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Helen Betts | all galleries >> Galleries >> Washington Fenced In > No reading at the Library of Congress
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31-Jan-2021

No reading at the Library of Congress

The revered Library of Congress currently allows limited access to researchers but none to the general public. The Beaux Arts-style Thomas Jefferson Building, one of its three facilities in the area, is a major tourist attraction due to its elaborately decorated interior and fascinating collections.

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Washington, D.C., the nation's capital, has become a city of fences. They're ugly and everywhere, depriving residents and tourists alike of access to major streets, sidewalks, green areas, federal buildings, landmarks and of course the US Capitol, which ironically is supposed to be The People's House, except that the people are no longer allowed anywhere near it. There are plans afoot to make the barriers permanent, although there has been push-back from the District government, residents, especially those on Capitol Hill, where we live, and some lawmakers.

The idea for this gallery was suggested by Raymond in Canada http://pbase.com/monminou/profile and I thought it was a good one. Some pictures were taken when we had 25,000 National Guard troops guarding the Capitol area, while others are more recent. I hope the opportunities for fence pictures become fewer in time, but I wouldn’t bet on that.

Best to view in "Original" because other versions resized by Pbase are decidedly
unsharp.

The expanding perimeter, posted earlier:

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max
1/160s f/2.2 at 7.5mm iso20 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Julie Oldfield06-Feb-2021 01:42
It is beautiful in the snow even with the fence. V
joseantonio05-Feb-2021 19:28
love those trees behind the fences covered with snow.V.
Nestor Derkach05-Feb-2021 18:07
I love the snow covered trees the fence gives the snow a nice contrast.
You are doing a great reporting and excellent information as well.
I heard that the cost of this security since Jan 6 2021 is around 438 million and counting.
That includes the fencing just think what the final cost will be,
Vote
Blandine Mangin05-Feb-2021 17:44
beautiful compo ! v
janescottcumming05-Feb-2021 17:06
This was such a beautiful place to visit. So depressing to see it fenced in and see the razor wire at the top of the fence. That being said I do like the pretty evergreens covered with snow. V
Industrial Heritage05-Feb-2021 16:54
The snow makes the fence a bit more friendly
Philip P05-Feb-2021 11:55
The snow makes this scene seem much more joyful!
John Hamers05-Feb-2021 11:16
Wonderful view and capture of the building with the snow-covered trees in front of it. V!
Milan Vogrin05-Feb-2021 11:03
Very nice winter scene. V!
John Reynolds LRPS05-Feb-2021 07:37
Beautiful old building. Hope access improves soon. V.
Regine L.05-Feb-2021 05:15
I hope this will be only a temporary situation. This building and the rest of the country is too beautiful to be fenced in.
Gill Kopy05-Feb-2021 03:08
So sad that one person could bring around such change. Well captured scene Helen. V
larose forest photos05-Feb-2021 02:11
The snow, greenery and the building are all so beautiful that you can just about (sort of) ignore the fence! V
Hank Vander Velde05-Feb-2021 02:03
A beautiful image from the top of the fence up Helen.
Dennis Hoyne05-Feb-2021 00:45
A lovely view of the beautiful building, too bad the fence is there.
bill friedlander05-Feb-2021 00:12
It would look so much prettier if the fence wasn't there. V
Mairéad04-Feb-2021 22:02
Another loss to the American public.
The snow partly disguises the ugly truth of situation,
LynnH04-Feb-2021 21:46
Beautiful (except for the fence of course) when snow accented . V
Don Mottershead04-Feb-2021 21:30
A suitably depressing image. Excellent photojournalism.
hayl04-Feb-2021 21:27
A beautiful building and it look lovely in the snow. Let's hope all things open in the not too distant future.
globalgadabout04-Feb-2021 21:08
a trouglesome chapter in the tale of your nation...the fence is certainly a blight on the otherwise attractive view..
Nick Paoni04-Feb-2021 20:52
Not even the snow can brighten up this scene.