My review for National Archives is solely based on digitalized search records as ulterior motive…read morefor genealogy research or ancestry records retainment. I personally find familial history and records fascinating including oral history. I plan to sustained these military records perpetually. I sorrowfully wished I have driving skills enabling car ownership to make the long-haul trek to this federal archival material data files record keeper office at 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740 from New York City as I would search deeper obtaining more information. National Archives' website has painstaking digitalized and categorized military personnel records by all military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. It is all personal to me as a next of kin seeking my beloved family member who was a U.S. Army veteran. Searches are further categorized by war periods dating back 250 years American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, World War I, World War II including later wars and conflicts Korean War and Vietnam War. Oh! I am highly impressed that U.S. military personnel records dating 250 years are maintained and retained perpetually because my search is dating 83 years ago as it is not in recent years. My online search is very gruesome, daunting, extensive time consuming with high level of patience tolerance as there are many, many layered links and sub-links in a national centralized database. Links take users to more links and further complicated specified links. The records or biographical information are mostly abbreviated as "19" for birth year rather than year 1919 and does not explain rank, title, grade, grade code military jargon or military codes in everyday ordinary civilian language. The DD Form 214 Certificate of Release or "Discharge from Active Duty," is the official discharge paper and Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) which can also be obtained either online or mail. My data search encountered United States, Army Enlistment Records and Flexoline Index Database, by Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) under Department of Justice originated the Alien Registration Act of 1940 which I did successfully achieved basic biographical results from both file units. Further document requests can be obtain by submitting requests either online or U.S. mail for fees as draft registration cards and Records of the Selective Service. National Archives is a federal government official record keeper. These were service members who have names. They are significantly more than Army Serial Number. They lived and served. They have narratives. They are still loved, honored, celebrated and remembered.

Knowing history gives us a sense of perspective. If you think you have it tough, read history…read morebooks. We'd obtained the necessary advance tickets when I was last there in 2013 for further family research. I've done virtual visits there since then. This College Park, Maryland location is Archives II, which is solely a research facility. Archive I is in Washington, DC, which I'd previously reviewed at https://www.yelp.com/biz/national-archives-and-records-administration-washington. I have no complaints. The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent Federal agency of the United States government within the Executive Branch. It's charged with the preservation and documentation of government and historical records. Employees here certainly try to be helpful. Be aware that there are "millions of records, documents, photographs, maps, decrees, charters, videos" so impossible for employees to be an expert on all of them. So, do as much research before visiting so you have something to help you to find what you're looking for. If you are a History Addict such as myself, resist the temptation to read all that cool history that passes before your eyes here or you will never find out what you specifically came to find. The security procedures are different at each National Archives location based on many factors, including function and size of the facility, and are subject to change without notice. Rules can even change from floor to floor and employee to employee. Resistance is futile. When entering National Archives facilities, you must provide valid photographic identification and are subject to inspection upon entering, anytime while there and exiting. Just like at most IRS building, your id may be scanned as you travel from floor to floor. You are very limited on what you can bring in with you, Weapons are prohibited. There are a lot of security guards. If you have a heart pacemaker or other medical device that might be disrupted by the magnetometer (or give a false reading), ask to be screened with a hand-held wand. Surgical implants set off the security machines. If you have surgical implants, bring documentation of them from your doctor with you. On-site parking is limited. Any papers you are allowed to bring in are required to be first approved and then stamped / Permitted. Phones, their cases, and computers cases are prohibited. Computers require a previously obtained Permit. Recommend putting your stuff in clear plastic bags. Large or bulky clothes, hats, even some boots, prohibited due to previous thefts, hence why some requests come back as "unavailable". Has a cafeteria on the ground floor. Has specific times you can make a request to "Pull" an item. Be prepared that it can take a while to fulfill your request, it may be fulfilled damaged, and that it may not even be fulfilled due to previous thefts. There is a cost to get copies of anything. On this day in history 31 December: 1775 - George Washington ordered his recruiters to accept Blacks into the Army. Standing shoulder to shoulder, an ethnically diverse soldiery formed. From free and enslaved Blacks, to Native Americans, native born colonists, to foreign recruits, to women, Washington's integrated Army was a diverse fighting force for the long and grueling eight-year war. One of the most famous units was the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. The Rhode Island Assembly decreed on 14 February 1778, to allow, "every slave, so enlisting, shall upon his passing muster before Col. Christopher Greene, be immediately discharged from the service of his master or mistress; and be absolutely FREE, as though he had never been encumbered with any Kind of Servitude or Slavery." The integrated Army in the American War For Independence was shamefully the last integrated American military until 26 July 1948 (WWII ended 2 September 1945), when President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order banning segregation in the US Armed Forces. For it is essential that there be maintained in the Armed Services of the United States the highest standards of democracy, with equality of treatment and opportunity for all those who Serve in our country's defense. During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt had responded to complaints about discrimination at home against African Americans by issuing Executive Order 8802 in June 1941. It directed that Black Americans be accepted into job-training programs in defense plants, forbid discrimination by defense contractors and established a Fair Employment Practices Commission (FEPC) to enforce the policy. Truman had previously appointed the first African-American judge to the Federal bench, and named several other African-Americans to high-ranking administration positions.

