National Museum of American History, Part 1

My final stop on my trip to Washington, DC was the National Museum of American History (NMAH), part of the Smithsonian. I had visited the museum as a child about twenty years earlier and remembered the thrill of seeing famous artifacts throughout American culture. However, my memory did not prepare me for the 7-hour, 700-photo adventure that was my experience at NMAH. From the Star-Spangled Banner to presidential china to more cars and trains than I could have ever imagined, my final posts of this year (number of parts to be determined) will feature the wonders of this extraordinary museum.

Arriving on the second floor as the museum opened, my first stop was the Star-Spangled Banner, the same flag seen by Francis Scott Key while he wrote the lyrics to the national anthem of the United States. The banner is kept in a dimly lit room under special lighting to preserve its delicate fabric. Some people with decreased night vision may not be able to see while in the gallery, resulting in collisions with the wall. What happens near the banner stays near the banner. Speaking of walls, nearby was “Within These Walls”, a historic house that once stood in Ipswich, MA but now lives in the museum. I was delighted to see the Georgian-style house from a different perspective than my usual visits to its former neighbors. Rather than touring the inside of the house, I read signage around the house that described the lives of its families and studied bright red models that explained how the house changed over time. Just outside this gallery was a massive statue of George Washington dressed as Cincinnatus, a Roman farmer-general. I had learned all about this popular depiction of the president when visiting the American Independence Museum in Essex, NH, but this was by far the largest statue in this style.

Moving right along, I stopped by “Many Voices, One Nation”, which held artifacts created by people from all facets of the American experience. I especially enjoyed a case filled with homemade musical instruments along with a model steamboat, although this represented one method of trafficking enslaved people along major waterways. While walking through Walter M. Coulter Unity Square to the opposite side of the second floor, I passed the Greensboro Lunch Counter, once the site of peaceful protest. One of the lunch counter chairs is now at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which I had visited the day before. In the changing exhibition, I learned the contributions of Latina journalists in a bilingual exhibit. While watching selected clips from television interviews generously provided by Univision, I was delighted to realize I could understand most of what the reporters said thanks to their measured cadence and use of simple sentences.

I next headed upstairs to the third floor, which included some of the most famous artifacts on display. I started with the exhibit “American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith”, which included protest signs, an ornate clock covered with symbols of the United States, and artifacts belonging to John Quincy Adams. Across the floor was the busiest exhibit, “Entertainment Nation”, with objects from every side of the burgeoning American entertainment industry. I imagine this exhibit is continually evaluated and updated so people of all ages see something of interest. Having visited the home of Charles Stratton and Mercy Lavinia Warren Bump, better known as General and Mrs. Tom Thumb, during a trip to Middleborough, MA, I was delighted to see a pair of shoes worn by Mercy Warren. The droids C3PO and R2D2 were more crowded, as was a costume worn by Lin-Manuel Miranda while playing Alexander Hamilton in his famous musical. Other delightful items on display were the puppets Lamb Chop from the 1990s TV show Lamb Chop’s Play-Along, along with Bert, Ernie, and Rosita from Sesame Street. Rounding out this section were sneakers worn by Mr. Rogers, the ruby slippers worn by Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, and the chair of Archie Bunker from All in the Family.

That is all for Part 1, but I saw so much at NMAH! I will continue sharing pictures of my favorite things throughout the week.