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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2019 Monumental Thoughts.
Tag Archives: Photos by Rick Snider
What’s the most photographed statue in town?
Nobody really knows, but if it’s not Abraham Lincoln at his memorial than it’s surely Andrew Jackson here in Lafayette Park. Why? First, it’s a great statue. Second, it’s right by the White House. Third, it’s a dynamite shot, especially … Continue reading
Wandering on a cold winter’s day
It’s hard to be alone with your thoughts at Arlington National Cemetery for much of the year. Nearly four million people visit with crowds heavy from March to December. But January is the best time to visit if it’s not … Continue reading
Remembering slain Annapolis journalists
Newseum recently added a tribute to the five journalists at the Annapolis Capital who were murdered in the newsroom in June. It was personal to me. My good friend John McNamara was among the five. He was a sports writer … Continue reading
Fast finish to tour season
Well, Thanksgiving’s over and so is tour season. Aside a tour here and there, most guides are spending the next two months sitting by the fire and glad to escape winter’s cold. Strangely, the season ended with a flourish –five … Continue reading
Finding relatives at Arlington National Cemetery
We’ve all seen the World War II movies. The wave of dead bodies that seem like a Hollywood trick and not someone else’s family. I recently learned one of them was family on my mother’s side. A couple branches over … Continue reading
If you’re a plane or space junkie, Udvar-Hazy worth the trip
For years I’ve heard great things about the The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Drove by the entrance plenty of times without stopping just like hundreds of other local attractions. It’s worth the trip to the Chantilly, Va. venue near Dulles … Continue reading
U.S. Botanic Gardens more than a greenhouse
One of the joys of becoming a tour guide is stopping at places I’ve driven past a million times. High on the list is the U.S. Botanic Garden on 1st and Maryland Ave. S.W. on the footstep of the U.S. … Continue reading
Petersen House is a must stop for Lincoln fans
For many years, I’ve walked past Petersen House en route to Ford Theatre. I should have detoured across the street years earlier. President Abraham Lincoln died at Petersen House on April 14, 1865 after shot the night before at Ford’s … Continue reading
Cenotaphs define Congressional Cemetery
They hit you right away. Amid the acres of graves, the rows of cenotaphs made me say, “What the . . . “ (And shame on you with dirty minds even if you guessed right.) Congressional Cemetery has 168 nearly … Continue reading
That’s Smithson . . . as in Smithsonian
Who’s the man in the bathtub? Wow, what am I going to do with you guys? That’s the remains of James Smithson as in the man that founded museums that bear his name. So what’s he doing in a bathtub? … Continue reading
Congressional Cemetery: an overlooked jewel
After driving past Congressional Cemetery countless times, I finally decided to tour it. Maybe it was the abundant street parking that convinced me, but what a jewel I’ve been missing. The 35-acre cemetery on Capitol Hill was established in 1807 … Continue reading
Summerhouse been a quenching respite since 1880
Where can you go for a drink around the U.S. Capitol? Well, since 1880 or so The Summerhouse has always offered refreshment. Water, that is. The hexagonal red brick building on the west lawn of the Senate side has a … Continue reading
New perspective can make you feel like an idiot
I wrote about a tree in Arlington National Cemetery that nearly overtook a grave. But I came upon the tree from the opposite angle recently and there was a second grave tucked in the other side of the tree I … Continue reading
Remember the Alamo and Graceland – my vacation road trip
I’ll remember the Alamo and much more off my recent vacation that snaked 1,046 miles from Memphis to San Antonio. Yes, tour guides travel sometimes for pleasure, too. My wife and I aren’t ones to just sit on the beach … Continue reading
Washington Hilton: Where Ronald Reagan was shot
President Ronald Reagan was exiting the Washington Hilton hotel after speaking to a group when a man hoping to impress actress Jodie Foster fired a shot on March 30, 1981. John Hinckley fired six shots, including one that deflected off … Continue reading
Flashback: Crossing the Wilson Bridge on foot
(Reprinted from my former blog – TheRickSniderReport.com on Jan. 9, 2011) The new Wilson Bridge was the best billion dollars ever spent in my opinion. I smile every time I drive over it with no backup at all during rush … Continue reading
The Wharf is a gem
OK, it took me six months to see the new Wharf in Southwest, but what a fine place it has become under the new development. The Anthem serves as the anchor of the waterfront project. It’s a nightclub of touring … Continue reading
Men of science in Museum of the Bible
It would seem a strange sight at first. Men of science in the Museum of the Bible. But, the displays show the two are not incompatible. Galileo is shown with his telescope. The 17th-century scientist is known for saying the … Continue reading
