Gardening

For those who have eagerly been awaiting spring, it looks like you can start to shake off winter. Saturday and Sunday look to be sunny and in the 50′s. If you have liriope or ornamental grasses, conditions look good to cut them back before the growing season begins.

Presidential Transportation — Then

Before the advent of the automobile, there were two notable differences between presidential transportation of the past and now.

The first is fairly obvious — carriages were used. Included here are images of carriages used by Lincoln, Grant, and Harrison.

The other major, yet subtle, difference is that of ownership. During the horse drawn era, presidential conveyance was the responsibility of the president in office. This means that the president was responsible for purchasing and maintaining his own carriage. This included the harnesses and tackle required to hitch the horse to the carriage.

This all changed with the election of William Howard Taft. A notable automobile enthusiast, Taft eschewed the preference of all preveous presidents up to and including Theodore Roosevelt for carriages. As president-elect, Taft successfully lobbied Congress for funds to purchase two automobiles to transport the president. This began the practice of 1) presidents traveling primarily by automobile, and 2) presidential transportation being supported as a government expense.

Even so, Taft did ride to his first inauguration with Roosevelt via carriage. 

Public Sculpture

This memorial monument to French artist and photography inventor Jacques Louis Mande Daguerre (1787-1851) was sculpted by J. Scott Hartley (1845-1910). It was erected by the Professional Photographers of America, August 15, 1890 on grounds outside the Smithsonian’s (then known as the National Museum) Arts and Industry’s Building. It is currently located near the northwest corner of F and 7th Streets.

Architectural Wasteland – Can it be Avoided?

As everyone has probably read by now on every newspaper or blog, the fourth proposed design for the Apple store on Wisconsin Avenue was rejected yesterday (Post story here). While the Old Georgetown Board told Apple’s architect that it is eager for the store to open on Wisconsin Avenue, it is sad to me that time and again architectural review boards or the U. S. Fine Arts Commission reject designs because they don’t appear to fit in with their surroundings.

I, for one, am sick and tired of such defenders of style and taste insisting that we live in a 19th century theme park. This is a living, breathing city. People live here, work here, and transact commerce here. People change. Styles change. Technology changes. One of the things that makes a city enjoyable and unique is the juxtaposition of different materials, forms, shapes, and designs. Yes, sometimes questionable designs are executed, but I’d be willing to bet controversy surrounds every superior design. There was heated debate on both the Lincoln and Vietnam memorials when they were constructed. Both are superb.

I’ve always believed in architectural honesty. There should be a balance in the city. Preserve what merits preservation. Permit innovation where innovation is possible. Do not let the style of new construction be dictated by its surrounds – but also insist that new construction be harmonious with its surroundings (notice I didn’t say homogeneous). By respecting scale, form, and color, two completely different buildings can play nice with each other.

36th St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Antiques Show

The 36th annual St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School Antiques show opens tomorrow and runs through Sunday. If you happen to be in Alexandria this weekend and are are looking for something to do, this might be it. For directions or more details, click here.

Wildlife at the White House

Like the rest of us in the City, the White House is not immune to occasional incursions from nature. With permission from the Secret Service, the National Park Service has been in hot pursuit of a pack of raccoons spotted roaming the manicured grounds near the White House. This reminds me of my January 12th question regarding Wildlife in the City.

Full Post article here>>

America’s Got Talent WDC Casting Call

America’s Got Talent will be in Washington conducting auditions for season 4 of the show. Auditions will be held February 13th and 14th at the Gaylord National Resort and Conference Center, North Convention Center Entrance, 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745. For more information, or to fill out an online audition application, go to here.

Then and Now

Then: Interior of the Patent Office, photographed on July 16, 1925.

Now: The Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center for American Art

This Date in History

February 6, 1998: Washington National Airport is renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.