#13 - Educational Field Trip!

Shannon and I in front of the Nation's Capitol

Before Shannon and I started this trip we took a U.S. History class together to brush up on our knowledge of historical landmarks and events.  As we all know, this country’s history started long before the European settlements, rich with Native American culture, but most of the recorded history that we learn about in school started in 1492.  As we moved east across the country the historical sites became more prevalent and dated further back – visiting Washington DC and Boston were two places where the historical juices were flowing strong!  

John Hancock's signature on the Declaration Of Independence

We spent a full two days hitting the pavement in each of these cities, visiting museums and some of the places where our nation’s foundation as a democratic country were put into place.

As an American citizen there was something that felt almost as if it were a “right of passage” to see things like the Constitution and Bill of Rights  - to see the actual parchment written on by hand, with ink quill pens, in that beautiful old calligraphy.  To see the signatures of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, to name a few of the 56 signers (John Hancock’s being the prettiest), was about as close to that era as you could get.  

The White House!

Also, seeing the White House (where our favorite President currently resides), and the beautiful vegetable garden that Michelle had planted, was a pretty cool thing – even if it was 250 degrees outside.  We walked the National Mall and saw the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument the Nation’s Capitol (where we walked through the Library of Congress and saw first editions of some of the most influential books in American history), and the Museum of American History.

Lincoln Memorial

Library of Congress

In Boston we followed the Freedom Trail where we saw the site of the Boston Massacre as well as the Old State House - the oldest surviving public building in Boston, where on July 18, 1776 the Declaration of Independence was read to the people for the first time.  

The Balcony where Thomas Craft
(one of the Sons Of Liberty) read to the
people the Declaration of Independence
atone o'clockon July 18, 1776.

The Old State House dwarfed by modern Boston

Harvard University

Cheers bar!

We tried to soak up some “smarts” by walking through the Harvard University campus, founded in 1636 and attended by Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, John Adams, Henry David Thoreau, Barack Obama, and yes… Natalie Portman, to name a few. We had a beer at the bar from “Cheers”.  

We saw a classic old Irish folk band playing in the corner of a cute little pub (and had a pint of Guinness).  We saw Fenway Park, and ate amazing east coast seafood in a tiny restaurant down a small side street.  We took a boat ride with our private water taxi driver/friend Alex, and saw the city lights from the waterway.  We took it in!

All in all, it was a very educational and inspiring field trip – one that included good food, a pint or two and some sore footsies!