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Author Archives: Rick
Grace Coolidge saves Rebecca from being Thanksgiving dinner
Rebecca was given to President Coolidge to be dinner on Thanksgiving. Yeah, some Southerners eat it. Supposedly tastes like chicken. But, the Coolidges passed and the raccoon lived with them at the White House for several years before donated to … Continue reading
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Coolidges and the raccoon, Outschool class, Presidential pets
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It’s a regular Tool De Force
It looks like odd tools in my collection, and it is. Tool De Force is a 12 1/2-foot sculpture at the National Building Museum representing some of the tools used in the industry. It was donated to NBM by … Continue reading
Red maple at Oak Hill Cemetery
Posted in Wordless Wednesday
Tagged Oak Hill cemetery, Photo by Rick Snider, red maple
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The best three pizzas in town
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Best 3 pizzas, Best Washington DC walking tours, YouTube
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Remembering Glenn Brenner
I first met Glenn Brenner in 1979 at my college job fair. He was the keynote speaker. Glenn started to speak and said screw it, what do you guys want to know? He then took questions for an hour. Glenn … Continue reading
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Glenn Brenner, Oak Hill cemetery, Photo by Rick Snider
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City celebrates Biden victory
My wife and I were walking Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown when we heard honking in the distance. Wonder what that was? Driving through Georgetown, we quickly learned Joe Biden won the presidential election. People were flooding the streets, cars … Continue reading
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Joe Biden, Photo by Rick Snider, presidential election
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McClellan Arch opens past to Arlington National
When Arlington National Cemetery opened to the public in 1864, everyone passed through the McClellan Arch, which is about 150 yards to the left of the current entrance. Named for Union Gen. George B. McClellan, whose Civil War headquarters was … Continue reading
Finding Boss Shepherd’s tomb
Alexander Shepherd was one of the key people responsible for Washington being what it is today, but few know who “Boss” Shepherd was even if his statue is to the right of City Hall’s steps. Indeed, Shepherd is known as … Continue reading
The other Taft – Robert A. Taft Memorial
Everyone knows my distant cousin William Howard Taft, the 26th U.S. president and the fattest person to ever serve in the White House. Figure I’d inherit that bloodline. But few remember his son Robert A. Taft whose accomplishments earned an … Continue reading
The general of them all – Alexander Macomb
It’s not often you’ll see a monument with Greek, Roman and Egyptian markings, but Gen. Alexander Macomb’s 14-foot marker at Congressional Cemetery has them all. The general is surrounded by four lions paws. A sword for his military career, cross … Continue reading
Rock Creek Cemetery markers for memories
Wandering through Rock Creek Cemetery is a lesson is historic architecture. It’s probably the best cemetery in Washington for angels alone. The rich and famous from former Washington territorial mayor “Boss” Shepherd to president Teddy Roosevelt’s iconic daughter Alice are … Continue reading
Fort Lincoln Cemetery: Defending Washington during Civil War
Two cannons rest amid earthworks in Fort Lincoln Cemetery just past the city’s eastern border, remnants of the Civil War defense. Ironically, they’re only a couple hundred yards from the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814 where the British … Continue reading
Posted in Abraham Lincoln
Tagged Best DC walking tour, cannons, Civil War, Fort Lincoln Cemetery, Photo by Rick Snider
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Cross of Sacrifice at Arlington National Cemetery
It’s often called the “Canadian Cross” but technically the large cross behind the Tomb of the Unknowns and near the memorials to astronauts is called the “Cross of Sacrifice.” The bronze sword atop the 24-foot gray granite cross was dedicated … Continue reading
Here’s a bar bet you can win
Washington, D.C. is named after two people. Name them. I ask this of every group I take out and maybe 10 percent has someone who can answer it. OK, we all should know that George Washington is the Washington part. … Continue reading
