Day 2 was focused on the executive branch, with a visit to the judicial. We started with a visit to the White House, which despite having been to DC many times, I had never done. It is a beautiful walk through an old mansion.
Next, after grabbing some food at Western Market, was our visit to the State Department, which our friends Zach and Sarah had set up for us. We went through a lengthy security check, and then went up to the 7th floor where we got to walk through Mahogany Row - where the Secretary and other leaders offices and meeting rooms are, and then got to go into the nerve center of the department with its live connections to embassies and consulates around the world - where the first call comes in when there's a problem. We also saw "the Line" where they prepare for the many trips. This was a unique opportunity - not part of any tourist program.
After the visit, we Metro-ed to Capitol Hill and visited the Supreme Court building. We got to the usual lecture in the SCOTUS chamber (the second highest court - to the basketball court above it).
We grabbed an early dinner at Union Station.
After that, some of us went to the Library of Congress and some of us headed back to the hotel to rest up for our night tour.
It was a spectacular night for a walking monuments tour!