Smithsonian Museums

When we left the apartment this morning, we stepped out into light snow - not enough to settle but enough to fall on us as we walked!  Snow in NY and in DC!

We passed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the US Memorial today.

First museum today was the National Museum of the American Indian - 4 floors of displays, videos, artifacts and activities.It features the lifeways, history, and art of indigenous people throughout the American continent.  We started the visit by watching a short video, Who We Are, which celebrated the diversity and vitality of Indian life in many regions.  There were displays on Indians fighting in wars such as the Civil War, WWI and WWII, Korea and Vietnam.  One of the men who was photographed raising the US flag on Iwa Jima was an Indian - he said afterwards that he wished the photo had never been taken.  He ended up drinking and died about 33yrs old - he couldn't cope with the ongoing publicity.  There was also a display on how Indians have been portrayed - and used - in advertising, and one on treaties over the years with various tribes.

A Guswenta, a two-row Wampum belt - one double row of dark beads represents an Indian canoe carrying everything they believe to be true - the other row symbolizes the European's ship, carrying everything they believe to be true - these show coexistence, a treaty.

One thing I read is that death is not an ending - it is a continuation of life.  That was quite appropriate today, as just after we started our visit, Eric received a call from his mum who said that Opa had very recently died, with her with him.  Monday 5th NZ time; Sunday 4th US time.  We all spent a few moments together, in silence, remembering.

We ate lunch under the eaves of the museum, before stepping next door - in the rain by this time - to the National Air and Space Museum.  We allowed ourselves 5 hours here,  and even though we were tired by the end of it, none of us had seen all the alcoves and bays.  Pita, Eric & I went on a 1.5hr guided highlights tour - 2 hrs later, we completed our own viewing.  Man, the docent who guided us knew his stuff!  Apparently, most of the guides were commercial pilots.  Highlights were seeing the Wright Brothers plane, one of Amelia Earhart's aircraft, and hearing about the Apollo 11 lunar lander and the issues they had with it.  Going in to land on the moon, they discovered computer issues - two programmes had never been run together (the landing programme and the emergency abort programme) and there was not enough memory; they were off course for their intended landing site and were close to running out of fuel; they did not land heavily enough so the legs which were designed to crumple on impact had not done so, therefore the ladder did not reach to the ground when they descended.  I did see mention of Jean Batten in the Golden Age of Flight display.

1903 Wright Flyer

Wright Model EX , Vin Fizz - the 1st commercial advertising on or by an aircraft

Amelia Earahart's Lockheed 5B Vega

Charles Lindbergh's Ryan NYP, Spirit of St Louis.  Note the lack of front window - he leaned out of the door for take off and landing!

Apollo Lunar module

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project

Sea-Air Operations

When we left the museum at 5:30pm, it was still raining, and we faced a 20min walk to our apartment.  By the time we made it to Union Station, and our dinner stop at the food court, our trousers were soaked.  They all went into the washing machine and drier when we made it back.

We are now watching the Super Bowl - Philadelphia Eagles vs New England Patriots.