Diffusion

Smithsonian Castle

One of the best things about Washington, D.C., is the Smithsonian Institution, which is a system of archives, museums, exhibitions, and education programs that are among some of the best in the world of arts and industries. In Washington alone, the Smithsonian includes 13 museums and a zoological park, with an additional museum in New York City and a sister museum in Chantilly, Virginia.

This most visited museum in the Smithsonian system is the National Air & Space Museum. It includes a sister museum, the Udvar-Hazy Center, in Virginia. If you want to see portraits of America's founders, the National Portrait Gallery is the museum to visit. At the Natural History Museum, you can see the Hope Diamond and in the American History Museum, you can see the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." If you like modern art and sculpture, the Hischhorn is your museum. Asian art can be found in the Freer and Sackler Gallery, while the Renwick houses some of America's finest artists. If you're interested in African art or African American history, the National Museum of African Art and the Anacostia Community Museum, respectively, are for you. To see Tai-shan the panda, visit the National Zoo. The Smithsonian's newest museum is the National Museum of the American Indian.

The best part about the Smithsonian museums and zoo: they're all free. How is this possible? A bequest from a British scientist named James Smithson named the United States as the benefactor of his estate. Upon the death of his nephew, his only heir, Smithson's estate--valued at around $500,000 in 1838--was given to the United States "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." To learn more about the Smithsonian, go here. For a complete listing of Smithsonian museums and institutions, go here.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

Fall

Foot bridge over the C&O Canal.

Wide Water Gap near Angler's Inn.

Fall is here and if you want to see the colors up close, a good way to do that is to go walking on the C&O Canal. During the week, traffic on the trail is pretty light. Couple it with cooler temperatures, some breezes, and rain and you'll end up with lengthy gaps between the people you pass. In another week or so, the colors should be especially prolific. Due to drought this year, though, they won't be a vibrant as years past nor is it likely they'll last long. Still, it's one feature to like about living on the East Coast.

Contrast early fall with mid-spring by going back to these pictures I took in May.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential.

Bridge

Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River at Sunrise. In the distance, just left of center, is the Custis-Lee Mansion on the grounds of Arlington National Cemetery. I'm standing in Washington, D.C. and on the western side of the bridge and river is Virginia.

Memorial Bridge connects Washington, D.C., with Virginia and leads one to Arlington National Cemetery. If you recall, during the Civil War, Virginia sided with the Confederacy while Washington, D.C., remained the federal capitol of the Union. Even though Maryland sided with the Union, its loyalty was dubious at times, which left Washington surrounded. Amazingly, Confederate soldiers never set foot in the District of Columbia.

The mansion atop Arlington Cemetery's highest hill features the Custis-Lee Mansion, which was the estate of Robert E. Lee's wife's family--the Custises. Mary Custis was the daughter of General George and Martha Washington's step-grandson, George Washington Parke Custis. When Lee sided with Virginia and the Confederacy, his family left Arlington House. During the Civil War, Quartermaster Gen. Montgomery Meigs resented Lee siding with the South and began burying the Union dead on the grounds of Arlington House, thereby ensuring that Lee would be unable to lay claim to the house at the end of the war.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

Emancipator

The Lincoln Memorial at sunrise.

South side of the Lincoln Memorial looking east toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

Detail of Lincoln's hand.

Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. Woodsman, Lawyer, Senator, President, Emancipator.

Located at the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial—honoring our 16th president, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln—was authorized by Congress in 1911 and construction commenced in 1914. Building was completed in 1922 and dedicated by President Warren G. Harding. Lincoln’s only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, attended the ceremonies. The Lincoln Memorial has been the site of many historical events, including the Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered in 1963 on the steps of the memorial (a plaque in the steps commemorates the event.) As you enter this memorial, take time to read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, his Second Inaugural, and the quote above Lincoln’s statue sculpted by Daniel Chester French which reads:

In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.

Zip: 20024

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

Solar

The BP Solar Decathlon 2007 on the National Mall with the Capitol in the background.

One of 20 sustainable, solar-powered houses featured in the decathlon.

This week was the BP Solar Decathlon in Washington, D.C. This event features solar, sustainable houses built by teams of architectural and engineering students from universities across America and around the world. This year's teams ranged from Carnegie Mellon University to Technische Universitat Darmstadt (this year's winners), from Georgia Tech to Team Montreal, from Universidad de Puerto Rico to the University of Santa Clara. In all, 20 schools competed and built some pretty impressive homes of the future. If you get a chance, go next year. It's a lot of fun and they have educational sessions for the public.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

Ripple

Sunset on the water, Herald Harbor, Crownsville, MD.

Herald Harbor Sunset

I have a friend who lives in Crownsville on the Severn River. This was the sunset from her back yard on Sunday evening where a bunch of us had gathered to watch the 49ers and the Ravens. Sadly, the Niners lost by two points. We were robbed.

But the sunset was nice.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

Bounty

Just one of the many varieties of chrysanthemums that were available at Elmer's Market in Georgetown, DE.

Peppers--jalepeno, bell, and poblanos, among others--as well as tomatillos.

And pumpkins! A sure sign fall is here. (And right now, the only sign it's here since it's unseasonably warm--90 degrees today--and humid.)

Went to Rehoboth Beach, DE, this weekend. The weather was crappy (hazy, hot, and humid), but I shouldn't complain too much. As one sign in town proclaimed, "You can't complain if you're at beach because, well, you're at the beach."

Rather than pictures of the beach and the ocean, I bring you pictures of this year's harvest. I took these at Elmer's Market just outside of Georgetown, DE. I picked up plums, corn, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, and grape tomatoes. There were also apples, acorn squash, gourds, watermelons, mums, and more!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential (10/07)