A Capitol City

This summer I had the chance to relocate to Washington, D.C. for a legal job I took with the U.S. Marshals Service. Living in D.C. was kind of crazy with all the post September 11th edginess going on. It was definately a great experience though, living on the hill and working across the Potomac in Arlington. D.C. was a whole lot of fun to live in for the summer, but I couldn't imagine living there for life. It was far too crowded and the tempreture too extreme. (This coming from someone who lives in the desert!)

There was a literally endless number of things to do and see in the greater D.C. area, and best of all, it was almost all free. The monuments, museums, libraries, and government agencies provided endless sightseeing, and more importantly, picture taking.

The sun rises over the U.S. Capitol Building

People rest on the west Capitol patio

One of the many peaceful walkways encircling the Capitol Building

A calm reflecting pool in the early evening night

The inside of the Capitol Dome is breathtaking. The Painting is called "The Apotheosis of Washington"

This painting (Yes, it's 2-D) rouns all the way around the inside of the dome and tells the history of the United States. You can see the start/end here

This small plaque in the old Senate Chambers marks Abraham Lincoln's desk location

The crypt below the rotunda was originally supposed to house Washington, kinda like Lenin, but now is full of architectural exibits




My home for the summer. (The Blue one.) It was across the street from the Supreme Court at 2nd St and Maryland Ave

My morning view waiting for the subway at Union Station

The J. Edgar Hoover Building. Home of the FBI

Me with John Ashcroft at DOJ. We had Rocketpop popsicles after that photo. (Scanned image from film camera.)

Time for court!

Posing in the lobby of US Marshalls Headquarters. I'd match if only I had a cool cowboy hat

Tough cases require the use of the "Thinking Sombrero!" (Patent pending)

The Supreme Court seems suprisingly small until you realize it's just one courtroom and a few offices

The really cool self-supporting spiral staircase inside the Supreme Court

Posing on the steps of the court

FDR and his doggie immortalized in monument form. Note FDR's well-hidden wheelchair peeking out from the back

A thought provoking quote by FDR

Visiting the Vietnam War Memorial is quite a sobering experience

Washington Monument reflects in the dark memorial

Space Shuttle Challenger memorial and gravesites

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7

John and Jackie Kennedy's gravesites

View and inscription from the Kennedy gravesite

The Jefferson Memorial lies in the tidal basin area

Front shot of Thomas Jefferson




Jefferson and his now famous words




The Washington Monument as seen from the Jefferson Memorial

A Triceratops gets friendly

The first lightbulb... EVER. From Menlo Park

The first Apple Computer. They haven't advanced much since then ;)

Four and three rotor German Enigma decoder machines

The Kittyhawk Flyer, first airplane ever

The flag from on the top of the World Trade Center. I can't believe how well it survived the attacks

A baby elephant tromps towards the water for a bath at National Zoo

A bizzare little bird. I have no clue what the heck it is

That is one huge Lincoln

The monumnet hides behind some trees...

...but its reflection gives it away

Framed with the trees

As seen through a hole in the railing of the FDR Bridge

Looking across the National Mall from the Capitol Building

Flags and security barriers surround the Washington Monument

Looking up at the edge of the monument

Looking east from the top. You can actually see my house nestled just behind and left of the Supreme Court

The monument and Capitol Building shimmer in the reflecting pool at night




Looking up at the monument


Well, that about does it. Thanks for taking the time to look through such a long tour! Hopefully some day I'll return to DC and visit all of my old stomping grounds. Until then, take care!