The Lincoln Memorial

I would have to say my favorite place to go is Washington D.C.  I love history, especially American History, particularly the history of the Civil War.  Because of my passion for the Civil War era,  one of my favorite places in D.C. is the Lincoln Memorial.

After reaching the end of the Reflecting Pool, you have to walk up a daunting 98 steps to get to the actual memorial but trust me, it's worth it.  As you go up. be sure to look for the step with the plaque that marks the step from which Martin Luther King Jr. made his "I Had a Dream" speech.  The entire inside of the monument is made of Georgia Marble.  The exterior of the memorial is Colorado Marble.  It is a massive 99 feet tall, 204 feet deep and 134 feet long.  There are 36 pillars, made of Indiana Marble, each 44 feet tall and 7.5 feet in diameter.  These pillars signify each state that was part of the Union at the time of Lincoln's presidency.  The architects inscribed the name of all 48 states that were part of the United States at the time of the building of the monument at the front upper border of the monument.  Higher above those names are the names of the last two states, Hawaii and Alaska.

Inside the memorial you will immediately see the 19 ft. by 19 ft. statue of Abraham Lincoln.  If we were to stand the statue up, Lincoln would be a massive 28 ft. tall.  This enormous sculpture weighs 175 tons.  Above the statue, " In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever", is inscribed.

  On the south wall is the inscription of the Gettysburg Address.  On the north wall is the inscription of Lincoln's second inaugural address.  If you look carefully at the line saying, "with high hope for the future", you will see that the "F" in future was carved as an "E".  They covered the mistake by not painting the lowest line on the E. 

These speeches are surrounded by slightly risen pictures of eagles and wreaths.

As you leave the memorial, you will look out to see the beautiful Reflection Pool, the Washington Monument, and the WWII Memorial.  Be sure to check out these great pieces of our history too!




http://www.aviewoncities.com/washington/lincolnmemorial.htm
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/sites/memorial.htm
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/monuments/lincolnmemorial/

The Life of Herman Melville

   Herman Melville is another example of a man who pursued his dream to write despite the fact that he wasn't known publicly until after his death.
   Melville was born to Maria Gansevoort and Allen Melville on August 1, of 1819, in New York City.  He was one of eight children.  Melville would remain with his parents until the age of sixteen when he decided to go to Albany Classical School.  He stayed there for only a year.
   Deciding the classical school was not for him, Herman Melville moved to Pittsburgh, to work on his uncle's farm.  He soon had enough of farm life and became a cabin boy on a ship bound for England.
   Melville enjoyed working on a ship and found a job on a whaling ship in 1814 at the age of twenty-two.  He kept this job until he fell in love with Elizabeth Shaw.
   Herman Melville and Elizabeth Shaw married and settled down in 1847.  They had four children: Malcolm, Stanwix, Elizabeth, and Francis.
   In 1850, the couple decided to move to Pittsfield, Mass., where they met Nathaniel Hawthorne.  Melville and Hawthorne became close friends.
   Melville's writing career began in 1847.  His first works were of his life at sea.  These included: "Typee and Omoo", "Mardi and a Voyage Thither", and "Redburn: His First Voyage".  He also wrote pieces for Putman's Monthly and other journals.  He wrote poetry like "Battle Pieces", Timoleon", and "John Marr and Other Poems".  His most famous piece is the book "Moby Dick" which he dedicated to his friend, Nathaniel Hawthorne.
    Melville's life came to an end on September 28,1891.  He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, NY.  His works became recognized after his death.

So It's Your First Swim Meet

  When you pack for a swim meet there are several items you will definitely need. Some of those are a competition suit, two pairs of goggles or money just in case the first pair breaks, a team cap, and at least two towels.  You will need shorts or a pair of sweat pants and a sweatshirt to keep you warm. Wearing shorts or sweat pants between swims will keep things from catching your suit and damaging it.  It would also be smart to take water, gatorade, crackers, ect. and/or money for concessions.  You might need to bring some tylenol too.
   If the meet is outdoors, you will need to bring sunscreen, extra water, and sunglasses. Some outdoor meets and even some indoor meets have very little seating room; because of this it would be good to bring beach chairs or a blanket to sit on. 
  If you like to be pumped up before a race, you can bring an ipod or mp3 player.
  The only other thing you'll need after you pack all of this is a marker, a pen and a highlighter.  These help you keep up with the swims.  And of course bring a good attitude and be sure you are ready to swim for your best times!!