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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2013 Monumental Thoughts.
Tag Archives: Photos by Rick Snider
Arlington National Cemetery app is simply wonderful
The spring boom of tourists is here and it brings some unusual moments. Besides the big crowds that on one tour forced me to use three people as chain points to move through several memorials, there are a lot of … Continue reading
Wreaths Across America comes to Arlington National Cemetery
I wish every day was like today at Arlington National Cemetery. There were 20,000 volunteers putting wreaths on 110,000 graves. That’s staggering. People stood in lines 200 long waiting for wreaths to come from different trucks. Scout troops came. Church … 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
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 ago. President Abraham Lincoln died at Petersen House on April 14, 1865 after shot the night before at Ford’s … Continue reading
Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Attractions
Tagged Abe Lincoln, assassination, Petersen House, Photos by Rick Snider, Washiington D.C.
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Hoban, Mills – our Charleston link
On a recent visit to Charleston, S.C., I took a photo tour much like the ones I offer here in Washington. Maybe I’m a certifiable history geek or just learning how to improve from others, but somewhere during the guide … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions
Tagged Charleston S.C., James Hoban, Photos by Rick Snider, Robert Mills
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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
Posted in Monuments and Statues
Tagged Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C., Watersgate steps
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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
Congressional Cemetery: an overlooked jewel
After driving past Congressional Cemetery countless times, I finally decided to recently 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 … Continue reading
Posted in Memorials
Tagged Congressional Cemetery, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C.
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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
Sights from the sidewalk
Well look what I found while walking near the Lock Keeper’s House at 17th and Constitution Ave. N.W. Sitting on two pallets are concrete steps and a huge rock with a plaque noting the canal that predated Constitution Ave. They’re … Continue reading
Posted in Washington life
Tagged canal, Lock Keeper's House, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C.
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Wordless Wednesday: Lincoln Reflecting Pool nears completion
Posted in Wordless Wednesday
Tagged Lincoln Reflecting Pool, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C.
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Salt Lake City offers monuments, too
So what does Monumental Thoughts do when on vacation? Why look at statues, of course. A recent vacation to Salt Lake City included a stop at Temple Square with a concert at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and a tour of … Continue reading
Who’s who at the Korean War Memorial
There are 19 soldiers at the Korean War Memorial. They look much alike to the average civilian. For a long time I relied on military members on my tours to teach me who was who largely based on headgear. But … Continue reading
Posted in Memorials
Tagged how to tell soldiers apart, Korean War Memorial, Photos by Rick Snider
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New perspective can make you feel like an idiot
I recently 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 … Continue reading
The grave in the tree at Arlington National Cemetery
The grave has almost been lost to a tree Michael Burns’ grave in the rear of Arlington National Cemetery has a very large oak nearly swallowing the Civil War infantryman’s site. The standard stone marker is right next to the … Continue reading
Wordless Wednesday: Water at FDR Memorial
Posted in Wordless Wednesday
Tagged FDR Memorial, Photos by Rick Snider, Washington D.C., Wordless Wednesday
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Notes from Arlington National Cemetery briefing
There are 400,000 buried at Arlington National Cemetery. New GPS technology will locate graves within three inches. There’s enough room for funerals through 2075. Arlington is trying to expand the cemetery’s appeal beyond the Tomb of the Unknowns and John … 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
