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June, 2004
Capitolist Sonuvabish

One place I had never visited or photographed was Washington, D.C., so on a summer trip to the east coast, I made a point of seeing what the place had to offer. It offers many things: the center of the government, a repository of historical memorabilia, and some of the most beautiful man-made vistas to be had anywhere. And it's almost all free, both on the ground and certainly here in TRS.

Forming the centerpoint between the White House, the Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument stands as an architectural and historical beacon to the nation's capital. Like many of the historical structures in Washington, the monument is undergoing renovations, in this case to the surrounding grounds. I took this picture from a nearby traffic island.

Few places are as evocative or as much a part of the national psyche as the Lincoln Memorial, with the light from the east bathing the brooding figure of the president who saved the Union. Inscribed on the steps are the key words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have A Dream" speech.

The newest and one of the most popular memorials is the one dedicated to the veterans of World War II, many of whom can be seen standing misty-eyed at this tribute to their unselfish service

The foyer of the National Gallery Of Art rivals the works it contains for beauty and design, with its black marble columns and quiet central fountain.

This beautiful red sandstone castle is the original home of the Smithsonian Institution, which has long since outgrown this building and is now housed in several different buildings on the Washington Mall and even in other cities. Smithson's very generous gift to the United States stemmed from a distant admiration, since Smithson never visited the U. S.

The south portico of the White House faces the Washington Monument, a constant reminder to each temporary resident of the standard to which America will hold him or her. The flag is at half mast in honor of Ronald Reagan's recent passing.

Completed during the Civil War, the Capitol Dome is one of the most distinctive landmarks in a city full of landmarks. A new, three-story, below-ground visitor center is being constructed near the main entrance, so this photo was taken of the north side of the capitol.

What some people inside the beltway still refer to as the "Old Executive Office Building" (since renamed the Eisenhower Executive Office Building) is actually one of the finest examples of French Beaux Arts architecture still extant in the city.

The old brick buildings of Georgetown have undergone quite a bit of transformation over the years. Here you can find fancy boutiques, great restaurants, and a bustling crowd of both locals and tourists out to savor some of the classic southern atmosphere of the city.

The greenhouse behind this fountain is home to the National Arboretum, which features a wide variety of exotic plants, including the spectacular flower to the right.

The rich glow of sunset brings out the sheen of the marble dome. The dark equestrian figure above the reflecting pool is a statue of Ulysses S. Grant. The famous general injured his back in a fall from a horse, but still managed to log nearly half a million miles on horseback during the war, part of the reason he drank. Some of his darkest days, however, came during his two terms as president, plagued by scandal and corruption.

Few men have done more to shape the nation than Thomas Jefferson. In addition to writing the Declaration of Independence and securing the Louisiana Purchase, which more than doubled the size of the nation, Jefferson embodied the clear thinking and diverse interests of the Age of Enlightenment. I've always admired Jefferson's intellect and character, so much so that I named the lead character of my second novel T. J. in part as a tribute. This dusk photo with the ghostly image of the man in the center of the monument makes an appropriate end to my visit to Washington.

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