Smithsonian American Art Museum

Have I told you lately how much I love living at Vantage House?  One reason is the excursions.  I love going places but now Vantage House makes it so easy.  No more logistics to work out like how to get there or where do I park?  No more stress of driving in traffic!

Vantage House has three buses.  Wednesday this one took 12 of us plus Daniel, our excursion coordinator to the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC.  We left at 10:15 and returned by 2:45.

The museum is actually two.  The Portrait Gallery is there as well.  It's located at 8th and F Streets NW, though we accessed the building on G Street.

Standing on the steps awaiting the docent I had these views of Washington.

Inside halls going to the left and right with exhibits.

Out the other side is this lovely courtyard.

It has this amazing ceiling.

And this water walkway.

Upstairs on the other side is The Great Hall.

Don't you love the floor?

The building was begun in 1836 and completed in 1868.  It became a museum in 1968.  I'll share what our wonderful docent took us to see in another post.

Atlantic Ocean

It was a cool wet weekend at Bethany Beach, Delaware this past weekend.

The ocean was wild.

It's off season, but there were some stores open.

Dan was brave and put his feet in.

Foam was flying in the wind.

It was a nice weekend retreat with friends.

Governor's Mansion

When we walked around Annapolis last week I had to stop and admire the Governor's mansion especially the gardens.

It must have been a good year for cannas, those very tall flooring plants.  The friend I was with didn't recognize them because of their height.

Tuesday Treasures #25 - Treasures in the State House

This is my third posting on the Maryland State House that we visited on Monday September, 26th.  Years ago when I taught 4th grade a favorite field trip was to go to Annapolis and have a guided walking tour with a docent in Colonial garb.  One of the stops was the State House.  Since then major renovations were done and the inside looked very different from what I remembered.

A major event in the history of the State House was that it was the first peacetime capitol of our country.  In that capacity General George Washington came here to resign as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army.

There is a lot to see and read.  This post will focus on the historical aspects.

This painting hangs in the stairwell.

The first Colonial governor of Maryland, appointed by his brother, Lord Baltimore, the proprietor of the Colony.  Maryland was founded with the intent to have religious freedom.

Clarence Blount, the first African American elected to serve in the state legislature.

Mary Risteau, the first woman elected to the state legislature.

A plaque commemorating William Henson, a Maryland son.

Inside an anteroom to the Old Senate chamber is this collection of faces from the past.

Here's Dan standing with George.

Annapolis is a beautiful city to visit.  The State House is just one stop of many historical places to visit while you are there.