Inauguration | Annie Fox's Blog

#7: A visit to the Library of Congress

January 17, 2009

Library of Congress main reading area

The tour guide at LOC said that after the library was completed in 1897, they had $6 million left over. Instead of returning the money to Congress, they decided to bring in a team of artistic masters to brighten the place up. And wow, they totally got their money’s worth!

In addition to being the world’s largest library and having the most books, films, posters, sheet music, maps, audio recording anywhere (130 million items), the LOC also has collections of random stuff donated from around the world. We’re talking baseball cards, personal letters from famous people, Native American cultural artifacts, musical instruments and on and on. When some rich lady heard that the Library of Congress had President Andrew Jackson’s flute in its collection, she wrote and asked, “Do you want my old flute?” To which the Library replied with the answer it always gives to such questions: “Why yes! Thank you!” And that’s how the LOC happens to have 2500 flutes in its collection.

Library of Congress reception area

Library of Congress columns and ceiling

Library of Congress ceiling

Filed under: Inauguration,Politics,Teens — Tags: Library of Congress — Annie @ 12:33 pm

Comments (1)

#6: A visit to the Supreme Court

Annie in front of the Supreme Court Building

I don’t mean to be harsh, but the young woman who gave us a lecture on the history of the Supreme Court was not yet ready for prime time. We wondered if she’d had any public speaking experience at all. Sure, she knew her facts about how many cert petitions the court receives each year (about 10,000) and who was the longest serving justice (John Marshall) and even how old the red British-made drapes were (74 years), but Ms. Mouse’s presentation, especially compared to Paul, was not good. Even with a microphone her timid, rapid-fire delivery was barely audible. On top of that, she kept flailing her arms as if she was trying to generate her own wind energy. And…

Wait a minute! I need to take a deep breath and quit venting. None of this is helpful. Not to Ms. Mouse or to you. I apologize. To both of you. We’ve all been in over our head and it’s scary. Just thinking about how she must have felt makes me sorry that I was so impatient. Before her next speech to a bunch of tourists, I hope she gets a chance to practice. Then she’ll be more confident and I’m sure she’ll do a much better job.

Entry area for the Supreme Court Building

Anyway, the place is impressive. Particularly because despite the actual courtroom being rather small, the decisions that come down from the 9 justices often affect American life in profound and lasting ways.

My take-away from our visit was that anyone can petition to have his or her case heard by the Supreme Court. You don’t need a fancy, high-priced attorney representing you. You don’t even need an attorney at all! In fact, the Court sometimes receives hand-written petitions from ordinary folks… even prisoners in jail. But the motto of the court is “Equal Justice Under the Law” so every petition is treated with the same level of respect and given equal consideration. Now that’s fair!

P.S. Interested in the law? Check this out!

Ceiling of the entryway to the Supreme Court Building

Justice John Marshall, longest serving Supreme Court Justice. Notice how shiny his foot is (see next photo).

Touching the toe of Justice Marshall's statue for good luck.

Filed under: Inauguration,Politics,Teens — Tags: Supreme Court — Annie @ 12:19 pm

Comments (0)

#5: A visit to the Capitol

U.S. Capitol Building

The U.S. Capitol is one of the world’s most recognizable buildings. (That’s Capitol with an “o” not to be confused with “What’s the capital of ______?”) But what does it look like inside? Most people haven’t had a peek. Today we did.

Our tour guide Paul knows every cornice, balustrade, and column of the place. And even though other tour groups criss-crossed our path in the hallways and chambers (“It’s Inauguration Weekend. Only happens once every four years, you know!”) he remained calm, friendly and very funny. Way to go, Paul!

Capitol Building tour guide, Paul

Paul also knew lots of great stories… such as: On the underside the world-famous Capitol dome is an incredible painting of George Washington in heaven. Constantino Brumidi, a gifted Italian artist, painted it over a period of 11 months, lying on his back while being suspended 180 feet in the air! He then started painting a mural around the base of the dome. After finishing about one-third of it, he slipped and dangled by his fingertips for 15 minutes until his frantic shouts attracted attention. After he was brought down safely he quit. Two other artists completed the rest of the circular mural. (The second guy was fired for painting his self- portrait on the trunk of a tree. He “lost face” by getting fired, but his face is still up there in the mural.)

