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.
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| Outside |
We were naturally drawn to the Food exhibit, subtitled "Transforming the American Table."
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| 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.
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| Julia Child's kitchen |
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| 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.
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| 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."
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| Fast food history |
The back of the exhibit has information on beer and wine, including little bits about Prohibition.
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| Beer as history...sign me up! |
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| Home brew stuff |
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| Wine industry |
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| Tools of the vineyard |
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| Post-Prohibition |
A sign explained that this Berkeley Food Pyramid was a joke made when food pyramids were very popular.
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| Definitely a California thing |
The display of Mexican food included the first frozen margarita machine!
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| I'd rather have Mexican than Berkeley |
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| 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.
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| My first pinball |
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| Picking out clothes |
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| Making a city block |
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| Unstable sky scraper |
Across the way is the Gallery of Numismatics, an exhibit on money.
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| 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.
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| Coins of various realms |
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| 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.
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| Saint-Gaudens at work |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
The top floor has a pop culture area that had lots of things I was excited about.
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| The droids and me |
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| Cap's shield |
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| Indiana Jones gear |
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| Sign from M*A*S*H |
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| Julie Newmar's Catwoman ears, necklace, and gloves |
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| Julie Newmar as Catwoman! |
The museum has a lot of other displays, so I am sure we will go back some day.
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