Smithsonian Stuff

Up 'n' at 'em again today, but we did sleep a bit later than planned after our long day yesterday. Took the blue line in again after breakfast, (see the signs at the entrance to parking, we liked Kiss and Ride!) and went to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Things were fairly quiet early, but as the day continued, waves of middle-schoolers, high-schoolers, and 4H-ers overwhelmed us. Still, there was lots to see, from the famous ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, to the original Dumbo car and original Kermit. Steam engines, THE golden spike that joined the transcontinental railways, the first commercial telephone, the first US gunboat ever, and, wow, THE star spangled banner that inspired the national anthem. Archie Bunker's chair, Mohammad Ali's gloves, Ono's skates, Bob Dylan's leather jacket. OMG. So much to see, so little time. 


There's more! Todd Baldwin, Nancy's nephew who lives in DC, met us at 4 at the Pentagon. Got a personal tour! Todd works for IBM as a liaison, 2 days a week at the Pentagon, so knew all the cool places to take us. We saw the big wigs offices (you can tell 'cause their corridor is wood paneled, woo hoo!) And, got a look at the memorial to the victims of 9/11. The picture of the exterior has a little pentagon in the wrought iron fence...look thru it to see a blackened stone from the original wall that was destroyed. The rest of the wall has been replaced (stone is of lighter color). Then, Todd took us to the Old Ebbitt Grill, a dark-paneled watering hole a block or so from the White House where one can imagine power brokers wheeling and dealing in a back booth over a glass of bourbon. Cool! Thanks, Todd!