Beneath the dome of the Capitol Building

Capitol Building frieze - can you find the artist's portrait in the tree? (click for a larger version)

A portion of the Capitol Building frieze -- can you find the artist's self-portrait in the tree? (click image for a larger version)

At the end of the Capitol tour, I took away one big idea about America: Over the centuries, many have stood up in Congress and spoken up for people from every corner of every state in the Union. Today, our elected representatives still work together to find common ground. What they work to achieve daily in the Capitol is just like it says in Latin on the Great Seal of the United States… E pluribus unum: Out of many, one.

Capitol Building's National Statuary Hall -- one of the Inauguration receptions will be held here.

Capitol Building's National Statuary Hall -- one of the Inaugural Balls will be held here on Tuesday, January 20th.

Dome of the Statuary Hall.

Entryway to the the chambers of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Filed under: Inauguration,Politics,Teens — Tags: Capitol Building, Frieze, Inauguration — Annie @ 11:35 am

Comments (0)

#4: Excitement in the air

January 15, 2009

Descending into Kansas City enroute to DC

We had a great flight, even though they gave us no real food in 6 hours. What is with that? Good thing we brought some bagels, tangerines and dark chocolate from home.

The head flight attendant’s name was Barak. (I kid you not! Thought he pointed out that his name doesn’t have a ‘c’ in it, like Barack Obama’s.) Many people on the plane with us to Baltimore were also on their way to the Inauguration. I put on my “blogger” hat, grabbed David’s iPhone and interviewed several of them to find out why they were making this trip to Washington. Here’s what they had to say:

Rocky (from Hayward, CA): I’m the president of California Young Democrats. Barack Obama has reached out to all parts of America and inspired them to believe in our country again. I’m going to the Inauguration because it’s a fulfillment of a dream I’ve had for a long time to see a politician who worked hard, and listened to all voices. I think he’s setting a new tone for our country.

Jennifer (from Oakland, CA): I’m going to the Inauguration because I never believed there would be an African-American President in my lifetime. I hope to experience the camaraderie of everyone else that is there and the feeling of being present at a pivotal moment in history. I think there’s a message in all this for young people… that in the USA we have now proven that you can be anything that you want to be. And you can tell the girls, “Next time, it’s our turn!”

Boy (CA): I’m 9. On election day, we were watching on TV and when I heard that he won, I got a white t-shirt from my room and I wrote on it in marker: Obama Rocks!

Boy’s Mom: We’re not going to the Inauguration, but we’ll be in Baltimore and we’re going to the train station on Saturday, and you know about the train that Obama is taking to DC? Well he’s stopping in Baltimore and getting out at War Memorial Plaza. We’re going to see him there!

Annie: If you get any photos of him at the train station will you email them to me for this blog?

Boy’s Mom: Sure I will!

Arianna: I was invited to the Inauguration by the People to People Program, set up for student leaders to go to different places. I’m actually kind of excited. None of my friends are going and I’m going. They’re all jealous! I just want to be close enough to see him! This is the first black President. People are always told that they can be President… blah blah blah… but he’s like something different. We finally have somebody other than old white men. Now people will open their minds a little bit more to different things.

Victor from Kansas

Victor (from Kansas): It’s going to be history and I want to be part of it. Well, everyone is going to be part of it whether they’re there or not, but I want to be as close to it as possible just because it’s pretty amazing! Being an African-American myself, I don’t really consider Obama representing the African-American people–he’s representing black, white, Hispanic, Asian… where he’s come from, his background… I think he represents everybody, especially the youth. And being a youth myself, youth helped elect him and we get to see what he’s going to bring to us.

The excitement is definitely building (in the air and on the ground) and we’ve still got 5 days left until the Inauguration. Time for me to get some sleep… tomorrow we’re going to DC to tour the Capitol and the Supreme Court and you get to come along too… Just make sure you’ve got your virtual jackets, hats, gloves, etc., because, fyi, it’s 14 degrees outside!!

Filed under: Inauguration,Politics,Teens — Tags: Barack Obama — Annie @ 11:41 pm

Comments (28)

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »