RunningBarb is back in the DC area now. I will be writing more about our amazing trip to national parks in the western United States soon. But I want to mention a trip I took this week to another park closer to home: the National Mall. I had been reading about a lot of changes in DC and wanted to see for myself what was happening.

I started at the Smithsonian Metro Station and walked past the Washington Monument. Here is what I found.

Fenced off area with dead grass, with the Washington Monument in the background.
View facing west.

I continued further to take a look at the National World War II Memorial. There, you are free to “Honor Our Veterans” by sitting with your feet in the water.

Sign saying "Honor Our Veterans - Sitting with your feet in the water is OK, Walking in the water is NOT OK."

A man and a woman sitting on marble steps, with feet in the water of a fountain.

Next stop, the basin formerly known as the “Reflecting Pool.”

Empty Reflecting Pool, a dark grey color, with black fabric covering fencing that surrounds it, and a few workers walking in it. The Washington Monument is in the background.
High black fencing and dense netting surrounds it.
Empty Reflecting Poll with tire tracks visible and the Washington Monument and Capitol in the background.
A group of people examine tire tracks at the bottom of the pool.

On my way towards the Lincoln Memorial I was surprised to see a new memorial being built. It carries the logo of “USAA,” which I learned is a banking and insurance company.

Black iron structure being built with sign in front that reads "The National Military Monument."

Saw members of the National Guard at work.

Three National Guardsmen and two tourists posing for a photo in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

I wanted to keep going with my learning experience, so I headed over to The Kennedy Center. On the way I was stopped by the appearance of yet another memorial being built, the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial.

Fenced off area with a sign reading "Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial Construction.'

Ironically, just across the street stood the United States Institute of Peace. According to Wikipedia, this institution is an “American independent, nonprofit, national institute established and funded by the United States Congress and tasked with promoting conflict resolution and prevention worldwide.” I noticed that the name of a president recently had been carved into the wall above the institution name.

Building with two American flags and the words "Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace."

Now on up to The Kennedy Center. This is what it has looked like since June:

Large marble building with the letters "The John . . . rming Arts" with the letters "F. Kennedy Center for the Perfo" covered by a giant tarp. An empty fountain pool is in the foreground.
Note the empty fountain pool in the foreground.

Next, The White House. Unfortunately, I could not get near it, because areas that used to be open to the public are now closed and inaccessible due to several blocks’ worth of iron fencing and opaque black fabric in every direction.

High iron fence stretching blocks long.
The large area around The White House is encircled by this fencing.

Iron fence with blue sign showing directions, including an arrow for the White House.
Iron fence with "Restricted Area, Do Not Enter" sign behind it.
People are forbidden to go into sites they used to enter freely.
Group of tourists standing in front of a locked iron gate. White House, a giant crane, and the Washington Monument are in the distance.

The White House with two large cranes next to it, and a barrier to stop cars with the word "STOP" on it.
Managed to snag this shot when a car was driving out of the grounds. As you probably know, the East Wing of The White House has been demolished, hence the cranes.

Well, that was the ending point for my little tour. However, I would like to point out another proposed project: The “United States Triumphal Arch.” At more than twice the height of the Lincoln Memorial, across from which it would be placed, the proposed arch is opposed by veterans groups, local planning authorities, and others. If you would like to share your opinion, please go to this link and type your views by the deadline, July 30. Anyone can comment.

Well, that was my day. A trip to DC used to mean visiting and appreciating iconic and historical structures and landmarks. My trip yesterday left me feeling a little sick.

Have you been downtown recently? How did you react?

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