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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2017 Monumental Thoughts.
Tag Archives: Photos by Rick Snider
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
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial brings peace
It’s peaceful when entering the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. It’s just a block off the National Mall near congressional offices at 150 Washington Ave. SW, sandwiched into a one-time medium area that was a short cut exiting town. … Continue reading
A walk through the African American museum
I took a “quick” two-hour tour of the new Museum of African American History and Culture. Here are a few observations. The building is beautiful and I now understand what they wanted to do with the unusual exterior by allowing … Continue reading
James Garfield Memorial – my 6th cousin
The only thing I knew about James Garfield was he was once U.S. president. I would have struggled to write a fifth-grade report on him But coming across Garfield’s memorial on the U.S. Capitol grounds intrigued me into learning more. … Continue reading
Remembering 151st anniversary of Lincoln’s death
A dozen or so people gathered on the otherwise empty street at 7 a.m. seemingly away from the many commuters entering the city. They would only stay a short time. Both strangers and old friends said hello and waited for … Continue reading
Lincoln Cottage still a great respite
I have a secret – I’d never been to the Lincoln Cottage before taking a tour group. And it’s better than expected. Now I’ll leave the nuts and bolts to the website Lincolncottage.org. But a few things hit me during … Continue reading
Strike up the band for John Philip Sousa
You may not know the man, but you know his music. John Philip Sousa was known as “The March King” for his snappy marching music like “The Stars and Stripes Forever (official march of the U.S.) and “The Semper Fidelis” … Continue reading
The Watergate Steps to nowhere along the Potomac
It was supposed to be a staircase to heaven, but turned into a helluva waste. The Watergate Steps between the Potomac River and the Lincoln Memorial was built in 1932 as part of the Arlington Memorial Bridge complex. According to … Continue reading
Heightened security coming to Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery officials told a gathering of local tour guides that heightened security measures will begin in coming months to greatly inhibit access to the national cemetery. Really, a cemetery needs metal detectors and ID checks? The most recent … 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