Monday, June 28, 2010

Washington DC – Part 1

P1040221 The Spirit of St Louis

Our next destination was Washington DC; neither of us had every been there and we were really looking forward to our first visit. We stayed at the Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park, Maryland. They really cater to tourist wanting to see the sites of Washington. They start with a daily session on how to use public transit to get around Washington. They provide detailed written step by step instructions on how to get to most locations. The public bus stops in the RV Park and then goes straight to the Metro rail system. The Park sells bus and Metro tickets. They also sell Grayline Tour tickets. If you are taking a Grayline Tour, Grayline provides a very comfortable courtesy bus into the center of Washington.

On our first day we took the bus and Metro to the Washington Mall and the home of 16 of the Smithsonian's Museums. I am sure like many before us our first destination was the National Air & Space Museum.

P1040231 Not models but actual airplanes hang from the ceiling.

What a collection!!

P1040274 The actual airplane that the Wright Brother’s first flew

P1040222 The plane Charles Lindberg flew when he became the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic

P1040256 The plane Chuck Yeager flew when he became the first person to break the sound barrier.

P1040225 John Glenn's Mercury capsule when he became the first American to orbit in space.

 P1040280 The Apollo 8 Command Module that brought Neil Armstrong back to earth after having been the first person to step on the Moon

P1040236 The Gossamer Condor the first human-powered aircraft capable of controlled and sustained flight

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I thought this sign really sums up a visit to the many Smithsonian Museums.  This is the “REAL” stuff not just the planes and spacecraft of the Air & Space Museum but at some of the other Smithsonian Museums we would see the actual flag that Francis Scott Key was writing about when he wrote the “Star Spangled Banner”. The real Hope Diamond, the actual Ruby Slippers worn by Judy Garland when making the Wizard of Oz, the real Kermit the Frog from the Muppets.

P1040310 They even have the “real” Starship Enterprise.

I added these last pictures for all of my friends that do work or have worked in Information Technology.

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If you can remember when the Cray – 1 was the fastest computer in the world you either are or should be retired. LOL

Below is the slideshow of our day at the National Air and Space Museum

6 comments:

  1. Grant & Kathy,
    I really enjoyed your pics in Washington. An incredible walk thru the history of our country. Also a great time to be there as July 4th rounds the corner.
    thanks for the pics.
    Mike & Gerri

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  2. Mike & Gerri, The blog is about 6 weeks behind right now. We were in Washington back in May, - Grant -

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  3. Great pictures!!!
    I do remember when Cray was the fastest computer. I now have justification for retirement!!!!LOL

    I now work with a bldg full of computer geeks all have supercomputer access to the Arctic Supercomputer in Fairbanks. I keep hoping they'll suggest I take a trip to AK to check things out. LOL
    HiC

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  4. Glad you enjoyed a different kind of bird today! :)

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  5. Love the pictures. I can't tell you how many times I've been to the Smithsonian!!! I grew up in Frederick, Md and went to DC every year in school. I kind of got bored with going because it was the same thing. I had fun taking my kids in April 2004 before we moved to Alaska. It's fun seeing it through their eyes. Can't wait to see more!

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  6. I've been to the Smithsonian a few times, but I don't remember ever going to the Airplane section...(If I did, it was when I was in the 8th grade and don't remember...lol) But I do remember the Hope Diamond, the big Pendulum and a few other things. So I love the pics...it almost makes it feel like I was there with you...riding shotgun with Raider...LOL

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