Sunday, January 14, 2018

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2004. Mattie was almost two years old. That cold weekend, we took Mattie to the Natural History Museum in DC. Mattie was transfixed on the iconic African elephant statue in the rotunda of the Museum. 






Quote of the day: Having rebelled against a centralized authority, the first inclination was to place most of the power in the states and to limit national authority by establishing a weak central legislature. However, the realities of building a nation that faced internal disputes and international affairs led many to reconsider the role of the national government and the need for strong executive leadership. Out of this debate emerged the American presidency. ~ From the Smithsonian's American Presidency Exhibit


Peter and I wanted a change of pace and routine today. It is very needed in this cold weather, where it is easier to stay home all day then venture out. We decided to go to the American History Museum. I must admit that we live close to these museums but rarely go. Why? Well I appreciate the content within the Smithsonian museum system, but frankly I find the museums very crowded, massive, and at times overwhelming in terms of how the content is presented. 

We literally went through four exhibits today. One in greater detail (The American Presidency) and the others not in depth (America on the Move; Food: Transforming the American Table; and The First Ladies). A highlight of the visit is below.  

After the museum, we tried a new restaurant (at least for us) in DC. I tend not to experiment much with restaurants because I don't like being disappointed by what I am eating. Today was no different, the restaurant got a lot of hype and the menu looked good, but I am not going back! Any case, we broke our routine today and even walked home several blocks in single degree temperatures.  

The American Presidency exhibition explores the personal, public, ceremonial and executive actions of the 45 men who have had a huge impact on the course of history in the past 200 years. More than 900 objects, including national treasures from the Smithsonian’s vast presidential collections, bring to life the role of the presidency in American culture.

Visual timeline of all 45 presidents.

This display case was devoted to inaugurals! It included pins, ribbons, and other visuals to commemorate the occasions. 

This exhibit is presented like this.... with displays chuck full of information. You really need to pause and read each placard, otherwise you have no idea what you are seeing. But it is a challenging task because of the number of people who attended this exhibit and also the sheer volume of items in this exhibit. It is easy to get overwhelmed. In addition, because the Smithsonian is trying to preserve documents and items, the lighting is low. Nonetheless it is a wonderful way, if you have time, to learn about the history of our democracy and why and how a three branch governmental system was established. 

The placard said:
"I want to talk for a few minutes with the people of the United States about banking." So began, on March 12, 1933, the first of about thirty informal "fireside chats" that Roosevelt delivered over the radio. His ability to communicate directly and personally through the new medium, addressing each listener as a respected friend, gave FDR a powerful tool to shape public opinion. 

This CBS microphone was used by Roosevelt. 

These were riding chaps worn by Theodore Roosevelt.

Dinner at the White House with the Gorbachevs!

It consisted of:

Columbia River Salmon & Lobster Medallions

Loin of Veal

Medley of Garden Greens 

and check this out....................

Tea sorbet in honey ice cream (which to me sounds absolutely horrible!) 

The placard said:

This brooch given by the people of Paris to Edith Wilson, who accompanied her husband to the WWI peace treaty negotiations in 1919. Rene Lalique designed the pin with glass doves perching on diamond studded gold laurel sprays. 

The placard said:

President John Tyler's administration (1841-1845) established the tradition of playing "Hail to the Chief" as a ceremonial introduction announcing the arrival of the president. The first lady, Julia Tyler, reportedly instructed the US Marine Band to play the song whenever her husband made an official appearance.

The First Ladies exhibit (which maybe one of the most popular exhibits in the Museum) explores the unofficial but important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. 

The exhibit featured more than two dozen gowns from the Smithsonian’s almost 100-year old First Ladies Collection, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. 

Also featured were the china patterns selected by many of the first ladies. I think the patterns in a way captured their personalities. Apparently not every first lady picked a new china set, but I would say over the course of the last 40 years, each first lady had her own pattern.

In the exhibit entitled, Food: Transforming the American Table, you are immediately greeted by a tribute to Julia Child. 

Julia Child’s home kitchen, with its hundreds of tools, appliances, and furnishings, serves as the opening story of the Museum’s first major exhibition on food history. From the impact of innovations and new technologies, to the influence of social and cultural shifts, the exhibition considers how these factors helped transform food and its production, preparation, and consumption in post-WWII America, as well as what we know about what’s good for us.

Believe it or not, Julia Child was over 6 feet tall. Because of her height, her kitchen counters were about three inches higher than your average counter. In addition, she changed how women displayed items in their kitchen. She changed the stark look, in which everything was stored and out of sight, to a kitchen were pots, utensils, and items were part of the kitchen visual and easily accessible. 

Legendary cook and teacher Julia Child (1912–2004) had a tremendous impact on food and culinary history in America. Through her books and television series, which spanned forty years, she encouraged people to care about food and cooking. She inspired many Americans to conquer their fears of the unfamiliar and to expand their ideas about ingredients and flavors, tools and techniques, and meals in general. This kitchen contains tools and equipment from the late 1940's, when Julia Child began her life in food, through to 2001, when she donated this kitchen to the Smithsonian Institution.

Each pot belonged on a certain hook. To assure that each pot was returned to its rightful place, a tracing of the pot can be found underneath it on this cork board. 

The final exhibit! 

The Museum's transportation hall encompasses nearly 26,000 square feet, includes 340 objects, and features 19 historic settings in chronological order. From the coming of the railroad to a California town in 1876 to the role of the streetcar and the automobile in creating suburbs to the global economy of Los Angeles in 1999, America on the Move takes visitors on a fascinating journey. Multimedia technology and environments allows visitors to see historic artifacts as they once were, a vital part of the nation’s transportation system and of the business, social, and cultural history of the country.

Can you see Peter!!??? He was trying to blend in with the statues, all waiting for a Washington, DC trolley car!