Author Topic: Parks, Memorials and Monuments  (Read 2628 times)

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Offline mitlen

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Parks, Memorials and Monuments
« Topic Start: July 07, 2016, 04:57:57 PM »
What are your favorite memorials and monuments?    Where do you take family/friends on your tours?    Let's not do just the major sites.   Gotta favorite little park in your neighborhood that you think is worth a visit?      Let's include DC, VA and MD in our travelogue.     If ya like, you can throw in a day trip like Gettysburg, Ft. McHenry, etc. but let's try to keep it in the Metro area.   We've already mentioned the Tomb of the Unknowns, World War Memorial and the like   ...   feel free to list or mention a visit for special observances at the Tomb, etc.

Must sees in a Mitlen tour for family   ....   Lincoln; Tomb of the Unknowns; Vietnam and any special request from the visitor.   Several years ago, my sister wanted to see the Jefferson Memorial.    I didn't ask why.    It kind of surprised me.    I figured I've already taken her to all the other major memorials and monuments.

Offline skippy1999

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #1: July 07, 2016, 05:06:40 PM »
Outstanding idea, Mitlen! :clap:  I shall be studiously taking notes :)

Offline imref

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #2: July 07, 2016, 05:12:26 PM »
Other than the obvious ones:  Harper's Ferry WV.  Luray Caverns.  Natural Bridge.  Manassas National Battlefield.  Ford's Theater.  National Geographic Museum.  National Portrait Gallery.

Not a memorial/monument, but the alternative visionary museum of art in Baltimore is fantastic:   http://www.avam.org

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #3: July 07, 2016, 05:15:16 PM »
If ya know how to upload a photo of an off the beaten path memorial or monument, please post it.    Most of us know what the Washington Monument, etc. looks like.     The post today of the World War Memorial was right on time.    It's one of the memorials you may not be familiar with but when you see it, "Oh yeah, I've seen that.    I never knew what it was."

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #4: July 07, 2016, 05:25:54 PM »
Have ya ever seen the marker for Jefferson's Pier on the Mall?

Offline Ali the Baseball Cat

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #5: July 07, 2016, 05:36:38 PM »
Fort Stevens, site of the only Civil War battle in the District of Columbia (1864).  Lincoln rode to the site and watched the battle. 

152 years ago next Monday.

Then:


Now:

Offline Baseball is Life

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #6: July 07, 2016, 05:44:52 PM »
Fort Stevens, site of the only Civil War battle in the District of Columbia (1864).  Lincoln rode to the site and watched the battle. 

152 years ago next Monday.

Then:
(Image removed from quote.)

Now:
(Image removed from quote.)

I'm going there Saturday for special commemorations, re-enactments, etc. It will be a grand time for history geeks in 90 degree weather.

My deal with the memorials is that even the most famous ones have interesting facts or histories that are little known. Example, Robert Todd Lincoln was still alive and was at the 1923 dedication to his father's memorial. Stuff like that I find fascinating, but few others do probably.;)

Offline skippy1999

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #7: July 07, 2016, 05:50:58 PM »
My deal with the memorials is that even the most famous ones have interesting facts or histories that are little known. Example, Robert Todd Lincoln was still alive and was at the 1923 dedication to his father's memorial. Stuff like that I find fascinating, but few others do probably.;)

No way, give us all the history and little side notes you guys have.  Mitlen I'd never heard of that marker and googled it, that's just a neat little thing I'd have had no clue about, same for the battleground that I'd never heard of Ali, this is really cool stuff.

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #8: July 07, 2016, 05:53:56 PM »
Fort Stevens, site of the only Civil War battle in the District of Columbia (1864).  Lincoln rode to the site and watched the battle. 

152 years ago next Monday.

Then:
(Image removed from quote.)

Now:
(Image removed from quote.)

Isn't that the spot where Lincoln tried to get a look and one of the Union soldiers told "the damned fool" to keep his head down?

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #9: July 07, 2016, 05:55:11 PM »
No way, give us all the history and little side notes you guys have.  Mitlen I'd never heard of that marker and googled it, that's just a neat little thing I'd have had no clue about, same for the battleground that I'd never heard of Ali, this is really cool stuff.

That's one of those markers that lots of DC area residents have seen and never stopped to look at it.

Offline imref

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #10: July 07, 2016, 06:05:15 PM »
One other hidden gem, not far from MLK/FDR:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ericsson_National_Memorial

Ericsson is the father of the modern war ship and arguably single handily kept the South from winning the civil war by convincing the North to build his ridiculous contraption (the USS Monitor).

The Monitor Center next to Christopher Newport University in Hampton Roads is one of the best museums in the country IMHO.


Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #11: July 07, 2016, 06:06:26 PM »
One other hidden gem, not far from MLK/FDR:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ericsson_National_Memorial

Ericsson is the father of the modern war ship and arguably single handily kept the South from winning the civil war by convincing the North to build his ridiculous contraption (the USS Monitor).


Cool, now that's one I've seen and didn't know what it was.

Offline imref

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #12: July 07, 2016, 06:07:50 PM »
Cool, now that's one I've seen and didn't know what it was.

It is seriously worth the trip to visit the museum, especially on the anniversary of the battle of hampton roads each March.

http://www.monitorcenter.org

Offline Dave B

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #13: July 07, 2016, 07:36:24 PM »
Are the korean war, fdr, and mlk monuments too popular

The old capitol columns at the aboretum are kinda cool. Like a Roman ruin

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #14: July 07, 2016, 07:51:41 PM »
Sittin' here watchin' the ball game and this building came to mind:

http://dctourguideonline.com/2011/02/08/canal-lock-keepers-house-stones-throw-from-monuments/

Offline HalfSmokes

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #15: July 07, 2016, 07:55:38 PM »
I enjoy this one in old town (nice story to tell visitors)

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2008/02/29/travel/escapes/29away.html

Offline spidernat

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #16: July 07, 2016, 08:16:59 PM »
The Botanical Gardens are often overlooked.

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #17: July 07, 2016, 08:38:01 PM »
The Botanical Gardens are often overlooked.

Quality except when those stinkin' flowers bloom.    Damn they stink.

Offline varoadking

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #18: July 07, 2016, 08:39:30 PM »
Quality except when those stinkin' flowers bloom.    Damn they stink.

I thought you were color blind...

Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #19: July 07, 2016, 08:44:33 PM »
I thought you were color blind...

Damn bro, I still know what flower is.    :)

Offline Natsinpwc

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #20: July 07, 2016, 08:46:27 PM »
Safe.

Offline spidernat

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Offline Natsinpwc

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Offline mitlen

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #23: July 07, 2016, 09:12:22 PM »
Computer glitch!

Hardware problem.    :)

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Memorials and Monuments
« Reply #24: July 07, 2016, 09:31:07 PM »

My favorite view of the Mall is crossing from L'Enfant up to Pennsylvania Ave a bit after sunrise and watching the light and shadows change on the Smithsonian Castle and the surrounding buildings. Archives, too.  The Washington Monument takes several colors as the lighting changes.  Then looking back on the Capitol as it is backlit is pretty awesome.