President Lincoln’s Cottage

In the spirit of enjoying and studying U.S. history, I have discovered that there are many fascinating historic sites connected to America’s past. One example is President Lincoln’s Cottage, a historic home used by Abraham Lincoln on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home, now known as the Armed Forces Retirement Home, near the Petworth neighborhood in Washington, D.C. In 2000, it was designated a national monument called the President Lincoln and Soldiers’ Home National Monument.

I recently visited the site and was a bit disappointed. The interior of the house can only be visited through a guided tour, which I personally found rather boring. The tour provided very little information about the house itself or the individual rooms. The house contains almost no furniture actually used by the Lincoln family. There were only a few decorative pieces that had no connection to either the house or the family who lived there. The only notable item was a replica of the writing desk President Lincoln supposedly used, located in one of the second-floor rooms.

The tour guide spent nearly an hour and a half telling small pieces of historical stories that, to me, did not flow together very well. One strange aspect of the tour was that the guide repeatedly asked the audience how we felt after listening to short 10-second voice recordings played from an iPad.

Outside, there are almost no gardens, but the exterior architecture of the house is beautiful. The cottage is surrounded by lovely lawn grounds and a magnificent tree beside the building, which creates a peaceful atmosphere.

There are two entrances to the Soldiers’ Home grounds, but only one is open to visitors. We ended up driving around in circles twice before finally figuring that out.

Next to the cottage is Rock Creek Church, a beautiful structure from outside, it is not open to the public.

The replica of the desk that President Lincoln used to write Lincoln the Emancipation Proclamation

Rock Creek Church

Covered Bridges in America

Covered bridges are one of those distinctly American sights that feel almost nostalgic today, but they were originally built for very practical reasons.

In the late 18th and especially the 19th century, as the United States expanded westward, there was a huge need for durable, affordable bridges. Most early bridges were made of wood because it was abundant and easy to work with. Engineers developed wooden truss systems—like the famous designs patented by Ithiel Town and Theodore Burr—which allowed bridges to span longer distances while remaining relatively lightweight.

The key problem was weather. Exposed wooden bridges deteriorate quickly due to rain, snow, sun, and temperature changes. Moisture causes wood to rot, while repeated wet-dry cycles weaken the structure. Without protection, a wooden bridge might last only 10–15 years.

That’s why they were covered.

Adding a roof and siding acted like a protective shell, shielding the structural trusses from the elements. This simple idea dramatically extended a bridge’s lifespan—often to 50 years or more, and in some cases well over a century. In other words, the covering wasn’t decorative at first; it was a cost-saving measure that reduced maintenance and replacement.

My visit to a couple of covered bridges came about almost by accident—I was googling Frederick, and covered bridges in the area popped up. It immediately piqued my interest.

The only time I had ever seen a covered bridge before was in the movie The Bridges of Madison County—a romantic film that even won Academy Awards recognition. Seeing them in real life felt like stepping into a scene from that story, I was simply struck by how beautiful these bridges are!

Utica Covered Bridge

Historic Roddy Road Covered Bridge

Historic Sachs Covered Bridge

Carroll Creek Covered Bridge

Historic Cramer Covered Bridge

Doha 6) Katara Cultural Village

Katara Cultural Village is one of Doha’s most distinctive destinations—a purpose-built cultural hub where Qatar showcases its heritage while connecting with global arts and traditions.

Located between West Bay and The Pearl, Katara sits right along the waterfront, and it’s designed almost like a small town. As you walk through, you’ll notice a blend of traditional Qatari architecture—courtyards, narrow alleyways, and sand-colored buildings—mixed with modern cultural venues.

As I was leaving the village, the taxi driver kindly drove me slowly around so I could take in Katara under the evening lights before heading to the airport.

Doha 5) Katara Mosque and Pigeon tower

Located within Katara Cultural Village in Doha, the Katara Mosque was designed by renowned Turkish architect Zeynep Fadıllıoğlu and draws strong inspiration from classical Ottoman and Persian architecture. Its exterior is adorned with vibrant blue, gold, and red mosaic tiles, giving it an almost storybook-like appearance. 

 Next to the mosque are the Pigeon Towers, inspired by ancient Middle Eastern and Persian pigeon houses that were historically used to shelter pigeons. At Katara, these towers have been reimagined as a cultural and architectural feature. Built in earthy tones and dotted with hundreds of small holes for nesting birds, they create a textured, almost honeycomb-like appearance. The mosque represents refined, colorful artistry and a spiritual space, while the pigeon towers reflect traditional, practical architecture rooted in daily life. Together, they capture two sides of regional heritage—beauty and function—set within the modern cultural vision of Katara. When visiting the mosque, I came prepared with my head covered by a scarf, my shoulders covered, and wearing a long skirt. However, upon arrival, I was still asked to put on a long black robe (called an abaya, a traditional garment worn in Qatar and across the Gulf).

Doha 4) Museum of Islamic Art

After walking 2 hours in the morning outside visiting the Old Port etc, its nice to go inside of the Museum of Islamic Art to cool off.

The Museum of Islamic Art Doha is one of the cultural highlights of Doha. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, the building itself is a work of art. It sits on its own man-made island just off the Al Corniche Doha, giving it a sense of quiet separation from the city. Pei drew inspiration from traditional Islamic architecture—especially the play of light, geometry, and symmetry. The structure looks simple at first glance, but as you walk around it, the shapes shift and reveal new angles, almost like a modern interpretation of ancient design principles.

Inside, the museum houses an extraordinary collection of Islamic art spanning over 1,400 years and three continents: intricately decorated ceramics, metalwork, textiles, manuscripts, and glass—from places like Persia, Egypt, Turkey, and Central Asia. 

One of the highlights is the central atrium, where a grand staircase and soaring ceiling create a sense of openness and calm. Light filters in carefully, echoing the architectural theme you see outside.

The museum is also surrounded by MIA Park Doha, a beautiful waterfront park that offers some of the best views of Doha’s skyline—especially around sunset.

On a special note, I had a chance encounter with Robert Polidori in the central atrium of the Museum of Islamic Art Doha. He was there working, carefully photographing the space, yet he was incredibly gracious—taking the time to speak with me and even posing for a photo together (Robert is a highly respected architectural and documentary photographer known for capturing spaces with deep historical and emotional layers).

First Floor

From upper floor over looking the central atrium

With Robert

Doha 3) City walk: Old Port and The Pearl Monument

September in Doha can be intensely hot, so early in the morning I took an Uber to the Old Port to begin my walk.

Doha’s Old Port, now beautifully revitalized as Mina District Doha, offers a completely different atmosphere from the glass towers of West Bay Doha. This area was once the heart of Qatar’s maritime life, where fishing boats and traditional dhows set out for pearling—an industry that sustained the country long before oil and gas transformed its economy.

Old Port is also a good spot to see the entire downtown line (see my photos)

After taking a couple of photos around the harbor, I set my GPS to the Pearl Monument Doha and decided to walk part of the Corniche. The route showed about a 36-minute walk.

Along the way, I stopped at a spot lined with national flags. While taking pictures, I met a man in uniform and asked if he could take a photo for me. We started chatting—he told me he was a park ranger responsible for the area and that he was from the Philippines. When he learned I was walking to the Pearl Monument, he kindly offered to drive me there to help me avoid the heat.

By the time I reached the monument, the sun was already strong and glaring—it was so bright I could barely see while trying to take photos.

Afterward, I took a short break at a nearby building to cool off, then continued on foot to the Museum of Islamic Art Doha, just a seven-minute walk away. I arrived right at opening time.

Old Port

The Pearl Mounment

The Museum of Islamic Art