04/27/17 - Day 24 - Washington D.C.- Smithsonian Castle & the Library of Congress
After meeting a friend for lunch, I headed back to the Mall for a second of sight seeing. I started with a quick walk through of the Smithsonian Castle.
The castle now serves as a visitors welcome center, but it also includes several sample exhibits from the other Smithsonian museums and is next store to a couple of art galleries as well.
I didn't spend too much time here as I wanted to tour the Library of Congress.
The purpose the library is to serve as a research reference for members of Congress. The public is allowed to use it as well, although you can't check out material. Everything has to be reviewed on site.
Our docent was a former budget office bureaucrat, so he was well aware of how much money went into the original construction and subsequent remodeling and restoration activities. Walking into the library is a little like walking into a cathedral.
The ceiling had all kinds of detail embedded in it. According to the guide, the library was intended to reflect the best themes from several European architecture styles. I was surprised to learn that the man in charge of coordinating all the work and making sure the different styles were complimentary instead of clashing was only 28.
A few other shots from inside the library. The reading room.
The Waldseemüller map, a printed wall map of the world by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, originally published in April 1507. It is known as the first map to use the name "America." It's the only surviving copy.
Recreation of Thomas Jefferson's library
The Gutenberg Bible, one of the first "mass produced" books Gutenberg created with his press. According to some sourced it took three years to produced about 180 copies. Using the old method, i.e. copy by hand, would have produced one, maybe two copies depending on whether or not the write had to procure and prepare all the materials.
There's way more to see that I unfortunately breezed past as the museum closed right after the tour ended. Like the Natural History museum, you need more than a few hours to see everything.
Capped the day off with a serendipitous meet up with a friend, Tyler, who was hosting an alumni social for our college fraternity.
Ended the day putting together a late dinner for my hosts and checking out the first round of the NFL draft. Thanks to Kendell and Trevor for letting me stay with you in Alexandria.
The castle now serves as a visitors welcome center, but it also includes several sample exhibits from the other Smithsonian museums and is next store to a couple of art galleries as well.
I didn't spend too much time here as I wanted to tour the Library of Congress.
The purpose the library is to serve as a research reference for members of Congress. The public is allowed to use it as well, although you can't check out material. Everything has to be reviewed on site.
Our docent was a former budget office bureaucrat, so he was well aware of how much money went into the original construction and subsequent remodeling and restoration activities. Walking into the library is a little like walking into a cathedral.
The ceiling had all kinds of detail embedded in it. According to the guide, the library was intended to reflect the best themes from several European architecture styles. I was surprised to learn that the man in charge of coordinating all the work and making sure the different styles were complimentary instead of clashing was only 28.
A few other shots from inside the library. The reading room.
The Waldseemüller map, a printed wall map of the world by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller, originally published in April 1507. It is known as the first map to use the name "America." It's the only surviving copy.
Recreation of Thomas Jefferson's library
The Gutenberg Bible, one of the first "mass produced" books Gutenberg created with his press. According to some sourced it took three years to produced about 180 copies. Using the old method, i.e. copy by hand, would have produced one, maybe two copies depending on whether or not the write had to procure and prepare all the materials.
There's way more to see that I unfortunately breezed past as the museum closed right after the tour ended. Like the Natural History museum, you need more than a few hours to see everything.
Capped the day off with a serendipitous meet up with a friend, Tyler, who was hosting an alumni social for our college fraternity.
Ended the day putting together a late dinner for my hosts and checking out the first round of the NFL draft. Thanks to Kendell and Trevor for letting me stay with you in Alexandria.
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