Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Fun at the Smithsonian(s)


One of the greatest treasures of Washington D.C. is all of the Smithsonian museums. They are all awesome and all completely free (well, sort of, our tax dollars go towards supporting them, so in a way all U.S. citizens are season pass holders). Here is Craig in front of a Prairie Scooner - the type of wagon Americans used to travel to and settle the West.


One of the highlights is the Air and Space Museum. Here Craig found the Mars Rover. This isn't the one that actually went to Mars, but is one of the functional models used to test the various systems.


But before the Mars Rover lifted off, Neil Armstrong left this tiny capsule and walked on the moon!


Some of my favorite exhibits are the experimental jets, like the X-15. This rocket-powered airplane broke speed and altitude records way back in the 1960's. It still holds the speed record for a manned flight!


That orange plane wayy in the back is the X-1 that Chuck Yeager piloted while breaking the sound barrier for the first time!


A more modern area of the Smithsonian shows the costume Edina Menzel wore in the original Broadway production of "Wicked".


An here is Kermit the Frog!


And here is one of the original sunstones from the Nauvoo Temple in Illinois.


Our little history buff really enjoyed the Thomas Edison exhibit. He did a report the prior year at school on Thomas Edison. This is a picture of some of the failed designs Edison used for the light bulb.


More designs and experiments. Unlike other exhibits, Craig was constantly saying "Daddy, can you take my picture by this?"


Triceratops!

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