Bentley House is located in the Town of Brookeville, MD, approximately 18 miles north of…read moreWashington, DC. There is no fee to see the house, but it is currently a residence so there are no tours available (unless you make friends with the owner). The Town of Brookeville contains several historic homes, including Bentley House, and each has a sign out front detailing the history. Bentley House and the Town of Brookeville can be enjoyed by anyone, but those who are particularly interested in DC and US History will sure get a kick out of the fact that Brookeville was the capital of the country for one day during the War of 1812. President Madison, after fleeing the capital when the British burned the White House, found himself in Brookeville and stayed at Bentley House on August 26, 1814. I visited Brookeville on Labor Day (September 7, 2015) and thoroughly enjoyed the small town feel of it (there are only a hundred some odd residents). It's funny because even though I knew it was 2015, I almost felt transported back in time. Bentley House (and the Town of Brookeville) gets 5 stars from me for being such a neat and little known place to visit that is chock full of US history.

The seminary (or "castle" as I called it in high school, for apparently no reason, because castle…read moreis maybe the one type of building that the campus doesn't have) lived rent free in my mind when I was younger. It's just a crazy place, especially tucked right by Silver Spring, right by 16th and Georgia, and yet few people know it exists. Starting out as an inn and then a finishing school for girls, there's a Japanese pagoda, a Dutch windmill, a Parthenon looking building, and so many beautiful statues. After WWII it got taken over by the army. And then it slowly decayed. Save the Seminary, the organization whose mission is to restore the seminary, did a pretty damn good job at restoring the buildings, the ballroom, and the statutes. They do free walk tours, and most insane, the structures are now homes, where actual human beings live. I can't quite wrap my head around it, but if you have an extra mil lying around one of these places could be yours (if any of them happen to be up for sale).

