Well obviously I'm playing catch up again. In early April we had the opportunity to go with Ken to DC for a work conference. The hotel he was staying in was just a mile walk from the Smithsonian, so... to good to pass up. It was overcast and a little rainy, but we we're able to enjoy our time there. So Ken got up to go to work and the kids and I walked to a different museum each day. It was really fun, as the kids and I have been studying in school, several things that we would get to see. If you have not been to the Smithsonian, it is well worth a trip. The museums are wonderful, full of neat and interesting displays, interactive opportunities, kid friendly, and even the cafeteria has really nice food.
We thought this was pretty cool, a fossilized tree. It looked a lot like a palm tree to us.
We started at the Natural History Museum. Lots of bones and rocks, fossils, and artifacts from ancient civilizations.
We thought this was pretty cool, a fossilized tree. It looked a lot like a palm tree to us.
This is in the center dome area of the museum. It is covered with interactive things for kids to listen to, touch, and look through. The boys really enjoyed this.
Aaron looking into an animal hole to see what he can find.
Well one of my girls is about as tall as an elephant leg and one is definitely not.
They have a really nice display through ancient times. Each period has artifacts, as well as life size recreations of how the people lived and worked. This was neat as Hannah has been studying this time period. So we got to see lots of artifacts that she had read about.
Well one of my girls is about as tall as an elephant leg and one is definitely not.
They have a really nice display through ancient times. Each period has artifacts, as well as life size recreations of how the people lived and worked. This was neat as Hannah has been studying this time period. So we got to see lots of artifacts that she had read about.
It was hard to take pictures through glass and plexiglass, not to mention that we had two strollers with wiggly boys. But we did our best. It was nice to have Hannah able and interested in taking pictures too.
They had an arthropod exhibit, which we enjoyed. Aaron really liked looking at the swimming arthropods through the little viewers.
This is what he was looking at.
This is what he was looking at.
Lauren liked the hands on bug exhibit. That's my nature loving girl, excited about getting to hold any kind of creature.
Tomato Horned worm
Stick bug ???
I really like this exhibit. It's amazing the beauty that naturally occurs in rocks. The colors are vibrant and the shapes defy description, some are small and others are huge. Again hard to get good pictures, but really wonderful. God is sure creative, both in creatures and rocks.
They have an enormous exhibit of animals from each continent. It was interesting to see the variety as we traveled from continent to continent. Aaron and Caleb really liked this exhibit. Not sure they realized they were not real or just thought how neat that they were all so still : ).
They also had a beautiful special exhibit of live orchids. It smelled amazing and the variety was unbelievable.
The next day we went to the American History Museum. I think this was my favorite.
They have a special exhibit for the actual flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. We weren't allowed to take pictures, so as not to damage the flag. It is huge, originally 30x42 feet. It is now 8ft shorter, as pieces were cut off for souvenirs, before it was owned by the museum. It was hand sewn by Mary Pickersgill her daughters, nieces and a servant. It was flown over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, when that fort was under siege. Francis Scott Key was on a ship off the coast and when he awoke and saw the flag still flying he knew that the battle had been won and penned a poem, which later was put to music, as the Star Spangled Banner.
Stick bug ???
I really like this exhibit. It's amazing the beauty that naturally occurs in rocks. The colors are vibrant and the shapes defy description, some are small and others are huge. Again hard to get good pictures, but really wonderful. God is sure creative, both in creatures and rocks.
We also got to see the Hope diamond, though our picture didn't turn out, it's spectacular. Though I can't imagine wearing it, it's a whopping 45.5 carats!
They have an enormous exhibit of animals from each continent. It was interesting to see the variety as we traveled from continent to continent. Aaron and Caleb really liked this exhibit. Not sure they realized they were not real or just thought how neat that they were all so still : ).
They also had a beautiful special exhibit of live orchids. It smelled amazing and the variety was unbelievable.
The next day we went to the American History Museum. I think this was my favorite.
They have a special exhibit for the actual flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner. We weren't allowed to take pictures, so as not to damage the flag. It is huge, originally 30x42 feet. It is now 8ft shorter, as pieces were cut off for souvenirs, before it was owned by the museum. It was hand sewn by Mary Pickersgill her daughters, nieces and a servant. It was flown over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, when that fort was under siege. Francis Scott Key was on a ship off the coast and when he awoke and saw the flag still flying he knew that the battle had been won and penned a poem, which later was put to music, as the Star Spangled Banner.
Obviously an artistic representation.
They had a neat exhibit, of a house through time. They actually took a 200 year old house from outside of Boston, and went through the history of the five families that inhabited it from Colonial times through the 1960's and all the changes that occured in the house and in history. It was very interesting to look at history in this way. Here is more information about the exhibit. http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/
They had a hands on science discovery lab - Sparks Lab. They looked at science inventions in American history - electricity, nanos, communication. The girls had fun with experiments and the boys had an area just for them to play and explore too.
