W A S H I N G T O N   D . C .   -   D A Y   # 3

Thursday, October 28, 2004

Finally, I've arrived. Like an excited kid in a candy shop, I quickly step through the door and into the realms of air and space history.

The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum contains the world's largest collection of historic air and spacecraft. The origins of the museum trace back to 1946 when the National Air Museum was established. Back then, the museum was actually housed in a shed in the south yard of the Arts and Industries Building. Since then, the museum has been renamed to reflect more modern times and in 1976 it was given a new place to hang its hat. And quite a palatial place at that.

Click here for more detail and pictures of my tour of the National Air and Space Museum.

After my tour, I find myself standing on the National Mall. I just occurred to me, why does the grass look so sickly? You'd think it would be nice and green. Maybe it's just too much lawn to care for? Perhaps instead they should use colored rock or Astro Turf?

I rush over to the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in the hopes of squeezing in a tour. But, to no avail. They just closed at 5:30pm and it's a little past that time right now. If this wasn't the off-season, I'd have 1.5 hours to spare. Oh, well. I'll have to hit it up tomorrow.

I zip back to the van via the train and grab me some food at Subway. Back at my home away from home, the Walmart parking lot in Laurel, MD, I listen to the pre-election hubbub on a PBS radio station. Speeches are given by the First Lady Laura Bush, John Kerry's wife Theresa Heinz, followed by Ralph Nader.

I'm not terribly impressed with the women's speeches, they're mostly flash and not much substance. Buzz words and sound bites, that seems to be the leading parties' "play it safe" communication strategy these days. Nader, on the other hand, is less adverse to risk, is more down to earth, he exhibits less show and more heart. The bottom line? What he says makes more sense. I really appreciate his candor about the issues. Too bad he doesn't have a snowball's chance in Hell in giving the Republicans and Democrats a run for their money.

After the radio show I finished up the evening editing my photos for the day. Tomorrow will be my last day touring the Capitol. I plan to wrap things up with visits to the U.S. Botanic Gardens, the U.S. Capitol, the Museum of Natural History, and the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Yes, tomorrow will be a very busy day.