Becca in DC: Museums!

Check out Part I and II of this trip here and here!  After Becca and I ate lunch, we headed down the street to the Smithsonian Museums.  DC is awesome to visit because of all the free attractions, and the Smithsonians are definitely one of the highlights!  Becca and I went to the Natural History Museum first.  Becca is one semester away from graduating with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, so I knew she'd love spending time in this museum!

 My favorite exhibit is the David Koch Hall of Human Origins.  It really puts history into perspective!  Plus, the exhibits are very interesting and interactive.

An artist named John Gurche created early human reconstructions and the bronze displays in the Hall.  They look quite lifelike.  Maybe Becca thought this early human was checking her out?

We also went and saw the Hope Diamond and went through an exhibit about race.

When we'd felt like we'd seen all we wanted to see at the Natural History Museum, it was time to move on to the American History Museum.  We saw Dorothy's slippers...

...the original Muppets...

 ...Farrah Faucet's famous bathing suit....

 ...and Catwoman's suit!

We also went to one of my favorite exhibits in this museum, the Hall of the First Ladies' Inaugural Dresses!

 Me and Becca played the game we used to play all the time -- we'd look at a few dresses at a time and choose which one we'd pick if we could.  Do you think I could pull this look off?

Our last stop before home was the Holocaust Memorial Museum (no photography allowed).  The exhibits were absolutely heartbreaking.  I'm very glad we went though.  At the beginning of the tour, each guest selects a little packet that tells the story of a person who lived during the time of the Holocaust.  My packet told the story of a young Jehovah's Witness who was sent to Siberia away from her friends and family.  She survived in the end though!

There's a special exhibit just for kids, so families are still encouraged to go to the Holocaust Memorial Museum.  It's gut-wrenching to see what people did to other humans and what the victims went through, but it is imperative that we do not ignore history just because it is painful.  During the off months (September through mid-March), guests to the museum do not need to get tickets ahead of time to go to the museum.  In the other months, guests must pick up the free tickets that day (or pay a fee to order online).  I highly suggest going if you're coming to DC!

After the Museum, we headed back to the apartment for some relaxation, Kardashian, and falafel and couscous dinner!  It was a great day!

 --Catie