Mark's Travel Blog: The White House, Lincoln and the Civil War, Kalorama and the Phillips Collection

The White House close up and in my view a better perspective taken from Layafette Park.

Lining the park and close to the White House is this delightful row of heritage houses. On the left is Henry Rathbone's house. He and his wife had accompanied Lincoln to the theatre and tried unsuccessfully to shield him from the assassins bullet. Rathbone never forgave himself and he eventually suffered a breakdown and killed his wife and himself.

The famous Willard Hotel where Lincoln stayed prior to his inauguration and which has hosted presidents and dignatories since.

The New York Avenue Church where Lincoln and 17 other presidents have prayed. Note the organ, stained glass windows and Lincoln's actual pew.

The Treasury adjacent to the White House - CLOSED.

Ford's Theatre where Lincoln was assassinated.

Interior views of the theatre including the box the Lincoln's sat in that night.

The house across the road where they took Lincoln after the shooting and where he died.

When Mary was not beside her dying husband, she rested in this room.

The bed in which Lincoln died.

Kalorama - Greek for "beautiful view" - is the most beautiful residential area in the city. Packed with stately mansions, many have been taken over as embassies.

Perched on a hill, you approach Kalorama via the Spanish Steps (the Washington variant).

First encounter is this outside the Thai Embassy. I tell all at the B&B that Adelaide has two pandas, both totally disinterested in each other.

This the largest house in Kalorama. A mock Tudor style now the resident of the French Ambassador.

Mansion designed in the Arts and Craft Style.

The Linden House; the oldest in Washington (1745). The house was actually built in Massachusetts and transferred to Washington to house the owners antique furniture collection.

This house is up for sale. The sign shows Sotheby's contact details which I noted.

Examples of the different type of residences.

These historic police and fire call boxes are seen throughout the area. They predate the 911 emergency services but have been left as too weighty to move.

Only the private galleries and museums are open during the shut down. The Phillips Collection is one. Great exhibition on Van Gough. Other highlights include Renoirs 'The Boating Party' and works by Mark Rothko.