Mr. Martin Goes to Washington

After my father passed away in 2011, I asked my Mom where she would most like to go but hadn’t had the chance to visit. She had two answers: Washington, D.C. and the Grand Canyon. I am so blessed that we were able to travel to those places together, in 2013 and 2019 respectively.

Mom couldn’t walk much when we visited D.C. together (her first back surgery was still months away) so we rented her a wheelchair. It was the only way she would be able to truly see so much American history first-hand. I remember being so proud of her for voicing her needs so easily, as that was traditionally not her style. That told me how important this trip was for her and it was my pleasure to do everything I could to make sure she had the best time.

We went all over the National Mall, visiting many branches of the Smithsonian and getting a tour of the Capitol. We saw cherry blossoms and the National Cathedral and even took in a symphony performance at the Kennedy Center. It was wonderful. And if you’d told me that the next time I flew to Washington it would be for work, I would’ve laughed it off as ridiculous.

But it’s true. On Monday, I flew into Reagan National Airport to spend a few days with my colleagues at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Preserve Route 66 program that I manage is under the umbrella of Preservation Services & Outreach, which includes other programs like Backing Historic Small Restaurants and the National Fund for Sacred Places. Our work, by design, is somewhat siloed and so it’s great to get together and just BE together.

When I arrived at my hotel, I had very little time before our first scheduled gathering – less than an hour. Still, I booked it over to the Museum of American History to see something I’d seen before, but not REALLY SEEN, you know? It was the Route 66 section of their America On The Move exhibit. It’s hard to believe, but in the spring of 2013 I hadn’t given Route 66 much thought at all. In fact, when I wrote about our trip back then, I didn’t even mention seeing it, though I have a photograph that confirms I did, indeed, see it. Now that I knew its history (including that the concrete floor is literally original Highway 66 pavement from near Bridgeport, Oklahoma) it would mean a lot more to me.

My time was limited, so I entered the museum and rushed through the exhibit to find the Route 66 section. I rounded the corner and saw something unexpected: a man on a bench. Not a real man, a statue of a man. He was part of the preceding section that talked about train stations. Mom had taken a picture of me on that bench where I posed with a goofy expression to match the statue. I decided I’d do it again as a selfie and sat down prepared to smile – but instead I was hit with a powerful jolt of grief. It was like a lightning bolt.

I could see her again, giggling in her wheelchair as I posed. So much time has passed since then, but also no time at all. I think of Mom all the time, but rarely does her absence hit me with such clarity and focus. I miss her so much. Just like the feeling arrived, it went through me. What remained was the happy memory of us together. I smiled, genuinely, and snapped the photo.

Of course, the Route 66 exhibit was amazing. I read the panels, admired the artifacts, and watched as others stopped to read. Satisfied with my visit, I joined my National Trust brethren for dinner and drinks.

We had an all-day retreat on Tuesday, which was terrific. I learned more about my peers and a few other divisions of the Trust that I hadn’t had much exposure to. We had time to visit and eat together and enjoy the dynamics that only come with in-person gatherings. That evening, we were given a tour of the Smithsonian American Art Museum from their head curator, which was a real treat. My favorite installation in the museum was a large map of the United States made of neon and dozens of CRT televisions, each section playing some kind of clip that represented each state. Oklahoma was, naturally, Oklahoma!

The biggest day of my trip was Wednesday. It started off with another delightful tour, this one from the Architect of the Capitol’s office. We walked around the Capitol grounds, learning about its design and implementation (including the Summerhouse, which I had no idea even existed!) and then toured the Cannon Office Building renovations that have been ongoing for some time. It was fascinating to see the care and attention that goes into historic properties first-hand, especially ones with such national significance. While that was all wonderful, obviously, it wasn’t the biggest part of my day.

The biggest part was lobbying!

After lunch, I was paired up with members of the HTCC (Historic Tax Credit Coalition) to advocate for improvements to the Historic Tax Credit (used for large-scale historic renovation projects) and the release of already-appropriated funding that funds State Historic Preservation Offices. The group changed a bit from meeting to meeting, but over the course of three hours we met with staff from five different offices: both Senators and three Representatives. If that sounds like a lot, it is! It was constant meeting or walking; I had to cross the Capitol footprint back and forth three times! But it was all for a good cause and some of the young staffers took notes and asked detailed questions when we talked about the economic impact of historic preservation and the diverse rural/urban impact of the program.

The day ended with a reception for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Directors and other staff. We gathered at the Woodrow Wilson House (where the 28^th President retired after his time in office) and enjoyed a wonderful evening. I met the current head of Main Street America and told her how excited I was that their national conference is coming to Tulsa next year!

It’s Thursday now. I’m back home, a bit exhausted but also energized. I got so much out of my time in Washington with my friends and coworkers. My time on the Hill was eye-opening and I felt like my voice was of value. It’s remarkable how different my first time in the city was from this visit. I wish I could call Mom and tell her all about it. But I don’t have to talk to her to know how happy she would be, and that fills my heart with joy.