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Washington DC: National Museum of American History

by Mary Jo Manzanares on April 21st, 2006

I spend a lot of time in the Washington DC area.

There are so many things to do and see there, that it can be overwhelming.  You can’t see all the sights in a day, or a week, for the matter.  But, by breaking things down into smaller increments of time, you can see what the city has to offer in some depth and without making yourself crazy.

I was in town on Easter Sunday, and a friend and I set out to see the American History Museum.   A registered historic landmark, the museum is located on the National Mall, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.  The museum is scheduled to close to the public on September 5th for a major renovation, so visiting it before it closed became a priority.

Since its opening in 1964, the museum has amassed a collection of over three million artifacts representing the broad spectrum of experiences of the American people. 

It is a repository of history, experiences, and culture, both high and low, that make up America.  Some of the more popular artifacts include:  the original Star-Spangled Banner, Abraham Lincoln’s top hat, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the flag hanging at the Pentagon (in photo) on September 11th.

I’d seen a few exhibits in the not too distant past, but hadn’t been through the complete museum for some time.  We opted to do a quick browse through many of the exhibits, spending a little more time in others that caught our eye.  At that pace, the museum was easily viewed in a couple of hours.

Some exhibits where we lingered:

Disneyland:  The First 50 Years.  Just looking at the teacups made me reflect on how sick I would get from all that twirling.

Whatever Happened to Polio?  My father had polio, and it was interesting to look at how the treatment of the disease has evolved.  It brought back memories of the struggle my parents went through to get us kids to quit fussing during our polio shots, and how happy we were when the oral vaccine came on the scene.

Separate is Not Equal:  Brown v. Board of Education.  Watch the short video; there are some pretty sobering facts about why it wasn’t equal.  How far we’ve come, yet how far there still is to go.

America on the Move is an exhibit of cars, buses, train, subways, and other modes of transportation from 1870 to the present.  Lots of good memories here ““ from the great classic cars from my childhood to the public transportation El of Chicago ”“ we spent time talking about how different our respective childhoods were.

First Ladies:  Political Role and Public Image.  This is probably my favorite exhibit, and I’ve been through it a couple of times, always noticing something new.  Our first ladies are all too frequently relegated to a footnote in history, and this exhibit does a nice job of showing us that they were big contributors to the development of our nation.  (A good book to read on this subject is:  Founding Mothers:  The Women Who Raised our Nation.)

Star Spangled Banner.  The flag can currently be viewed in a temperature and lighting controlled environment as it undergoes its restoration process.  The restoration of the flag is expected to be completed when the museum reopens, and will be on display in a state-of-the-art gallery specifically designed for its display.

The American History Museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily.  Extended summer hours (May 26th ““ September 3rd) are till 6:30 pm daily.  Admission is free.

Photo credits:  Jon Rochetti, c. 2006 

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POSTED IN: Things to See & Do