter as it flew over far in the distance…. and then the light at the front of the train… what happened next was truly unforgettable…

Once briefly driven by the elder Bush himself, Union Pacific 4141 was numbered after the 41st President of the United States, and repainted to the color scheme of Air Force One… it was a touching idea.

Train Car after train car passed… and soon, we saw it… the car that held the casket.

Thousands of people would get to see the casket that cold December day… for most, it was the first presidential casket that that they had ever seen. Were it not for the fact that I had seen the casket of James A. Garfield back in Ohio, I would also be in this group (The second picture above is not my own).

But what was the most shocking part for me? Well… on the car behind the casket car, two individuals stood out on the train balcony…

It was former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush! The crowd roared with ecstacy at them (though mostly done in respect for the solemnity of the event), and the couple waved back with the biggest smiles on their faces…

I wonder how much joy they felt with all the support that their family has gotten… I bet that they were simply ecstatic. “Dubya” blew a kiss to the crowd, and my mom gave one back, and they soon went back inside as the train came to a halt…

At this point, I was bawling my eyes out… not only because I had just witnessed this special event, but also because I had seen my first U.S. President in person!

Naturally, the route of the funeral motorcade for the final burial at the Library was closed, so we could not get any closer… but pictures could tell much.

And to top it off, just minutes after the hearse and it’s entourage drove out of sight, a terrific display of aerial prowess could be seen. A unprecedented 21-man flyover of navy jets dashed across the sky. No photo could even capture the scope of it…

This was to honor President Bush Sr.’s commitment and service in the Armed Forces during World War II, in which he flew 58 different combat missions.

Five groups of four planes dashing across the skies of East Texas at extreme speeds… and then, a single jet on it’s lonesome self…

The jet rose up with tremendous speed, and, being the symbol of the missing veterans who never came home, rose higher, and higher, until it vanished into the dense clouds above…

Words still cannot express the feelings of pride, grief and wonder that we felt that day, and we returned home thankful for such a lucky encounter… And during one of my following exams the next week, I heard the sound of a train engine horn just like Bush 4141. It made me shiver; it was a sound that will never leave me…

Merely weeks later, the three of us travelled to College Station once more, to visit the now complete gravesite of the President. Unfortunately, as we were soon to realize, the majority of the Library was closed at that time due to the prevailing Government Shutdown that began shortly before. Although the main exhibit halls had been closed, the Foyer, Gift Shop, and grounds/gravesite were open to visitors, who poured in by the dozens from all over.

The flags are naturally at half-staff.

A guestbook was present in the lobby for us to sign, which would eventually be sent to the Bush family. We eagerly jotted down our names.

We then came to the gravesite outside…

The freshly laid ground on the grave still noticeable, George Bush lies in rest between his wife Barbara on the right, and his infant daughter “Robin” on the left.

Dozens of people were around the gravesite, and now that I have visited this special place, I have visited 24/49 Presidential Gravesites.

George Bush lived to be 94 years old, and, until being surpassed by Jimmy Carter (who was only 100 days younger than him), was the longest-lived President in American History.

Having had time to reflect on all that George Bush stood for, I realize now that he was truly a very special man. Though raised in a prominent and wealthy political family, George never chose to live a luxurious life of squalor, but instead gave his greatest devotion to service. He became the youngest naval pilot in World War II, and with his family, he moved to Texas to start his business endeavors, followed by his extraordinary political resume as U.S. Representative, United Nations Ambassador, CIA Director, Vice-President, and finally as our 41st President. His work behind the “Points of Life” foundation has also become quite famous, as his entire mantra of promoting “Volunteerism” has helped to inspire young Americans to make their communities better by doing meaningful work.

But I think that the legacy that he left behind that most will remember, is that honest, genuine, and integrity-filled personality that is so rare to find these days… Bush was truly one of the last of the “Greatest Generation”, as he knew what it meant to not only show grit in whatever he did, but also to be committed to causes that are truly larger than oneself. And I think that as time moves forward, more will come to see that, and hopefully, civility and respect can be restored to society once again.

Godspeed 41. Godspeed.

Thank you all very much for tuning in once more!

Next weekend, I will go into a retrospective of some of the highlights of our Spring-Break Georgia Trip, including the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and the FDR Little White House!

Thanks everyone, see you next weekend!

