We love Washington, DC, #19

What do the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Constitution of the United States have in common?
  
Give up?  

Among other things, collectively these documents are known as the Charters of Freedom and are all currently on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC, (not to be confused with locations in Alaska, Georgia, and Maryland).  Normally, the Magna Carta is available for viewing as well, but at present it is being restored 
and will be in its new display case and ready for prime 
time in March 2012.  

This weekend, we took a very quick trip to the Archives to view these documents and some of the other exhibits on display.  As you might imagine, it was a bit difficult to get our kids excited about seeing some faded pieces of parchment, but then they saw the signature of John Hancock and thanks to this book, we caught their interest, at least momentarily.  They really enjoyed the other exhibits, however, which were teeming with buttons to press, recordings to listen to via telephone receiver, and interactive computer displays.  We will likely go again in the spring to view the Magna Carta and to see more of the exhibits we didn't have time for this time around.  Photography is prohibited in the entire building, so you'll just have to take my word for it that we were there.

 

On our way back to the car we walked through the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.  We stopped to get a view of the Archives through the fountains, make some wishes, and pose with a few of the sculptures that decorate the Garden's lawns.  In the summer they have Jazz concerts by the fountain and in the winter there is ice skating.  In the fall and spring, it is a pleasant place to pass a perfect Washington, DC, evening.

This is "Graft" by artist Roxy Paine, and Isaac's favorite of all the art we saw