In May 2007, Bill, Joanne and I took the metro from Maryland into Union Station.

The station was opened in 1907. During World War II, as many as 200,000 people passed through in a single day.

Union Station

Columbus Fountain was made by sculptor Lorado Taft in1912. The ball on the top is a globe representing the Western hemisphere. Christopher Columbus stands staring forward. Below him is the winged figurehead of a ship prow.

The figure to his left represents a Native American from the New World. Another figure on the other side is an elderly man or the Old World.

The American Legion Freedom Bell

At twice the size of the original Liberty Bell, this 8-ton replica was cast in Europe (since no foundry within the US could make one this big) as a gift from the American Legion. After it was completed, it traveled to all 48 contiguous states aboard the American Freedom Train for the 1976 Bicentennial. It was placed in storage for several years until it found a home here in 1981.

Missing the infamous crack

We decided to buy a ticket with unlimited stops on the trolley car. In theory, it was a great idea since we could hop on and off wherever and whenever we wished. Unfortunately it was a very busy day, causing us to have long waits in the very hot sun or not always being able to get a seat.

Bil and Joanne on the trolley car

Passing the capitol building on the way

Our first stop was the Jefferson Memorial. Modeled after the Pantheon in Rome, it was finished in 1943.

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826), one of the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the US (1801 - 1809)

Declaration of Independence, 1776

A view across the Tidal Basin (located just off the Potomac River) toward the Washington Monument

The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial was built in 1997. The memorial is expansive, with a long wandering path that stops at various events during the president's four terms in office.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1882 - 1945), commonly known as FDR, served as the 32nd President of the US from 1933 until his death.

Standing in line for work during the Great Depression in the 1930's

Listening to the president's "fireside chats" on the radio. These programs allowed Roosevelt to talk to the people directly, asking for support and explaining policies.

There were numerous quotes and waterfalls. These quotes refer to World War II.

The president and I sit with his Scottish Terrier, Fala.

Joanne with Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962), the longest-serving First Lady

In 1921, Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio. It left him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. In order to keep the confidence of the public, he made a point to never be seen in his wheelchair. He taught himself to walk short distances while wearing iron braces on his hips and legs, and he always appeared standing upright, supported by an aide or one of his sons. There are very few photographs and only three public sculptures of him in a wheelchair. Two of them are here and the third is in Puerto Rico.

The Lincoln Memorial is designed after ancient Greek temples. Opened in 1922, it is 190 feet long, 119 feet wide and almost 100 feet high.

Making our way up the steps. In the background is the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. At the far end of the pool are the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865) was the 16th President of the US (from 1861 until his assassination in 1865)

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address...

... and his Second Inaugural Address

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was built following the dedication of the memorial. It is over a third of a mile long and holds over six million gallons of water.

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