Washington DC - Day 2

Map of this blog's locations click this link to open the map

We found just how busy the train gets on a true workday, but by going mid morning it was reasonable. Today was to be a tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. After waiting in line for 15 minutes, it started to move but we were told the tour was full with only one other couple ahead of us! Oh well. Just down the street is the Sydney Yates Federal Building or the Forestry Service. We stop by for a tour since we tend to spend much of our time hiking in forests. After going thru the security screening, we discover Smokey the Bear is there to greet us. He is animated but not much of a conversationalist, telling us only we can prevent forest fires. There are only a few small rooms and not too much to see but we did do the virtual geocache that is in the lobby. 

Forestry Service Building

Smokey the Bear

The plan is to walk over to Arlington National Cemetery. It will be a long walk so we stop along the way seeing the Washington Monument up close. Impressively tall. Too bad you aren't able to go up it at this point. 

View of Lincoln Memorial from Washington Memorial

In the Shadow of the Monument

Both the World War II and Vietnam Memorial were quite moving. 

Fountains at WWII Memorial

View of Lincoln Memorial from WWII Memorial

Washington Monument Behind Fountains

Not knowing what we would find for lunch after crossing the bridge to Virginia, we decided to stop for lunch at a small snack stand - turned out to be the right call. The walk over was a long one. By the time we got to Arlington National Cemetery, we were a bit tired and seeing just how big this place is, we opted to splurge on the tram tour. 

Large Statue on Bridge to Virginia

Seabees Monument on the way to Arlington

Statue at Arlington National Cemetery Visitor's Center

The tour takes you through much of the cemetery with a guide pointing out grave sites of various people buried here. There are also stops at a half dozen spots where you can get off to investigate more thoroughly, and then pick up the next tram in 20 minutes. 

Some of the Many Graves

Stops include President Kennedy gravesite, US Coast Guard Memorial, the Arlington House and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a few other locations. We were surprised to learn that on average, there are 25 to 30 services held here each day. We were unable to take the tram near the Iwo Jima memorial due to a service while we were there. 

Kennedy Burial Site

We caught the tail end of the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a wreath laying ceremony. It's hard to describe the feeling standing there in person and experiencing the event with a crowd of people. 

Part of Monument at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

More of the Building at the Tomb

The Guard

A View Back to DC

View overlooking the Mall

After finishing the tour, we had the walk back across the bridge to DC to look forward to, but it didn't seem as bad, probably because we could easily see the Lincoln Memorial as our next stop. Having spent time here on our night tour, we didn't stay too long. 

Beautiful View at Reflecting Pool

The Korean War Memorial was quite unique and beautiful. 

Korean Memorial Wall with Reflected Soldiers

Since we were on a bit of a roll with the monuments and such, we decided to continue the loop down to the Jefferson Memorial. It's only a little way from the Mall and it would only add another mile or two to what turned out to be an eleven mile day.

Tidal Basin on Way to Jefferson Memorial

Thomas Jefferson in His Monument

As we headed back to the Metro station, we came across a few more very elaborate buildings at the Smithsonian Arts and Industry Building. The place is closed for renovation but could see the beautiful detail outside. We even stopped at the Smithsonian Castle and went in to check it out for a short time. We learned where the name Smithsonian comes from - James Smithson - a founding donor of the Institute who's crypt is in the entry to the castle.

Smithsonian Castle

Arts and Industry Building from Early 1800's !

Flowers in Front of Building