Forest Glen, Maryland: Do you know where Forest Glen Maryland is?…read more Take a look at this map (This is the point of the presentation where I wish I could embed a map into my review) Well, imagine an isosceles triangle. Those are the ones that have a corner with 70 degrees- another corner with 70 degrees- and the third corner with 40 degrees. But make it stand straight up... like a pyramid. Ok, just think of a pyramid... but just one side, not like an actual 3D Pyramid. Ok... ya know what, think of a Yield Sign. There we go, just think of a Yield sign. The bottom left corner is Bethesda, the bottom right corner is Silver Spring and the top of the Yield sign is Forest Glen. See, that was so much easier than just showing you a map. In that time, I hope that you've just googled Forest Glen and seen exactly where it is. So in Forest Glen there is an enormous building on Linden Lane and you'll see a Japanese Pagoda right in front of it. Yes, a true to form, authentic color paint, bamboo what not Japanese Freakin' Pagoda. That'll make you say something like "This Is the FR*&*in' Catalina Wine Mixer!".. of buildings. And then you'll say, "Why have I never seen this before." Here's some real short history. I did the research for you. The building was built as a Hotel/ Vacation Resort in 1887 for DC vacationers: Ye Old Forest Inn. But that didn't work out. Apparently the people who ran it were less than savvy. Then in 1894 it became an all girls school. And it remained that way until 1942. But, as you remember, we were dragged into WW2 in 1942 after Pearl Harbor happened December 7th 1941 "A Day Which Will Live In Infamy". Quick side note. In addition to Pearl Harbor the Japanese on that day also attacked the following: American ships the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu, Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands,Wake Island. And the next morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Something I didn't know because everything is really ethnocentric here in America. And now back to National Park Seminary So the building in 1942 became sort of an Annex for Walter Reed and was controlled by the army. But in 1977 most of the buildings were left abandoned. Which essentially became a playground ( a very expensive and beautiful playground) for vandals. After years of neglect and vandalism a company called The Alexander Company helped in it's rehabilitation for the purpose of preserving this listing on the "National Register of Historic Places." For a very long time an organization called SOS (Save Our Seminary) has been working to raise money to preserve and repair so many of the historic buildings, structures, and intricate details that make this place so G-D Da*n Magical! The building used to face railroad tracks where people would travel off the railroad and right onto the campus. Now, that railroad is 495 so the front faces a non accessible point. Coming up from Linden, you're actually coming from the back and don't get to see the entire majesty of what the Seminary is. Quick info: National Park Seminary- the name After Ye Old Forest Inn the school took notice of Rock Creek Park which was constructed and opened during that time ( an attraction that many people were coming to see), the spot was named "National Park" in reference to being so close to that site. The Seminary comes from the older meaning of seminary which is: "a school of secondary or higher level for young women." So the campus is big 23 acres. And on that campus lives several sorority houses done in an international theme ( I KNOW! Awesome!) Which explains the Japanese Pagoda- some of the others include a : "Dutch windmill, a Swiss chalet, an Italian villa, An American Bungalow and an English castle" Quick note- In 1936 the National Park Seminary was renamed National Park College and served as a very prestigious woman's college for a while. The name was changed back to National Park Seminary after it was reacquired from the army. The campus is brilliant and beautiful. Large sculptures decorate the beautiful buildings at almost every turn. A mix of styles inside the buildings. Especially the wonderful ballroom. The site is just something to behold. They do tours on Every 4th Saturday at 1PM Here are the rest for 2014 - They start at 1PM and are 5 bucks per person Saturday, June 28 Saturday, July 26 Sunday, August 3 Saturday, August 23 Saturday, September 27 Saturday, October 25 Saturday, November 22

A little piece of Silver Spring History: This 1945 beloved landmark was rescued and restored by…read moreMontgomery Preservation Inc. It is the only building in downtown Silver Spring listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The original train station manager from its 1945 start was here today to greet residents. It is known that President Harry S. Truman often used this station to avoid crowds at Union Station. Inside the building you'll find mementos from bygone days and little bits of nostalgia of long gone Silver Spring businesses. Up until fairly recently, the MARC train used this station. Now the station is open to the public once a month. It may also be rented for meetings and special events.

Held my son's second birthday here and it was fantastic. This is a great space for a party in…read moregeneral, and it comes with many train toys! The staff were very helpful and had great suggestions for where to set up food, when to bring the kids into the back room and turn on the model train, and when to bust out the Thomas Power Wheel (which was quite the hit.) I also got the impression that they appreciate the rental fee and use of space, as it goes toward the ability to continue maintaining the site. This is a gem in Silver Spring.

Seems like a nice fable. The Real Problem is there is zero evidence of any hole or ditch or quarry…read moreof any kind (even the side-shaved kind) massive enough to acocunt for the Smithsonian castle stone and all the many others supposedly hewn and worked here! In fact, the small-gauge rail tracks leading from the (supposed) 'stone cutter' mill literally go into the hillside, as if the Michelle Gibson, Jon Levi and other 'mud flood' youtubers are correct, and "founded" means just that, our cycle 'found' a largely buried past civilization...

Ruins of a quarry from the late 1700s and stonecutting mill from early 1800s. To see the ruins go…read moreupstream from Seneca Creek Aqueduct a hundred yards until you come to a trail on your right. Follow trail for five minutes. There are two paths once you're there, one more cleared than the other.

