S is for... The Smithsonian Castle, the Supreme Court, and the Spy Museum

I don't know about you, but I had a nice, restful weekend.  Time to get back on the horse that is the A to Z blog challenge, and kick off week 4!

Today's letter is S, and we have a lot to cover.  Put on your comfortable walking shoes, make sure you're hydrated, and let's get to it!

First up is the Smithsonian Castle.  Located on The Mall, this is the headquarters of the Smithsonian Institution.  You've probably heard of the Smithsonian museum, but did you know it's not just one museum?  It's actually several museums, and while you can find most of them on the Mall, there are a few scattered throughout the city as well.

The Castle, as seen from the Mall

The Castle was built in 1847 and served as the first Smithsonian building.  It's got a few exhibits inside which kind of summarize what you'll find in each of the Smithsonian museums, institutes, and zoo. Definitely worth a visit, along with the Smithsonian museums in the city (bonus: all Smithsonian affiliates are free!).

Next, check out the Supreme Court.  The seat of the Judicial Branch of our nation's government, the building is beautiful and there are tours for the public.  If you play your cards right, you can even sit in the gallery during oral arguments, while the justices listen to lawyers present their cases.  How cool would that be?

CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia

And here's where the judges sit--isn't it impressive?

Finally, let's check out the International Spy Museum.  A newer museum located in Chinatown, this one will cost you to get in.  It's worth it though, as you get to explore the history of espionage and all the cloak-and-dagger tricks and techniques that go along with it.

Part of the sign

I think that's enough for today.  Get some rest, and come back tomorrow ready to explore!