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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2019 Monumental Thoughts.
Author Archives: Rick
Sonny Bono Park needs TLC
It’s a spit of land with a lot of history that’s now left to neglect. Sonny Bono Park at the intersection of O St., New Hampshire Ave., and 20th St. about one block south of DuPont Circle is just 800 … Continue reading
No bowing, she’s not the queen
You never know what kids will say. I asked some youngsters who I was standing next to and “The Queen of England?” was the first response. Well, I must admit she does look a little like Queen Elizabeth, but it’s … Continue reading
This old stone house . . .
Georgetown has plenty of old bricks, but this stone home along M and 30th Sts. stands out. That’s because it’s the Old Stone House. Built in 1765, the home is the oldest private home in Washington. The house was built … Continue reading
Finally, an honest man in Judiciary Square
How many statues are there of Abraham Lincoln around town? That’s a good question. And, I don’t know the answer. What’s special about this one in front of the D.C. Court of Appeals (Lincoln was a lawyer, after all) is … Continue reading
Lunar Bird makes your imagination soar
Like many things in the Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden, Lunar Bird is a bit of a mystery. The best guess is it’s an imaginary bird with a symbol of the moon for a head, small wings and thick legs. A … Continue reading
Grant lamp posts return
Something old is new again at the Grant Memorial by the U.S. Capitol. Eight bronze lamp posts were erected as replicas of the original design of Edward Pearce Casey dedicated in 1921. The posts have 16 separate castings plus the … Continue reading
Batmobile comes to Washington
The Batmobile was near the White House so help’s on the way. The car from the Batman Forever movie (1995) featuring Val Kilmer was displayed for two days as part of the opening of an office for the Motion Pictures … Continue reading
Second to none: the Second Division Memorial
Between the White House and the Washington Monument, the Second Division Memorial on Constitution Ave. approaching 17th St. is another overlooked sculpture. It’s something people just pass by. The memorial commemorates the U.S. Army’s Second Division’s dead during World War … Continue reading
The curious cube of Congressional Cemetery
The black cube in Congressional Cemetery curiously placed at an angle will make you stop. The graves of Charles Fowler and Kenneth Dresser are marked with a cube just 50 yards on the right once entering the gate. Fowler was … Continue reading
Winston Churchill – man of two worlds
Winston Churchill does an international game of hokey pokey outside the British embassy on Massachusetts Ave. Embassies are technically foreign soil so the 186 in town form quite an international landmass. But the late British prime minister, who led England … Continue reading
Sphere No. 6 is . . .
Sphere No. 6 is: a) What was left of the Death Star after Luke Skywalker blew it up. b) The remnants of Earth after a nuclear explosion. c) A bronze sculpture by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. d) I have no … Continue reading
Lafayette – the Frenchman that Americans loved
The General Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette was a key figure in American winning its independence. Lafayette blocked the escape route of the British ships at Yorktown, thus forcing Gen. Cornwallis to surrender to George Washington. Lafayette stands atop a marble … 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
The Chess Players: It’s not over until it’s over
I’m telling you, the player on the left could still win this match. Come on, take the castle already. This game has been going on for an eternity. Well, at least since 1983. The Chess Players is one of those … Continue reading
Detroit pizza in Washington?
I love pizza and always ready for new experiences. When I heard of perogies on pizza at Red Light (14th and R Sts. NW) it was a no-brainer to try it. Well, the perogie one was good, though you tasted … Continue reading
