A Definite Must See: The Newseum in Washington DC!

*
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.

*
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
*

The Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC

*
Finally made it back from DC and Virginia! Had a wonderful time just over a week.
Didn't get much time online in DC because I ran myself ragged all day then was exhausted at night.
In Virginia I was in the mountains and didn't get cell or internet for the most part.

The Nightly News Withdrawal was hard at first then settled down after a bit.
Symptoms included: twitching, trying to read papers over people's shoulders on the Metro, mumbling to oneself over headlines and trying to watch internet news late at night when it was possible but falling asleep soon as I sat still or lay down.

Now I'm still playing catch up, a lot happens in just over a week... locally and nationally.

On Friday in DC I walked the whole memorial pathway taking my time and most of the day.


The walk is reasonably long but there are plenty places to sit and rest along the way.
The Cherry Blossom Festival started the next day and the blossoms were opening all over and very pretty!
I chose to walk along the water's edge as much as I could there were higher paths too.

First stop was the Jefferson Memorial on a gorgeous day.





I have a lot of photos that I'll try to upload over the next few days.
I want to do the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial separately and with the care it deserves.

Glad to be back though I love to travel... wish I could do more.

G'night,

Laura
*

Washington DC day two of the adventure

*
Was exhausted last night so I didn't get to post anything about trip but boy did I walk around DC.
Went to the National Museum of Natural History and walked around and walked the whole trip around to all the monuments, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, FDR, Vietnam War Memorial, Korean and WW I and II memorials.
I took the long walk and sat along the way just enjoying the water and gorgeous views you can't get by bus when you only stop at each thing but don't wander around enough.

The Vietnam War Memorial is so amazing and moving I will do a complete post on it when I return home in order to do it justice...

The spider is a sculpture by the Natural History Museum next to where I stopped to get a soda I was so parched from walking.
I thought it was kinda interesting.






Tomorrow I'm off to the Newseum with Collin.

Watched an IMAX movie today that was called Deep Sea 3D. It was outrageous. Jellyfish, coral reefs, seaweed, water, sharks, starfish, whales and schools of fish came right out to you in great detail. If you get a chance to see something like that do it!!! Really awesome experience. (yes, I realize I said awesome)

Well, feet hurt and I'm going to go to bed now really could use some sleep.

G'night

Laura
*

Day One: US Capitol and the Botanical Gardens…

Day one of the adventure: Thursday.
Rainy but surprisingly warm day in DC spent today getting used to the Metro again and wandering the Capitol and Botanical Gardens.
I have to say that the DC Metro is much cleaner than NYC’s Subways but the stairs up can be killers since the escalators don’t always work and my knees don’t like that many stairs.
Today I had the interesting experience of being half way up on a long escalator when it quit. Weird sensation.

I always go to the Botanical Gardens whenever I get to DC.
If I lived here I would go there all the time to sit and write or read.
Humans are around so much man-made things all the time we forget that we really are part of a much larger ecosystem. Humbling and peaceful.
My son cooked me dinner of Lemon/garlic chicken breasts.

Well, off to bed, busy day tomorrow.
G’night,
Laura

Planes, Trains & Automobiles... Greetings from the nation’s capitol.

*
My day was rather like the Steve Martin/John Candy movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles.”
I set out early by truck, then moved on to train and then bus, but no planes Though I’m going to Reagan National Airport to rent a car for a side trip over to Virginia next week. I’m going to visit an old friend I haven’t seen in person for over 15 years.

The adventure begins…

Tomorrow I’m going out to play tourist and take photos along the way.
Catching up on the news right now, the bus had internet but not always consistent enough to watch video.

Tired.
G’night