National Mall - Day # 12 - Back to NMAH

It was nice to have a day off from site seeing Sunday, but now we've only got 2 days left to see a few more things so on Monday, after paying for our last two days here, we headed back into the National Mall around 12:20.  We had hoped to get a free 3 hour parking spot on the National Mall, and were very optimistic since it was still raining.  We were hoping the rain would tamp down the number of people visiting the Mall and its attractions, and we were right!  We found a parking place directly across from the National Museum of American History!  It was just a few minutes before 1 pm so that was perfect......we wanted to be on our way out of downtown by 4 to avoid the worst of the traffic.

Right behind me is the NMAH!

We had only seen part of Level 3 on our last visit, but as it turned out the other exhibits on that level are closed for updating, etc., so we headed back downstairs (Level 2 - the entrance level) and went through the Emancipation Proclamation section with essentially chronicles the history of slavery in our country, the Abolitionist movement leading up to the Civil War, the Civil Rights movement, the March on Washington on the 100 year anniversary of the 13th amendment, and finally up to the modern day.  One could spend hours in this exhibit and still not absorb all that is there.  Having grown up in the 50's and 60's I well remember the newspapers and TV news programs reporting on Civil Rights marches, murders, school desegregation, etc.  It does not seem that long ago, but in fact it has been 50+ years.

From there we went over to the exhibit on the "Star Spangled Banner" made famous by Francis Scott Key's words set to an old English drinking song.  As you recall from history class the flag was made by Mary Pickersgill in 1813 during the War of 1812.  In its original form it was 30' by 42'......quite enormous.  This flag was one of two made by her and it was flying over Ft. McHenry in 1814 when the fort came under bombardment by the British Navy.  Of course, we know from the words of Scott's song that after an all night barrage by the British the flag was "still there" the next morning.  The pictures below shows how it looks today some 200 years later.  There is no photography, or videography allowed anywhere in this display, so this picture is from the Smithsonian website.  The flag was given to Lieutenant Colonel George Amistead who was in command of the fort that fateful night.  It remained in his family for almost 100 years before being donated to the Smithsonian Institute in 1912 by an heir of Amistead, Eban Appleton, a New York stockbroker.  He was concerned about the deteriorating condition of the flag and wanted it to be preserved.

Also on Level 2 is a exhibit of a partially reconstructed/preserved house that stood at 16 Elm Street in Ipswich, Mass for 200 years before being donated to the Smithsonian.  The exhibit is called "Within the Walls" and chronicles the lives of the many families who lived in that home over the years, and their part in history....very interesting.

Next up was Level 1, the basement.  On this level is found an exhibit called "Lighting a Revolution - Electricity Hall" which chronicles the history of electricity, lighting, etc.  Then on to "Power Machinery", "On the Water - Stories from Maritime America", and "America on the Move".....my favorite.  I could have spent 3 hours just in "America on the Move"

A 1937 Silver Dome Trailer...around 20' long

Frankly the 1st Level (Basement) is worth a whole day by itself....maybe more.  I hadn't looked at my watch since we walked in the doors of the NMAH......just as we were entering the Martime exhibit I did, and it was 20 minutes to 4.....the time had just melted away once again.

We quickly walked through the Maritime exhibit wishing we had more time, and were back at the car just before 4.  It was still drizzling as we drove up the on ramp of the Interstate, but the drive home was uneventful, and the traffic was not too bad.  

Around 5:30 TLE gave me some chicken breasts to BBQ, and by 6:30 we were sitting down to another great meal....to go along with the chicken TLE reheated her leftover Jambalaya from Murphy's Irish Pub the other night, and added a salad.  That Jambalaya was amazing....but not quite as good as TLE's....:D

All I can say is "WOW!"  We spent the evening reading....me another Zane Grey book, which I finished around midnight.

Tuesday is our last full day here in the D.C. area, and we will be heading to the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Building, and the Portrait Museum.

Thanks for stopping by!