This is a fantastic place to spend a night or 2 and get a real taste of what life was like on the…read morecanal in the 1830's. No power or water at the lockhouse, so bring plenty of water and flashlights/lanterns. I spent my final night on the towpath here while bicycling from Cumberland to DC, and probably had the best night of sleep on the whole trip. The beds are wood frame, with rope to support the mattress. It's a lot more comfortable than you might think. Please note-there are no linens provided, and the mattresses are covered with vinyl sheets, so you'll either want a sleeping bag, or bring your own linens. There is a table in the sitting room with a guestbook that you can sign, as well as several books on the history of the lockhouse and the C&O Canal. There are cooking utensils and plates/glasses available, but the nearest water is 3 miles away at Swain's Lock, so I didn't use anything, just used the mess kit that I had been using the whole trip. But if you need to use them, they're there. There are also some games and toys from the time period. Jacks, checkers, and some others. This is a really peaceful place in a beautiful setting. I wish I'd had the time to spend another night here. Maybe another time...

Nice spot to start a walk along the towpath away from the crowds of DC. Along with an old…read morelockhouse, there's a gravel parking lot and an outhouse.

Be sure to look for these while in Rock Creek Park but be prepared to look awhile. It can be hard…read moreto find. The Capitol Stones are exactly that. Leftover stones from renovation of the Capitol Building. Somewhere there's a big pile in the woods. Finding these can take awhile. If you don't know where to go of course. The first place to head towards is the horse stables. After you get here go along the trail east. The stones are off to the side of this trail after a ways. Look for a do not enter sign. When you see this enter there. Ignore what the sign says and just go. The stones are in a few piles. It doesn't seem like much to look at. Just a lot of stones that are piled high. These are of course more than that so it's worth a visit.

Visit the hard-to-find Capitol Stones, hidden in the wilds of Rock Creek Park; easy to find if you…read moreknow where to look. We wandered the foot paths of the park for an hour, and even with the help of Google Maps (which showed the wrong location), we couldn't find the famous pile of discarded sandstone and marble sections that were removed the original US Capitol during the 1958 renovation of the West Front, until someone told us where to look. Park at the Rock Creek Park Horse Center, 5100 Glover Road. Walk over to the horse barns adjacent to the Horse Center's office. Locate the walking path near the southeast corner of horse barns. Follow that path in an easterly (ENE) direction, downhill. In 100 feet or so you pass a building on the right side of the path, beyond the trees and foliage. Continue along the path for another 400-500 feet, past the buildings visible on the right. On the right side of the path, past trees and foliage you will see a cyclone fence. There are two narrow dirt foot paths from the main path to the cyclone fence. The second one was much easier to traverse the day we were there. The Capitol Stones are piled up inside the fenced area. From outside the fence, it doesn't look like much. But there is a break in the fence, on the south side, and it is well worth climbing through to wander among the piles of discarded building blocks from the old Capitol building. You will come across carved pieces like the one shown below, sometimes stacks of them. The history of our city and country, discarded like trash in a landfill. A poignant bookend to every visitor's tour of the monuments.

Sometimes I love to stop by and get a good read.. or get on the computer since their internet is a…read morelot faster than mine or when I need to print something. However this library is a lot smaller than Gburg or Germantown. The computers are kind of in the center and just a few stations. To my dismay, they are all clumped together. Unlike Gaithersburg where people are spaced out. I like my personal space but there are some grown folks that don't cover there mouths when they cough and sneeze...or leave their tissues on the table and not take it with them when they leave. I strongly suggest bring your own wipes and wipe down your area.. as if you were at the gym. My second ick... is the kids You have kids that will take up the computers to play Robloxs or Minecraft. The time limit is about 1 hour but the librarian will usually extend your time. My favorite part of this library is that they have a Lucky Day shelf with books that are very popular That you can get without being on a long waiting list. Maybe because I've been around the country and visit different libraries and we are definitely not like NYC -Brooklyn or Denver. Where they have tons of amenities .

Not a business just a nice library with kids activity room and a lot of lighting and booksread more