A home movie produced by Ken and Kath Ellwood of a visit to Washington DC during Easter of 1955. As well as visiting many popular tourist destinations such as the White House, the Washington Monument as well as Arlington Cemetery and the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park they capture spring in the city with colourful blossoms growing on trees. They also take part in the annual White House Egg Roll taking part on the South Lawn and capture the then President Eisenhower leaving the...

A home movie produced by Ken and Kath Ellwood of a visit to Washington DC during Easter of 1955. As well as visiting many popular tourist destinations such as the White House, the Washington Monument as well as Arlington Cemetery and the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park they capture spring in the city with colourful blossoms growing on trees. They also take part in the annual White House Egg Roll taking part on the South Lawn and capture the then President Eisenhower leaving the residence by car. Title: This film was awarded first prize at the Northern Camera Exchange Cine Film Competition of 1958 Title: Easter 1955 in Washington DC Title: The White House Kath Ellwood pokes her camera through a fence in order to take a photograph of the White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington DC. A fountain in the garden in front of the residence. Ken Ellwood checks his camera settings before taking a photograph of the Gold Winged Victory Statue atop the column of the First Division Monument inside President’s Park. A game of baseball is being played on the National Mall near to the Washington Monument. Title: George Washington Monument Kath Ellwood walks across the National Mall toward the Washington Monument with the camera looking up to its top. She holds a branch from a blossoming tree to the camera with a smile, Ken then admires another tree taking a photograph of it. At the bottom of a set of steps Kath walks over to a sign giving opening times for the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. She climbs the steps heading inside the monument before walking around the edge of the Tidal Bason looking back at the domed memorial. On Sherman Plaza Kath climbs the steps of the General William Tecumseh Sherman Monument passing a boy playing with one of the bronze solider around its base. She looks over the monument before again looking at blossoms growing in nearby trees. Traffic passes the Lincoln Memorial with crowds climbing the steps to the monument itself. Kath walks across Arlington Memorial Bridge into Virginia waving back at the camera as she passes a sign for the state. Title: To Arlington Cemetery From an elevated position within the cemetery both the Lincoln and Washington monuments of Washington DC in the distance. A tour guide standing over a grave speaks to the crowd standing around him. The Lee Mansion (Arlington House) with blossom growing on the trees in the grounds. Title: The changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier A small crowd watches a solider, his rifle across his shoulder, walking the mat. A larger crowd gathers for the Changing of the Guard followed by a phantom car ride back into Washington DC across the Arlington Memorial Bridge towards the Lincoln Memorial. Title: The Capital Standing on the National Mall Ken Ellwood check over his camera before taking a photograph of the Capital Building. Kath walk across the mall towards the Capital itself looking up at its dome and climbing the steps passing a statue of a seated figure. She then chases a squirrel around a tree. Believed to be from the top of the National Monument panoramic views across Washington DC featuring the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the White House. Traffic including a tram passes the Supreme Court building with an American flag flying on a pole. Nearby two pigeons drink from a water-fountain while Kath feeding more pigeons from a park bench. She walks over and looks at colourful blossoms growing on trees. Inside the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, a zebra inside its enclosure changes to Kath admiring llamas inside their cage. General views of other animals inside their cages including giraffes, a peacock, hippopotamus, goats, camel and possibly a gopher beside its burrow. Ken drinks a coffee from a National Zoological Park paper cup. Children of various ethnicities walk around the zoo along with the parents or guardians, a Mountain lion or Cougar watches from its cage. Children throw food into the cage of ‘Smokey’ an American black bear. A sign nearby gives information on Smokey’s heritage. In another cage a male Peacock displaying. Ken holds out a piece of food which is taken from his hand by a squirrel. Title: The President’s Easter Party for the Children Families walk through the grounds of the White House having picnics on the lawns in front of the residence. Children play or have their photographed taken beside a military brass band performing from a podium. Some of the children have baskets full of decorative Easter eggs. The main façade of the National Gallery on Arts on the National Mall and Kath dipping her hand into a fountain outside. Inside the gallery an artist at her easel reproducing another painting hanging on the wall next to her. Title: Mr Eisenhower leaves the White House In the distance President Dwight D. Eisenhower comes down the steps of the White House into a waiting car. A large crowd watches as he and a convoy of the vehicles departs heading into Washington DC. End title: The end