Sections - Baltimore Arrival & Pagoda | Ft. McHenry & Poe Grave | DC Museums, Constitution, Arlington, & Baltimore Fireworks We visited Gallaudet University on our way to Washington, D.C. the world's only university in which all programs and services are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard of hearing students. IMG_1582 In the background, Sarah, in the foreground, the letter J IMG_1583 Good thing technology for deaf and hard of hearing people to communicate are more advanced these days IMG_1584 A statue of Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet, LL.D. with a student. He first opened the Hartford School for the Deaf in Connecticut. Gallaudet was inspired to promote improved deaf and hard of hearing education when he met Alice Cogswell, the nine-year-old deaf daughter of a neighbor, Dr. Mason Cogswell. He taught her many words by writing them with a stick in the dirt. After starting the Hartford school, his son Edward Miner Gallaudet began the first college for the deaf which became Gallaudet University. IMG_1593 IMG_1595 IMG_1596 IMG_1597 It is quite ironic that the headquarters of XM Radio (satellite radio) is just a block or two down the road from Gallaudet IMG_1603 Finally...Washington, D.C. IMG_1605 A view of the Capitol from the Old Post Office Tower IMG_1608 Bells in the tower IMG_1611 IMG_1612 A nice corridor at the top of the Old Post Office building on the way up to the tower IMG_1616 IMG_1617 The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is a great place to relax and easily missed along the Mall near the National Archives. Here's a photo through the fountain at the center. IMG_1622 The National Archives had a red, white, and blue stage prepared for July 4th dramatic readings from many of the key documents that lie inside IMG_1623-bw-part More fountain photos - the sculptures were nice too, I promise IMG_1624 Next we visited the National Museum of the American Indian, the newest of the Smithsonian museums along the mall IMG_1626 A dramatic atrium sits in the center of the building IMG_1639 The crow has the sun in this entrance to an exhibit IMG_1645 IMG_1648 IMG_1650 Raven Steals the Moon - Ed Archie Noise Cat (Salish), cast glass, 2003. (26/3228) IMG_1662 IMG_1665 IMG_1669 Wakan Cekiye Odowan - Hymns in Dakota and English for use in Niobrara Deanery South Dakota - Published in response to requests for a hymnal when Episcopal congregations desired to sing hymns in both Dakota and English IMG_1670 IMG_1671 The exhibits were visually striking and some very educational. However, at times it was lacking in carrying a continuous story and providing extended information on the walls of artifacts on display IMG_1672 I don't know what this is - I spotted it on the far wall of the atrium and though it looked neat IMG_1674 Floor of the atrium IMG_1675 Outside of the museum again IMG_1678 I'm not sure which of the Smithsonian Museums this was, had a bit aged modern architecture feel to the area just outside it IMG_1680 After about 1.5 hours of waiting in line (after the security screening area there were no lines for the general exhibits except for the Constitiution/etc which is where this dome sits IMG_1690 Everybody wants to see the paper! IMG_1691 The framers of the Constitution marked up the articles during the drafting process IMG_1698 The actual Constitution and Bill of Rights are in the center of the dome area, the sides are secondary documents or reproductions. The lighting of the documents is very dim in the entire space and specifically under the glass by yellow-ish LEDs that don't make photography an easy task. For those that forgot the ban on flash photography they were asked to leave...even if they (as usual) didn't MEAN to do it (amazing how many people don't know HOW to turn off flash mode on their cameras). IMG_1703 IMG_1707 IMG_1709 Georgia's ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, December 6, 1865 (27th state). Note that 9 states didn't ratify at that time, but later did including Kentucky in 1976 and Mississippi in 1995. IMG_1720 Order to the U.S. Marshal to seize property of the convicted defendant, Susan B. Anthony, July 10, 1873. To carry out the sentence, the U.S. Marshals were ordered to collect $204.41 from the convicted Susan B. Anthony. This would be at least several thousand dollars in today's money. IMG_1722 The archives even had some interactive exhibits (although most people appeared to make a beeline for the Constitution. Here I made my own seal. IMG_1724 Daniel thought this