Tenement Flats

Some of my ancestors probably lived in just such an environment when the first arrived in America. This painting was part of the Public Works of Art Project, California from 1933 to 1934. It was painted by Millard Sheets who was born in Pomona, California in 1907 and died in Gualala, California in 1989. Here is a summary of the painting's subject from the Smithsonian's American Art Museum website.

These ramshackle tenements were home to poor families in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of downtown Los Angeles during the Great Depression. The artist failed to show that just to the left of this view a cable car line called Angels Flight offered a ride up the steep hill. In the painting a lone figure trudges up steps toward once elegant Victorian mansions that had degenerated into boardinghouses. Millard Sheets, an up-and-coming young California artist, enjoyed drawing and painting the people and houses of this colorful neighborhood. Here he shows women who have finished washing and hanging out their laundry in the days before electric appliances lightened these chores. Now the women stop to gossip while leaning on stair rails, or sit in the shade to avoid the hot afternoon sun.

Sheets, like many artist members of regional committees, proudly gave his painting as a gift to his country. The shabbily dressed women in Tenement Flats would be startled to discover that this painting would hang in the elegant surroundings of the White House. PWAP paintings like this one were displayed in reception areas to show President Roosevelt’s commitment to art and to ordinary Americans across the country.

The Narrows

Having hiked in many slot canyons of the west, I am familiar with the concept of walls on both sides, but there are only a very few of these western slot canyons that have roads and cars. This is Annapolis, Maryland with a glimpse of the State House in the background.

The Hubble Space Telescope

One of the familiar displays at the National Air and Space Museum is this full-scale mockup of the Hubble Space Telescope. Here is the description of the display from the Smithsonian website.

Prior to undertaking construction of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) the Lockheed Missile and Space Company built a full-scale mockup in 1975 for conducting various feasibility studies. Initially a low-fidelity metal cylinder for testing handling procedures for the proposed spacecraft, the test vehicle evolved continuously as Lockheed proceeded through its feasibility studies and was awarded the contract to build the actual spacecraft. The test vehicle eventually served as a frame on which the cables and wiring harnesses for the actual spacecraft were fabricated. It was also used for simulations in developing maintenance and repair activities in orbit. Dynamic studies on the test vehicle including vibration studies and thermal studies led to its being designated the Hubble Space Telescope Structural Dynamic Test Vehicle (SDTV). 

The artifact was stored outdoors at Lockheed in Sunnyvale Ca., until it was donated to NASM in June 1987 and shipped to the Garber facility. There it was refurbished and restored to its 1976 configuration. It went on display in the Space Hall in March 1989. In 1996 the SDTV was removed from exhibit in order to upgrade the object to simulate the actual HST as it was being deployed from the Shuttle. This major upgrade, generously supported and executed by Lockheed, HST subcontractors, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and NASM staff and volunteers, involved fabricating the equipment section for the Optical Telescope Assembly, the aperture door, high gain antennae, solar arrays, aft shroud handrails, and numerous other details. A major addition was realistic multi-layer (non-flight) thermal blanketing and taping, interface hardware, wave guides, and the umbilical. NASA also provided a large equipment cradle to allow the upgraded object to be displayed from the floor at a dramatic angle. The completed artifact was reinstalled in Space Hall in early 1997.

The Knockdown by Mahonri Young

Artists, paintings, sculpture, and practically everything else from the western part of the United States is almost entirely missing from the National Gallery and the other exhibits which are part of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. Here is one of the few exceptions. This small sculpture is by Mohonri Young. Here is what the Smithsonian has to say about the artist.

Mahonri Young loved sports when he was a boy and often attended boxing matches with his younger brother, Wally. On a trip to Paris in 1926, he began his popular Prizefighter series, which includes The Knockdown. Images of sporting events and athletes were very popular in the American art market during the 1920s and 1930s, and Young's pieces, which emphasize the excitement and danger of boxing, brought him widespread recognition. Here, he captured the moment when the loser falls to the mat, emphasizing his defeat by making his body appear to melt into the base of the sculpture. The winner, in contrast, seems to spring upward as he follows through with a devastating left hook.

What did they leave out? Here is a quote from the Wikipedia article about Mohonri Young.

Mahonri Macintosh Young (August 9, 1877 – November 2, 1957) was an American sculptor and artist. Although he lived most of his life in New York City, two of his works, the This Is The Place Monument and the Seagull Monument are featured prominently in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mahonri was the grandson of the second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and first Governor of Utah, Brigham Young.

