A Definite Must See: The Newseum in Washington DC!

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I didn’t think I’d find the Newseum as interesting as I did. The other museums off the mall are for the most part free such as the Smithsonian museums like Air and Space, Natural History, Portrait Gallery, the Botanical Gardens and others.
The Newseum costs $20.00 which isn’t that bad a deal because you can easily spend the day there. There are many interactive news stations, Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, and movies such as the one on the 9/11 attacks that is outstanding and emotional.

The antenna from the top of one of the twin towers is on display with the front pages from all over the world from the time.

There is a portion of the Berlin Wall, a story display and a gun tower from the wall.

There are political cartoons, tributes to journalists that have lost their lives, print presses and many displays of interest pertaining to the news.

What fascinated me however were the actual newspapers housed in glass drawers with the front pages showing that chronicled major news stories over time and first editions of many major magazines. It was hard for me to photograph the oldest newspapers/pamphlets because of the camera I had and lighting on that side.


I think I opened every drawer there was. Politely asking folk that were standing around talking to move so I could pull out the bottom drawers. Such history in that room starting from the 1500’s to present day.







And if you’re tired from all the walking around and thinking about the relationship between the past, present and the future you can go up to the top floor of the Newseum and wander outside. The view is spectacular and really brings the whole experience into perspective looking out over the Capitol (at least it did for me).

I highly recommend the Newseum. It was a lot of fun and worth the admission. “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” is taped within the Newseum. I was glad I checked it out! If you go to the Newseum website: Front Pages there are 795 front pages from 68 countries every day and archives. Absolutely awesome to the news junkie! I hope newspapers never die off. I really do.

G’night,

Laura

Highpoints of the National Museum of Natural History Washington DC.

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Went to the National Museum of Natural History to see the Butterfly Pavilion near the Insect Zoo. It was worth the short wait in line. Inside there are butterflies of many different size, color and shapes flying around freely among all the flowers and plants.

It's very humid and warm but other than that it was a lot of fun to watch them flitting about and sometimes landing on people wandering through. There were a number of people that watched to make sure the butterflies weren't injured and if you didn't want one hitching a ride around with you the caretakers would come with a paintbrush to gently shoo them off of you. When leaving you went into a small room with mirrors all around where they checked to make sure no butterflies were sneaking out with you into the museum.

Afterwards we went to the Insect Zoo. The first time I visited the Insect area of the NMNH was many, many years ago and back then they still let chosen people hold tarantulas but they don't anymore (for the safety of the spiders.) That's me holding the giant hissing cockroach and my son with the butterfly on his head.















I recommend the Smithsonian Museums to all. They are definitely a national treasure and they are free (you can leave a donation).

G'night,

Laura
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