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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2010-2020 Monumental Thoughts.
Author Archives: Rick
Last Conversation Piece says a lot
I must admit this series of rotund statues makes me laugh. Like it’s a Weight Watchers meeting and a dispute breaks out as one says, “Who you calling fat?” That’s the great part of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden … Continue reading
Simon Bolivar – ‘The George Washington of South America’
I often wonder why other countries send statues of their heroes to our city. I mean, what do … Continue reading
El Maiz is not corny
Sometimes sculptures are like a detective story. Thanks to the fine folks at the Museum of Modern Art of Latin America located on the 18th St. side of the Organization of American States, and a Yahoo translator, I finally figured … Continue reading
Mountain and Clouds will blow your mind
My first thought when entering the lobby of the Senate Hart Office Building – was it this big piece of junk? A few minutes later when viewing it from the seventh of nine floors, my second thought – Oh, I … Continue reading
The Polish general in Lafayette Square
General Thaddeus Kosciuszko was an American hero in so many ways. The Polish-born general of the Revolutionary War is one of four foreign-born general in the park largely for winning the battle of Saratoga, N.Y. The statue reflects Kosiuszko fighting … Continue reading
The woman behind the man – Queen Isabella
We always know Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 14 hundred and 92. But, we rarely talk about the woman who funded the trip to the new world – Queen Isabella. The Spanish monarch is in front of the Organization … Continue reading
Posted in Monuments and Statues
Tagged best DC walking tours, OAS, Photo by Rick Snider, Queen Isabella, statue, Washington D.C.
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Balinese Demons on Embassy Row
As regular readers know, I’m an average photographer. And sometimes it’s hard to get a good shot, especially when the gates are locked at an Embassy Row showstopper. Hence this photo. But here’s one of two Balinese Demons who guard … Continue reading
Monumental Thoughts turns 9
Happy birthday to us once more. Nine years of blogging about the daily sights, sounds and scenes of Washington from a tour guide’s perspective. I haven’t walked 1,000 tours yet, but it’s getting close. I can tell by my poor … Continue reading
St. Ignatius Church in Southern Maryland
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Chaptico MD, Photo by Rick Snider, St. Ignatius Church
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Jefferson in gingerbread
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Jefferson in gingerbread, Photo by Rick Snider, Thomas Jefferson
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Northern lights in Washington?
Ever wanted to see the Northern lights or make trees sway? Artechouse offers both at its grand art space just steps from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. “Aurora: The Spirit of Northern Lights” is currently shown at Artechouse. The interactive show … Continue reading
Mount Vernon back to original color
Posted in Attractions
Tagged Best Mount Vernon walking tours, Mount Vernon, Photo by Rick Snider
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Patience is key to better photos
Everyone is a photographer nowadays with iPhones. And, the phones take great photos like the one above. This was with the new iPhone 11 that is a real game-changer with 12-pixel quality. But, one advantage I learned as a young … Continue reading
