There is More to Washington DC than Politics
Updated: May 28, 2023
Seems fitting on the eve of another inauguration in the USA, that I recount some memories from our first trip to Washington DC.
We drove from St. John's and had to outrun 2 hurricanes (those stories will keep for another day) to do our 2010 trip of the eastern seaboard of the USA, down as far as Georgia.
We have all been seeing many images of Washington DC today and will see many more tomorrow, and although I have numerous photos of the iconic images of Washington, I've decided to show you something a little different...
The Smithsonian Museum...
or should I say MuseumS. Collectively called the Smithsonian Institute, consists of 17 (yes 17!) museums, galleries and a zoo in Washington DC. And the best part? They are all FREE to visit!!!!
National Air & Space Museum
First we visited the National Air & Space Museum, which opened in 1976. This museum is one of the most popular in the World. I found Snoopy there!!! And Amelia Earhart's plane and the 1903 Wright Flyer. And another plane I'm not sure worked...Will It Run?
The museum (along with its second location, the Udvar-Hazy Center, in Chantilly, VA – more about that one below) contains the largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts in the world. All components of human flight are on display, including related art and archival materials.
National Museum of Natural History
We then went to the National Museum of Natural History were we saw the world's most famous diamond...the Hope Diamond. It is blue!!! Which is due to trace amounts of colbalt in the carbon matrix. I think it was being protected by this large tiger that tried to jump us!!!
This museum opened in 1910 to allow everyone to discover the natural world. It is HUGE (comparable to 18 football fields) and houses over 140 MILLION + natural science specimens and cultural artifacts. The museum contains some of the most famous artifacts in the world. The Scientist part of me was quite happy here!
National Museum of American History
Then we visited the National Museum of American History. I'm a big TV geek, so I was most happy when I found several pieces of memorabilia from a few of my favourite shows...the dress/curtains from the Gone with the Wind sketch from the Carol Burnett Show, Kermit the Frog (“Hi-di-ho, Kermit the Frog here”) from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street, Arthur Fonzarelli's (the Fonz, wonderfully portrayed by Henry Winkler) leather jacket from Happy Days, and Edith and Archie Bunker's chairs from Norman Lear's iconic and groundbreaking All in the Family.
Through research, in-depth exhibits, extensive collections and public outreach, the museum presents America’s history in all of its complexity. The museum's collection features more than three million artifacts, from Dorothy’s ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz to sheet music written by DC legend Duke Ellington. Much beloved as a source for all things Americana, the museum features the most American artifact of all: the Star-Spangled Banner Flag. The flag flew above Fort McHenry in Baltimore during the War of 1812, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the US national anthem.
It was a good day in Washington. We did see much more, and we were back again a few times more since this first trip….there is always something to see!
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