Mini Trip Report: Washington, DC (6/18-19)

[southbound]

Woke up too early this morning -- nothing to do until the Times arrives at the front door -- so I thought I'd share a bit about the trip I made to DC a few weeks ago. Sadly, I don't have too many good photos of the trip -- I'll post the few I do have and incorporate a few from other sources when I can.

I have occasion to visit the firm's DC office from time to time, but it's been decades since I've explored DC as a tourist. Scheduled for a meeting on Monday, I decided to take Tuesday off to kick around Washington. I also decided to take Amtrak's Acela from New York's Penn Station instead of the usual Delta shuttle from LaGuardia. The major benefit of going Amtrak is arriving at Union Station -- far and away a more beautiful place than Reagan National Airport. Here's somebody else's magnificent photo of Union Station's main hall:


There is so much to do and see in Washington -- I thought it best to target a few things, do a little trip planning to maximize my time. I had been hoping to see the Ben Franklin exhibit at the National Museum of American History, but I think maybe that came and went (possibly several years ago ) because the American History museum is closed for renovation and is not scheduled to reopen until next summer. You have no idea how much this bummed me out as I had it in my mind that if I ever got to spend a day in Washington, that is where I wanted to spend it. The other thing I wanted to see was the FDR memorial (and to a somewhat lesser degree, the WWII memorial).

When querying my co-worker in DC about potential points of interest, she reminded me that our office is a few blocks from the National Portrait Gallery. That got me thinking about art and art museums, which in turn got me thinking about murals. I love murals. So I was thinking about murals -- and maybe because I was also thinking about visiting the FDR memorial, it led me to thinking specifically about murals commissioned under the Works Progress Administration during the Depression. So, some combination of these thoughts (converted into a Google search string) landed me at the website for the Department of the Interior's museum (aka the Interior Museum).

The Interior Museum was currently featuring an exhibit for Rachel Carson's centennial birthday celebration. Carson worked at the DOI from 1936-1952 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But what really interested me about the Interior Museum were the murals on the walls of the building and building itself. From the Interior Museum's website:

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Interior Secretary Harold Ickes had envisioned the design and construction of a headquarters for the Department of the Interior as a symbol of their plans for the Nation. At the Dedication ceremony held on April 16, 1936, President Roosevelt referred to the building as “symbolical of the Nation’s vast resources” and the “cornerstone of a conservation policy that will guarantee the richness of their heritage.” Ickes saw it as a “symbol of a new day.” This building was the first government building to be designed and constructed as part of the New Deal.

The building features 25 murals, some of which are in the public areas of the building like this one, entitled, "An Incident in Contemporary American Life," by Mitchel Jamieson:


Also from the DOI site:

This mural shows the crowd reacting to the emotional impact of Marian Anderson's singing at her Lincoln Memorial concert on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939. Ms. Anderson was denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution and was further denied the use of a public school auditorium because she was Black. Both Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harold L. Ickes, Secretary of the Interior, sharply criticized the barrier raised against the Black singer. Mrs. Roosevelt resigned from the D.A.R. Secretary Ickes provided the use of the Lincoln Memorial for the concert.

(You can read more about this mural and a selection of others here.)

I gathered that some of the most interesting murals are NOT in public areas of the building, but can be seen if you schedule a guided tour at least a week in advance. I only had three days before my trip, but I phoned anyway to see if there were a tour already scheduled on which I might tag along. I was glad I did because the gentleman on the phone informed me that there was a tour on Tuesday morning and I would be welcome to join!

The tour ended up being orientation for new hires to the Fish and Wildlife Service -- an assortment of people of all ages from all over the country who were flown to DC and treated to this tour and lecture on the Department's history and mission. Lucky peeps -- and for an hour and a half I was one of them!

I did not see as many of the murals as I would have liked. Our guide focused mostly on landscape paintings around the corridors of the Fish and Wildlife Service's area. (Mind you -- these were lovely, but I prefer paintings with people in them.) One thing he showed us was remarkable, though: the South Penthouse's walls were all done by Native American artists and depict native life, myths and customs. Here are the few of my photos that came out OK. The first two are part of mural which extends across the archway and to the other side and depicts the equivalent of the myth of Noah's ark, whereby the world was destroyed by flood and then re-populated by pairs of animals. The human figures represent some mythical twins who battle monsters -- sorry, I didn't take any notes and now I can't remember exactly what I was told about that pair!









