We went to the American History Museum today. How great is a place where you can see C3PO and THE star-spangled banner in the same place?
One daughter is working toward some girl scout badges, so she was on the prowl for examples of textiles, fashions and jewelry from different eras. First Ladies exhibit took care of that nicely.
Another daughter has been studying about Lincoln, he had a whole exhibit to himself. She was also full of historical gossip and fun facts - did you know Martha Washington was a beauty in her day? Or that one President's daughter filled in as First Lady after her mother's death because mom made dad promise not to remarry? Or that the tune for the Star Spangled Banner was a popular English drinking song at the time? Not growing up in the US, I didn't study much American history as a kid, but I doubt we'd have learned those kind of details if I had!
Our son is learning about the Presidents this year, and did a project about U.S. Grant. Lo and behold, there were the great man's slippers. He was also fascinated by the British rocket (of "red glare" fame) and our kindergartner sang her way through the exhibit, and couldn't believe she was actually allowed to touch the exploded bomb fragment (presumably one that had burst in air). She probably would have liked to see the ruby slippers, but we ran out of time. We'll just have to go back...
I'm glad we didn't plan something outdoors, since it snowed half the morning. Brr.
Thanks for the suggestions, I hope we'll get a chance to get up there later this year - there is so much to see in this part of the country, it's hard to fit all it in while living real life.