Post #1 Prior Knowledge

I know some things about our nations capital. I know that that Washington Monument was built for our first President George Washington. Also our nations capital houses the president in the White House. Most of the famous buildings or monuments are in the color white and have pillars which was common architecture back when they were built. When I go on this trip I'd like to explore the inside of the White House and also look at the Constitution and Declaration of Independence in person. I want to see how these documents have aged over time, or if they look brand new.

Post #2 The White House

Visiting the White House was one of the best experiences I ever had. First of all, the architecture of the building was amazing. Most people want to see the inside of the house, but when you look at the building in person it is eye captivating. The best room in the house to me was the kitchen. When I walked in there was fresh fruit on the table and pots and pans hanging from the ceiling. I believe that building such a special home for our president exemplifies the gratitude to the president of how much work they put in the our nation. Also it stands as a symbol of strength to have a amazing house that is widely popular


           Lovepreet Sandhu
           3300 Quimby Road
           San Jose, CA

           12/17/14

                 Dear Ms Lofgren,

                                 I am writing you this letter to ask you if I could get a more exclusive tour of the White House. After your generous offer of giving me and family tickets to a natural tour I am interested in seeing more. The White House serves as such a big symbol to the United States because of its outstanding architecture and also the person who lives inside of it. I know your schedule might be chaotic but if you do have time please let me know if we can get the exclusive tour. I really wanted to sit in the oval office and see where the president does his business.

               Thank you,
           Lovepreet Sandhu

Post #3 National Archives

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are housed in the national archives. Both of these documents are very lit up to show the damp wording. The documents look very old and you can still see the signatures at the bottom. I felt like this was very interesting trip because i got to see what these two famous documents really looked like and how big of a historical figure these papers are. The letters on the constitution still look clear to read, and there were security guards walking around making sure no one took pictures, and they are housed because they mean a significant deal to our nation.

Post #4 The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court makes up our governments judicial system. Most big cases that cause controversy to the United States are brought to the Supreme Court to make a decision. The Court was first established in 1789 and has far expanded since then. This building however was finished in 1935 making it a symbol in the United States. The architect behind this was Cass Gilbert. There is one main chief justice and the other nine below. This building is seen as a symbol for justice. An interesting fact about this building is that there is a basketball court located on the fifth floor. The statue outside near the steps of court is the Contemplation of Justice. It is very intimidating to people who are going into the building and serves as on of the main symbols of the building. The other statue is the authority of law symbolizes power and enforcement.

Post #5 Monuments

This is the Washington Monument located on 2 15th Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20007. This is a very special symbol to Washington DC. The architect behind this special monument is Robert Mills. It was first constructed in 1848 and was opened to the public in 1888. This monument was built in respect to George Washington the first president and commander of the Continental Army. This monument led to the expansion of patriotism as more and more people came to visit everyday. This monument serves as a memorial to George Washington. This is the tallest stone monument ever built and it is another reason why it is such a big symbol to our nation. 

 This is the Lincoln Memorial located 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW, Washington, DC 20037. Just like the Washington Monument this memorial is dedicated to the 16th President Abraham Lincoln. The architect of this building was Henry Bacon. Inside the memorial is a statue of Lincoln sitting in a chair, and also his two famous speeches engraved in stone. One of Lincoln's hands is clenched symbolizing his strength and determination. Many tourists visit this memorial to see the famous statue or enjoy the architecture of the building. I enjoyed visiting all three of these memorials because I learned a lot of new things. It is very interesting to learn what happened before we were all born and I think its awesome how we have these buildings to remind us how our nation had prospered. 

Post #6 The United States Capitol Building

The capitol building has been around for a long time now. Opened in 1800 the capitol building serves as a symbol of our nation. The amazing part is that we are still constructing the building, there are more and more reinnovations to the Capitol. The other picture below is when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.

     

This photo is significant because it shows how our founding fathers came together to make this document come true. As you can see, Thomas Jefferson is placing the document in front of John Hancock. By making this stand the document was signed a week later. This was important to building our democratic system because it showed that the people can come together to have a voice in political cornerstones.

This picture signifies another big meaning in our history. This painting shows George Washington resigning his commander in chief in the United States. This picture showed that the peoples view had a say in military power which helped progress our nation.  Washington also told the government to stay out of other peoples business but however this stands as a big debate in todays society. 

Post #7 Senators and Representatives

The Senators of California are Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. These two ladies work very hard to keep our state working properly. If I were ever to meet Feinstein or Boxer I believe that I would have to call ahead to make an appointment. You can either call or email them to grab their attention. I believe that the senators do have some sort of security but their assistants and aids that work for them are mostly around them at all times. These two are also members of the Democratic party. I would ask them questions like "Do you have any upcoming plans?" or "What are your main goals for this job?" Also the district representative for us is Zoe Lofgren. She is from district 19 and from the Democratic party. She can be reached by phone or email as well.

Post #8 Shopping and Dining

                                                                               POST # 8
   

Location: 1208 Wisconsin Avenue
                 Washington DC 20007

   I went to this clothing store in Washington. They had really nice clothing in this store. There were different styles for example V neck sweaters or polos. When I walked in I noticed how organized everything was, they used abstract colors to catch our attention. The store looked old on the outside, but it looked completely different on the inside.

              Location: 1200 18th Street NW  Washington DC, 20036

After we went to a place called the Daily Grill. We read the yelp reviews online and the ratings were great. When we got there we had to try the sliders because they were known to be the best thing on the menu. When they brought the burgers out they smelled so good and tasted even better. I recommend anyone to go there and try the food you won't be disappointed!