Its hot in DC!

We started our morning with plans to visit the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art, the Portrait Gallery (which are combined into the same building) and then the National Archives.  We parked over by the Museum only to find out it wasn't open for a few more hours.  So we walked a few blocks down to the National Archives which normally would not be a big deal, except that it was already 90 degrees in the morning so it was a hot walk.

The main attraction in the National Archives are the original Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  They were on display together in a very dark room, controlled by lots of guards.  They tried to keep the people visiting this very large dark room in smallish groups so that we could view the documents without too much crowding.  It was amazing to see the original paperwork, though the Declaration was hard to read as the ink had seriously faded.  Definitely no picture taking allowed, and no touching of the glass as well!

The American Art museum had lots of photographs, art and portraits.  I think the presidential portraits section was closed.  I don't think the boys were that impressed especially since they have experience with the Louve.

Despite the super hot weather, we went to Arlington National Cemetery. We were probably thinking it would be shaded... Nope. It was a long hot walk to the tomb of the unknown soldier. We watched the changing of the guard, and we're in awe of the guards and their discipline in the full 98 degree heat.