June 11-13, Washington, DC

Today we went about 10 miles further up the Potomac and stopped at the dock for Mt Vernon. Mt Vernon is a large complex with many things to see and is a major tourist destination.

Approaching Mt Vernon

Dock at Mt Vernon

KOKOMO II in a great setting.

Mt Vernon costumed field workers.

Fields as they might have been before 1800.

Mt Vernon from the drive.
Restored home and twenty five galleries and theaters.
We think George Washington probably slept here.

There were lots of school busses here today and the wait to see the house was ninety minutes so we did not stay. House and grounds definitely worth visit but we decided to see everything another time.

Mt Vernon from the river side.

View from Mt Vernon

Leaving Mt Vernon.
Beautiful sight dominates the river as we head to Washington, DC.

We head 15 miles further upriver to Washington, DC.

Fort Washington overlooks the narrow channel leading to Washington, DC.

Woodrow Wilson Bridge as we get near Washington, DC.
Alexandria, VA, visible ahead.

Fort Mc Nair at the entrance to the Washington Channel and the downtown Washington marinas.

Gangplank Marina in downtown Washington, DC

FIGHTING IRISH is berthed at Capitol Yacht Club.

We are staying at the Washington Marina which is the closest marina to the Washington Monument and the Washington Mall. If we had it to do again we would stay at Gangplank Marina because that looked nicer and was closer to the Circulator Bus Line that went everywhere we wanted to go.

Washington Marina.
Good location. Very old bathrooms and no internet. Bummer.

Trash in the Potomac.
After we clean up the Gulf, maybe we can clean up our waterways in Washington, DC.

Live blue crabs.

Large selection of seafood. Very popular place.

We toured the Newseum, which is a large museum devoted to our news industry. Newspapers and TV were featured along with the reporters and stories that have been been in the news over the history of our country.

Newseum. News Museum.

Piece of the Berlin Wall (big news story)

Top most tower of World Trade Center Building.

Owen with Elvis.
Big display on Elvis as he was a newsmaker for many years.

Owen did not think the museum was complete as there was no section devoted to news media hatchet jobs.

We toured the National Museum of Art and enjoyed the new fountain and pyramids designed by I.M. Pei.

I.M. Pei designed fountain, as seen from below.

Moving walkway with moving lights in the tunnel that connects east wing of Museum of Art (modern art) to west wing (traditional art) . Very nice effect.

Police have three wheel Segways for patrol.

Capitol Building where Congress meets.

Washington Monument

Lots of public sculpture in front of the offices and museums.

The fish market is very busy.
One block from our boat.

Next day we headed for the Crime and Punishment Museum, recommended by AAA. This is also where 'Americas Most Wanted' TV show, starring John Walsh, is recorded each week in season.

Logo for 'Americas Most Wanted'

Owen standing where John Walsh makes his plea to the viewers for information.

Linda with the studio in the background.

Then to the National Portrait Gallery for the exhibits and to see the roof over the interior courtyard of the museum.

Portrait Gallery has all the Presidents.

Very beautiful setting for the displays and exhibits.

National Portrait Gallery was formerly the US Patient Office.
One of the oldest buildings in Washington.

George W Bush.
Chose to have a relaxed image for his portrait.

Barack Obama as FDR.
Cover of Time Magazine from 2008.
Time Magazine had Obama on the cover 25 (out of 52) times in 2008. Newsweek 12 times. Wonder if they were trying to influence the election?

Roof over the three story courtyard.
Makes the space inside seem cozy. Impressive.

The National Portrait Gallery shares the buildings with the American Art Museum, housing some of the Smithsonian Collection. There is an exhibit of the 'Running Fence', an art project by Christo that took place in the San Francisco Bay area while we were there in 1986. Very controversial at the time and fun to see being remembered in Washington.

Sculpture in bronze to commemorate a loved one.
The Portrait Gallery holds some exhibits of the National Museum of Art.

Window by LaFarge.

Urban community garden is being well tended. Here an apartment dweller grows vegetables next to a bus stop within a block of the marina.

A BBQ rib stand is recommended by our bus driver. Spicy but good.

Dade and John McMahon, long time friends who live in Washington, picked us up for dinner for our last evening in town. Great to see old friends.