We started our day even earlier in the city this morning and had an incredible time. Unfortunately Dad was dealing with truck problems and couldn't join us... We started our day in front of the White House. Since we did not pre-arrange a tour, we just took pictures and headed to the National Archives building. The kids we totally enthralled! They were so excited to see the REAL Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights (thank you National Treasure!). When we left there we went to the National Museum of Natural History. Then came the most interesting part of the day... Brett went to the Washington Monument early to get tour tickets and the only time available was during the Capitol tour that I arranged earlier. So, we gave the kids a choice and they ALL decided they wanted to tour the Capitol because of the history (see Brittany, the reports DID pay off:)!).
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| National Archives Building |
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| Good Morning, Mr. President! |
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| End of the Day at the Capitol |
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| National Museum of Natural History |
Our tour was absolutely amazing! The tour guide was terrific and the kids were totally interested in each part of it! Of particular interest were the statues within the Capitol itself. Did you know that each state is allowed two statues to display within the Capitol? The only parameters are that the people for the statue must be dead, and the statues must be either bronze or marble. The kids zeroed in on this because fourth graders in Utah recently learned that their state only had one statue. After a letter writing campaign to their elected officials, the children convinced them to send a statue of Philo somebody, the Father of Television, to the Capitol as a statue! What a great lesson in democracy for our kids! The Capitol itself is absolutely beautiful and truly awe inspiring. The tour begins with a wonderful movie about how out of many, we are one. It really made me think about the incredible diversity of our country and how it truly is amazing that we can still have a government by the people. At the end of the day, I am incredibly humbled to realize what a great privilege it is to be American.
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