No longer the perfect place for a photograph by Helen Betts

Helen Betts | all galleries >> Rediscovering Home >> Washington Rediscovered: Year 10 > No longer the perfect place for a photograph

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26-Nov-2025

No longer the perfect place for a photograph

The Renwick Gallery, part of the Smithsonian Institution, is a beautiful old building that opened in 1859 as Washington, D.C.’s first art museum. This used to be the perfect place to get a shot of it, but the street and open area in front of the gallery have been closed off and turned into a parking lot for the U.S. Secret Service, which protects the resident of the White House, located a block away.

‘Locomotive,’ posted earlier:

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
1/2000s f/1.8 at 6.8mm iso80 full exif

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Bill Klein		16-Jan-2026 13:02
Well documented sign of the times :( ! V!

Alexander Kazakov		15-Jan-2026 07:19
Interesting shot! V

larose forest photos		15-Jan-2026 02:24
No regard for aesthetics, and no regard for much else it seems from recent news. Super shot. V

Carl Carbone		14-Jan-2026 15:16
Strange times for sure.

Mairéad		13-Jan-2026 20:58
Great reportage illustrating what's happening to your country. V

Nirvan Hope		13-Jan-2026 04:18
A lovely building. They should have built an underground parking lot like in other cities.

Julie Oldfield		13-Jan-2026 02:10
He has to ruin everything. I can’t wait for the midterms. We are a police state. V I put this on the wrong photo. ;)

Dennis Hoyne		13-Jan-2026 02:06
It's getting more difficult everywhere to get photos of vintage buildings and scenes in cities everywhere.,

Hank Vander Velde		13-Jan-2026 01:49
Sad, but ignoring the police cars, you got a good shot.

Jeff Real		12-Jan-2026 23:30
And yet you produced great journalism! V

Liz Bickel		12-Jan-2026 21:23
So many changes... Not the Washington I remember. It must be extra difficult for you to see these strange changes happening around you.

Milan Vogrin		12-Jan-2026 21:00
Interesting image! V

hayl		12-Jan-2026 18:47
How very sad. No place on the grounds of the White House to park? Oh wait, it's a demolition site right now.

globalgadabout		12-Jan-2026 17:30
quite another aspect of the White House assault on that respected instittion..

Zoltán Balogh		12-Jan-2026 16:22
Excellent documentary capture,Helen. V

Dave Petersen Photography		12-Jan-2026 14:11
Great capture even with the vehicles in front. Wonderful clarity and detail. V+ Washington DC seems to be changing in so many ways including the Smithsonian which from what I have read, is under pressure to provide displays that echo what the White House wants.

Kuriacose Joseph		12-Jan-2026 13:40
A picture capturing today's sad state of affairs.

Ton, Ben & Rob Nagtegaal		12-Jan-2026 08:37
A beautiful building, too bad there are all those cars in front of it. V

joseantonio		12-Jan-2026 08:16
maybe no "secret service" when they put it on their cars.V

Dan Opdal		12-Jan-2026 07:47
Very disappointing to see this! Thank you so much for documenting this. V

Gerard KOEHL		12-Jan-2026 07:16
C'est bien dommage d'avoir créé un parking devant ce beau bâtiment. V