Hey again y’all!

Welcome back to my 2019 Summer Trip Blog!

Today, we will be going over the basic premises and groundworks of our trip, just to give y’all a better understanding of where we will be going! This might be a lengthy post, so brace yourselves!

In discussion of our time/dates, we will fly from Texas to Washington D.C. on the third Week of May, and we will be gone for nearly two and a half weeks. In comparison to our previous summer trip, this one is slightly shorter, but it will no doubt be just as packed (if not more packed) with destinations and sites as the last one! At any rate, the travel times between places will be significantly smaller than before, especially with a rental car at our side.

And this is the overview of our trip. Our starting point is at the green dot on the lower part, which is where Washington D.C., our nation’s capitol is located. From there, we will work our way up further north, through the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and finally Massachusetts, where we will end our trip in Boston. Our four major cities that we will be visiting will include Washington D.C. (Green), Philadelphia (E), New York City (I), and Boston (end).

I will now go over each town/city that we are going to visit, complete with brief descriptions of all of the sites that we are going to try to see. Each town is marked with their proper letter/symbol according ot the map.

Washington D.C. (Green)

• Arlington National Cemetery: While technically not a part of the D.C. area, Arlington National Cemetery is one still of the most famous cemeteries in the world, and is renowned for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy, and the seas of white tombstones of many past veterans.

• ---

  The Lincoln Memorial: One of the major symbols of Washington D.C., the Lincoln Memorial enshrines the memory of President Abraham Lincoln, and of the ideals that he stood for.

• Korean, Vietnam, and WWII Memorials: An assortment of Memorials located around the Reflecting Pool and Lincoln Memorial, these three icons memorialize most of the great wars of the 20th Century, including World War II, The Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
• FDR, MLK, and Jefferson Memorials: All situated around “The Basin”, each of these memorials are dedicated to Franklin D. Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr, and Thomas Jefferson.
• Washington Monument: One of the tallest structures in the National Capital, dedicated to our first president, George Washington.
• The White House: The official residence of the President of the United States, only open to reserved tours (our application for a tour is currently being reviewed, cross your fingers!)
• The Smithsonian Institute: The Smithsonian Institute is perhaps the most extensive museum chain in the entire world, and houses museums all over Washington. We will in particular focus on the National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, and The Smithsonian Castle, all located along the National Mall.
• National Archives: The record archive of the country, The National Archives houses many important documents, including the actual “Declaration of Independence”, and the “U.S. Constitution.”
• U.S. Capitol Building: The heart of the nation and it’s law-making process, the home of the U.S. Congress is available to the public, as well as private tours (we reserved ourselves a special tour!)
• Ford’s Theatre: This hallowed theatre was the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination in 1965, and houses a museum dedicated to that fateful day.
• Woodrow Wilson House: Located in the prestigious neighborhood of Kalorama, the Woodrow Wilson House is where the 28th President retired after serving two terms, and where he died.
• Washington National Cathedral: The “Westminister Abbey” of the United States, the cathedral is a temple to religion and beautiful artistry, and is known as much for it’s official ceremonies as much for the people entombed there.

Mount Vernon (Virginia) (B):  At some point during our time in D.C., we will take a bus into Virginia, and revisit Mount Vernon, the home and final resting place of our most esteemed Founding Father, George Washington.

Gettysburg (Pennsylvania) (C)

• Gettysburg National Military Park: The very plains where the famous “Battle of Gettysburg” was fought; a major turning point for the Union during the Civil War.
• Eisenhower National Historic Site: The farm lived in by General and President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his family in retirement.

Lancaster (Pennsylvania) (D): Lancaster is known for being the home and final resting place of 15th President James Buchanan, often hailed as one of our worst Commanders in Chief.

Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) (E)

• Independence Hall: The birthplace of our nation, it was at this treasured building that The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were forged.
• The Liberty Bell: The Liberty Bell is yet another treasured icon of American Independence, said to have been rung upon the completion of the Declaration of Independence.
• Betsy Ross House: The home of Betsy Ross, the sewer of the First American Flag.
• Benjamin Franklin Museum: Home to a major collection of Benjamin Franklin artifacts and items that relay the life story of the venerable polymath.
• Christ Church Burial Ground: The final resting place of many historic colonial individuals, including that of Benjamin Franklin and his wife.

