Washington, D.C.; National Gallery of Art; The Kreeger Museum - Dec 18-21, 2025

Sunday, December 21, 2025 - This Fall Wendy became aware of a Memorial Service to be held at The National Cathedral (Bethlehem Chapel) on Saturday December 20, for Stuart (Tim) Symington, Jr. He had been a friend of Wendy's Dad out in St. Louis, and she knows his kids, and she wanted to go. So we did an easy Road Trip, spending Thursday and Saturday nights at the Days Inn in Wilkes Barre, PA:

On The Road in Eastern Pennsylvania:

Friday morning we headed down into D.C. - parking at noon a couple of blocks from the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where we had lunch in their courtyard:

They were doing major renovations, so I only saw a couple of Edward Hoppers. We went down a couple of blocks to the National Gallery of Art:

It is always a pleasure visiting the National Gallery of Art! In addition to new/better photos of 16 paintings by Claude Monet and 6 oils by J.M.W. Turner, there were new paintings by Winslow Homer, William Trost Richards, and John Martin:

Winslow Homer - "Hudson River, Logging", 1891-92 watercolor:

William Trost Richards - "South West Point, Conanicut", 1878/1879 watercolor:

John Martin - "Joshua Commanding the Sun to Stand Still upon Gibeon", 1816 oil:

Then it was time to pick up the car and make our way over to the National Cathedral:

We were able to stay at the Virginia Mae Center on the grounds! While Wendy toured the grounds of The Cathedral, I stretched my legs and went for a 2-mile-hike to The Kreeger Museum:

The Main Draw for The Kreeger are the NINE MONET PAINTINGS! They are all wonderful, but my 3 favorite are:
"Dawn on the River Oise", 1894 oil:

"The Cliffs at Petites - Dalles", 1884 oil:

"The Needle of Etretat", 1886 oil:

They have some great space:

And a wonderful Henry Moore (Three Piece Reclining Figure No. 2: Bridge Prop, 1963, bronze) in their Sculpture Garden:

At 5 PM I made my way back through the woods, and was back at the room by 6:

Evening light:

We went to a very nice open-house in that part of Washington, for family and friends.

The next morning I went out to the coffeehouse-on-the-grounds for misc. breakfast stuff. I love the morning light:

It was a 10 AM Service in the Bethlehem Chapel:

After a very nice reception, we left. Leaving town - just wondering - How "Secret" is it if you have it labeled on your car?

Dinner at Olive Garden in Wilkes-Barre, off to bed, and home the next day. WOW - Thank You God for this wonderful weekend!

Past entries of this blog are available on the website https://dixonheadingwest.blogspot.com/

Shameless Plug: if you enjoy this blog, you may like my other one about Hiking the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire/Vermont/Maine/New York:
hyperlink: dixonheadingnorth
http://dixonheadingnorth.blogspot.com/