Woke up to grey skies. I woke up in time to go downstairs to have breakfast (before 9 AM) if we wanted, woke Michael up, but then we both decided to sleep instead. We didn’t get up until a little after 9 AM. Once we got going we headed for a nearby McDonald’s for our usual travel breakfast (except I got a parfait instead of the egg white delite).
We got to the Jimmy Carter Library and it is beautiful. Lots of colorful flowers outside, a water feature that looks like a mini Washington mall pond, and lovely buildings.
Signed well.You don’t get there by easily walking directly in, you must wind and turn to find the path.Traffic circle with pretty flowers.One of two side entrance ways.Have to wind a bit.Looking back.Lovely pond.Finally reach the entrance.
We got the old person’s discount ($6.00 per person over 60) and went inside. The first thing we did was sit down and watch a fifteen minute film about the Carter’s. Such a nice guy. I knew I liked him and, after seeing the film and going through the Library, reinforced my feelings for him.
Your badge of admission.Entrance lobby.Very nice theater where you watch a brief bio on the president and his family history.
True to his word.
His father. On a personal note, my first wife was a nurse, educator, and former Peace Corp Volunteer. There is a serious lack of information about Lillian Carter, nurse and Peace Corp Volunteer, at this library. I looked forward to seeing more about her and found shockingly little.
Campaign architect.Lots of time and space spent on the forces that shaped young Carter.
He has such a great heart and soul.
Most of his friends were African American.Admiral Rickover was a major influence on Jimmy Carter during his Navy career. He was very hard on him and was only second to President Carter’s father as an influence..The importance of his religion was paramount in all his actions and decisions.Grand areas trying to project the weight of the job.Document archives.This feat covers a lot of the square footage of the library.
The hostage situation is fully put on display. No attempt to underplay or misrepresent.Usual library oval office.The Sailor’s Prayer: “Oh God, Thy sea is so Great, and my boat is so small.”Nice touches all.As it was.Harry Truman bust.Oval office fireplace replica.Remington bronze.Resolute, the desk, and the buck stops here sign was given to President Carter by Harry Truman’s daughter.BenShip called Rattlesnake.
Pretty neat.The hand up close.Back a little.Hand made of sails on ships was pretty impressive, to me. Top right detail.Edie was fascinated by the pictures within the picture that made the picture.
Michael and I enjoyed the Library, it was very nice, but it seemed a little low key in that it didn’t really have a lot of personal things or stories (other than the usual growing up ones). Would have liked to have seen the dishes at the White House, more on his wife and kids, and humorous things.
There was much work with China and the return of the Panama Canal.He actually spent a great deal upgrading the military.We loved this since we were in Suzhou in October 2016.The camera does not well capture the delicate details of this embroidery.
While looking at the exhibits, we got to talking to another couple. Come to find out they were from California – Terri and Mike. They gave us some great tips on where to eat and things to see that they’ve already seen. Teri said we would be in Washington, DC right when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. That would be wonderful to see as I’ve always heard about and seen pictures on it. Didn’t even think about that when we booked. BONUS! Anyway, we hope to hear from them and “break bread” with them somewhere along the road. They are RV’ing and doing Presidential Libraries and National Parks. Too fun.
Chance meeting, Teri and Mike, also Californians, also traveling. They are doing Presidential libraries and National Parks.A fair bit of post presidency displays.
His greatest accomplishment.Caribou Award.Nobel Peace Prize.Mrs Carter’s Dorothea Dix Award for her work in Mental Health.Gates Foundation Award.President Carter’s Grammy.President Carters two Medal of Freedom awards.In good company.
After the Library we headed for the Capitol. We saw some really interesting buildings and things along the way. Didn’t realize there were so many colorful murals around. We saw a beautiful mural on the side of one building that was of John Lewis.
We aren’t sure, we think this is John Lewis.
We found parking near the Capitol ($10.00 for the day) and walked across the street to the Capitol, went through security, and was really surprised at how busy it was inside.
Interesting times….also an ancient Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times!” God spare us of interesting times.Beautiful gold dome and we think the flags of the original 13 states.Our Capitol selfie.Felt like it was near capacity today.You go through security on the bottom floor and then climb up to the grandeur of the Capitol building.
We could not believe all the people. Under the dome part of the Capitol was a ceremony of a governor’s proclamation recognizing the Viet Nam War veterans, later someone was singing, people at tables with things, tables with food for workers or participants of the activities, etc. We asked one worker if it was always that busy and she smiled and said it was actually a little slow today, that it was usually much busier. Wow. Hectic and frenzied, and that was just from our perspective. Can’t imagine a really busy time. Now we know why the sign outside the entrance to the Capitol said the capacity was something like 4,800 people. I think it was real close to capacity.
We like the openness of the Capitol.Grumpy trying not to fall down the stairs.I find these to be attractive clean lines.Governer’s office.Working Capitol.Beautiful oak at all the doorways.Pretty nice brass work.Custom brass door knobs.Giant portraits on the upper floors.Dome.There are many busts on display.
An old rifle on display.Georgia is a stone capital in its own right.Many different varieties.It has a rock display that rivals the Field Museum in Chicago.There are at least 29 such display cases with different types of minerals that come from Georgia.
A meteorite worth some money on display.A very nice display.As you approach, you kind of wait for him to jump and yell, “Boo.”Walls are lined with portraits.Senate, not in session today. Photographs not allowed inside. Picture taken through glass on hallway door.Through the rotunda, wing to wing.First and second floors from the third floor.Nice explanation if you enlarge it.Miss Freedom. Lighted torch in right hand, sword in left hand and liberty cap on her head.Carter is modestly remembered at the Capitol.Secrets of the dome construction.Singing a cappella.Beautiful metal light fixtures.General James Edward Oglethorpe was the founder in 1835 of the Colony of Georgia.Oglethorpe.It is grand in size. It is a working Capitol building and is solid in its construction and functionality.Four term governor Talmadge.Four term governor: Eugene Talmadge.1950 US Treasury Bond Drive. It raised a whopping 650 million dollars.
We enjoyed the Capitol very much. We started on the fourth floor (museum) and worked our way down to the first. Didn’t realize they mined marble from Georgia. Also, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC is made from marble from Georgia.
We left and headed to a nearby Cheesecake Factory. Was so disappointed when we got there and was told it was now something else. We googled another one (I knew from research that the Atlanta area had three Cheesecake Factories) and headed that way. It was about another fifteen miles – at the Perimeter Mall. I was so tempted to get my usual Shepherd’s Pie, but opted for a really yummy all vegetable salad and french fries. Michael got his BBQ chicken salad. We got a piece of cookie dough cheesecake to go.
Our Cheesecake Factory selfie.Edie could eat here more than I allow her to.We both had salads and to make up for our healthfulness we split a plate of fries.
The drive home took a little longer because we were in rush hour traffic and the traffic is bad here. Would not want to live and work in this every day!
