Before we flew out, I stopped in to visit Grandma Watson. We had a nice chat for about an hour and she showed me the "museum" she made of Grandpa's life. It was so nice to see her and bring back so many old memories. In the case you'll see Grandpa's Letterman jacket from high school, a letter from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland who ordained him as Stake President (I cold be wrong that's what the letter says I couldn't see the entire thing but it's signed by him), Grandpa's tie and watch, various souvenirs from their trips, a few Christmas ornaments made for craft days, picture of him and twin brother, Dean, on the basketball team, his ruby red ring (class ring?), etc.
After Kempton finally graduated school, he has since been applied and accepted to be a foreign officer. In June his family moved out to Washington DC for training before we goes to his first post, Matamorose, Mexico. Lance and I decided since we have family there we should take advantage of the opportunity to see him as well as the city and history there. Mom and Donna very graciously watched the kids for us while we were gone for a week. Every now and then I'd get pictures of the kids getting into mischief and/or activities with Grandma. The first day Ezra managed to dump all of Mom's spices on the floor, and while wrestling with Cora in the guest bedroom, Cora smashed a hole in the wall with her head. Oops.
After having problems with our flight and our trip getting delayed a day late, we finally made it to DC. On Day 1 we went to Mt. Vernon, George Washington's home, and visited Ford's Theater where Lincoln was assassinated.
We decided to take a cruise on the Potomac River to get to Mt. Vernon, it was beautiful! The tour announced different buildings and facts along/of the river.
The Washington's tomb and you can see George and Martha's sarcophagus'. Behind them through that door are 25 other family members. In George's will he stated that this new tomb be built and this specific location and with those specific materials. The old tomb was down a little trail closer to the river.
Ceiling of tomb
This is the "old tomb", originally burial site of George, Martha, and other family members. It is in the ground like a cellar.
This back view of the estate is hard to see because of all the scaffolding, they're working on repainting the outside. The exterior is made of wood with beveled edges, sand was applied to the wood to give the appearance of stone, and then was painted.
Front piazza overlooking the Potomac River, Virginia
View of the front of the estate
George's carriage
George's estate was added onto over the years and had many other buildings including blacksmith house, carriage house, kitchen, laundry room, men's servant quarters, women's servant quarters, greenhouse, house for the gardener, house for the seamstress and launderer, ice house, cellar for vegetables, etc. Everything he could possibly need to sustain life was there. He traveled a lot to Philadelphia and NY.
This building is the greenhouse with beautiful surrounding gardens. The flower beds are on the exterior and in the center are the vegetables.
This is the memorial dedicated to the servants of the estate. There's no possible way to know all the locations of where servants were buried but excavation were in progress to find out more information.
The grounds were absolutely breathtaking and so peaceful. George married into money and the estate originally belonged to his wife's family. George was very into farming and a lot of the scroll work and sculptures inside the house along the fireplaces and ceiling medallions depicted farm life.
FORD'S THEATER
We had no idea Ford's Theater was even in DC so we were pleasantly surprised and jumped on the chance to tour it. It did not disappoint! This is the theater where Lincoln was shot, he was immediately taken to a boarding house across the street where he was treated and then died the following day.
We are in the ACTUAL theater, it is mind blowing! One thing we didn't realize is that the presidential box is directly over the stage.
Large bust of Lincoln inside the theater.
This is the very room and bed where Lincoln was treated and then died from his wounds.
A replica of his coffin
These are actual tassels, fringe, and star decor that was on the Catafalque. "On May 3, 1865, Abraham Lincoln lay on a catafalque in the Illinois State House. People saved pieces as mementos of the somber occasion."
These are soldering irons and knives used on his coffin. To the left of the shadow box you can see a coffin handle from his casket, unknown how or why this handle was removed. And the key to the funeral train car. The train car was guarded at all times by an Honor Guard.
This display houses mementos of the funeral - cards, pressed flowers from Lincoln's coffin, mourning ribbons, funeral invitation, the city inspector card "This card grants permission to the state of New York to move Lincoln's body to Springfield for interment. The card notes that Lincoln died of a 'pistol shot wound.'"
A photograph of the funeral procession downtown Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. There were so many mourners that out-of-towners were unable to secure hotel rooms and had to sleep in the streets, parks, and train stations.
Lincoln's funeral car
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