National Air & Space Museum Monday, Jun 7 2010

Lunar Replica

The National Air & Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution offers an excellent introduction and overview of aviation history.  The Wright brothers receive a deserved honorary place in the development of early flight.  “Exploring the Planets” provided some interesting comparisons with our nearest neighbors.  The Albert Einstein planetarium offered an interesting exploration of “Black Holes.”  The Apollo missions culminated in man visiting and returning from the moon.  Seeing the space suit of Neil Armstrong poised in front of the Lunar Landng capsule brought back memories of seeing the landing on a small black aand white television in the mountains of central Oregon on Juoly 20, 1969.  An interesting feature of “Beyond the Limits” was the developments of computers and how they assist flight.  “Flight in the Arts” displays some remarkable photography of the moon, planets, and galaxy.  Given the incredible developments of the past century, it is hard to imagine what might unfold in future decades.

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Holocaust Museum & More Monday, Jun 7 2010

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., documents Nazi horrors from 1933-1945.  The permanent exhibit is on three floors and starts on the fourth floor.  Within six months of being appointed Germany’s Chancellor, Hitler seized power and started eliminating political opposition.  Over the next several years Nazis focused their propaganda on establishing an Aryan race while systematically eliminating the rights of Jews.  Citizenship removed, businesses shut down, families relocated, and books burned.  Some Jews were able to leave, but many had no place to go.  Unfortunately, the United States, recovering from the Great Depression, did not provide an open immigration policy.  The horrors of the six million Jews, gypsies, Soviet POWs, Poles, dissidents, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and disabled are documented on the third floor of the Museum.  Samples of hair and shoes give a sample of the consequence of this depravity.  Those who made an effort to save Jews are documented on the second floor.  The Hall of Remembrance, a six-sided 60 foot space illuminated by a skylight , was an appropriate place to reflect on this experience.  Jimmy Carter summarized his reaction on 9/27/1979: “Out of our memory … of the Holocaust we must forge an unshakable oath with all civilized people that never again will the world stand silent, never again will the world … fail to act in time to prevent this terrible crime of genocide …  We must harness the outrage of our own memories to stamp out oppression wherever it exists.  We must understand that human rights and human dignity are indivisible.”

Lincoln Memorial

The Lincoln Memorial features the impressive statue designed by Daniel Chester French housed within a 36 Doric column structure representing each state at the time of Lincoln’s death. This Memorial symbolizes the Union that Lincoln pledged to preserve.  By freeing slaves, this great American leader strove to correct the call that “all men are created equal.”

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, conceived by Maya Ying Lin, uses polished black granite to inscribe the names of the 58,256 names in chronological order by date of casualty.

The National World War II Memorial has distinctive pavilions at its north and south ends marking the war’s two major theaters, the Atlantic and Pacific.  The Rainbow Pond fills the interior space.

Washington Monument & Capitol at Night

The distinctive Washington Monument stands out wherever one is on the National Mall.  It is always begging for another picture, whether throwing a shadow across a reflection pool or surrounded by flags.

The White House Visitor Center describes the history of the President’s home, offers interesting stories related to those who have lived there, and displays various artifacts.

The National Aquarium, on the lower level of the Department of Commerce, has examples of the fish and conditions of various protected maritime environments.

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