Hammers and Helicopters: Getting Ready for Inauguration

In Washington, we know how to do big events. Between marches and international meetings, we have lots of practice. But nothing beats an inauguration. While we’re months away from inauguration day, there’s lots to do to prepare. Above carpenters from the Architect of the Capitol’s office construct the platform where the swearing-in will take place on January 20.

Closer to home, this helicopter (photo: USAF) has been rattling our walls as it flies 150 feet above us at 80 mph. It’s from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration and it’s taking baseline measurements of naturally occurring radiation. As the inauguration gets closer, the measurements will be retaken. Any increase in radiation levels could be a sign of a terrorist weapon. It’s all just part of living in Washington.

 

David Shaw

When not showing visitors the District (that’s what residents call Washington) I enjoy reading, grilling, and traveling. I’ve been to nineteen countries and every state except Idaho and Nebraska. I am a Certified Master Guide of the Guild of Professional...

David Shaw Full Bio
Duration
2 hours
Group Size
2 to 6

Above It All - Washington National Cathedral

Washington National Cathedral is a Gothic masterpiece. Perched on a hill overlooking the city it is the second largest cathedral in the country and the 6th largest in the world. It is a living work of art filled with stained-glass, hand-carved wood, and wrought iron. While a modern structure (finished in 1990) it is constructed in the old-world way and has no structural steel.

Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
1 to 6

Hidden on Capitol Hill

Few people think beyond the Capitol when they think of the Hill. This tour takes you to the heart of a neighborhood with a fascinating history that still speaks to us today. Learn about these famous locations from a former Capitol Hill resident.

Duration
2 hours 30 minutes
Group Size
1 to 6

Embassy Row: Divinity & Diplomats

Most Embassy Row tours don’t venture far beyond Dupont Circle. But ours does. We see it all from top to bottom. This stretch of Massachusetts Avenue used to be called Millionaires Row where Gilded Age robber-barons built grand mansions. Today those mansions house most of Washington’s embassies, along with private clubs and statues of world heroes such as Mandela, Gandhi, and Churchill – and we will be right in the heart of it.