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White House, Washington Monument,
Star-Spangled Banner & Spy Museum
Day Two in DC and plenty to see. First, we headed down to the White House … only to be stopped in our tracks by Secret Service guys from proceeding any further. We had to stop (in the shade) and just wait. Eventually five 4×4’s headed into the White House grounds – one with the trunk window open and weapons visible. No President though in this cavalcade!
We were then allowed passed and headed onto E Street to get a view of the White House from the other side. No sooner than we arrived, more Secret Service guys were telling everyone to move back to the markers as the President would be arriving on Marine One. Guess the plans changed as no sign of Marine One and we were all allowed closer in to take photos.
From the White House we walked over to the Washington Monument – a large stone column at the opposite end of The Mall to the US Capitol. It’s surrounded by flags – we didn’t count them, but assumed there were 50. We didn’t have tickets to go to the top, but there were only two small windows on each side.
Sept 2014 marks the 200th Anniversary of the Star Spangled Banner – the flag that inspired the US National Anthem. The original is in display at the Smithsonian Museum of American History. The flag was first flown after the US won the Battle at Baltimore against the British and the words for the Star Spangled Banner were penned after seeing the flag being flown. No photos of the original flag were permitted. They had preserved the flag the best they could – segments had been cut out of the flag in the past to be kept as souvenirs!
For the first time, we understood what the words for the anthem mean and just why they are so important to Americans. Lyrics were inspired after seeing the huge Star Spangled Flag flown above Fort Henry following the bombardment and defeat of the British Royal Navy in Baltimore Harbour.
Also in the Museum was the Gunboat Philadelphia – sunk by the British in it’s inaugural battle in 1797! It’s a the US equivalent of the Mary Rose as it lay in the silt for 160 years before being raised and it’s in remarkable condition. A replica has been built and is currently sailing in Baltimore.
From the museum we went in search of lunch. En route, we passed the FBI Buildings as well as the Ford Theatre and the house opposite where Abraham Lincoln died.
We were visiting the International Spy Museum in the afternoon and Jon found out that the Gordon Biersch Brewery was close by – a good spot for lunch. Callum ordered the pepperoni pizza for lunch (kids meal – but Jon reckons it was the best pizza we’d had in the US this trip – and he doesn’t even like Pepperoni!), I ordered a shrimp and crab cobb salad and Jon a variety of appetisers, including their infamous garlic fries. We each had a lobster and crab slider and it was delicious.
The Spy Museum – hmmm – what can we say! You are told to chose an alter-ego and memorise your character before going into the briefing room … but nothing more was made of this. There were lots of gadgets that had been used by Americans and Russians in the Cold War, a great Bond exhibition, a simulation of decoding using an Enigma machine and about espionage during WW2. It could have been much more … but was quite interesting for an hour or so.
Back to the hotel to chill. Callum decided he wanted to eat in the hotel tonight. The food was surprisingly good. Jon went for the beef open sandwich special (was a proper meal!), Callum had Chicken Tenders and I had the ribs and they were good – Callum helped me finish them off.
Meal over and back up to the room and settle down for the evening.