statue of Nathan Hale was very cute. Hale was famous as the first US spy and was executed by the British after a rousing speech including something like the phrase "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." The state is in front of the Justice Department and appears to be a copy of one in front of the Wrigley Building in Chicago. IMG_1728 There was a 4th of July parade along the Mall which was packed with people - luckily I found a decent vantage on some stairs of one of the many government buildings IMG_1729 IMG_1730 IMG_1731 IMG_1733 I think these are fifes IMG_1734 You know you're patriotic if you WEAR an American flag IMG_1735 What's more American than Curious George? He even waved to the crowd and turned all the way around! IMG_1736 IMG_1738 Everyone was thinking of throwing this group out of the parade for their odd dancing, but they do love America so they were allowed to stay IMG_1739 IMG_1740 Carebears are not as American as Curious George, but I bet there was a sale on use of the balloon IMG_1742 She caught it! IMG_1743 IMG_1745 Yes, hard to believe but this sign says the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center lawns have a motion activated sprinkler system. Must be expensive to hire the people to come out at night and walk around to get it watered. IMG_1746 Visions of the DC Metro - quite the amazing structure IMG_1749 We visited the International Spy Museum. They don't let you take photos there AT ALL. It was a nice experience and had the fun part of giving you a secret identity for you to memorize that you used kiosks to test your skill at deception at the start and end. Would have been nice if real people questioned you or walked up to you randomly and asked you about your cover, but I think the kiosks are cheaper. IMG_1750 I lvoe hibiscus plants IMG_1751 Daniel and Sarah on their way down to the metro IMG_1752 So our last stop in DC was going to be Arlington National Cemetery and then we'd head back to Baltimore as there was supposed to be a good chance of severe weather on the evening of the 4th and I didn't want to wait around for nothing and have to cram into the metro with lots of soggy wet toursits. So I wanted to see the Netherlands Carillon where a concert was being held. We were a bit late so I went on my own at full walking speed along the shore to what I thought was the US Marines Memorial and nearby would be the carillon. It was actually the Navy and Marine Memorial Dedicated to Americans Lost at Sea which is nice and all but not what I wanted to see after walking what seemed like a couple miles in 15 minutes with all my camera gear in very hot and humid weather. Here it is though... IMG_1754 IMG_1757 I did get a nice view of DC across the Potomac River though IMG_1758 All along the shore on the Virginia side were people set up ready to watch the fireworks only hours away, I hope they had some additional shelter since the severe weather did come just prior to the fireworks including an evacuation of the mall into nearby government buildings due to the torrential rain and high winds IMG_1760 Even the trash cans were patriotic at the cemetery where I think Boeing was going to have some reception in one of the nearby buildings that evening IMG_1761 IMG_1763 A sign calling for silence and respect just before the eternal flame at the grave of JFK IMG_1774 IMG_1775 IMG_1778 IMG_1780 IMG_1783 The Metro Transit Police Hazardous Devices Unit (sounds more expansive and nicer than bomb squad) was at the ready IMG_1788 Back in DC on our way out near the hotel was the Human Rights Campaign HQ. The HRC is America�s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all. IMG_1794 IMG_1795 Back in the fair city of Baltimore it did rain a lot with loud thunder, but we were enjoying dinner with Sarah and Darnell in a nice Italian restaurant. We then attempted to get closer to the habor to see the fireworks but decided to turn around. At the right moment too, since then the fireworks started and we could pull over near the water so I could get some photos. IMG_1825 IMG_1828 There was a lot of traffic...I can't imagine what DC was like. We wouldn't have gotten back to Baltimore until very late and we had a 6am flight the next morning! IMG_1842 The Pagoda was an ideal setting for setting off fireworks evidently IMG_1852 IMG_1855 The haze of smoke from fireworks near Patterson Park IMG_1862 Sections - Baltimore Arrival & Pagoda | Ft. McHenry & Poe Grave | DC Museums, Constitution, Arlington, & Baltimore Fireworks Return to Features