Category: Local

Wright Brothers National Memorial

Manteo, North Carolina

It’s amazing to think about, but the first air flight took place on December 17, 1903! And it happened here at Manteo/Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Before 1903, human flight was only a dream. Wilbur and Orville Wright worked at a bicycle shop in Akron, Ohio, when after many hours of thought and experimenting, they went to North Carolina because of the guaranteed windy conditions. And they taught us to fly! This was an incredible national monument and memorial.

Replica of the Wright Brothers’ first flight areoplane.
This is inside the museum, which contain many very interesting exhibits.
Some Wright Brothers biographical information.
Actual tools from the Wright Brothers’ bicycle shop that were in Akron, Ohio
This marker marks the spot where the first plane took off.
120 feet from the takeoff marker is this marker, which marks the spot where the first flight landed.
The spot where the second flight landed after flying for 175 feet.
The spot where the third flight landed after flying for 200 feet.
The spot where the fourth flight landed after flying for 852 feet.
This flight lasted 59 seconds! Imagine the exhilaration Wilbur and Orville experienced on December 17, 1903 when they realized what they had accomplished!
Looking down from Kill Devil Hill toward the flight markers.
The Wright Brothers Monument atop The Kill Devil Hill

UVA

So we went to Charlottesville to make a visit to the University of Virginia for Mallory to take a look.

The Rotunda
“Mr. Jefferson”
Absolutely beautiful crisp December day.
I didn’t know this…
I did know this.
Edgar Allen Poe’s room on The Lawn, preserved as an historic attraction.
Yes, that is a raven picture above the mantel (and the flag).
John Paul Jones Arena
A surprise – UVA basketball tickets to the William & Mary game!
John Paul Jones Arena is a beautiful facility!
Ty Jerome free throw
A great time! Thanks Mitch!!

White House Christmas!

So we were able to score a tour of the White House for Christmas this year, from our Congressman. It was incredible! I have over 70 pictures to share, so it will take some time to see them all – enjoy!

Before the tour, we stopped by the White House Visitors Center.
At the front is a condolence register for President George H. W. Bush, so we all signed our condolences to the Bush family.
There are several models of the White House in the Visitors Center. This is the north portico.
The South Portico.
Full model of the White House complex.
On our tour we entered into the two-story building on the left, then through the connector which held all the cranberry trees, then upstairs to the entire first floor of the White House, and then finally, out of the doors at the North Portico.
Lego model of the White House. It took 4 people 825 hours to build this model.
South Portico on the Lego model.
President Donald J. Trump display.
French gilded beechwood armchair used during President James Monroe’s term (1817-1825).
Original finial used on the White House flagpole from 1898-1993.
Interesting mantel clock selected by President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877). The top is a clock; on the bottom, left to right, is a perpetual calendar, thermometer, and a barometer.
“Hiawatha’s Boat” silver centerpiece used by the Grants in the Red Room. It was often filled with flowers.
President Abraham Lincoln’s State china service (1861-1865).
Mantel clock given to the White House in 1960.
Chart of the Presidents.
The Virginia ornament on the Visitor Center Christmas tree.
In line, waiting to go in, holding our “passports”.
Just outside the building.
And I totally wore a Donald Trump tie.
This is the first Christmas tree we saw when we entered. Every Christmas tree in the White House is a real tree, so you could smell the firs from the moment you entered the building!
Apparently First Lady Melania Trump likes cardinals! This first tree had many of them all over!
The hallway with all the red cranberry topiary trees! Quite festive!
Wearing red was a good choice!
There was much red throughout the White House!
Coming Through the Rye, by Frederic Remington.
These sculptures were interesting to us because we had just seen a lot of Remington and Russell art and sculptures in Forth Worth last month!
Meat for Wild Men by Charles Russell.
First Lady Laura Bush.
China cabinet with state china settings from various presidencies.
Ronald Reagan’s state china (1981-1989).
James Monroe’s state china (1817-1825)
Vermeil Room.
Portrait of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
Library
China Room
Portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge.
East Room.
Nativity display in the East Room.
One of the East Room chandeliers.
Each of the East Room fireplace mantels contains an American cityscape.
Obviously, this one is New York City.
San Francisco cityscape.
President Theodore Roosevelt.
This is the original official presidential portrait of President George Washington. It was originally hung in the White House when it opened in 1800, and has been here ever since , except for a few months during the War of 1812 for protection.
Green Room. (duh!)
Portrait of First Lady Edith Roosevelt (Theodore’s).
Blue Room.
This is the Official White House Christmas Tree for 2018.
Red Room.
The balls on the mantel garland say “Be Best”, which is First Lady Melania Trump’s slogan.
Interesting wreath in the Red Room, with “Be Best” pencils. Zoom in to see detail.
State Dining Room; portrait of President Abraham Lincoln.
The Christmas Trees are topped with gold eagles.
Everything on the top of this table in the State Dining Room is edible. The White House is made of gingerbread. Everything else is candy and sugar.
President Ronald Reagan.
Trees lining the Hall.
This is where the Trumps had their official Christmas picture taken this year.
Grandma kissing Santa Claus.
Presidential podium in the Vestibule, just inside the North Portico.
President Harry Truman.
This is the reflection of the Vestibule chandelier onto the ceiling.
The North Portico.
It has been quite a few years since I was here, but we used to be able to go up to the iron fence, but no more. The entire street (Pennsylvania Avenue) is blocked off here, and they have these barricades to prevent you from going up to the iron fence. Still, a majestic and stately building!
We had a late breakfast at Old Ebbitt Grill.
Looking down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol.
So after breakfast and before we left DC, we went to see the National Christmas Tree. We were a little, ahem, underwhelmed. As you can see, the shape is all mesh lighting. The tree under the mesh is a bit smaller. I guess at night when it is all lit up it is more impressive because you are looking at the lights rather than the tree. There are trees planted all around the National Christmas Tree, and each is decorated from a different state, so that was kinda cool.
The National Christmas Tree.
Virginia’s tree.
Maryland’s tree.
Nebraska’s tree.
There are lots of trains all over the place…
…lots of trains…
…lots of trains…
…and even a train wreck!
While we were waiting for our driver, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo came by in his convoy on his way to lunch with President Trump at the White House!