Visiting Northern Virginia

Last week, we visited our daughter and son-in-law in Fairfax, Virginia, and then continued to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I’ve written several posts about some of the highlights of the trip, but I wanted to add some photos from both places. Today: our visit to Virginia.

Sunday, February 11, we traveled the Ohio and PA turnpikes and continued
south to Fairfax.

We arrived just in time for the classic Superbowl refreshments: chili and guacamole.

We were also in time for Mardi Gras and Paczki.

Two Towns in Virginia: Occoquan and Alexandria.

When I was a child, there were several carriage stones in my neighborhood, but we called them 
“wishing stones” and thought if you sat on them and made a wish it might come true.

Near Alexandria, we enjoyed birding, especially the owl.

The Torpedo Factory, an art space in Alexandria.

The National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC

I have written about the special chocolate festival at the museum
Evelyn, Tom, Len, and I also looked at a variety of other exhibits.

I enjoyed a case dedicated to children’s toys and dolls.

Symbolic gifts to the Europeans to cement a treaty.

“Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations” is a long-term exhibit at the museum (from 2014-2028). The exhibit documentation states:

“From a young age, most Americans learn about the Founding Fathers, but are told very little about equally important and influential Native diplomats and leaders of Indian Nations. Treaties lie at the heart of the relationship between Indian Nations and the United States.”

The first rooms were focused on several early examples of the very numerous treaties between Indian tribes and Europeans from early colonial times through the early 20th century. These pre-Revolutionary and early 19th century examples were often made in good faith, though later broken by the settlers and politicians eager to take over land and expand the European domination of the continent. As time went on, the treaties became more and more exploitative and cynical, and the national policy of  “removal,” which became law in 1830, replaced any good will towards the Native Americans. I was very interested in the artifacts, the facsimiles of treaties, and the historic information in this exhibit.

Visiting Evelyn and Tom

We took several walks around the neighborhood.
The weather was beautiful, with only a touch of snow.

Houseplants!

 A puppet from their collection.

Evelyn makes wonderful ceramic gnomes.

Tomorrow, I’ll continue with our visit to Arny and Tracy in Pennsylvania.

 

Blog post © 2024 mae sander

Occoquan, Virginia

This morning there was a tiny bit of snow: a shock for Virginia!
This afternoon was better, and we walked around the tiny town of Occoquan, on the Occoquan River.
We usually go a bit further south to the National Wildlife Refuge at on the bay.

In season, you can rent kayaks and go out on the river.
The highway bridge spans the river just above the town.

The main street is lined with shops selling art work, giftware, and the like. It’s fun.
(I didn’t buy anything.)

This block of twenty-first century condos is made to look like original Victorian row houses.
Up closer, you can see that the siding is vinyl, the decorations are plastic, and it’s too too cute!
Many of the other buildings along the waterfront are older than this!

Blog post © 2024 mae e. sander 

The Workhouse

The Turning Point Suffragist Memorial in Lorton, Virginia, commemorates the long struggle for women’s suffrage in the United States. In November, 1917, the suffrage movement had been pressuring for women’s voting rights and other legal rights for over 60 years. A large number of activists had been peacefully picketing the White House to keep the issue in the public eye. In fact, this was the first time the White House had been picketed by political activists.

From the beginning of Woodrow Wilson’s second term, National Woman’s Party members, known as the Silent Sentinels in distinctive purple, white and gold sashes, surrounded the White House in wordless protest. Their banners attempted to prick the president’s conscience, often charging him with hypocrisy.” (Washington Post, 2017)

From an information placard at the Suffragist
Memorial: a woman protesting “Kaiser Wilson.”

Upon the entry of the US into World War I, the protestors didn’t stop, but police actions against them became harsher and harsher.

Alice Paul, shown here in a statue at the Memorial, was one of the first to be arrested.
In jail in Washington DC, she was abused and force fed.

A mass arrest of protestors took place on November 14, 1917. A large group of women were taken to an unsanitary, abusive prison and workhouse in Lorton, Virginia, now the site of the Suffragist Memorial, which opened in 2021. The first night they spent at the Workhouse became known as the Night of Terror. They were badly beaten, given no food or water for 36 hours, and crowded into small, rat-infested cells. All their clothing and possessions were taken, and they were given filthy prison garments. 

News of the treatment of the suffragists created a turning point in public opinion. Support for women’s right to vote became overwhelming, and on August 18, 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the right to vote.

Statue of Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader of the  Suffragists.

Today, voting rights issues have not entirely been resolved.
The final placards of the memorial mention continuing struggles.

The Workhouse Today

Now at the site…

The prison buildings where the suffragist women were held and tortured was torn down some years ago, but a large part of the old workhouse still stands, and now houses artists’ studios, art classrooms, and galleries.

The arts center is a complex of large brick buildings from the days of the Workhouse.

We viewed exhibits of the instructors’ paintings and ceramics.

Murals decorate the outside walls.

We enjoyed walking on the paths in Occoquan Regional Park near the Suffragist Memorial and also walking around the adjacent Workhouse art center, taking advantage of a beautiful spring day in Virginia. Although I am aware of the general history of the suffragist movement, I was not aware of the events of 1917 that created a turning point for human rights. The placards, statues, and documentation of the memorial are very impressive, especially the panel with the names and dates of every woman who was imprisoned at the site.

blog post © 2022 mae sander.

Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge

This morning at the Occoquan NWR we saw many ospreys flying around and gathering materials for nests.
There’s an eagle’s nest in the refuge as well.

Birders love the Occoquan refuge. We saw this group from the other side of the marsh.

A birdwatching blind near the parking lot.

 Blog post © 2021 mae sander.

Dixie Bones BBQ, Woodbridge, VA

Lunch today: Dixie Bones BBQ in Woodbridge, Virginia. The owners are from Alabama, so that's the style they follow.

The four of us ordered as many different things as we could: a pork shoulder BBQ plate, ribs, a giant stuffed pork potato (with cheese etc.), a pulled chicken white meat sandwich, and several sides. After tasting all around, we generally think the ribs were best. The slaw, baked beans, corn bread, and mac-and-cheese were all good too. A classic BBQ sauce, a white BBQ sauce for chicken, a vinegar BBQ sauce, and a tomato-BBQ sauce added variety to our tasting. BBQ research goals accomplished!

Dixie Bones BBQ ribs: close up. 

Interesting collections of vintage objects like Chinese-Checker boards, old cameras, and patches from shooting contests
decorate the walls, windowsills, etc. 

After lunch we walked in the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Area, where many ospreys were fishing. This one was perched in a tree eating his catch. At one point we saw an eagle chase an osprey that had caught a fish.

While walking we enjoyed the early-blooming white trees among the still-bare ordinary trees.

Holiday Weekend in Fairfax, VA.

Sunday: Alice the Spy at the Spy Museum in DC

The Spy Museum displays many wonderful old cold war and earlier spy
devices like these glasses meant to conceal a poison pill. 

Lunch at Jaleo, a taps restaurant near the Spy Museum -- chicken croquettes in a shoe.

Monday: a walk at Occoquan National Wildlife Refuge near Fairfax

Looking for birds 

Occoquan Bay

Miriam's cross-country race on Saturday: her team collectively came in first!