There are likely a number of other small sites to see, but ones that will be highlighted later on.

Princeton (New Jersey) (F): A quick stop in our trip, Princeton Cemetery contains the graves of President Grover Cleveland, and infamous politician Aaron Burr.

Caldwell (New Jersey) (G is hiding behind H): The Grover Cleveland Birthplace is where the 22nd and 24th President was born and raised.

West Orange (New Jersey) (H): The Thomas Edison National Historic Site contains the official museum of the notable inventor, and his massive home, “Glenmont.”

New York City (New York) (I)

For NYC, we will keep our destinations to simple, must-see destinations located solely on Manhattan Island, in order to save on time. Many we can knock out all in one period of time, some of which are not shown here.

• National 9/11 Museum and Memorial: This terrific and heart-wrenching museum tells the tragic tale of the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the over 2,000 lives lost on that fateful day are memorialized in the former bases of the twin towers.
• Empire State Building: Once the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building still casts an impressive view upon the surrounding area, and is a landmark of The Big Apple.
• Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island: The first location that most people think of about New York, the Statue of Liberty was the welcoming beacon of light for those immigrants who sought to enter the New World for the chance at a better life. These immigrants passed through into Ellis Island, the gateway into settling in America.
• Grand Central Station: One of the busiest train hubs in the country, known for it’s starry painted ceilings.
• Times Square: One of the most booming plazas in the world, Times Square’s display of giant-screen TV’s is known far and wide.
• Rockefeller Center: A brief stop on our trip, but, who could forget the Ice Skating Rink depicted so many times in movies and media?
• Trinity Church: One of the oldest churches in the country, the gravesite of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton is found here.
• Central Park: Cutting a huge swath of green throughout Manhattan Island, Central Park is a much needed respite from the skyscraper jungle of the city, and contains plenty of beautiful areas.
• Wall Street: A very brief area to visit, the Stock Market is located here, as well as Federal Hall, the site of the very first Presidential Inauguration, George Washington’s.

Oyster Bay (New York) (J): Situated on Long Island is Sagamore Hill, the residence of Theodore Roosevelt. His gravesite in nearby Youngs Memorial Cemetery is located in town.

Hyde Park (New York) (K): Hyde Park is the very image of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, with it hosting the Home of FDR National Historic Site, which contains his home, Presidential Library, and gravesite. (This particular library is one of the “Main 13”, the 13 Presidential Libraries under the association of the National Archives).

Kinderhook (New York) (L): The Martin Van Buren National Historic Site is the best place to learn about our 8th U.S. President, and contains his home of “Lindenwald”, as well as his gravesite.

Menands (New York) (M): This satellite city of Albany is only a brief stop, for in Albany Rural Cemetery, the grave of obscure president Chester A. Arthur rests.

Gansevoort (New York) (N): Located on the grounds of an actual correctional facility, The Grant Cottage tells the incredible true story of how Ulysses S. Grant struggled to write his personal memoirs before he lost his final battle with throat cancer.

Plymouth (Vermont) (O): Home to the Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, President Coolidge was born in this sleepy little historic village, which is perfectly preserved as the way it was when he spent his childhood here. Also on site is his boyhood home where he was inaugurated as president, and the cemetery where he is buried.

Concord (New Hampshire) (P): The capital of New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce, our 14th President is buried in the Old North Cemetery here.

Hillsboro (New Hampshire) (Q): The Franklin Pierce Homestead State Historic Site is one of the few places where one can learn more about President Franklin Pierce, at his former home in Hillsboro.

Northampton (Massachusetts) (R): The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum is located oddly enough, in the Forbes Public Library in Northampton. While it is yet another quick stop, it houses a large wealth of genuine Coolidge artifacts and records.

Brookline (Massachusetts) (S): This Boston satellite city is home to the John F. Kennedy Birthplace National Historic Site, where JFK also spent a good portion of his childhood. We can knock this out before we reach Boston proper.

