October 29 - 2017 Dumfries, Virginia

MUSEUMS

Englishman James Smithson (1765-1829) left in his will (testamente), $508,318

to the young country of the United States of America. The money was to be used to “found an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge”

(et sted der ville fremme og formidle viden). The Smithsonian Institution was founded.

Almost 200 years later, that $508,318 has turned into 19 museums, a zoo, and 9 research facilities (forskningsinstitutter). It is the world’s largest museum and research complex, most of which are in Washington DC. They are all open to the public, and have free admission (gratis)😊

During our visits to the city, we have visited several of the museums. They are all packed with information and interesting artifacts (genstande). These are the museums we chose to see, and some of the things we saw:

National Air and Space Museum:

Lunar landing module

A selection of full size rockets

A selection of full size airplanes

The Wright brothers' "Flyer"
1st powered aircraft from 1903

National Museum of American History:

All the museums are big, but this one is huge!

The Smithsonian has earned the nickname (øgenavn) "America's Attic" (Amerikas pulterrum/loft). Nowhere is that more obvious than at the museum of American History. There is so much different stuff in there and you can spend days in there, and still not see it all.

Among many many other things, for instance:

Star Spangled Banner from Fort McHenry (USA's flag der inspirerede nationalsangen).
Statue of Liberty in Legos
Stage coaches (diligencer)
Muhammed Alis boxing gloves
Bill Clintons saxophone
Steam engines (dampmaskiner)
Early electrical stuff- like fans and toasters (ventilator og brødrister)
Street cars (sporvogne)
Lots of cars and trucks
Indiana Jones’s whip and hat
China (spisestel) from at least 10 presidents
A complete house from early colonial time
The dresses from a great number of first ladies
etc. etc. etc.

And much more, like the following:

One of Thomas Edison's early light bulbs - 1879



Steam locomotive - 1876



First automobile to make a cross country trip in 1903

Yard ornaments - designed in 1957

Macintosh - 1984 



Quilt - mid 1800's



The hat Abraham Lincoln was wearing, when he got shot

National Museum of the American Indian:

 

Adult male Lakota clothing 

 

Totem pole 

 

Ojibwa Birch bark canoe

 

We have referred to Ira Hayes and the Iwo Jima monument
several times on the blog. We found Ira and his story at the museum.
Now you can read what it is all about. 

 

 

National Portrait Gallery:

 

JJ found portraits of the 4 "greatest" presidents (in his opinion) -

 

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

Franklin D. Roosevelt

 

Ronald Reagan

National Postal Museum:


Stage coaches delivered mail in the early 1800's









 

This bag was invented, so the mail could be picked up, without the train
having to stop. It was grabbed through an open window, as the train passed.

Ever wondered about Zip codes (postnumre)?



Every time we see something that reminds us of home, we have to take a picture. Here are some international mail boxes - including a Danish one.

Written by Mary