Our 1st Flat Stanley Report

Hello from Silver Spring, Maryland! I arrived at the home of Meredith's Aunt Jessica and Cousin Alasdair on Thursday, October 24th. And guess what? Alasdair had a field trip to Washington, D.C. on Friday and I got to go with him! We had a great time with his friends.

We went to the Smithsonian National History Museum. It was too dark for most pictures, but here is one of me with the Hope Diamond.

The Hope Diamond is very famous for its size and color and its mysterious history. (I bet Mrs. Gutteridge can find some information for you about the Hope Diamond.)

We also visited the National Mall. No, it's not a shopping center. It's the park that stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol Building. The Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool, and several war memorials are part of the National Mall. The museums of the Smithsonian Institute are on either side of the mall and include the Natural History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of American History.

Here is a picture of us on the National Mall:

Can you see the Capitol building in the background?

Here is a picture of us in front of the Washington Monument:

The monument is the center of Washington, D.C. and it's very famous. Right now, it's under repair. There was an earthquake on August 23, 2011, and the monument was damaged. When the repairs are finished, people will once again be able to go inside and go all the way to the top of this famous landmark.

Thank you, Aunt Jessica and Alasdair. I had a great time in Washington, D.C.