Hmm. Perhaps they don't know Utah is part of the United States?

Triceratops

While walking around the Mall in Washington, D.C. you are likely to see quite a few things. Some of them are unexpected. Here is a description of how this bronze cast head of a triceratops was created from a Smithsonian article entitled, "From a computer-generated model, sculptors cast a bronze triceratops that Looks like the real thing."

Equipped with the latest technology, experts set out two years ago to create a more perfect triceratops. The 1905 body was too large for its head, so scientists used a computer to produce a new skull 15 percent larger than the original. Using three-dimensional laser-scanning techniques unknown even five years ago, conservators also created an anatomically correct skeleton made of resin, plaster and fiberglass. The left shoulder blade, for instance, which had originally been sculpted by guesswork, was replaced with a mirror image of the right blade. The finished dinosaur, some 20 feet long and 8 feet tall, is what you see in the newly renovated Dinosaur Hall at Natural History. (A computer image can be viewed on-line here.) Triceratops’ original skull and a few other carefully preserved bones are also on display alongside the replica. Diceratops, the skeleton of a baby styracosaurus, centrosaurus and various dinosaur relatives are there too. 

But getting back to that big bronze head outside the museum, which was cast from the same computer-generated model as the skeleton inside: to make it, the Smithsonian chose sculptors at Millersville University, near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and sent them a rubber mold of the new skull, sectioned into eight pieces for transport. The sculptors reassembled the pieces, which averaged eight by six feet, and poured several layers of molten wax into the mold. Making a hollow wax head is complicated. Because the wax version of triceratops was produced from a laser-generated model, it lacked the exact markings of the original fossil. Artists spent more than a thousand hours sculpting in the details. “We used photographs and visited the museum to see the fossil firsthand,” says George Mummert, one of the three sculptors in residence at Millersville.

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/heads-up-51625718/#swasSXhcs08STTCo.99

Early Morning in Canyonlands

The longer I stay in the eastern part of the United States, the more I like the open spaces of the West. We have been visiting the Smithsonian Museums off and on since we have been here in Annapolis, Maryland and I am disappointed. The collections almost entirely ignore anything in the United States outside of the Eastern Seaboard. I have seen so few references to Arizona and Utah that I would be surprised that they know these two huge states exist. Also, the only photography I see is dark and depressing. They don't seem to know that there is light in the world.

I AM A MAN and Gödel, Escher, Bach; An Eternal Golden Braid

This painting in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is by artist Glenn Ligon and was painted in 1988. It is labeled as "Untitled (I Am a Man)." This painting obviously reminded me of the following book:

Hofstadter, Douglas R. 1989. Gödel, Escher, Bach; An Eternal Golden Braid. Vintage.

Hofstadter's book is one of the most influential works on reality, math, symmetry, and intelligence. Here is a short explanation of the book from Wikipedia: Gödel, Escher, Bach.

By exploring common themes in the lives and works of logician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher, and composer Johann Sebastian Bach, the book expounds concepts fundamental to mathematics, symmetry, and intelligence. Through illustration and analysis, the book discusses how self-reference and formal rules allow systems to acquire meaning despite being made of "meaningless" elements. It also discusses what it means to communicate, how knowledge can be represented and stored, the methods and limitations of symbolic representation, and even the fundamental notion of "meaning" itself.

One dominant theme in the book is the philosophical and mathematical issue of self-referential statements. This painting is self-referential on more than one level. In my family, reading Gödel, Escher, Bach; An Eternal Golden Braid was highly recommended. 

Window on Washington DC

I am fascinated with the way windows frame and delineate the outside world. Here, the window includes a glimpse into the interior as well as the world beyond. The reflections in the glass change our view of reality. We think we are seeing out a window, when, we are really looking back at ourselves and the window becomes a mirror to more than what our eyes can see.

Half Dome: The Tough Eastern Rock Climbing Challenge

I couldn't resist putting up this photo even though I had a similar one recently.

Washington, DC Skyline

If you are familiar with cities around the world, you will be surprised to see the Washington, DC. skyline. Here is a quote from Wikipedia about how high the buildings can be in our Capitol City.

