After two days of intermittent driving and enjoying the scenery of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, I finally arrived in Arlington, VA (a suburb of Washington D.C.) yesterday afternoon. In addition to using the weekend to get comfortable with my commute and the area, I'll using the holiday weekend to get some tourist action in before I begin working.
Today started early with a test run of the commute I'll have from my house to the Library. I wanted to see how long I will need to allow to arrive at the Library on time (it's about 50 minutes, if anyone is interested). My Dad and I, the two museum enthusiasts in our family, used the rest of the day to explore the visiting exhibits in the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, the National Museum of American History, and the International Spy Museum. In addition to exceeding my 10,000 daily step target, I learned a lot- for example, did you know that Abraham Lincoln was the only president who held a US Patent?- and soaked up some rays walking in the sunshine.
I've already started a mental list of the amazing museums and exhibits I want to explore in my free time and on the weekends, however I also am starting to get REALLY excited to work in the Library starting Tuesday. Being present in the city and experiencing all the sights and sounds of Washington continues to remind me what a joy and privilege it is to call this part of the nation my home for the next ten weeks. I have a few pictures of the adventures from today and will be posting again soon!
Emily
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| The James Madison Building, where I will have Orientation and also the building that houses the Manuscripts Reading Room where I will be interning. |
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| A side view of the Jefferson Building, housing the main reading room and the exhibit halls. |
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| National Museum of American History, right across the National Mall from the Smithsonian Castle |
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| My collection of maps, programs and self guided tour pamphlets from the day. |
