MILLERSVILLE, MD Day 2.  Drove to the New Carrollton Metro station, which is about 15 miles from our campground.  Once again the roads were so convoluted and traffic so heavy that it was an adventure just getting to the station.  As the day progressed, the Metro became more crowded, especially since for some reason they were short of orange line cars.  Thus we waited a long time to get back to the New Carollton station, which is on the orange line.  Four or five blue line trains would come and go nearly empty, then a rare crowded orange line train would arrive.

It was a clear sunny day which became progressively warmer.  We visited the original Smithsonian building, then the Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art, followed by a trip to Arlington National Cemetery.  We had little time to do these justice.  The art museum especially could consume a week of wandering through all the viewing rooms, each of which is the size of a small house.  A couple times Betty and I lost track of one another.  Tall magnificent rooms and hallways.  The architecture of the buildings themselves was a work of art.

Museum of Natural History (left) & Old Smithsonian Bldg (right)

Beautiful Day at Old Smithsonian Bldg ("The Castle")

Huge TV Screen Covers the Wall

Lobby of Museum of Natural History

Out Front of National Art Gallery

Betty in Front of National Art Gallery

Lobby of National Art Gallery

Very Interesting Illuminated Automated Walkway

Watch the video of the wonderful ride through the walkway above:  Walkway Lightshow

Robert E Lee's Home in Arlington

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Guard at Tomb of Unknown Soldier

Once again this seems to be the time of year for schools to have field trips, as many schools were trooping kids through Arlington National Cemetery.  They tell you to be quiet and reverent since this is hallowed ground, but with busloads of kids on the loose, not quite so quiet.

The Museum of Natural History had many families with small children roaming throughout even though school is back in session and this is a week day.  Betty and I wondered if these were all home schooled kids.  Over the years this museum has become progressively more devoted to preaching the theory of evolution.  Whole areas are devoted to it.  What amazes me is that they belabor in detail the points of how uniquely "adapted" several animals are in their design to survive well in their habitats yet presume that that all came about by accident.  A sort of accidental detailed design.