The height of buildings in Washington is limited by the Height of Buildings Act. The original Act was passed by Congress in 1899 in response to the 1894 construction of the Cairo Hotel, which is much taller than the majority of buildings in the city. The original act restricted the heights of any type of building in the city to be no higher than 110 feet (34 m), 90 feet (27 m) for residential buildings. In 1910, the 61st United States Congress enacted a new law which raised the overall building height limit to 130 feet (40 m), but restricted building heights to the width of the adjacent street or avenue plus 20 feet (6.1 m); thus, a building facing a 90-foot (27 m)-wide street could be only 110 feet (34 m) tall. However, building heights are measured from the sidewalk or curb to the edge of the roof. Architectural embellishments, mechanical rooms, and common rooftop structures may be exempted from the overall height limit, provided they are set back from the roof line.

The only tall buildings near the city are across the Potomac River in Virginia.

Don't Look Down

This stairway in the National Gallery of Art, East building, had us clinging to the handrail. I made sure I had a very good grip on my iPhone when I took this photo.

Overlooking Washington, DC

You can find some really strange things, such as this giant purple rooster, in Washington, D.C. The Rooster is on the roof garden or plaza of the East Building of the National Gallery of Art. We enjoyed the view and I took some interesting photos of the building and the art.

National Archives, Washington, D.C.

When you are looking at the monumental structures in our Nation's capital, you often see incongruities. In this photo, there is a contrast between the huge statue and the pushcart parked alongside the artwork. We have monumental images of wealth and power along with beggars in the streets.

Part of the U.S. Capitol

Downtown Washington, D.C. is full of contrasting images. There are places you can go that are far removed from the crowds in the streets. You cannot avoid the trees, however. They are everywhere even on the tops of buildings. This photo was taken from the observation deck of the East Building of the National Gallery.

Duck in the Fountain

Walking around in Washington, D.C. is an experience. You might have to look closely, but there is a duck in this beautiful fountain. The area surrounding D.C. varies from industrial to thick forest. Now that the leaves have returned to the trees, most of the landscape has disappeared into the trees and the vines that cover the trees. Downtown is impressive rather than cold and windy.

Too tired to move

We noticed this tired looking squirrel on a concrete wall in downtown Washington, D.C. We were only about four or five feet away, but he seemed zoned out. He did raise up and look at us but then went back to laying on the concrete. It was a nice warm day, but he was in the shade.

The Washington DC Temple

The Washington, D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most strikingly beautiful buildings in the entire area. The building is currently closed during extensive renovation and will reopen in about two years. You can learn about the purpose of the Temples from the LDS.org website. See https://www.lds.org/temples?lang=eng. See also http://www.mormontemples.org/

Reflections on the Temple

The Washington, D.C. Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently closed for renovation. I took this multiple image of the Temple in the Visitors Center that is still open during the two years' the construction. The model shows the current interior of the Temple. I assume, if there are substantial changes, that they will have to redo the model also. In the background, you can see the actual building even though it looks like a reflection. See also: http://www.mormontemples.org/

US Naval Academy Crew

I am fascinated with the speed and form of the crew boats and the precision of their rowing. The crew boats have evolved into high tech devices but the effort and coordination required to move so quickly through the water are remarkable. The first university rowing club in America was started at Yale University in 1843. They could have been world champions with a boat like this one.

Severn River Bridge, Annapolis, Maryland

There are three bridges associated with this part of Maryland. One, the Bay Bridge, is famous and carries a huge amount of traffic. This is a smaller bridge visible from most of the bank of the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. This photo was taken from a sports field on the U.S. Naval Academy.

Blue Angels Flying

We saw a demonstration by the Navy's Blue Angels precision flight team over the Severn River and above the Naval Academy. There was quite a crowd. We volunteer in the Maryland State Archives and it is located adjacent to the Academy so we could walk onto the Academy grounds and watch the air show with a huge crowd of people.

Rocks and Water

It is time to jump around a little bit in time and visit some of the other places in WalkingArizona. The East is too settled and predictable. In my mind, I still live in the mountains and deserts of the West. So I am going to take some time and upload photos from my past travels. This one comes from the Sierra Nevada in California. I was there back in 2011.

Sailboats in the Fog

We have had about five days of rain here in Maryland. We did get out a little to walk earlier in the week, but by the weekend we mostly stayed inside. We did take a walk along the Severn Riverfront on the Naval Academy and here is one of the photos that walk produced.

Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland

Parking on Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland is at a premium. You can park at a meter but you have to fight the traffic. There is parking on both sides of the street and only one narrow lane of traffic. Think about how you are going to parallel park with a line of cars waiting behind you.

Its in the name

What can I say?

