DC: Saturday, the Capitol

Our first stop after third breakfast was the Capitol. We took the Metro to Capitol South, and walked a couple of blocks to, surprise surprise, the south end of the Capitol. Beautiful blue skies made for some great outdoor shots today. We walked past the iconic building of the Library of Congress (there are multiple buildings to it) - we would tour it later - and on up to the US Supreme Court, which is hidden under scaffolding for renovations to the marble exterior. But, they've done a nice job of draping the scaffolding with some kind of weather-sturdy material that is supposed to look like the front of the US Supreme Court, so it's not too bad (but still a bummer, there's no way around that). The kids did get to walk up to the front door, but that was it.

We then went in to the Capitol building and took the tour, which was great. We had a spunky tour guide who knew a LOT of information, very impressive young man. The kids got Junior Capitol Police sticker badges from the officers outside the main entrance, they were very personable. Everyone who has seemed 'official' in DC has been so nice. Everyone else has been nice, too! We've had such a great experience, so far. Great vacation.



Approaching the Capitol from the south, Capitol was on the left...


...Library of Congress on the right. Neat to have a city so jam-packed with neat buildings and amazing history.









Behind the curtain and lots of scaffolding, the US Supreme Court






Door of US Supreme Court



Getting ready to enter the Capitol required 1) consumption of all our snack foods I'd tucked away in my bag for later, 2) drinking some of and emptying the rest of the water bottle I'd also tucked in my bag for later, and 3) Sam throwing away her prized pocket knife because she was honest and told them she had one after seeing a sign that said no pocket knives of any size were allowed. She fought back tears afterward and I assured her we'd replace it. And I did right after our tour, with my own pocket knife which had been in my bag the whole time! I was thumbing through my bag looking for something else and found it - I had totally forgotten it was in there. Oops! :)






Plaster mold of Statue of Freedom which was used to create the bronze atop the Capitol dome



Room under the Rotunda - all of these columns are supporting the huge dome above



Magna Carta (which just got auto-corrected to Magma Carter, which we all found LOL funny)



The stairwell Presidents go down to exit to west side of Capitol where inaugurations happen



Looking up into the Rotunda



Part of side of Rotunda



Base of Reagan statue in Rotunda, thin layer of black and white chips above the plaque area and just under the brown wood molding at top are pieces of the Berlin Wall



Statue of Major General and President Andrew Jackson






Rotunda is where Congress first met. The plaques like this show where these early folks sat. As more states were added, they needed more space. Now, it is where folks (former presidents, others) are laid in state for a time when they pass. No one is buried in the Capitol.



Your tour guide has a mic, and everyone in your group has a headset set to the guide's frequency. Numerous tours happen simultaneously - it is very well choreographed as groups move past each other from point-to-point. It lasts an hour (when neither chamber is in session), so it's a great way to get the basics down.



The most recent and the last statue to be added to the Rotunda area - Rosa Parks. Guide said no more would be added.



White spot in center of floor (and center of photo) is where coffins are set when it's time for that

Great start to the day!

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