Boston (Massachusetts) (End)

• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum: The last of the “Main 13” Presidential Libraries that I will have yet to see, the memory of President Kennedy and his ideals are enshrined here at this facility, right on Boston Harbor.
• The Freedom Trail: One of the best ways to uncover the great colonial history that Boston has, this walking trail takes one around to many notable places, including the Bunker Hill Monument, The Paul Revere House, The Granary Burial Ground, the Massachusetts State House, the Boston Massacre Site, and the Boston Tea Party Ships, among others.
• Adams National Historical Park (Quincy, Massachusetts): Though technically located in another satellite city, an easy subway ride down south will take us to the combined Historic Site of father-and-son Presidential duo John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Their home of Peacefield is located here, as well as both of their birthplaces, and their tombs.

Phew… it’s quite a lot to do, and quite a lot to type for my poor fingers… nonetheless, it is possible, and our calculations predict that in just over 3 weeks we can handle all of this (a week of which we will spend in Washington D.C.).

When it comes to presidential sites, there are two categories of Presidential locations that I have vowed to see all of. Libraries, and Gravesites.

The libraries that I have vowed to visit are those in the “Main 13”, which span the administrations of Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush. At the Ronald Reagan Library, I got myself a passport to all these 13, and if I visit all of them and get each stamp (the two for this trip are all that is remaining), I am supposed to receive some sort of special recognition or award… I can’t wait to see what it is!

Here are the “Main 13” libraries (green I have visited, red I have not).

-Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum:  West Branch, Iowa

-Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum: Hyde Park, New York

-Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum: Independence, Missouri

-Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Center: Abilene, Kansas

-John F. Kennedy Presidential Library: Boston, Massachusetts

-Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library: Austin, Texas

-Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum: Yorba Linda, California

-Gerald Ford Presidential Museum: Grand Rapids, Michigan

-Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library: Ann Arbor, Michigan

-Jimmy Carter Presidential Library: Atlanta, Georgia

-Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum: Simi Valley, California

-George H.W. Bush Presidential Library: College Station, Texas

-William J. Clinton Presidential Library: Little Rock, Arkansas

-George W. Bush Presidential Center: Dallas, Texas

As for my other (morbid) category, there are 39 Gravesites for each of our Commanders in Chief. Since the relatively recent passing of George H.W. Bush, I have visited his grave at his library in College Station, bringing my total to 24/39 gravesites. And here they are.

1.George Washington: Washington Family Tomb at Mount Vernon (Fairfax County, Virginia)

2.John Adams : United First Parish Church (Quincy, Massachusetts)

3.Thomas Jefferson: Monticello Graveyard at Monticello (Charlottesville, Virginia)

4.James Madison : James Madison Cemetery at Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)

5.James Monroe : Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia)

6.John Quincy Adams : United First Parish Church (Quincy, Massachusetts)

7.Andrew Jackson : The Hermitage (Nashville, Tennessee)

8.Martin Van Buren : Kinderhook Reformed Church Cemetery (Kinderhook, New York)

9.William Henry Harrison : William Henry Harrison State Memorial (North Bend, Ohio)

10.John Tyler : Hollywood Cemetery (Richmond, Virginia)

11.James K. Polk : Tennessee State Capital Grounds (Nashville, Tennessee)

12.Zachary Taylor : Zachary Taylor National Cemetery (Louisville, Kentucky)

13.Millard Fillmore : Forest Lawn Cemetery (Buffalo, New York)

14.Franklin Pierce : Old North Cemetery (Concord, New Hampshire)

15.James Buchanan : Woodward Hill Cemetery (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

16.Abraham Lincoln : Lincoln Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery (Springfield, Illinois)

17.Andrew Johnson : Andrew Johnson National Cemetery (Greenville, Tennessee)

18.Ulysses S. Grant : General Grant National Memorial (New York City, New York)

19.Rutherford B. Hayes : Rutherford B. Hayes’s Spiegel Grove (Fremont, Ohio)

20.James A. Garfield : Garfield Tomb at Lakeview Cemetery (Cleveland, Ohio)

21.Chester A. Arthur : Albany Rural Cemetery (Menands, New York)

22 and 24. Grover Cleveland : Princeton Cemetery (Princeton, New Jersey)

23.Benjamin Harrison : Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis, Indiana)

25.William McKinley : William McKinley Memorial (Canton, Ohio)

26.Theodore Roosevelt : Youngs Memorial Cemetery (Oyster Bay, New York)

27.William Howard Taft : Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Virginia)

28.Woodrow Wilson : Washington National Cathedral (Washington D.C.)

