~ashinqton,DeCe
BRENDA H. COHEN Trenton State Trenton, College NJ
The late 18th century saw a heated debate between t h e Northern and Southern States as to where to place the seat of the newly formed federal government. In 1791 a compromise was reached and the new capitol was carved out of parts of Maryland and Virginia. The design of the city, the first to be planned exclusivelv bv a nation for its seat ofgovkmment, was given to Maior Pierre Charles L'Enfant. a erench engineer who had served i n the Revolutionary War. Because of controversy over his grandiose -plan,. surveyor ~ndGewElliot and mathematician Benjamin Banneker took over the project. The ceremonial layout of the city, which resembles that of Paris, and the grandeur of its buildings, clearly show L'Enfant's imuact on The interior of the 18th century Freiburg im Breisgau Pharmacy was moved form Germany to the NaWashington, D.C. There was a tirne when the tional Museum of American History where it is on display. Photo by Paul S. Cohen. population of the city drastically dropped in the summer months, as the weather can be very hot and humid, but with the "What Next, Columbus?", a commemorative of the 500th advent of air conditioning the weather is not as much of a anniversary of Christopher Columbus. problem. The variety of attractions available rivals any At the National Museum of Natural History the focus is city in the world, and most are free and opened to the pubon natural history and human cultures. Here the show, the lic seven days a week. We have chosen to highlight sites largest Quincentenary exhibition at the Smithsonian, is that have a scientific bent. "Seeds of Change". Five exchanges or "seeds" that shaped the course of history are explored: corn, potatoes, sugar, Along the Mall the horse, and disease. The National Museum of American History exhibits the At the heart of this city is the mile-long National Mall. nation's scientific, technological, and cultural heritage. Here are many of the more tourist sites. It is only Most of the science and technology exhibits are on the first fitting that we start at the MaU with the Smithsonian Infloor and third floors. stitution, the world's larzest museum wmdex. established in 1864 &th funds bequeathed to the ~ & e dStates by an Still in the Heart of the City English scientist, James Smithson. Of the 13 Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C., nine are located on the At the foot of the Capitol Building is the United States Mall and four of these are devoted to science and industry. Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1820 by Congress The symbol of the Smithsonian Institution is the 1855 "to collect, cultivate, and grow various vegetable products castle, which now houses the Smithsonian Visitors Inforof this and other wuntries for exhibition and display to the mation Center. Next to it is the Victorian structure known public..."It is involved in the preservation of rare or endanas the Arts and Industries Building, which holds a major gered plants and displaying economic plants. There are collection of Victorian Americana and memorabilia disboth exotic and familiar plants on display. played at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. One block south of the Washington Monument is the BuOver the summer this museum will feature the special exreau of Engraving and Printing, which is one of the sites hibit *Understanding Ourselves and Each Other: Psycholwhere the U.S. government designs, engraves, and prints ogy's Search", which includes interactive displays on memmoney, bonds, and postage stamps. There is a half-hour ory, problem solving, prejudice, counting and measuring, self-guided tour through the facility. facial expressions, anatomy and physiology. The basement of the Department of Commerce's Herbert The National Air and Space Museum has 23 exhibit C. Hoover Building houses the National Aquarium. This areas that explore the history and development of air and small facility is home to 250 species from all over the space technology. The museum has an IMAX theater and a world. Most of the exhibits are designed to represent natuplanetarium. This summer this museum is featuring, ral habitats.
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Washington, D.C.
The one-hour tour through the Federal Bureau of Investigation gives the visitor an overview of the past and present operations of this agency. On view are an extensive collection of firearms, and a window view of some of the forensic laboratories. There is also a live firearms demonstration. One of the lesser known gems of this city is the National Building Museum. A fairly new museum, established in 1980, it is in the landmark Pension Building, designed and built by US. Army General and civil engineer Montgomery C. Meigs in 1885. The magnificent Great Hall of the Renaissance Revival style building has been the site of Presidential Inaugural Balls since 1885. The museum is dedicated to all aspects of building including architecture, engineering, building crafts, and urban planning. Not only are the exhibits enlightening but so is the tour of the building itself. The National Portrait Gallery, housed in the Old Patent Building, displays portraits of Americans who are historically important. Among the displayed portraits are a number of scientists and even a few portraits by scientists. Four blocks north of the White House is the headquarters of the National Geographic Society. On the first floor is the society's museum, Explorer's Hall, where there are exhibits of memorabilia from National Geographic Society
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sponsored expeditions and an interactive science center called Geographia. Just north of Dupont Circle is the unique little museum, The Holography Collection. The three-dimensional appearing works are displayed along with explanations on how they are made and applications are discussed. The Northwest
As we move to the northwest part of the city we find the National Zoo, another Smithsonian facility, which has evolved into a biological park displaying all forms of life. The 4,000 animals are, for the most-part, in holistic environments combining living plants, animals, museum specimens, and art. The aim is to make the visitor aware of the delicate balance of the Earth's ecosystem and how to preserve them. The National Museum of Health and Medicine, located on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center grounds, was founded during the Civil War. There are exhibits covering military and civilian medical history from the Civil War to the present. This includes diagnostic and surgical instruments, an extensive microscope collection, photographs, pathological specimens and modem AIDS and substance abuse displays.
