Washington D.C.
Spies and Planes

Day 24 continued:  After Arlington National Cemetery, we took the Metro into Washington D.C.. Since I'd been before, Greg chose where to go and what to see in our limited time. Our first stop was the International Spy Museum, which was fantastic. We spent 4 hours there, and still ended up hurrying through the last part. Lots of fascinating information about spies and spying, and not just the usual "James Bond" stuff. This covered spying through the centuries, going back to early Chinese dynasties and to the Rome of the Caesars. Unfortunately, they don't allow photography in the museum, so all I have to show is a shot of our tickets. Still, it was well worth the admission, and highly recommended for those with an interest in intrigue.

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An outdoor sculpture near the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Greg's next choice was the National Air and Space Museum (no surprise there). On the way, I snapped this picture of the Capitol Building as we crossed the National Mall.

Capitol Building

V2 Ballistic Missile

 The National Air and Space Museum is another "must see" if you are in the capital. The highlights of American aviation and space travel are displayed here, as well as a number of missiles and rockets, both American and foreign. We stayed until closing.

The V2 was made in Germany for use in WWII--the world's first ballistic missile.

Russian missile and American Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM).

Not everything is for blasting things off the face of the earth. Some rockets and space vehicles are for exploration, research and discovery. Like the Scout D Rocket, used by NASA to launch small scientific satellites.

To;s of Minuteman III and Scout D

Tip of the Scout D Rocket

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (that man in the blue shirt is not Greg)

Model of Lunar Lander

View from the second floor

Other exhibits dealt with the history of flight.

I loved this model of an aircraft carrier. What do you think? A couple of hours to put this baby together?

Not all of the spying and surveillance equipment was in the Spy Musium. The Air and Space Museum boasted an impressive exhibit of unmanned aerial vehicles, like the tiny Dragon Eye (right) and the larger Dark Star (below).

 But, of course, some aircraft must be manned--like this F-104 Starfighter, known as "the missile with a man in it."

We finished our day with a stroll past the Industry and Arts Museum (closed for renovation) on our way back to the Metro. I've visited this museum in the past, and can recommend it highly.

Next week we Metro back to the city for a walk down the National Mall and a look at famous monuments. Then, we turn our noses homeward and make it back across the country in only 8 days, still seeing a lot along the way!