 |
| Cherry Blossoms |
The first time I visited Washington, DC, I was 16 years old. It was my
high school senior trip in 1960, the spring before my graduation in January of
1961. Seniors from my school, the High School of Commerce, combined with Cass
Tech, the school across the street, to make this milestone excursion. We
boarded chartered buses in Detroit and descended upon the nation’s capital at
cherry blossom time.
 |
| Capitol Building |
When I began to write, I realized I don’t remember much about our time
in Washington, DC. I do recall a tour of the Capitol and a group photo on its
steps, but that’s all. For the record, Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of
the United States, and Richard Nixon was the Vice-President. Bakersfield’s Earl
Warren was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
In later years, after moving to California, I would visit Washington,
DC again. Now, more tuned in to the
historical significance of the place, I relished seeing some of the
sights: the monuments on the National Mall, the J Edgar Hoover FBI building; the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
where U.S. paper currency is designed and printed; Ford’s Theater, the scene of
Lincoln’s assassination.
Ford’s Theatre is a National Historic Park, complete with rangers that
oversee the place and present the history of the theater and the assassination.
Stories we had read and heard came to life as the ranger showed us President
and Mrs. Lincoln’s theater box and how John Wilkes Booth jumped over the rail
and onto the stage, breaking his leg as he landed.
 |
| Ford's Theatre |
Being there took me back, as
if I were a part of history. The story of what happened to Booth afterward was
new to me, and I soaked up the images of Booth on the run and ending up at Dr.
Samuel Mudd’s house seeking medical attention.
After the ranger’s talk, we were free to explore the museum on the
lower level. From my spot on the stairs, I could hear a familiar voice below.
Imagine my surprise to find a Bakersfield friend who was also vacationing in
Washington, DC. Small world, indeed.
From there, we proceeded across the street to the home where the mortally-wounded
Lincoln was taken. We peeked into the bedroom, seeing the too-short bed and the
bloodied pillow where he lay. It was sobering.
 |
| MLK Memorial |
The last several decades have brought many changes and new attractions
to learn from and to appreciate. I want to see the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Memorial, the Smithsonian Institute, the US
Holocaust Memorial, the Viet Nam Veterans Memorial.
 |
| Viet Nam Veterans Memorial |
Regardless of the mixed critical reviews, I want to visit
the Newseum, which is an interactive museum of journalism and news. And, a
definite attraction is the several Women’s History Museums.
 |
| Newseum, Washington, DC |
I’m going to have
to spend some serious time in Washington, DC.
~ xoA ~
No comments:
Post a Comment