Today exploring DC on our own - 24 May 2018

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum - We got there just at opening and there wasn’t much of a line. Imax Aircraft Carrier Exercises emphasized the vast amounts of coordination required to engage in a sea battle – air, surface, under-sea and between allied forces. All the significant (and insignificant) space hardware was on display – Apollo and all it carried was overwhelmingly big. Later in the day the masses arrived, but the museum has immense capacity, so it didn’t seem crowded.

We stopped for lunch at the Rayburn House Office building. None of our Congress people were there, but we had a great lunch obviously subsidized by our tax dollars – we split soup, a sandwich and a Dr. Pepper for under $10!

On the way to the Library of Congress we dropped in at the US Botanic Garden and got a couple of interesting angles on the Capitol.

The way we see Congress these days

The Library is way more than books. It’s an architectural masterpiece. Perfectly restored with marble from all parts of the world. Saw the Guttenberg Bible - one of three in the world in perfect condition.

Ceiling of the lobby

Reading Room only for pass holders

Great stained glass

Dinner at Farmers & Distillers on Massachusetts Ave was delicious and economical. For dessert we had their fresh baked doughnuts.

Other buildings:

Supreme Court (not in session)

National Archives