I went on a very quick business trip to the D.C. area from January 10-12, 2001. Our work at NOAA's Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) in nearby Suitland, MD went very well, leaving some time for exploration of the area. My camera was back at the hotel when we walked around historic Annapolis, MD, but I had it on hand for some shots of Washington's "National Mall" area. Click here for a map of the area in PDF format.

I took a walk around the area Thursday night hoping to get some nice night shots. Here you can already see stands setup along the parade route for President George W Bush's inauguration, just nine days away by then. And is that a plane flying by the Washington Monument, or a UFO? You decide... Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

The Capitol building at night, as seen from the base of the Washington Monument. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

The Vietnam Women's Memorial sits along the path from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. Just on the other side of this path is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

The next stop was the Lincoln Memorial, on the west end of the Mall. The front steps area of the memorial was under construction, so you had to enter through the bottom floor and take an elevator up to the main area with the statue. You can also see more stands and fencing for the inauguration in some of these pictures. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

Some nice views of the Washington Monument and the Capitol building as seen from the Lincoln Memorial. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

And of course the statue of Lincoln itself. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

Normally this picture of the Washington Monument from across the reflection pool would show a nice reflection, but it was frozen over. I used the timer on my camera to prove that I was actually there... And just as I was about to take a much better framed shot after this one, the batteries died. Luckily, I had a spare set fully charged and ready to go . . . in the hotel room. So at this point, my walk was over for the evening. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

Friday I had some time to walk around some more before my 5:00 flight. Unfortunately, parking wasn't quite as easy as the night before... But the Washington Monument was still there. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

This flag was kind enough to pose for me in front of the Washington Monument. Unfortunately, the sign at the door was as far as I got in my quest to reach the top of it. I was left there, looking up to the great height I was denied this time. Who knows, it may be another 12 1/2 years before I get back here... Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

Finally, I get close enough to the Capitol building for some "less distant" shots. Of course, you can still see all the fencing and mess left by the inaugural preparations in full swing... Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

The building on the left is the East Building of the National Gallery of Art. The other is the Smithsonian Castle. I basically took a very quick whirlwind tour of the museums that afternoon before I had to get back to the airport. You can see a nice map of the eastern half of the National Mall here. Lo res | Hi res Lo res | Hi res

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