Smithsonian Museum of American History

We made a Sunday trip into the District of Columbia (free parking!) and visited the National Museum of American History (again, see here). There are lots of exhibits, more than a half-day visit can take in. We viewed some new stuff.

Outside

We were naturally drawn to the Food exhibit, subtitled "Transforming the American Table."

Who can resist?

By the entrance is a recreation of Julia Child's kitchen. She was a celebrity chef in the mid-1900s, with many books and a TV show boosting her fame. She brought French cooking to America.

Julia Child's kitchen

She even won an Emmy award!

One display has a Krispy Kreme donut machine, which seems like a valuable item to put on display without maximum security.

Donut maker on right

Fast food is also represented, including this display of various to-go cup tops and a Jack-in-the-Box drive-thru display. The description said that the first drive-thrus had warnings that a "disembodied voice" would talk to them. I remember the two-sided burger containers that kept "the hot side hot and the cold side cold." 

Fast food history

The back of the exhibit has information on beer and wine, including little bits about Prohibition.

Beer as history...sign me up!

Home brew stuff

Wine industry

Tools of the vineyard

Post-Prohibition 

A sign explained that this Berkeley Food Pyramid was a joke made when food pyramids were very popular.  

Definitely a California thing

The display of Mexican food included the first frozen margarita machine!

I'd rather have Mexican than Berkeley

Another item that I wouldn't mind taking home

We found a more interactive exhibit in SparkLab. It's aimed at younger visitors and activities include making a pinball machine, choosing a uniform, and building a city block.

My first pinball

Picking out clothes

Making a city block

Unstable sky scraper

Across the way is the Gallery of Numismatics, an exhibit on money.

The sort of place they should keep the donut and margarita machines

Coins have a long history, going back to at least the seventh century BC. Some coins are more creative than others. Ancient Roman coins were made in a building next to the Temple of Juno Moneta (a combination of the more famous goddess Juno with a local goddess named Moneta). The temple probably stored coins and raw materials for making coins, and "moneta" became a root for "monetary" and "money" in English. 

Coins of various realms

Chinese coins included knives!

When American coins were redesigned in 1905, Augustus Saint-Gaudens was one of the artists who created images to be used.

Saint-Gaudens at work

Women in American money

Some coins are definitely not pocket change, like this piece of currency from the Island of Yap in the Pacific Ocean.

A coin from the island of Yap

We went for a snack in the museum's cafe (serving Starbucks) that has a fun Jazz theme.

Warm beverages

A lot of the poster were painted by LeRoy Neiman, an American artist. He painted a large compilation of Jazz artists at the entrance of the cafe.

Neiman's Big Band

The top floor has a pop culture area that had lots of things I was excited about.

The droids and me

Cap's shield

Indiana Jones gear

Sign from M*A*S*H

Julie Newmar's Catwoman ears, necklace, and gloves

Julie Newmar as Catwoman!

The museum has a lot of other displays, so I am sure we will go back some day.