A Capitol Idea

We have a few days off in McLean, VA, about 30 minutes from D.C. A couple of guys rented a minivan, and we went in to do a little tourist sightseeing. We first went to the National Museum of American History. Inside the foyer of the second level is an idealized, Roman-esque statue of the Father of our Country. He looks pretty buff.


George Washington

There are plenty of Pop Culture exhibits, including the favorite footwear of Kansas farm girls.



Ruby Slippers

The Capitol building, as seen from the Mall. The state capitol of Wisconsin is fashioned after this original. Beautiful.


The Capitol Building

The Architecture Museum had suitable quarters... nice fountain.


Museum of Architecture

I grew up in the Spage Age. I remember my Major Matt Mason action figure and the battery-powered Astroboy "Billy Blastoff". It was neat to see all of the real spacecraft.


Apollo and Soyuz Joint Mission

I remember having lots of toy space helmets and making lunar modules out of cardboard boxes. Astronauts were the heroes of my generation.


Apollo Lunar Suit

The phenomenal Wright Brothers exhibit. Amazing story of two under-rated Americans. I don't think the magnitude of what they did is fully appreciated. In less than 100 years we have gone from earth-bound to today's aviaition industry. Amazing for a pair of brilliant bicycle builders from Ohio.


The Wright Brothers' Flyer

Four others had previously died in the effort, but Charles Lindbergh finally crossed the Atlantic in 33 hours and a few minutes, and greatly helped the world acknowledge the safety and convenience of air travel.


The Spirit of St. Louis