Museum of American History

Washington, DC

Smithsonian
National Museum of American History

We LOVE American History!

We spent a day discovering national treasures here at the Museum of American History.

At the end of this post, the kids will tell you about two of the things we were most excited to see...

Abraham Lincoln's hat

and the flag that flew over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812,

inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner.

We can hardly believe we got to actually see these things.

As Ellie said, "In most museums, it says 'Replica. The real ____ is at the Smithsonian Museum.'"

Here's just a little of what we saw...

In "American Stories"...

William Bradford's silver cup!

Ben Franklin's walking stick,

which he willed to George Washington.

Penicillin mold, given to the Smithsonian by Alexander Fleming himself

Microphone used by FDR for his "fireside chats"

The ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz movie

 Apolo Ohno's skates and Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves

Woolworth's lunch counter where the Greensboro sit-in happened

In "Price of Freedom"

The Continental Gunboat Philadelphia, built and sunk in 1776

George Washington's sword

 Yep, actual horse from the Civil War

 Sergeant Stubby from WWI

Cher Ami, hero of WWI

 Ellie the Riveter

Brie remembers seeing this magazine in a doctor's office waiting room.

She had been telling us about it after visiting the Flight 93 Memorial,

and then here was the very magazine, in a history museum.

Do you think George Washington would like this statue?

It does represent what was probably the most significant thing this great leader did...

hand the power to the people, symbolized by the sword.

In "The American Presidency"...

The actual desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence!!

Chess board used by John Quincy Adams

Cast of Lincoln's hands

 Teddy Roosevelt's chaps

Martha Washington's dress

In "Places of Invention" and "Object Project"...

And, modeling historic American clothing... 😉

Here is a little something Brie wrote... Can you guess the subject?

The last stitch was sewn in place.  I felt complete at last!  My ladies sank back in utter proud exhaustion.  They looked at me and talked for awhile amongst themselves.  Then they left.

A while later, the women came back with their men.  I felt my edges begin to fold, and after quite a lot of painstaking work between all of us, I was tucked up neatly and placed in a bag.

There was no light for me for many a day, and I dreamed of being able to spread myself free in the the wind, every corner flapping triumphantly.

I was jostled.  Then of a sudden, I came out into my new home.  It took many men to prepare me for my new seat of glory.  After all those days of waiting and hoping, I finally began to rise.  Bit by bit, piece by piece, I felt my fabric lift and get a taste of the breeze that would be forever mine.  

I am climbing.  I can spread out.  I can see!

My purpose is finally filling me.

Here I am, at the top of my pole.  Oh!  To stretch, to dance, to burst my message to mankind high in the sky.  The wind is my friend now, and I can watch over my fort, Fort McHenry.

I am now a guardian of the sky.

You couldn't take photos of the actual flag, so this is a photo of a postcard.

The rest of Brie's story will be on her blog if you'd like to read it and find out... 

What happened to that flag?

And now, a selection from Ellie.

I was given to him for a special occasion,

A time to relax and enjoy newfound peace.

He took me out of my box and positioned me carefully on his head.

He straightened his collar and stepped out the door, 

taking the hand of his lady and escorting her to the carriage.

A carriage ride.

A conversation.

A deep sigh. 

“Well earned rest”.

Out of the carriage, 

Into the theater.

He takes his seat in the special booth.

Whispers,

Dimmed lights,

The show begins.

This well-worn man relaxes, smiles, maybe even laughs.

Suddenly, gunfire.

Screams.

Men shouting.

He collapses.

I topple off his head.

He is carried out.

His wife picks me up as she cries and rubs my brim.

From the side table I see the story unfold in that room.

Everything is tried. 

Nothing can be done.

He is gone. 

Now I rest here, in this case of glass.

A window though time.

As people pass by, I hope they stop, and look.

And remember a great man.

We are so thankful for the National Museum of American History where we can do just that.

Stop, and look, and remember the great men and women who have sacrificed much

to give us the gift and the trust that is the United States of America.

And, as Jadan's story hints at, we all have our stories to tell...

stories that weave together with the great men and women of our day

to write the continuing story of our great nation...

     I was sitting in a hat shop on March 7, 1861. I am a hat. Well, I’m a special hat that could talk. I come from a long line of special hats. Some produced candies from their tops when you opened them, and some made whatever was in them invisible, which I hear were very popular with magicians. Anyway, in 1861, in a hat shop where I had sat in a glass case for a few years, a funny-looking man walked into the store. I stared at him through the clear, thick walls of my home. Old Benwick, the hat shop owner and my longtime friend, seemed very excited about this new shopper. I think the man was looking for a hat, because Benwick pointed to me. The funny man walked over and peered into my case. “It’s a very good-looking hat,” I heard him say. “But it’s a little expensive, don’t you think?” Berwick took out his little silver key and opened my case. “Not at all. In fact I sell him for quite cheaper than most who know about these kind of hats. Say hello, Charlie.” Charlie was, in fact, the name Benwick had given me, so I politely said: “How do you do sir? Fine-” But before I could say: “Weather we’re having,” The funny man stumbled back and let loose an exclamation to which I will not elude. I tend to have that effect on people.

     The funny man regained his balance and said, laughing: “A nice trick, that is. Where’s the lad who’s speaking?” Benwick picked me up and said: “There’s no trick. This is a very special hat, Mr. Lincoln. Charlie speaks.” The man whose name was Mr. Lincoln looked at me, curiously. “Is that true, Charlie?” “Yes.” I answered plainly. Mr. Lincoln’s eyes bulged, hearing the words come straight from the hat before him. “Well, I’ll be…” He murmured. “Yes, sir, Mr. Benwick, I’d like this hat very much.” And that is when Mr. Lincoln bought me. Benwick patted my top, and said: “Enjoy your new home, Charlie. Goodbye.” I was a little sad to leave, but I was soon on top of Mr. Lincoln’s head and in a carriage, speeding down the street. “Well, Charlie,” Said Mr. Lincoln. “It’s nice to meet you. I’ve never met a talking hat before.” “Nor I such a tall man.” I replied. Which was true. He was very, very tall. The carriage roof was quite close to me, and Mr. Lincoln was slightly bent forward to keep me from hitting it. He laughed. “Have you been on other people’s heads before?” He asked. I thought for a minute, trying to remember my past owners. “Yes,” I said slowly. “There was Dr. Perrit, and when he died, I went to Mr. Armsfield, then Mr. Fen, and then to you.” “That’s quite a lot of heads.” Mr. Lincoln said. “Yes,” I replied. “I’m 229 years old, I think.” Mr. Lincoln asked: “Tell me about your past friends, if you may.” So I began my tale.

We hope that the rest of Jadan's tale will be on his blog soon.

As for your tale, we pray you write it well...