Lengyel Alley, Downtown Annapolis, Maryland

Downtown Annapolis, Maryland is an interesting place to walk. There are all sorts of passageways and walkways and alleys to explore. If you know about these places you can use them as shortcuts to move from one street to another without going around the entire block. Some of them are not obvious. This one has its own name, Lengyel Alley.

Dutch Oven Cooking

For most of my life, when we have gone camping, we have used Dutch Ovens to cook all or part of a meal. When my wife and I are camping on our own, we usually don't get that formal, but in larger gatherings, we usually have a couple of Dutch Ovens going at once. There is nothing in this world quite like a peach cobbler cooked with a Dutch Oven. The round metal object with the wooden handle is a fire starter. You fill the tube with charcoal briquets over a piece of newspaper and when you light the paper on fire it uses convection to ignite all the briquets. It beats using smelly fire starter liquid.

Government House Mirror, Annapolis, Maryland

I am not usually impressed by interior decoration. It is usually either junky or totally impractical. The Government House in Annapolis, Maryland is an exquisite exception. It is one of the most beautifully decorated interiors I have seen. This is a shot of the grand staircase as seen in the huge mirror on the opposite wall. Nothing is overdone. The colors are entirely and beautifully coordinated.

Severn River Bridge

We went exploring around our larger neighborhood and discovered this park at the end of the Severn River Bridge. It is called the Jonas Green Park. There are signs all along the river warning that there is no swimming because of strong currents. There was a constant stream of boats going up and down the river.

Heavy Rain

Rain is still a novelty to us. We lived in the desert for so many years, we are still amazed when water falls out of the sky instead of coming from an irrigation ditch or a sprinkler. We have had many days of rain and some lightning and thunder. We even had a short power outage. This is the view out our window in Annapolis, Maryland. It is not nearly as lovely as the one I have out my window in Provo, Utah.

Through the Trees

When Spring comes to Maryland, we realize that we are living in a jungle. The bare trees become a solid wall of green. We recognize enough of the plants, such as blackberries, to realize that trying to walk through that wall of green would be foolhardy. Fortunately, there are some nice paved paths to see everything up close. This is Spa Creek. Within a few hundred yards, the trickle of water they call a "creek" becomes a huge lake which is really an estuary.

Waterford Chandelier

This is one of the Waterford Chandeliers in the Government House in Annapolis, Maryland. It is a Waterford crystal chandelier and if you were to go out and purchase one, a similar fixture could cost more than $40,000. I was really impressed by the chandeliers.

Drape Tassels, Government House, Annapolis, Maryland

Drape Tassels, Government House, Annapolis, Maryland

The Government House in Annapolis, Maryland is one of the best-decorated houses we have ever visited. These decorative drape tassels are an example of the details of the very color coordinated house. We certainly enjoyed our visit of the house's 150th anniversary. 

Government House Celebration Cake, Annapolis, Maryland

Government House Celebration Cake, Annapolis, Maryland

They didn't actually cut this cake but they did have a really good, butter frosting cake to serve to all the people who came to an open house at the Government House in Annapolis, Maryland. Thanks to Governor Larry Hogan.

Government House, Annapolis, Maryland

Government House, Annapolis, Maryland

Government House, Annapolis, Maryland is a most impressive residence for the Governor of Maryland. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the house, the Governor held an open house for the community with very good refreshments that included sandwiches and cake. It was one of the most impressive buildings and tours we have yet seen in the entire Washington, D.C. area and for us probably a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Church Circle, Annapolis, Maryland

The center of the older section of Annapolis, Maryland is the Church Circle. When we first arrived in Annapolis, it was Winter and all the trees were bare. Now it is late Spring and the trees have all gotten their leaves. Consequently, the buildings and the countryside have disappeared into a sea of green leaves. Oh well, we will be here in the Fall and see the country and the buildings again I suppose.

Maryland State Seal

Originally, the seal of Maryland was an actual seal used to verify documents and records.

Here is a description of the history of the Maryland State Seal or the Great Seal of Maryland from the Maryland State Archives website.

The Great Seal of Maryland is used by the Governor and the Secretary of State to authenticate Acts of the General Assembly and for other official purposes. The Secretary of State is the designated custodian of the Great Seal, and provides guidance on its use. 

Only the reverse of the Great Seal is used officially. In 1959, however, the obverse was described in statute and has been considered part of the Seal (Chapter 396, Acts of 1959). Often, it adorns public buildings.

