Ford’s Theatre

My favorite part of D.C., and possibly the entire trip, was Ford’s Theatre. Since we weren’t able to go to The Archives, we went there instead. So I guess that private event was a blessing in disguise. :)

Ford’s Theatre is the theatre in which Abraham Lincoln was shot.

Before the presentation began, we were given 45 minutes in a museum of Lincoln and the events leading up to his death.

This is Thomas “Tad” Lincoln, one of President Lincoln’s children. (picture taken in 1861—Tad, age 8) Read at this hilarious blurb about him from the museum:

Thomas “Tad” Lincoln

His nickname derived from his large head, said to resemble a tadpole. Tad was a lively mischievous child who shared his mother’s temper. He suffered from a speech impediment—the result of a cleft palate—and possible learning disabilities. “Let him run,” said the president, “he has time enough left to learn his letters and get pokey.”

One day Tad hitched a pair of goats to a chair and drove himself through a crowded East Room reception. On another occasion he stood behind his father at a review of Union troops and waved a Confederate flag. When not devouring strawberries intended for a state dinner or training a toy cannon on his father’s Cabinet, Tad often stood at the foot of the staircase leading to the presidential offices and charged a five cent “entrance fee.”

In 1863 Tad made a new friend—a turkey sent to the White House for Christmas dinner. He named the bird Jack and interrupted a Cabinet meeting to demand a presidential pardon—a tradition that is still carried on nearly 150 years later.

I love that kid! So funny :)

They had all sorts of cool stuff in the museum—like this pillow, which, apparently, is one of several pillows used under Lincoln’s head at the Peterson House, where he was taken after he was shot. Look—it even has bloodstains! It’s gross and cool at the same time.

I think that’s his coat that he wore that night—but it was kind of confusing.

Here’s another interesting blurb:

He had that dream just four days before he died! Weird.

That is the actual gun that John Wilkes Booth shot him with. It’s so small!

There’s the stage!

And there’s his booth! It was so cool to see all of this. Did you know that Ford’s Theatre is still used as a theatre today?

Our tickets were good for the Peterson House too, which was just across the street, so we went there afterwards. The Peterson House is where Lincoln was taken after he was shot, and where he died.

This is the room in which Mary Lincoln grieved between visits to her husband’s bedside.

This is the room where Lincoln died, at 7:22 A.M. on April 15, 1865.

Monuments and Memorials

This post is all about all of the monuments and memorials we saw!

First, we went to the Lincoln Memorial.

Can you see us? :)

There were inscriptions of two of his famous speeches: The Gettysburg Address, and his second inaugural address.

We also saw the Washington Monument.

Have you ever seen this thing? It is GIGANTIC! I couldn’t believe my eyes when we got close to it.

There we are at the bottom of it!

I like this one :)

Another cool thing we saw was the World War II memorial. It was really cool and well done! I think it’s pretty new.

There was a tower for each state.

There were also a bunch of famous quotes about the war.

It really was a beautiful memorial!

We also saw the Vietnam Memorial.

Later, we saw the memorial for Thomas Jefferson.

Another cool memorial was the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.

Puppy :)

It had all sorts of fountains and waterfalls like this.

There was a part for his wife, too.

One of the things I was most excited to see was The Archives.

…but it was closed for a private event! :(

“Study the past.” I’d love to, but the past was closed.

The last place we saw was Theodore Roosevelt Island. Yep, he’s got his own island. :)

Up next: Ford’s Theatre—my favorite part! :)

D.C.

Here’s an intro to the D.C. part of our trip. These are pretty much just pictures that didn’t fit into any of the categories of the posts about D.C. I have. :)

MAN it was hot!

That’s a WWII memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.

On the last day, we were so stinkin tired, so we took a break and had a picnic by the lake.

Joel’s hair looks funny. Heh heh.

Josh fed the ducks. :)

He’s weird.

The Capitol Building!

Alright! That kicks off quite a few posts from our trip to D.C. It’s going to take a few posts because, of course, we always see everything we can! :)

Quick Update

Some people wanted to see an update on the house, so I’m posting this and then I’ll post about the D.C. part of our trip. :)

Dormers! :)

Front porch

The brick is done!

So is the siding! Doesn’t it look great?

And the insulation! This is my room.

And I have a small built-in bookshelf in my closet :). I got a desk for $5 at a garage sale Friday, and it’s the perfect size to fit under the bookshelf! :)

Two more months!