11/19/08
Can you guess what was my favorite part?? Can you?My
favorite part of the Smithsonian was the Museum of Natural History
(pictured above as I was leaving) – specifically the Geology department
(
would it be anything else?) and the Air and Space Museum (
I am such a nerd).
There was one part I was disappointed in about the Air and Space Museum
though – and no I am not bragging here it was the truth and it
irritated me (
I know, you are all like – well Stephanie, so many things irritate you, how can we keep track?)
I already knew everything I read. All of it. Really. In fact I thought
several of the exhibits were lacking information and could have been
updated a tad, especially the ones on Dark Matter, Black Holes (
Stephen Hawking’s new theory, which really isn’t all that new anymore, wasn’t even mentioned and its kind of a big deal), and Planet Hunting & Discoveries of Exoplanets (
ones outside our solar system). I know - nerd – nerd, nerd, nerd, nerd, nerd.
A monument outside the National Air and Space Museum.
I
also really enjoyed the fine art gallery. I traversed the complex
pausing at each painting taking in the artist, the style, the subject
and the period of creation. I paused longer at Artists I have long
admired and loved, like Da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Van Gogh,
Picasso – and Rembrandt, ahh Rembrandt. I couldn’t believe I was seeing
originals! Originals! Not reproductions, donations on loan from private
collections and other museums, credit was always given. I don’t know if
they did it on purpose, but you could smell the oil paint in there. It
was heavenly. It took me to another place and time. I felt as though I
was in the presence of the Masters themselves, I was very, very moved
to be there, smelling the paint and seeing the brush strokes. Other
people were too, I could tell, hardly anyone dared speak. I got some
pictures of some of the art – others it wasn’t allowed. It has been
deemed that the flash from the camera is damaging to some of the art. I
sneaked some anyway without a flash – heck the ones protected by the
evil “no cameras signs” they were behind glass anyways. Yes I may have
be guilty of damaging some of our National Treasures…Nicolas Cage come
arrest me now. (
Heh he – oh please come arrest me now…)
I
didn’t get to see the Modern Art Museum and that made me a little sad
because I enjoy that stuff just as much as the classics, but I had to
make a choice and I thought I would go for the first pieces that I
starred at in awe while at art school.
But I completely lost
myself in the Geology Department. I stayed there with the rocks and
minerals until they closed. All by myself, I had ditched my companions
way earlier in the day as they headed off to the holocaust museum. I
wondered the halls and exhibits for hours photographing every sample I
could and everything I didn’t have time to read - so that I could read
it later. I shuffled from one exhibit to the next reluctantly leaving
each one and greeting each new one with a sense of wonder that I have
not felt since I was a child. I was very quiet, I didn’t notice the
time lapse or the other people around me. I did notice the two armed
guards by the Hope Diamond that said “No pictures Ma’am.” “No problem,”
I thought. The dang thing is cursed with bad luck I just wanted to say
that I’d seen it – not take any part of it, not even an image, home
with me. That’s just what I need more bad luck. (
Interesting
note here – even though I didn’t take a picture of the Hope Diamond – I
still got ran over by a car the 5th day I was back, coincidence?) It’s pretty and it was bigger before they tried to make jewelry out of it – that’s all I have to say.
A
giant sapphire - this sucker was half the size of my head - no kiddin,
it was like the world's largest cut sapphire, 20,000 carrats, took the
maker 12 year to cut it - lined with a total of 400 carrots in
diamonds.
Called
Gypsum Giants this exhibit explained why Gypsum crystals can grow so
big - the ones here were up to 4 ft tall. If you really want to see
some big ones google "Gaint Crystal Cave". They've known about it for a
while and just now opened it up for the media.
Marcasite - looks like iron pyrite, but is iron sulfide and not used as a jem - too fragile.
Flourite - used for all kinds of things, like to lower the melting point of steel, it has a low melting temperature itself.I
was on my second round of the department when the museum closed, I
didn’t even notice. The lights in there were dim anyway, but I did
notice when another large guard came up behind me (
why were they all armed I wonder? Another side effect of 9/11?) and said “Miss, (
so much better than ma’am) the museum is closed now, we’re asking everyone to leave.” Indeed it was – everyone was gone and he soon walked me (
with hand on shoulder)
to the main entrance. I turned one last time and looked longingly at
the tower of utterly free knowledge that lay before me, my shoulders
dropped and I turned to leave, aside from another Trade Show in
Baltimore – I will probably never get to go back.
The Main HallJust
watch as I zoom in on this Monument in the Mall - it was haunting and
it was one of the most memorable things I saw. The raw emotion that was
just pouring from this thing was amazing...whoever the artist was -
there was no credit given - amazing in his grasp of the human-horse
relationship, I like how he/she kinda snuck it in there. But I could
see it - you guys could've spotted it had you been there too...
His horse was called, Cincinnati, was General Grant's most famous horse during the American Civil War. He was the son of Lexington,
the fastest four-mile thoroughbred in the United States (time 7:19.75
minutes) and was 17 hands - and impressive size more so then than now.
Grant had a way with horses, his father spotted the talent in him as a
toddler and allowed him to fearlessly walk under the bellies of the
horses they had stalled. As a child people would bring him horses to
break and gentle, often in front of large crowds.
I think I know what he may have done with his life if War had not come a knocking.
What was this I saw - a hand?
Then I saw this...
It
was at time point, when I walked around to this angle that I kinda got
choked up - the artist managed to capture a tragic moment in war - yes,
but he also captured the love a soldier had for his horse at the same
time. In a split second they both will be gone - he's doing what I
would've done, grabbing my horse and taking comfort in knowing I will
go with him.
On
my way back to our pre-arranged meeting place, which I was late for and
subsequently freaked out my companions, they called me like 5 minutes
after I was supposed to meet them. “Are you alright?” “Are you coming?”
It was sweet that they were concerned. We were to meet at the Ulysses
S. Grant / Civil War monument. Anyhow, on the way back there I walked
down to take a good look at the Washington Monument, yeah – that walk
was like 6 miles, so I was a little late meeting up with them. But it
didn’t take me as long as I thought – this was right before I got sick
so I was feeling good and in good shape. The Monument was beautiful as
I always thought it would be – the Mall was pretty with the little or
large pool thing there reflecting the image of the Monument itself.
I
was totally exhausted by time I got back to the hotel - in fact I slept
part way there. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I walked over 12 miles
in span of about 4 hours. Had a blast though - the folks that live over
there are so lucky that all of the is FREE and open to the public. A
wealth of information at a walking distance.
Do you know how the
Smithsonian Museum was founded? - A British guy, a wealthy scientist
died and he left his entire estate to the United States with the wishes
that it be sold off and the money be shipped overseas, he wanted the
money to be used for creating an "Establishment for the increase &
diffusion of Knowledge among men." Well it was sold, then was converted
to gold coins and shipped to America where the gold was melted down to
bars - and after a short debate it was decided that we would spend the
money on a grand museum.
Pretty neat huh? I think we fulfilled the wishes of James Smithsonian.