The first Great Seal was brought over during the early days of the Maryland colony, but was stolen by Richard Ingle during his rebellion of 1645. Cecilius Calvert, 2nd Lord Baltimore, sent a similar seal from England in 1648 for the use of the Maryland Chancellor. Except for the period of crown rule (1692-1715), that Great Seal remained in use until the end of the 18th century, the Maryland Council having authorized continued use of the provincial seal on March 31, 1777 (Constitution of 1776, sec. 36). 

A new seal with republican imagery was adopted by the Governor and Council on February 5, 1794. Designed by Charles Willson Peale, the Maryland Seal of 1794 remained in use until 1817. In that year, the General Assembly adopted a single-sided Great Seal bearing an eagle holding a shield. Another seal authorized in 1854 depicted an eagle and a version of the Calvert arms (Chapter 81, Acts of 1854). 

Maryland readopted the reverse of the original Calvert seal in 1874 (Joint Resolution no. 9, Acts of 1874; Joint Resolution no. 5, Acts of 1876). This new seal corrected the imagery of the Calvert arms in the seal of 1854. It is the seal in use today. In 1959, the General Assembly adopted the seal by statute and codified its description (Chapter 396, Acts of 1959). Revisions to the law were enacted in 1969 (Chapter 79, Acts of 1969; Code General Provisions Article, secs. 7-101 through 7-104).

The seal depicts a farmer and a fisherman. This will probably not be the only photo showing the Great Seal.

Chrysler/Plymouth Prowler

One thing that is interesting about living in a new area for a while is the difference in cars. You would rarely see one of these Chrysler/Plymouth Prowlers in Utah. But I see a lot of very expensive and or rare cars here in Annapolis. I saw this one parked in front of the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Plymouth Prowler, later the Chrysler Prowler, is a retro-styled production car manufactured and marketed from 1997 to 2002 by DaimlerChrysler, based on the 1993 concept car of the same name. 

The Prowler was offered in a single generation in a front-engine, rear-drive, rear-transmission configuration — with an overall production of 11,702. See Wikipedia: Plymouth Prowler.

I also see quite a number of Range Rovers and few old sports cars driving the streets. There are far fewer pickup trucks but SUVs seem to be the most common type of vehicle. This probably reflects the reason why Ford Motor Company recently announced that they were discontinuing the manufacture of all their sedan automobiles. See AutoWeek.com "Ford to stop selling sedans in North America in face of unstoppable crossover onslaught."

Victorian Fountain at the Government House, Annapolis, Maryland

We attended an open house at the Government House in Annapolis, Maryland. This is where the Governor of Maryland, presently Larry Hogan, lives. This was a wonderful opportunity and so far, the most impressive building and grounds we have seen in Annapolis. Here is a description of the Fountain from The Maryland State Archives website.

This beautiful Victorian-style fountain was created and installed in the garden at Government House in 1990. The fountain was designed by Graham Landscape Architects in Annapolis and sculptor Lyle Beddes of Historical Arts and Casting helped to create it. The design includes many images that represent Maryland and its bounty, including corn, crabs, tobacco, terrapins and the Baltimore Oriole, the state bird. 

The fountain was the inspiration of former governor William Donald Schaefer and his official hostess Hilda Mae Snoops. It cost $169,000 and was paid for with private funds. In 1994, Governor Schaefer officially dedicated the fountain to Mrs. Snoops, who died in 1999. 

Government House, which stands across the street from the historic Maryland State House in Annapolis, was built in 1868 as a high Victorian mansion. In 1935, it was expanded and completely renovated into the style of a five-part Georgian house. The fountain stands near a bay window that still remains from the building's Victorian beginnings.

Maryland State House with Statue of Thurgood Marshall

The Maryland State House sits on one of the highest points in Annapolis. This is not very high but the building can be seen from most of the downtown area. The statue in the foreground is to Thurgood Marshall, Here is a summary of Marshall's career from the Wikipedia article with his name.

Thurgood Marshall (July 2, 1908 – January 24, 1993) was an American lawyer, serving as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from October 1967 until October 1991. Marshall was the Court's 96th justice and its first African-American justice. Prior to his judicial service, he successfully argued several cases before the Supreme Court. 

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Marshall graduated from the Howard University School of Law in 1933. He established a private legal practice in Baltimore before founding the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where he served as executive director. In that position, he argued several cases before the Supreme Court, including Smith v. Allwright, Shelley v. Kraemer, and Brown v. Board of Education, which held that racial segregation in public education is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. 

