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Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2019 Monumental Thoughts.
Author Archives: Rick
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
Photographing the National Cathedral
You can’t take a bad photo in the National Cathedral. Oh, you can always take an average one, but the Cathedral is one of my favorite places in town and begs to be photographed. Forget the outside unless you have … Continue reading
National Cathedral in Legos
It took 83 years to build the National Cathedral. Now it will take three to five years to build a Legos version. As part of the ongoing $34 million in renovations to the cathedral courtesy of a 2011 earthquake damage, … Continue reading
Oh angel, why so sad?
I love statues in cemeteries. Angels intrigued me, especially when memorializing someone forever. Richard Rothwell and his wife Emma lie beneath a sighing angel in Congressional Cemetery. Rothwell was once paid by Congress for creating 20 centographs that remember late … 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
Wordless Wednesday: Vegan Thanksgiving
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Greenfare Organic Cafe, Hernon Va, Photo by Rick Snider, Vegan Thanksgiving
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The history of flags by the FBI
Sometimes the government website says it better than we can. Here is the FBI’s website explanation of the history of flags along its building on Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington. The Grand Union, or Continental Colors, serving from 1775-1777, was first … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions
Tagged best DC walking tours, FBI, FBI flags, History of U.S. flags, Photo by Rick Snider
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Albert Gallatin – the man in front of the Treasury
After taking their zillion photos of the north side of the White House, many tourists walk to 15th St. to catch their bus. They pass the Treasury Building along the way and always ask who’s the statue. When I say … Continue reading
Ascent soars outside Udvar-Hazy Center
One of the more interesting items at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum’s Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport may be outside. Ascent is a 75-foot polished, stainless steel artwork that means, well I’m not good at interpretative … Continue reading
Octagon House – when six equals eight
I have driven past the Octagon House hundreds of times because my wife worked on the same block for 30 years. I never knew its full story; just that it was an oddly-shape corner building near the White House at … Continue reading
Posted in Attractions
Tagged Best Washington walking tours, haunted house, Octagon House, Washington D.C.
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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
