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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2017 Monumental Thoughts.
Tag Archives: Photos by Rick Snider
The far side of Mount Vernon
I’ve been to Mount Vernon countless times over a half century since growing up across the Potomac River from the mansion. But I’ve only been down to the boat ramp and far crops twice. Yeah, that’s nuts. Nearly all of … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions
Tagged Best Mount Vernon walking tours, Mount Vernon, Photos by Rick Snider
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Finding Abingdon plantation inside airport
There’s a colonial plantation at Reagan (Washington National to locals) Airport. Or rather, there’s an airport on an old colonial plantation. I had to check out Abingdon Plantation when first learning of it from a company specializing in unique urban sites. … Continue reading
Righting a wrong in American history
Our country has plenty of ugly moments. Slavery and the American Indian wars were the 19th century blunders that we thought were behind us. And then World War II came with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. Suddenly, 112,000 Japanese-American … Continue reading
National Arboretum worth trip to edge of town
I used to jog (really) in the Arboretum in the late 1980s while working at the Washington Times. The Arboretum had an open gate by the newspaper along New York Ave. and I ran best I could around the park. … Continue reading
Plenty of grief has come from Adams Memorial
This is a story that can feel personal. Of death and despair. Mark Twain and mistakes. When you find the statue made by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in the middle of Section E of Rock Creek Cemetery, hidden within a tall square … Continue reading
Lazy day at National Harbor
It’s not often I spend a lazy Sunday afternoon doing nothing, but while waiting for my wife at National Harbor I wandered by the many statues near the water that I’ve driven by dozens of times. Park the car and … Continue reading
Date night – Fogo de Chao and Trump Hotel
I have walked by Fogo de Chao at least several hundred times while leading tours, telling people how good the food was inside. At least, I heard it was. I’m like a dog with his nose pressed against the glass. … Continue reading
Thomas T. Gaff isn’t so scary after all
From the street it looks like a member of the Walking Dead has emerged in Rock Creek Cemetery. Walking up the steep incline makes the grave marker a little less scary and a little more impressive. What once looked like … Continue reading
My great west vacation – Yellowstone National Park
Six states, 1,400 miles, worst hail storm ever, snow squall, 45 degrees, 100 degrees – and it was a fun time. My wife and I went out west to see a cousin for the first time and Yellowstone National Park. … Continue reading
Daniel Webster offers the highest of relief panels
Normally, the high relief art complements the statue, but the two beneath the statue of Daniel Webster are the coolest ones I’ve seen around town. They are nearly lifelike, showing none of their 110 years. The scene in the front … Continue reading
Refurbished Grant statues are magnificent
It’s not often I give two thumbs up, a standing ovation or a big cheer, but finally seeing the restored Grant statue with his artillery and cavalry by the U.S. Capitol west side rekindled my faith in excellent work. … Continue reading
Spanish American War nurses remembered
The large granite boulder remembers the nurses of the Spanish America war, which was the first to have nurses organized by the military. The Maltese cross, symbol of The Society of Spanish American War nurses, sits high on the marker … Continue reading
56 reasons to come to Constitution Gardens
They were sons of liberty, the ones brave enough to put their name to paper and tell King George to go to Hell. America was free. Today, we remember the founding fathers with 56 Signers Park where each of their … Continue reading
Posted in Memorials
Tagged 56 Signers Park, Constitution Gardens, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C.
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Remembering Lincoln
It’s a Tweetup, a flash mob to remember Lincoln. Saturday morning saw a trickle grow to 20 people as a man with yellow tulips in one hand and a retriever’s leash in the other placed flowers on the stoop of … Continue reading
Posted in Abraham Lincoln
Tagged best DC walking tours, Lincoln, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington DC
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How to find your state at the World War II Memorial
The first thing tourists look for at the World War II Memorial isn’t the magnificent fountain, the stars that each represent 100 dead U.S. soldiers, bas relief art by the entrance or names of the battles. No, they want to … Continue reading
Anton Hilberath: The German soldier in Arlington National Cemetery
Anton Hilberath is an enigma surrounded by children. Hilberath’s the only German soldier from World War II buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The First Sergeant of the Wehrmacht was among 830 German prisoners of war that died in the … Continue reading
A memorial in an Arlington crossroads
It’s not unusual for a monument to be moved. Happens more often than you’d expect. And it’s not unusual for a memorial to be updated with a second use. But here’s one that includes three wars and was relocated to … Continue reading
Posted in Memorials
Tagged Arlington, Best Washington DC walking tours, Memorial, Photos by Rick Snider, Va.
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City sidewalks dressed in holiday style
The city is certainly decked for the holidays, but walking along F and 14th Sts. showed several wreaths within a short walking distance. This has long been a commercial area with plenty of shopping so wreaths aren’t unexpected. But, given … Continue reading
The cat, horse and the general
There’s lots to talk about Gen. Philip Sheridan’s statue. It’s one of the better equestrian statues in town and the horse has a story, too. But there’s also a cat down the street keeping an eye on his old master. … Continue reading
Full Count reminds fans there are sports statues in town
With more than 3,100 statues, memorials and monuments, you’d think Washington would be filled with sports figures cast in bronze. Think again. Nationals Park has Josh Gibson, Frank Howard and Walter Johnson as gigantic, odd-looking statues beyond the left field … Continue reading