Favorite Places
Categories
©
Unless otherwise noted, all content and photos are © 2010-2021 Monumental Thoughts.
Author Archives: Rick
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
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
Torpedo Factory in Alexandria
Posted in Alexandria
Tagged Best Alexandria walking tours, Photo by Rick Snider, Torpedo Factory
Leave a comment
Carlyle House in Alexandria
Posted in Alexandria
Tagged Best Alexandria walking tours, Carlyle House, Photo by Rick Snider
Leave a comment
Fox News knows nothing of Washington
Posted in Washington life
Tagged Best Washington DC walking tours, Video by Rick Snider
Leave a comment
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
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
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.
Leave a comment
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
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
Leave a comment
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
Happy 12th anniversary to Monumental Thoughts
Well, another year passed as Monumental Thoughts is just a year short of becoming a teenager. Wow, the years go quickly. I wish I could tell you how many visitors we had in 2012 like other years, but the website … Continue reading