Today was the first of many weekly field trips into DC. My morning started with my second class, Art and Architecture of Washington DC. We visited to National Building Museum during class to get a good introduction into to the planning, set up, design, construction, and even controversy in DC architecture. The National Building Museum is the old Civil War Pension office, which makes it one of the oldest buildings still standing in DC today. It is also one of the largest, since its purpose involved bringing in many men into the office. The pictures below are of the interior and exterior of this building.
Following our morning class, I went off to the Library of Congress, since it is so close to the NBM, and the Capitol, which was our official field trip of the day. This is such a wonderful building set right behind the Capitol and next to the Supreme Court (hence those pictures are in here too!). The library contains the remains of Jefferson's library (some 7,000 books) as well as exhibits, a main reading room, and some colorful murals and frescoes. One of my favorites, the Gutenberg Bible, is located here, as well as thousands of other books below the library in tunnels.
Our final stop for the day was at the US Capitol. What a great tour! We visited the old House, Senate, and Supreme Court chambers, all which were still decorated in their republican glory. The rotunda, completed just after the Civil War, was also a stop along our tour. Of course, we were bumping shoulders with some of the big whigs in from Congress, and even a few govenors! After our general tour, we visited the public galleries of the House and Senate. What an experience it was to see and hear our representatives in action making the laws that govern our nation. Of course, it was also interesting to see all the design and style that is in these rooms, and to think that a week from today, President Obama will be delivering his State of the Union address to these men and women in the room I just visited.
The rest of the week is back at the National Archives. Hopefully by the end of the week, I will have a better grasp on what my duties are as an intern.
Old Senate Chambers
Capitol Rotunda- It contains six different murals depicting the founding of the US.
Rotunda Ceiling- US Capitol
First chambers of the US Supreme Court
Entrance into the new Capitol Visitors Center.
Main gallery of the Library of Congress
US Supreme Court- Notice the Lawyers waiting for court to reconvene.
US Capitol
National Building Museum- Former Pension Offices
Inside the National Building Museum
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