Day 2 of DC-Museum of American History, Holocaust, White House and Old Post Office

Kyleigh's hair starts like this in the morning. It doesn't always end that way. Good for the few hours it lasts.

 We tried riding the Metro on Friday to see if it was any faster/cheaper. But it was not. Still cool for the kids to ride the rails though.

 All set for another full day of walking...I mean strolling.

 While I waited in line for tickets for the Holocaust museum, Trent took the kids next door to the National Forest/Park Ranger museum. They met Smoky the Bear. At first Kyleigh was scared to death when it turned and started speaking to them.

We then walked over to the Museum of American History. A whole section on Jefferson and his views and treatment of his slaves at Monticello.

 We have definitely scaled down the size of estates and amount of sustainability on our own land. And like the plaque said, most of that was only possible due to his slaves.

 Can't even fathom having 5,000 acres. But when you're fairly new to the mostly uninhabited country, you can pick and choose for yourself. How much would that cost to buy today?

 We learned about George Washington in wartime.

 The beginnings of the Revolutionary War. 

George Washington was a tall dude. 

 People were so particular in their descriptions back then. Maybe because they couldn't attach a simple photograph to send with the letter they were writing.

This is my favorite quote in the museum on Washington-

"He has so much martial dignity in his deportment that you would distinguish him to be a general and a soldier from among ten thousand people...There is not a king in Europe that would not look like a valet de chambre by his side"

 No wonder so many died from sickness as well as wounds when in camp...check out their tools.

So very few would do what Washington did in his position after the war. 

Trent explaining military strategy to Brenden. 

This is neat (I did happen to see the original in the National Archives museum)

Terrible thing. 

 If you forgot how the Civil War began...

And how it ended....

620,000 died, 400,000 were scarred, maimed or disabled from the civil war. Doubtless everyone in the country had a relative that was part of one of those two groups. 


Seems like Grant held some respect and not complete contempt toward Lee. There were a great many who would rather ruin the Confederates lives than show them any civility. 

Moving on to another War...

 Check out the picture of Hiroshima, Japan after the atomic bomb on Aug 6, 1945.

After World War, there was alot to do to help the veterans. Find new houses that advertised cool things like:

America post WWII

Brenden catching up on the happenings of Vietnam war.

A day he was probably not sure he would see....and still looked weary that he would actually be released. 

Brenden and Kyleigh touched a fragment of the Berlin wall. 

In case you ever wondered what a Purple Heart looked like. 

Or the Medals of Honor for the Navy, Army and Air Force

Then we walked over to the Presidents wing.

This wall talked about what their hobbies were 

I should have looked in the gift shop if they still sold Lincoln Logs. :) It's "The All American Toy"

"Now He Belongs to the Angels"-Secretary of War Edwin Stanton 

A few titles the President of the US holds. (Some do a better job than others.....)

Then on to the First Ladies wing. I particularly loved seeing their dresses. The fashions matching up with the ages and a few personal items on display as well. Looks like Lady Bird Johnson was a very active woman. 
Edith Wilson's dress.

 Grace Coolidge. Obviously in the Roaring 20s.

They all got to design some formal dining ware. 

Nancy Reagan's on left and Barbara Bush's on right. 

Across the way was the Entertainment section that talked about when music and movies were beginning to take hold as a means of Escapism. They had alot to escape from. Wars, Depression, shortages of all kinds. 

They didn't let me try on the Scarecrow's boots or hat. Inconsiderate. 

 Also inconsiderate to have a giant engine without a step stool to climb aboard. Someone needs to inform these guys how to get this museum to the next level.

 I know! I hear ya, B!

He was pretending to grab the car and making car noises as he 'drove' it across the panel. 

Even back then, Santa was taking large gift requests. We're now into iPads, sports season tickets and gaming systems in our letters to Santa.  So much more advanced in our preferences.

The People's Highway: Route 66. (Nat King Cole's voice should start singing in your head)

 ...if he's not, try this:

Try giving any kid today a jump rope and set of marbles and see if they even know what to do with it. (Back then they were "highly prized".)

Brenden could have spent all day in this transportation wing.

I was naive enough to think that our coinage has always been the same since the beginning. Nope, dead wrong.

After this, we ate lunch on the steps outside in front of a pond with ducks trying to stay afloat and not get taken away with the wind. Our stroller fell over from the wind when no one was in it. Luckily, our sandwiches did not fly away. After a not so satisfying lunch, we walked over the Holocaust museum and as I walked into the building, I told Kyleigh to go night-night. She must have known better than to fight her body because she laid back and fell asleep before we hit the first exhibit. Thank goodness. I really didn't want Trent to miss this museum and I'm not sure what Brenden thought of it, but since he can't read and we didn't let him watch any of the movies, I think he's ok. Makes you grateful for alot of things when you walk out of that building, and sad.

Our next stop was over to Pennsylvania Ave.

Would be nice to have your office in your home. Guess that's not so hard when it's as big as this.

Snack break. Kyleigh may have ended up with a few grass blades in her dried yogurt snack.

All's fair in love, war and grass throwing.

We were hearing a dinner bell ring, and knowing that we didn't want to eat too close to the mall, we were happy to find this little stop. The Old Post Office. We were too late for the elevator ride up to the tower where you get a nice view, but no one minded once we said-Pizza!

There was also a Ben and Jerry's down there. But we were plenty full and happy to move onto the next stop.

Stopping to smell the flowers on the way to the National Archives museum.

Quote on stone says, "The Heritage of the Past is the Seed that brings forth the Harvest of the Future". True story.

It was a great day.

Nothing like chocolate milk and Oreos for a lil' nightcap before sending them off to bed.