Brisbane, QLD


Friday, July 29, 2011

MEMORABLE WASHINGTON

We arrived in Washington late in the afternoon. The tour group was taken to dinner and then on a night tour of the illuminated memorials.
The first one was The John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. It is a huge building, so big that I couldn't fit it in the lens of my camera. It was in the pipeline for many years but it was Kennedy who pushed to bring culture to the Capital Washington. It was partly funded by the Federal Govt and partly by private funds.The Kennedys donated $500,000 and Jackie was the chairman of the board.
It was opened in 1971. Bust of JFK by Robert Berks.

It is a beautiful building inside too. Many donations were made by other countries. Marble from Italy, glass from Sweden, Aboriginal Art from Australia and other items worth millions from other countries.

Then we all piled in the bus again and went on to the World War 11 Memorial. Built by private donations it was opened in 2004.It is surrounded by 56 pillars representing states and colonies. There are twin pavilions with waterfalls representing the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans where battles were fought. The Freedom wall has 4,000 gold stars representing the 400,000 Americans who lost their lives. It was a spectacular memorial built between the Lincoln and Washington memorials.

The Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln's statue inside the temple. It is huge!

18 comments:

  1. Great photos of very familiar sights for me. The first time I came to America I saw Swan Lake performed at the Kennedy Center. Gregg and I used to ride our bikes all over the city and would stop at each memorial. We lived in Alexandria for two years back in the mid 70's.

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  2. love the photos of the building, that is some sight. never seen that bu have seen the Lincoln

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  3. I loved the Kennedy Center and the only thing better than just visiting is seeing a production there. One of these days. The Lincoln Memorial is always my favorite. I am about anything Lincoln. What a guy!

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  4. Diane, thanks for sharing this tour with me, of a place I may never see! Hope you're having a great weekend. Jo

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  5. Beautiful photos of your fabulous trip, Diane. A friend and I paid a drive-by visit to Washington DC in 1976, but didn't see the inside of any of the monuments.

    —Kay, Alberta, Canada

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  6. I've never been to the States so it's fascinating to see your photos. Your response to things as a 'tourist' is very different from those of the locals who live (and blog from) there and that's interesting.

    BTW you asked about my camera - I just bought a new one and will write a post about it in a couple of days.

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  7. The Centre For The Performing Arts Building is just stunning - so classy - a big thumbs up to the Kennedys for pushing ahead with this venture - it's magnificent.

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  8. I love these photos. I haven't seen much of Washington at night, and I haven't been in the Kennedy Center at all. It's a beautiful place. I haven't been to Washington since the World War II memorial was finished, so I enjoyed that picture as well.

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  9. Great photos I love them thanks for sharing them here.

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  10. Hi Diane,
    I have scrolled back through all of your posts that I missed. I have to say you've seen more of my country than I have!
    You got some wonderful shots. I especially love the Yosemite ones.
    So glad you had a good time and make it back safely.
    It's wonderful seeing it all through your eyes.

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  11. You are seeing wonderful sights that I will never see and I live here. Thank you for the photos. Amazing scenes. Thank you, Diane! Hope you are having a terrific time!

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  12. I enjoying the trip. I didn't see all of those memorials when I was there.

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  13. You guys are doing it up big! Thanks for sharing your outstanding photos!

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  14. That is special to see it by night. It is all illuminated, I didn't know.

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  15. So glad you were able to enjoy the city. My son and I spent a week in D.C. last summer, and it was a real highlight of our life.

    Your pictures are just wonderful. ...Marsha

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  16. Wow! Never been to USA... Fabulous pics...
    Especially loved the Kennedy Centre!!
    Have a fabulous sunday:)

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  17. Wonderful night shots, Diane! My son went to college in Washington DC, and had his first job there, so it became our home away from home during those years. My husband and I loved visiting the city and going to the museums and monuments. We often saw a show at the Kennedy Center and took boat rides on the Potomac River.

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