August 19, 2022 DAR Constitution Hall.

 1776 D Street Washington, DC. What an extraordinary delight to tour the grounds and inside of this building!

DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Constitution Hall.

"DAR CONSTITUTION HALL, Washington DC's largest Concert Hall, welcomes over half a million patrons each year. The Hall opened in 1929, and was designed to house the annual DAR convention. DAR Constitution Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark Building in 1985." The landmark houses the DAR Headquarters, the DAR Museum and gift shop, and the DAR Library. "Ground was broken for DAR Constitution Hall of June 22, 1928; Cornerstone was laid by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge on Oct 30, 1928; Mrs Herbert Hoover was the guest speaker at the formal dedication on April 19, 1929."

"The DAR National Headquarters complex occupies an entire city block near the White House." (Photo below courtesy of DAR.org.) 👇👇👇

Because we chose to visit the Washington, DC area mid-week, the traffic was light, and parking was easy at the near-by parking garage, Colonial Parking, at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. It was an equally easy walk past many notable sites, to the DAR building.

***** Should you decide to ride AMTRAK Train, instead of driving, the Union Station is also within walking distance of the DAR Constitution Hall!****** as well as numerous hotels!

I was not prepared for the vastness, upon entering the DAR Library !😲

Obviously, we did not allow adequate time for fondling all of the books in this room! I did, however, sign the guest book!

The architecture, portraits, and period rooms were stunning. 

MARBLE ........ MARBLE...... MARBLE.....

Plan to spend at least 3-4 hours to catch a glimpse of the magnitude of the interior. 

Did you know that parts of The West Wing, National Treasure, and other movies were filmed at the location of this massive building? We were disappointed that we were not able to view the concert hall (that houses its annual DAR convention.... maybe on my next visit. John russell Pope, the architect,designed this neoclassical architectures' masterpiece. "The Hall has hosted numerous television events including the Country Music Association Awards, HBO Specials with Eddie Murphy, Whitney Houston, Chris Rock and Robin Williams, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, Fast Money, and National Sports Awards, etc."

The following 2 graphs are 'maps' of the first and second floor MAIN LIBRARY......... yes, MAPS!

 

There are 31 DAR Museum Period Rooms that look like you're stepping into a room from the past!...... 1810s bedroom, 1860sparlor, 1820s dining room and more! The DAR Museum is free and fascinating!  

                                                               WORTHY OF A VISIT

PS. Gift shop was loaded with a variety of trinkets, and clothing!

The Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated this building as a memorial to the Constitution in 1929. DAR Constitution Hall is the only structure erected in tribute to the Constitution of the United States of America! 

April 3, 2022 Lynchburg Old City Cemetery

 

"From April 6th to 10th, 1865, Lynchburg served as the capital of Virginia. Under Governor William Smith, the executive and legislative branches of the Commonwealth moved to Lynchburg for the few days between the fall of Richmond and the fall of the Confederacy."

Our little day-trip this week in the city of Lynchburg, Va, included a visit to The Old City Cemetery.

This hidden jewel was established in 1806, ranking itself as one of the oldest public cemeteries in the United States in continuous use. 

Most of the 2,000 people were buried before 1925.

Veterans from every major America waar, cultural leaders, as well as the old AND new potters field are buried here.

Gorgeous ironwork, antique roses, Chapel, Hearse House (owned by Diuguid Funeral Home, the second oldest undertaking establishment in VA), LOtus Pond, Butterfly Garden.

 Yes, this is a VIrginia Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.

2022 March 3 ~ Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, VA

What a spectacular day-trip! If you have never visited the grounds of this 1847 oasis, including 135 acres, make plans to go! Two  US Presidents buried are  here, as well as President of the Confederate states, 6 Governors of Virginia, notable monuments, mausoleums, 80,000 buried here, views of the city skyline, historic native trees, and of course, the grave marker of my GREAT-GREAT-GRAND FATHER, Francis Marion Trenor. 

There were 18,000 Confederate soldiers buried here with 3,000 from Gettysburg. .... 2000 were unknown. At the entrance to the Confederate section of the cemetery stands a 90' tall granite pyramid that honors Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. The pyramid was built from roughly cut granite blocks from the nearby James River, and designed by Confederate Army Captain Charles H. Dimmock. The street sign separates the Confederate section from the rest of the cemetery. The Hollywood Cemetery Cannon stands in front of the Confederate Monument.

The Civil War soldiers' headstones were pointed on top to keep Union soldiers from sitting on top of them! 

The two Presidents buried in the cemetery are James Monroe's Tomb(also known as "The Birdcage") and John Tyler's monument.

John Tyler's eldest daughter is buried close by.

And the grave of President Jefferson Davis(CSA) is here, as well as the Jeff Davis mausoleum angel.

All of the Presidents are buried within the Presidents Circle area.

The Palmer Chapel Mausoleum is perched on the banks of the James River, and was built in 1992.

The final resting place for Lewis Ginter, a prominent businessman, epitomizes Victorian-era architecture. This mausoleum was constructed in 1897.

Several overlooks near the Palmer Mausoleum offer views of the James River, Kanawha Canal, Richmond skyline and downtown bridges. 

Not to be missed is the most well-known monuments in Hollywood Cemetery....The Iron Dog. The statue stands guard over the grave of a little girl, Florence Bernardin Rees, who died in 1862. The area is often referred to as "Black Dog Hill", where gifts and coins are often left. 

The name Hollywood Cemetery comes from the holly trees that dot the cemetery grounds. 

The building at the entrance to Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, isa Gothic Revival stone structure that houses the chapel, office, and receiving vault.

I may have to return to purchase the book, as my legacy is written in these pages.