After the guided part of the tour, I poked around the building a bit and came across one of the murals I had been hoping to see in the public areas:



In the museum (in addition to the Rachel Carson exhibit) there were some cool dioramas showing things like dam and railroad constructions and mining operations:




And an exhibit of fashion designs influenced by Native American textiles, color and patterns:


After a quick bite at a nearby sandwich shop, I headed off to the far side of the Tidal Basin in search of the FDR memorial. There was no metro station nearby and it was quite a long walk. I stopped at the Jefferson Memorial to rest:






The Jefferson Memorial is beautiful. Even with all the nonsense going on in Washington these days, it's impossible not to feel patriotic and so proud to be an American when you read those wise words.

The FDR memorial is a series of bronze sculptures and reliefs, reflecting pools and waterfalls -- it's brilliant in its design! Set within a series of low walled gardens, each area depicts some aspect of FDR's life and legacy.

The statue of FDR himself shows him seated in his wheelchair, although the chair is hidden by his cape. Little Fala sits nearby.



Another area is devoted to Roosevelt's "fireside chats. " My photo is a little dark, but the bronze figure is listening intently to the radio.


Another tableau shows the bread lines of the Great Depression (below). The quote on the wall reads:

The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.

And Eleanor gets her own area devoted mainly to her contributions to human rights issues and celebrating her as the first Chairperson of the UN Human Rights Commission (below).


Before heading back to NYC, I did pop into the gorgeously renovated National Portrait Gallery. Having only 20 minutes to spare, I opted for the Presidents' Gallery, where I viewed portraits of a few of the Presidents who have served during my lifetime.



IMO, there is a sad irony in that Nixon's portrait is by Norman Rockwell. Rockwell makes Nixon look like a man at peace with himself. Maybe that's what poor old Tricky Dick wanted...




Bill is holding the New York Times!


And last by not least -- too bad my flash ruined the shot! I had to include it though, mostly because the title made me laugh out loud! Anyone who remembers the Jerzy Kosinski movie with Peter Sellers (about the half-wit who rises to the top of Washington political society) will understand.



Notice how he's got his fist raised slightly, as if he's going to give us a playful punch. "POW! Take that," he seems to be saying... "OUCH," says I!

[Weave]

Nice job -- you've probably seen more here than I have!

[Sol]

Great mini trip report! I love visiting Washington D.C. I have been several times but I have not seen all of the sights. Thank you for sharing your pictures.

[LeedsTyke]

Great report with pics!!!

[BonnyW]

Very nice--I go to DC almost every year...but I haven't seen the sights you pointed out today. There is just so much history there!!!
Thanks!!!

[jamesblonde]

I've never been to DC. It's a trip I really want to make. Thanks for posting.

[Andiline]

Thanks for the report and the pics. In 2004 I was a lot in New York and on weekends I played tourist either in New York or other cities (most of the time I had to work though) but never made it to DC. Went to Philadelphia with Amtrak though... Guess I still have to go to Washington one day...

[LeedsTyke]

Originally Posted by southbound

This picture looks like Steve Maclaren - England soccer manager

[Just Lucky]

Carter does sort of look like him.

Really enjoyed your photos and particularly your impressions of what you saw. Thanks!

[cpfstich]

Great report & pics, thanks!!

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Just Lucky

Carter does sort of look like him.

Really enjoyed your photos and particularly your impressions of what you saw. Thanks!

Ditto! The words..the historical art..inspiring....Thanks, southbound!

[SunKneeMarie]

Thanks for the report. Love it.

I grew up in Maryland and took many a field trip to DC. Now I'd like to take my kids there. We've been trying for 4 years to get back that way, looks like next summer might be it. Problem is there's even more to do there....

[TAPPY]

Love your report and great pics.

My daughters 8th grade class is going to Washington this year for 1 week.
I want to go as a chaperone. I have never been so I am thinking it would be fun, except for all those 8th graders !!! (j/k)

[alwaysmissinpdc]

I read while lurking earlier today, great report! There is so much, so close that we haven't seen. Kudos to you for making the most of the opportunity!

[pamplemoose77]

sounds like a great day! i'd never even heard of that first museum with the murals (not really saying a lot, i suppose )

the FDR memorial pics are lovely