Month: May 2016

We started our day with chores around the motorhome. After we were done we got to go swimming. The water was warmer today at 80F in the heated pool. E and I practiced water stunts and put on a show for Mom.

After we got cleaned up from swimming we did more laundry and then went and played putt-putt. It was only $1 for 18 holes on a really nice putt-putt course!

We headed to Washington, D.C. one last time on the Metro to head to meet up with Dad at the Ford’s Theater again.

We participated in a program called “History on Foot”. We were transported back in time to the night of April 14, 1865. We were joined by  Detective James McDevitt of the Washington Metropolitan Police. He heard that Lincoln was shot.  We followed along with Detective McDevitt as he visited the sites and reexamines the clues from the investigation into the Lincoln Assassination Conspiracy.

 

We got to tour the alleyways behind the Ford’s Theater. We were asked to see things as they were during the crime in 1865, not how they appear today.

He read witness statements and then we had to figure out who was guilty and who wasn’t.

Our 1.6 mile walking investigation took us park a lot of cool buildings. I really liked the Treasury.

We finally ended in front of the White Hour as the sun was setting. We found most people guilty. I was surprised to learn about Mrs. Surrat and that she was the first woman in the US ever put to death.

What a fun way to say good-bye to DC. We had a great time here learning bout our country and history.

Today we visited the NSA! Really! Well, we visited the National Cryptologic Museum next door to the NSA. We learned all about code and how it was used for communication during the wars.

I joked with Mom that I was sad to not see big foot and loch ness. I first thought the sign said CRYPTOZOOLOGY!

We got to see a piece of the Pentagon that was damaged during 9/11. 

We saw a model of the Rosetta Stone. I loved looked at it and enjoyed all the hieroglyphics.  
We saw some really HUGE old data storage machines. This one was the size of our car and helped 77,000GB of data on cartridges.

These machines were all used to store pages of data and codes.

I was fascinated by some of the older code machines.

This is the Enigma. I had a great time coding on it and then learning how to decode messages using a key.

While at the museum we did a Crypto Kids challenge and had to decode answers to questions using a crypto wheel. It was the alphabet forwards on one wheel and backwards on the other. You picked your code (for example a=f) and then set to making or decoding a message.

Next we visited the Patuxent Research Refuge and learned a LOT about whooping cranes and the programs the center is doing to help restore the population. They have 30 chicks so far this year!

We had a fun time with the interactive crane game.

We watching migrating canadian geese out in the refuge.

We even became whooping cranes.

I am always fascinated by the size of an eagles nest.

I had to add this photo in. I found lots of these tulip tree flowers around the campground after a storm. They are so pretty.

We were up really early (4:45) to get dressed and out to the Washington Monument in hopes of getting tickets to go up in the monument. We were there by 6:30 and 3rd in line. We passed the time studying for marine ecology for 4-H, playing Minecraft and talking to a bird. I called him Birdie Sanders! 🙂

We got tickets to the 9:00 group! We were first in line and eager to get up.

We waited in the elevator bay and read the signs about George Washington.

Once up we looked out all 4 sets of windows and could see a lot of DC> It was pretty amazing!

I liked looking out over the reflecting pool. I decided that the monument is a giant sundial.

From below we could see the flashing red lights to warn planes of the tower. We found the flashing lights up in the tower.

We had a great view of the White House! I think I saw Obama! Okay, not really.

After the tippy top we went down 15 stairs to a history center on the monument. We learned all about the construction and the 2011 earthquake (Dad was in DC during the earthquake).

On the way down we saw some of the stones donated by the states.

Next we went back to the American History museum with hopes to meet up with Aran, my friend who moved to Washington state a while ago.

While waiting we saw Prince’s guitar, the Yellow Cloud.

Finally we met with Aran and went off exploring!

We spent more time in the Spark Lab inviting new things.

Aran got to be on the invention wall with us!

We all really liked the history of technology sections. It was neat to see how computers have developed.

I even got to use an old DOS machine to make a cat avatar!

We had a great time learning, exploring and catching up with our Washington state friends. I think it was really special that we were both in the same down on the same day and could connect and play.

Today we spent the morning and afternoon at Rock Creek Park. It was very rainy so we hunkered down in the Nature Center and worked on Jr. Ranger books. We earned the Rock Creek Park badge and the Night Skies Badge.

Then we went out between raindrops to explore the park. It is a sprawling park and best navigated by car. We found the Peirce House and learned all about grist mills.

The mills still operates 2 days a month for special ranger programs. We got to see how it works “on paper”. We also saw a marking on a pilar in the basement that was labels April 2014. We assume it was from a big flood they had.

We grabbed lunch and then visited the Old Stone House. It is the oldest standing building in DC. It pre-dates DC. In fact it is said that George Washington and Mr. L’Enfant planned DC from this building and the tavern across the street (which is no longer there).

We also completed the Centennial National Parks badge along with the 50th Historical Badge. They were both fun books since we had to reflect back on parks we have been to before. There are so many badges to earn in this area but we just don’t have enough time to do them all. Not bad for just a few days so far!

We started today at the Hirshorn Art Museum. It was a bizarre art museum. They had a lot of pop and modern art. I was confused by the giant blueberries.

Robert Irwin had a special gallery and it was like a bunch of optical illusions. This isn’t a blank canvas it is made of tiny dots. You can’t see the dots until you are a foot away. I stepped backwards and crossed a line on the floor that made an alarm buzz. I didn’t get in trouble. It was to warn people there was a display in the middle of the room. It was a glass pilar. I guess that is an art display.

The lobby was all together another form of bright weird art. I don’t think I consider this art.

Next we visited the Smithsonian Castle. We loved the fountains and the gardens all around it.

I thought it was cool to see Mr. Smithson’s crypt. He was the benefactor of the Smithsonian Museums.

Even though it was drizzly we were able to rid the carousel.

I was less than thrilled but had a good time.

Several of the smaller museums we were planning to go to were closed for renovation. Even the Mall is closed for renovation. So we headed to the Natural History Museum. I have been dying to get here all week.

We learned about some cool bugs in the insect area.

In the skeleton display we saw a hedgehog skeleton.

We saw the Hope Diamond but I wasn’t impressed at all. I thought it was kind of small for a diamond!

We played with the giant lode stone for a long time.

After we explored all the rocks, gems and animals we headed to the American History Museum. E saw a sign for the “Spark Lab” and we entered and stayed for several hours! We never got to see the museum because we were having so much fun inventing.

I made wire glasses.

 

I designed a lamp.

My best invention was a sonar car that blind people could use to help them get around.