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy appointed Marshall to United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Four years later, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Marshall as the United States Solicitor General. In 1967, Johnson successfully nominated Marshall to succeed retiring Associate Justice Tom C. Clark. Marshall retired during the administration of President George H. W. Bush, and was succeeded by Clarence Thomas.

The cloud of steam in the photo is coming from a vent to the heating and cooling system in the area of the government buildings. 

Severn River, Maryland

Here is a quote from the Wikipedia article about the Severn River in Maryland.

The Severn has a watershed area (including the water surface) of 81 square miles (210 km2), or 69 square miles (180 km2) of land. Thus, its total watershed area is 15% water. Its source is the beginning of the non-tidal nine-mile long Severn Run in northwestern Anne Arundel County in Severn, Maryland. The river enters the Chesapeake Bay near the major port city of Annapolis, also the capital of Maryland. Most famous for the United States Naval Academy campus situated at the mouth of the river, the Severn provides an access point to the Chesapeake Bay not just for midshipmen but also for fishermen and pleasure boaters. Several tributary creeks drain highly developed areas, including Weems Creek and its nontidal portion Cowhide Branch, which drain most of the Annapolis Mall and the Anne Arundel Medical Center.

This river looks like a huge lake or part of the ocean. Technically at this point, it is an estuary because it has tidal fluctuations. We cross this river several times a week traveling to the Annapolis Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The large building on the shore that looks like a mansion is a care center.

Seedy Dandelions

I have probably written dozens of times that dandelions are one of my favorite flowers. I do not consider them to be weeds, just free flowers. There are few things that give so much and cost so little left in this world. We should all cherish dandelions.

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland

We drive over the Severn River Bridge several times a week and enjoy seeing this view of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Self Portrait Number Nine

Every so often, I like to do a self-portrait in the tradition of classical painters. I like the way my outline matches the sign. The sign was in the window of a restaurant in Annapolis, Maryland that was being renovated. We have noticed far fewer construction projects here in the Washington, D.C. area than in Salt Lake City, Utah and the surrounding area.

Sailboats in the Middle of Town

Annapolis, Maryland is on a peninsula and has water on three sides. The old downtown area is right on the water with a dock next to a busy roundabout and a premium for parking space. The U. S. Naval Academy is just out of sight behind those buildings. In fact, the large building you can see in the background in on the Naval Academy base. 

The Kunta Kinte - Alex Haley Memorial at the City Dock in Annapolis, Maryland

https://www.annapolis.gov/584/Kunta-Kinte-Alex-Haley-Memorial

Here is a quote about the Memorial from the Annapolis City Website:

The Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, located at the City Dock in historic Annapolis, portrays in word and symbol the triumph of the human spirit in very difficult times and conveys Alex Haley's vision for national racial reconciliation and healing. It stresses the importance of maintaining strong family connections and of preserving and honoring one's family history and cultural heritage. 

The Memorial is dedicated especially to all of our African ancestors whose names, unlike Kunta Kinte's, are lost forever in the oceans of time. It also is for all people - African, Asian and European - who arrived in the New World in bondage, whose unpaid labor forged the backbone of this nation's rise to greatness. It is dedicated also to their descendants, who strive to create a nation that celebrates ethnic diversity within the spirit of brotherhood, mutual respect, and understanding.

Annapolis is a nice walking city. 

Right in the Middle of Old Town Annapolis, Maryland

This is the historic center of the city of Annapolis, Maryland. There is a dock for boats right next to the streets and a row of restaurants. They obviously have a building code limiting the height of the buildings except for the churches. We enjoyed a walk around town on a warm sunny day.

Boats and Kayaks on Spa Creek, Annapolis, Maryland

We had our kayak phase. We owned four of them. We enjoyed paddling in lakes, rivers and on the ocean. We are past that stage of our life now busy working 40 hours a week as Senior Missionaries at the Maryland State Archives. Hence, all the photos from Washington, D.C., and Maryland. This was one of the first sunny and warm days of the year so far.

Colonial Style Home in Downtown Annapolis, Maryland

The old downtown section of Annapolis is a mosaic mixture of businesses and residential houses. Many of the houses date back into the 1800s, 1700s and even the 1600s. You can point your camera almost any direction and see a historic looking view.

Spa Creek Marina, Annapolis, Maryland

We live right on the Spa Creek in Annapolis, Maryland. It is a very small trickle of water unless it is flooding. This is the Spa Creek Estuary. Once the creek gets near the ocean, it becomes a huge flooded estuary.