Outside the lab they had an area for making your own discoveries and an exhibit that showed many different everyday items and how they came to be.
They had a neat exhibit, of a house through time. They actually took a 200 year old house from outside of Boston, and went through the history of the five families that inhabited it from Colonial times through the 1960's and all the changes that occured in the house and in history. It was very interesting to look at history in this way. Here is more information about the exhibit. http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/
They had a hands on science discovery lab - Sparks Lab. They looked at science inventions in American history - electricity, nanos, communication. The girls had fun with experiments and the boys had an area just for them to play and explore too.
Outside the lab they had an area for making your own discoveries and an exhibit that showed many different everyday items and how they came to be.This section had two big movable fans, pinwheels and lots of ways they can attach. You had to try and build something so the pinwheels would all move at the same time. Aaron liked the spinning and Lauren liked the challenge.
Another exhibit involved the history of transportation, filled with many actual vehicles. Boy heaven.
The last day we went to the Air and Space Museum. An amazing assortment of flying objects of all varieties. Some you look at and can't imagine how it could fly and are impressed with the bravery of those who first attempted.
Apollo Lunar Module. It was hard to imagine being on the moon, in something that looked like it was made out of aluminum foil and stuff from a kids erector set.
They had a fun hands on exhibit about flight and space. Here Lauren is discovery what she weighs on different planets.
Another exhibit involved the history of transportation, filled with many actual vehicles. Boy heaven.
Caleb was quite taken with all the life size "people and pets" He really wanted to pet the dog.
Another favorite was the special exhibit on Abraham Lincoln. It was just too hard to get pictures. You can visit it here,
We also saw Julia Child's kitchen, completely replicated like hers, with many of her items stocking the kitchen. There was a really neat exhibit of First Ladies. It was so neat to see Mary Todd Lincoln's inaugural dress, Dolly Madison's tea set, Martha Washington's dressing mirror and dress as well as dresses from many other first ladies. I really liked the idea that I was feet away from a dress worn by George's wife~ amazing. There was also an exhibit/tribute to those serving our country. It started with the Revolutionary War and went through the Iraq War. It showed the history of each war, the life of a soldier and the politics that set the stage for both war and peace. There was much more to see, but I think you got a good overview.
There was a scuplture garden outside the museum, and since the sun had finally made an appearance we went for a short walk. I thought this one was funny. They had many others, but my camera batteries died.
The last day we went to the Air and Space Museum. An amazing assortment of flying objects of all varieties. Some you look at and can't imagine how it could fly and are impressed with the bravery of those who first attempted.
Apollo Lunar Module. It was hard to imagine being on the moon, in something that looked like it was made out of aluminum foil and stuff from a kids erector set.
They had a fun hands on exhibit about flight and space. Here Lauren is discovery what she weighs on different planets.
Here she is learning how to fly an airplane using controls, it had wind blowing about so it was tricky, you can see her hair blowing. She did pretty well keeping the plane level.
We got to see several planes, whose flights and flyers we have studied in school. That was pretty cool for the girls.
The Spirit of St. Louis, flown by Charles Lindbergh.
The Bleriot, which Lauren and I read about with the book The Glorious Flight. 
The Bleriot, which Lauren and I read about with the book The Glorious Flight.The Wright Brothers
We saw many items from commercial plane history, WWII flying, the Apollo missions, space stations, satelites, lunar exploration. As well as exhibits about the solor system and the history of flight.
I just liked this picture of Aaron, relaxing in the hotel room, watching a video.
The Washington Monument
The Captial Building
It was Cherry Blossom Festival while we were there as well, so some pictures of the famous trees.
I just liked this picture of Aaron, relaxing in the hotel room, watching a video.
Some sites from DC. The White House, through our car window. If you look closely you can see an armed man on the roof top.
The original Smithsonian, with it's identifiably rooftop.
The Washington Monument
The Captial Building
There are many historical buidlings all over and interesting architecture. This church was just outside our hotel. We also walked past the Willard hotel where Lincoln met to try and bring and end to the Civil War, MLK wrote his "I have a dream" speach and many other presidents and notable people have stayed and met. No picture as it was starting to rain.
It was Cherry Blossom Festival while we were there as well, so some pictures of the famous trees.
We had a great time and I look forward to going back, so much to see and do.
1 comment:
Hi Roomie! We were in DC for part of our spring break (late April)and had a good time too. When your little ones get bigger, we recommend the International Spy Museum. A lot of stuff to read in the exhibits, but very cool. Hi to your gang!
Post a Comment