Capitol Building

Lyman contemplates his future on capitol hill as he eats his Sun Chips and sits under a tree.Our tour of the US Capitol Building as VIP. We had a friend who's uncle works in security there and he gave us a great tour with bonuses not on the usual tour route. Including being able to walk around the front of the Capitol building as it faces the National Mall. It was way better than the normal tour which he hooked us up to do without waiting in lines or having to reserve ahead of time.

We came during the Cherry Blossom festival which made the trees surrounding the buildings really make for a beautiful setting.

After it all we sort of got lost and found our way into a back conference room where I had to snap this shot of the pedestal for the US House of Representatives.
This photo was taken inside the old House of Representatives meeting room.
ha ha ha - this one was just for my mom. She is a HUGE fan -jk.

The rotunda in the US Capitol Building
Out front, view of the National Mall - The Lincoln Memorial is at the very end and very tiny. Compare this photo the one I have looking the other way back at the Capitol Building - You'll get an idea of how HUGE this building was.
Nancy Pelosi's private balcony.

Overall impressions of the Capitol building. Rich with history, it was really something. Very ornate inside, and beautiful architecture. It was sad though in a way inside it when you hear so much of the history of the building, how it was built, burned down and rebuilt. How the founding leaders of our nation wanted it to be a symbol of our nation and the ideals they set out to preserve regardless of if it required their lives sacrificed to preserve it. All the history and patriotism in the building is beautiful. But then you get a sense of how different it is now. I believe that today's leaders (Senate/House or Representatives) do believe they are leading this country the right way. However the absolute will to create and hold to "a more perfect union" seems lost. Their grand offices and side table deals speak to me as a far cry from the days of Lincoln where the Representatives would bring their dogs with them to congress, speak and discuss together and sacrifice their lives for the cause. Even the fact that we got a behind the scenes tour (which was absolutely awesome!) made me realize how much you can get for yourself in Washington if you "know somebody." There was even a second line (where there was no waiting) for the general tour for people who knew somebody so to speak. This is a nation of the people and for the people but not everyone can even have a full view of its Capitol Building. It made me realize how many of us are waiting in line for our piece of this pie and others get to walk to the front because they know the pie maker. It was hard for us to reconcile the two overwhelming feelings of absolute patriotism we felt for our country and sadness for the essence of what we have lost in history. We are a beautiful nation, full of freedoms, rich history of bravery and triumph - and I believe we still can be if we get back to the routes - where the Representatives and senators actually speak for those who elect them.