I was in Washington DC last week, and I am frustrated that I missed two very fun things.
First I just missed the start of the American Humanist Association’s, “Why believe in God” campaign on DC buses. See that Atheist person for more info.
Secondly, the totally renovated American History museum is opening this weekend. It has been closed for two years. I even had someone tell me that they had gone to it. They may have confused it with the new Sant Ocean Hall at the Natural History museum.
I will have to hit the American History Museum next time I am in DC.
Instead I visited several other sites.
I made my second visit to the Sant Ocean Hall. I have mixed feelings about it. I think the glossy exhibits overwhelm many of the items on display. Big glossy sign boards for a four ounce jar containing a dessicated fish is a jarring disconnect. As much as I love the institution, I always think of the Smithsonian as being a bunch of packrats who display what every they have managed to collect. The resulting collections are often hodgepodges. The Sant Ocean Hall just reinforces this image. My main reason for returning to the Natural History Museum was to go to the two gift stores on the lower level. My nephews are getting 36″ gummy snakes and suckers with edible insects in their stockings.
The last time I was in DC we went to the National Portrait Gallery, but we did not make it to the third floor. Since I parked nearby I went back. If you go, do check out the mezzanine sections of the third floor. The Luce Foundation Center is on one of the mezzanines, basically a visible archive. I always like those. It is like a easter egg hunt, you never know what you are going to find. The Jug with Rattlesnake was one of my favorites.
The US Naval Memorial, is worth stopping at if you are walking by or are really into naval history, I am not. I was there for five minutes. Maybe if it was not pouring down rain I would have enjoyed it more.
I pretty much stumbled upon the Air Force Memorial. I was heading for the shopping mall nearby and took some wrong turns. The memorial is certainly worth seeing. It has a simple elegance and it overlooks the pentagon and Arlington cemetery. I would like to return some time at night.
I always recommend seeing the memorials at night. My all time favorite is the Korean War Memorial. It is dark an spooky. The Korean War Memorial is beside the Lincoln Memorial. If you are in that area go find Albert. He is a bit hard to find but well worth visiting.
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