Corcoran Gallery, Capital Hill, National Building Museum Hall.

 

Beautiful private gallery. In many of the rooms the paintings were displayed "salon style" rather than conventional 1-2 tier hung displays. Click here for more information on salon style hangings.

 

School children being taught how to appreciate art. Difficult to resist putting my hand up in response to teachers questions so decide to move on.

 

Rooms were also devoted to contemporary art and this is one of my favourites.

 

Very impressed with a special exhibition by David Levinthal who uses deep focus photography of plastic toy soldiers/figures to recreate historic moments. This series depicts Custers last stand.

 

Another picture of Custers last stand (with reflection of prints in background)

 

This picture of a soldier being hit with a bullet and flung into the air was recreated by suspending the plastic soldier on a pin and using puffs of flour to mimic the smoke of battle.

 

A recreation of the Nazi extermination squads going about their business

See more information about David Levinthal here.

 

Different perspectives of the Capitol. The second shows two of many Segway Human Transporters buzzing around.

 

The Great Hall of the National Building Museum. Tallest Corinthian columns in the world at 75 ft high and 8 ft diameter. Each composed of 70,000 bricks. The hall was built in 1882 and housed forces during the Civil War. Designed by Casper Buberl.

 

Attended a wonderful exhibition on one of the great building families of America. The Guastavino family from Spain perfected the vaulted ceilings seen in some of this countries greatest buildings - Grand Central Station, Penn Station, Carnegie Hall, Biltmore Hotel to name a few. Unfortunately no photography allowed.

 

For more information about the Guastavinos click here.

 

Last day in Washington and I farewell my local Metro station - U Street - which has served me well.

Posted with Blogsy

The Tidal Basin, the Kennedy Family in Georgetown and Union Station.

A man made creation of the late 19th century, the Tidal Basin is the site of several monuments as well as a great walk.

The basin with the Jefferson Memorial in the background.

 

Jefferson Memorial from a different perspective not often viewed

 

I forgot my new shades.

 

The Roosevelt Memorial. I love these metal plaques and how the weather has altered their appearance.

 

I told these guys the memorial was shut but was totally ignored.

 

The impressive memorial to Martin Luther (I had a dream) King.

 

Excluding what is in the museums, this is Washington's oldest structure. This stone lantern was carved in 1651 and was a gift from the Japanese people.

 

It's bad enough that everything is closed due to the shutdown but the monuments are clad in scaffolding. Did not realise they had an earthquake in 2011.

 

Another excellent walk is the heights in Georgetown. Fashionable high status residents such as the Kennedy family helped to establish Georgetown as the social and political centre of the US.

Purchased by JFK in 1957 as a present to his wife on the birth of their first child, Caroline. Jackie renovated it three times in the first year.

 

The Kennedy family church, adjacent smaller chapel and dedication plaque.

 

Some Halloween scary bits on the doorsteps of Georgetown.

 

A typical street in Georgetown.

 

Hanging flower displays add a nice touch to the lamp posts.

 

Further homes rented or owned by the Kennedy family.

 

Jackie moved into this house with the children following the assassination. As you can see its right on the footpath and provided no protection from the press or public.

 

The Laird Dunlop House was once owned by Todd Lincoln, the Presidents son.

 

Balancing on such a ladder without a harness took my attention. The ladder was moving all over the place despite the counterbalance.

 

The beautifully renovated Union Station. Mixture of classical and Beaux-arts style. For more about the design click here.

 

Interior shots of Union Station - granite, marble, polished oak and glass.

Posted with Blogsy

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.

 

Washington the 'ghost town', 12 noon during shutdown.

 

Pumpkin sellers are doing well though.

Posted with Blogsy