29.Warren G. Harding : Harding Tomb (Marion, Ohio)

30.Calvin Coolidge : Plymouth Notch Cemetery (Plymouth, Vermont)

31.Herbert Hoover : Herbert Hoover National Historic Site (West Branch, Iowa)

32.Franklin D. Roosevelt : Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site (Hyde Park, New York)

33.Harry S. Truman: Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum (Independence, Missouri)

34.Dwight D. Eisenhower: Place of Meditation at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Center (Abilene, Kansas)

35.John F. Kennedy : Kennedy Gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery (Arlington, Virginia)

36.Lyndon B. Johnson : Johnson Family Cemetery at LBJ National Historic Site (Stonewall, Texas)

37. Richard Nixon : Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum (Yorba Linda, California)

38.Gerald Ford : Gerald Ford Museum (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

40. Ronald Reagan: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (Simi Valley, California)

41. George H.W. Bush : George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum (College Station, Texas)

At the conclusion of this trip, I will have seen all but four of these gravesites. Perhaps at some point in the future, we’ll have a Virginia trip to knock out the others.

And that’s our trip in a nutshell! Thank you all for bearing with me on this long post. We have barely a month left before we take off! But before I leave you… I want to once again ask that pertinent question…

Why? Why are we going to many of these sites?

For one, traveling is an important way to gain a greater perspective for yourself, and increase your empathy for others and their situations. After all, what’s different in the Northeast is undoubtedly different from that of Texas. It’s nice to have a change of pace.

But for the History side of this… It is important to remember those that came before us because they impart unequalled wisdom. Though many of the Presidents and individuals that have come before us have lost relative significance in the annals of our history books, they still tell stories that are not only important to the overall story of our United States of America, but they are the same conflicts and struggles of human character that help to define ourselves, and the society that we live in.

And finally… one could hardly doubt that in these these modern times, things are growing and changing with every day. In the political discourse of today (or lack thereof), we sometimes forget of the trials and tribulations that brought us to this very moment. Only by finding  at the signs, by discovering the sites, and by pondering their meanings, can we truly find the key to shaping the future. That is our mission, and together, we will step back in time in order to do just that.

Welcome to “Summer Trip 2019″. As we get closer to the fateful day that we depart Texas, I will post a couple of articles that show a few of the things that I and my family have been up to during our trip, including key highlights of our Spring Break Georgia Trip, witnessing the funeral train of President George H.W. Bush in College Station, and even meeting Former President Jimmy Carter!

Thanks again everyone, see you soon!

Hello everyone! It’s been a while…

It’s hard to believe that almost a year has gone by since we left on my giant road trip across midland U.S.A., hasn’t it? Together, we had journeyed to some of our nation’s most treasured destinations and landmarks to uncover the history behind the U.S. Presidents and the American Culture. Whether it be any of the Presidential Libraries, The Henry Ford Museum, or even the mighty torrents of Niagara Falls, it was a trip that I will never forget for as long as I live… especially since I could share it with you all!

A lot has happened since we returned back home to New Braunfels, Texas. I am now almost through my Freshman Year of college at Texas Lutheran University, we’ve had a large mid-term election period, a former U.S. President has dearly departed from us, and our family had our spring-break trip in Georgia, resulting in an unforgettable encounter… it’s a lot to take in, even if it is only a few months.

But the reason that I am writing (or typing) to you all for the first time in forever, is that I have a very important announcement… –“Drumroll Please”-

I am excited to announce, that “Mark’s Historical Road-trip 2019” is in effect!

That’s right! once again, this blog will play host to another major historical road-trip throughout the very heart of the country, as we explore even more places both Presidential, and remarkable!

This trip, though slightly shorter in duration and distance than the previous trip, will contain even more recognizable places than before! Four major cities: Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and many others in between!

And unlike before, now that my mom is retired, all three of us (including my dad) can actually journey together for once! With our family whole once again, nothing can stop us from our travels!

More details on this trip will be forthcoming of course, as well as a couple of updates into what we’ve been up to over the past few months. For those of you that may be visiting my blog for the first time, I recommend that, should you wish to, read the different blog posts of my previous trip, just so you get a feel for the style of my blog, and the nature of the different places that we typically visit.

I can’t wait to get started, and once again take you with us on this journey into our national heritage. I’ll see you again soon with a more detailed look into the plans of our 2019 Summer Trip! Thanks!