We've been to the older Museum of American History quite a few times. Pete is quite taken with the Star Spangled Banner, but the place is shockingly devoid of any history before that unfortunate falling out of 1776. It turns out that all the original history is up the road in another, brand new, building.
Here we got to sit in kayaks, build an igloo, listen to several live musical performances (including Stand By Me sung in Iroquoian, which was...interesting), and get a whistle-stop tour of any number of cultures stretching from Chile to Alaska. Interestingly, a new National Museum of African American History is opening in a few months. So soon you'll be able to choose which version of history you want to see - there's nothing more American than personal choice!
On our way to the gallery an unforeseen blessing occurred when Pete fell asleep in his buggy, which hasn't happened for months; Hannah and I got to act like adults and actually stop and look at pictures and stuff. The Spacey portrait is right there as you walk in, painted by British artist Jonathan Yeo, the pretend president looking suitably formidable and unimpressed by us minions looking up at him.
The gallery shares the building with the American Art Museum so there's no end of weird and wonderful modern things on display, surprising few of which elicited the usual "my-three-year-old-could-have-done-that" response.
The centre of the building is a huge courtyard that's been covered by Sir Norman Foster in a similar way he did The British Museum in London. We adults sipped a coffee as the child slept on, taking in the sunshine that fell through the impressive glass roof. You see? Architecture, politics, painting, or television, the Brits just do it better. Now about re-establishing the monarchy over here...
On the Metro into Washington. Real political adverts are banned on public transport, I imagine. Things are starting to feel weird.
The American Indian museum. Nice building.
Keep paddling!
I don't have words to describe how difficult it was to build this igloo from slippy vinyl blocks. I will say we got many plaudits from various other parents standing around.
I have no idea what's going on here.
An American lunch out.
The portrait! It is actually pretty impressive when you see it.
Hannah interprets.
Pete keeps sleeping.
United States of Television.
They had Katharine Hepburn's Oscars in there! Will I ever win one of my own? No.
The building inside...
...and outside. All-in-all, a very nice day out.
