Day 2, Part 1: Supreme Court, Capitol and Library of Congress

As I wrote when I closed out Day 1, I did not post any more blogs until today, June 21, nearly a week after we got home from the trip.  Each day was very busy and tiring that when we would get back to the campsite, we just wanted to sit, rest, think, sleep, etc.  As I downloaded pictures of the second day, Tuesday, June 10, I knew waiting to do the blog was a good decision.  Today, in Decatur, Illinois, we are in a heat wave and we will be hibernating which gives me time to work on the blog.  Of course, I run the risk of not having a clear memory of the day but so be it.  Hopefully, the pictures will tell what I can't remember.

The Supreme Court.  I don't know why but the front of the building is covered.  We had to use a side door to enter but used the main door to exit.

 

Stairs to the Second floor, Grand Hall and Courtroom. Besides the stairs there was an elevator which Carol and I took.  The elevator had an elevator operator.

Grand Hall

We are standing in the entry to the Courtroom.  Behind us you can see the Supreme Court Justices' Chairs.  Court was not in session; although, we were told that on Thursday, the Justices would be hearing briefs in this courtroom.

Besides the elevator and stairs, there is a spiral staircase.  It was roped off but we could look inside and take a couple of pictures.  Information from a phamphlet told us that there were 136 steps, 7 spirals, and 5 stories.  The marble for the staircases came from Alabama.  The steps were assembled upside down to make sure each piece was an exact fit.  Each step is anchorad into the marble wall on one end and rests upon the step below it. 

The ceiling of the Great Hall was beautiful.

This picture was taken from the doorway of the Courtroom looking down the Great Hall.

Chief Justice John Marshall served as the fourth Chief Justice from 1801 to 1835.

  The current Supreme Court Building was completed in 1935.  It is a Greek-styled temple which is intended to communicate the inherent royalty of law.  It has four stories and is absolutly magnificiant.  Marble is generously used in the walls and floors.  We had never been inside this building and It is very much worth a peek inside.  It is unbelieveably beautiful.

Our next stop was the Capitol.

This is the Visitor's Entrance.  

A replica of the statue that sits on top of the Capitol.  It is called Statue of Freedom and is 19 feet 6 inches tall.

This young man is from Ramsey, Illinois and is working in our representative Mary Miller's office for the summer.  He took us on the tour of the Capitol.  He did an excellent job.

Statues of former presidents stand around the edge of the Rotunda. 
Abraham Lincoln

Ulysses Grant

Dwight David Eisenhower

Ronald Reagon

Our guide took this picture of us.

The exact center of the Rotunda.

The interior of the dome in the Rotunda.

This frieze encircles the doom.  It is a panorame depicting significant events in American history.  Three different men painted the frieze.

This is the Old Senate Chamber.  It was used from 1819 until 1859 and then became the US Supreme Court from 1860-1935.

Old Supreme Court

Old Supreme Court

Last stop of the day was the Library of Congress - the largest library in the world.

  Thee are more than 32 million caalogues books and print material in 470 languages.  It has a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutnberg Bible.  It also includes Thomas Jefferson's library.  Jefferson said, "I cannot live without books."  I agree.  There is a tunnel from the Capitol to the Library of Congress.  This is the walkway under the street.

Feast your eyes on the architecture of this building.  

The Jefferson Collection

Jefferson had in his collecdtion a Bible printed in 1571.

This is a screenshot of my Pacer app for Tuesday, June 10.  It was very excited to show that I had walked 17,114 steps, 6.6 miles.  My feet weren't as excited!!