Team Breitmann World Tour: Washington, D.C.

The gals in our Nation's capitol! We had the opportunity to visit both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We heard debate in the Senate chamber. You can read more about the capitol building here: The US Capitol

While visiting Washington, D.C. we camped out on Joint Base Andrews (formerly know as Andrews Air Force Base), which is home to both Air Force One and Marine One. You can read more about the base here: Joint_Base_Andrews

By far, the best way to get around is taking the Metro (aka Subway). That is exactly what Team Breitmann did! You can check out the D.C. Metro here: D.C. Metro System

Hailey in front of the United States National Archives. Here we saw the actual Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and the Magna Carta. You can read about the National Archives here: National Archives. You can read about the Magna Carta here: Magna_Carta. You can read about the Declaration of Independence and founding documents here: Declaration.

Of course, we had to take in the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum! You can learn more about it here: Air & Space Museum

Hailey poses in front of the actual Wright Flyer that the famous Wright brothers used on that historic day of December 17th, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Wright Flyer made four flights that day. The best controlled flight covered 852 feet in 59 seconds. It was the first heavier-than-air, powered aircraft to make a sustained, controlled flight with a pilot aboard. Key to the Flyer's success was its three-axis control system, which featured wing-warping for lateral control, a move able rudder and an elevator for pitch. The right wing was four inches longer than the left, in order to compensate for the engine being mounted to the right of the pilot. The wings were rigged with an intentional droop to reduce the effects of crosswinds.

Heidi poses in front of the Mercury program's Friendship 7 spacecraft. This spacecraft is the actual one in which John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. On February 20th, 1962, he circled the Earth three times. The flight lasted 4 hours and 55 minutes. Friendship 7 landed in the Atlantic Ocean near Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos Islands. With this flight, John Glenn became a national hero, and America gained confidence that we could compete successfully in space with the Soviet Union, which had previously attained the distinction of being the first country to put a man into space. On April 12th, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin gained the distinction as being the first person to travel in space.

Hailey poses in front of Columbia, the Apollo 11 Command Module that carried astronauts Neil Armstrong, Ed "Buzz" Aldrin, and Michael Collins on their historic voyage to the Moon and back between 16 and 24 July 1969. This mission culminated in the first human steps on another world. The Apollo 11 spacecraft had three parts: the Command Module, the Service Module and the Lunar Module Eagle. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the Moon in Eagle, Michael Collins remained alone in Columbia. For 28 hours, he served as a communications link and photographed the lunar surface. After reclaiming Armstrong and Aldrin from the ascent stage of the Lunar Module, Columbia was the only part of the spacecraft to return to Earth.

The gals check out an actual Moon rock brought back on one of the Apollo missions.

Here's a shout out to my good friend, "Buff", who is a great American and a Marine Aviator. Semper Fi, my friend!

Hailey gives a try at flying a P-51 Mustang in the wind tunnel! Well, done ACE!

We made a visit to the Native American museum part of the Smithsonian. The girls particularly liked the exhibit on the relationship between the horse and the Native peoples, one that is one of the great sagas of human contact with the animal world. When American Indians encountered horses, they found an ally, inspiring and useful in times of peace, and intrepid in times of war. Horses transformed Native life and became a central part of many tribal cultures. American Indian hosrsemanship became legendary and the survival of many Native peoples depended upon the horse. They incorporated horses into their cultural and spiritual lives.

Hailey poses with a bronze statue entitled; Allies in War, Partners in Peace, 2004. This work honors the bonds of friendship that were forged between the Oneida Indian Nation and the fledgling U.S. during the American Revolution. Oneida fought alongside the colonists in many key battles and helped sustain American soldiers during the darkest hours of the war. In the winter of 1777-78, a group of Oneida walked more than 400 miles from Oneida Territory, in what is now central New York state, to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, carrying corn to feed starving soldiers. Polly Cooper, the Oneida woman depicted in the statue, taught the soldiers how to cook corn. Oskanondonha, at right, played a key role in the Oneida Nations decision to side with the colonists. Also known as Skenandoah, he was the wampum keeper and creator of government-to-government agreements, a highly respected individual among the Oneida. General George Washington holds the two-row wampum belt, symbol of an agreement that the U.S. and the Oneida Nation would not interfere in the other's internal affairs. Behind these figures stands the white pine tree, a symbol of peace. The turtle, wolf and bear represent the three clans of the Oneida Nation.

We stopped in to take a look around the Library of Congress. Very impressive. You can read more about it here. Library of Congress

Hailey in the Library of Congress next to the artifacts of Lincoln's assassination. When he was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. on April 14, 1865, he was carrying two pairs of spectacles and a lens polisher, a pocketknife, a watch fob, a linen hand kerchief, and a brown leather wallet containing a five dollar Confederate note and nine newspaper clippings, including several favorable to the president's policies. These items were given to his son Robert Lincoln upon Lincoln's death. These relics remained with the Lincoln family for more than seventy years.

The gals in front of the Lincoln memorial.

Inside the massive Lincoln memorial. You can read more about it here: Lincoln Memorial

Hailey on the steps of the Lincoln memorial with the Washington Monument at her back. Many a famous and controversial speeches have been made from these steps, including the famous "I have a dream..." speech by Dr. Martin Luther King.

Night time in D.C.

In our quest to get passes to tour the House and Senate, we came across our "favorite" House Representative....sarcasm intended. Now, to be absolutely fair, her office was the one that gave us passes to both Houses. So, we can't say she never gave us anything!

A short drive south and we take in the home of our first President of the United States, George Washington. You can read about it here: Mount Vernon

In front of Washington's home.

A view from the back of his house.

A "turkey" with the turkeys! Heidi poses with the Presidential pardoned turkeys that are now enjoying the easy life at Mt. Vernon.

Hailey enjoys the Mt. Vernon vegetable garden and green house.

Heidi enjoys her favorite drink...tea...while at Mt. Vernon.

On Sunday, we found these posters in the hallway outside of the sanctuary at the church we attended. We found them quite appropriately pointing to our next phase in life after this "world tour" adventure....one that involves living the farm life!