The Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Debbie and Andy

I highly recommend a visit to the "new" American History museum on the National Mall. It is impressive!

Andrea's cousin Andy and his wife Debbie paid us a visit this week-end. We spent three hours touring the museum. We probably saw about 1/4 of the museum while there.

Some of the highlights were:

1. Lincoln documents on temporary loan from the Lincoln Presidential Library in Springfield, Illinois including a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and several letters handwritten by Lincoln himself (By the way, he had beautiful penmanship!)


2. An entire section documenting the Lincoln presidency including the top hat that Lincoln was wearing that fateful night at the Ford's Theater

3. An extensive exhibit covering all of the wars in which America/the US has been involved including the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War

Sign at the entrance to this extensive exhibit

Sign explaining the rationing of gasoline during World War II

Poster encouraging Americans to conserve gasoline during World War II

4. Julia Child's kitchen (so many knives!!)

Julia on video

Julia donated her kitchen to the Smithsonian.
She was instrumental in making French cuisine familiar to the American public.

5. The Star-Spangled Banner

The original flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem

6. Original Soda Fountain from the Greensboro Sit-in

The original soda fountain in Greensboro, North Carolina, where college students staged a sit-in in February 1960 to protest the refusal of service to African Americans

a classic statue of George Washington

The sculptor Greenough copied a Greek statue of Zeus. Note the striking similarities.