North of the City
Just north of Washington, D.C., in Glen Echo, Maryland is the house where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, lived and worked for the last 15years of her life. Built in 1891 from a design drawn to shelter the homeless after the Jamestawn Flood, the house, originally a warehouse for relief supplies, became Red Cross headquarters in 1897 and a home for Clara Barton. The building very much reflects her presence. The Agricultural Research Service, of the US. Department ofAgriculture, has a working experimental station in Beltsville Maryland. This facility does major international research on all aspects of agriculture. Guided tours are available by appointment only. For those interested, the East Coast's largest agricultural country fair is a t the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, August 12-29, in Gaithersburg, Maryland, about 25 miles west of Beltsville. Created a little more than 30 years ago as NASA's first scientific laboratory for space exploration, the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt Maryland, is the research and management nerve center of the NASA program. In addition to the museum with its NASA rockets, demonstrations, and fdm, there is a 45-minute tour of the communications systems, test facilities, and control centers held several afternoons a week. The Paul E. Goddard Preservation, Restoration and
Storage Facility of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM)is located in Suitland, Maryland. The non-air-conditioned facility houses the reserve collections of historic significance for the NASM. Here you can see air and space craft, engines, propellers, and other flight related objects as well as the restoration workshops. Reservations for the two- to three-hour tour are required well in advance. South of the City
Moving south of Washington into historic Alexandria, Virginia we step back in time 200 years and find the Stabler-Leadbeater hothecam Shoo. founded in 1792. This shop, frequented by' George ~ a s h i & o nand Robert E. Lee, was owned and operated by the same family who for 141 years. They kept the architecture very much intact. It has one of the fmest wllections of authentic antique drug store furnishings and medical glass in America. Also found here are orieinal account books and corresoondence. Just two blocks away, near the waterfront, is theTorpedo Factory Art Center. Once a munitions factory built and run by t h e ~ e d e r aGovernment, l there is a smail weapons display on the first floor. On the third floor you can fmd the city of Alexandria's Archeology Museum and Research Laboratory. This city has been doing community archmlogy for more than 30 years. The collection housed in this small shop includes several million artifacts from 155 sit-
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Where To Find It.
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Visitor Information Center for Washington, D.C., 1455 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, (202)789-7038,(800)422-8644 Maryland Office of Tourism, 217 East Redwoad Street, Baltimore MD 21202, (301)333-6611,(800)543-1036 Virginia Bureau of Tourism, 1021 East Cary Street, Richmond VA23219, (804)786-1919,(800)847-4882 Art, Science & Technology, Holography Collection, 2018 R St. NW, (202)667-6322. Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW, (202)357-1500. .nal National Histo] Thomas Jefferson St. NW 5844 Clara Barton National Historic Site, 5801 Oxford Rd, Glen Echo, Maryland, (301)492-6245. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Pennsylvania Ave, Bet 9th St and 10th St., (202)324-3447 Mount Vernon, George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon VA, (703)780-2000
National Air & Space Museum, 6th St & Independence Avc SW, (202,357-2700. NASA Goddard Space Cenler, Greenbrlt Maryland, I95 exit 22A, then 2.25 miles emt. (3011286-8981. National Aquarium, Ikpr. of Cornmcrce Hldg, 14th St and Constltutnm Ave \7V, (202)317-2826 NationalRuildin~Museum,PSI. Bet 4th St and 5th St. NW. (202)272-2448 National Geographic Society, 17th St and M St. NW, (202)857-7588. National Museum of American Historg, 14th St and Constitution Ave NW. (202)357-2700 National Museum of Health and Medicine, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6825 16th St NW at Alaska Ave, (202)576-2348. National Museum of Natural Histow. 10th St and Constitution Ave NW. (202)357-2700. National Portrait Gallery, F Street bet. 7th and 9th Street, (202)357-2700. National Zooloeical Park 3000 blockof Connecticut Ave NW, (202)67k300. ' U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Ave SW, (202)2258333.
dating from the 18th to the 20th centuries. Only a very small portion of the.collection is on display and the laboratories are open for your inspeetion. Be sure to ask if there are any active dig sites for you to visit. From mid-April through mid-October the Park Service gives visitors a chance to experience 1 9 t h century technology a s costumed guides accompany you on a 90 minute mule-drawn barge ride on the historic C & 0 Canal i n Georgetown, Maryland. Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, is less than a 30-minute drive from Washington, D.C. I t displays some of his equipment including surveying tools. There are also well-documented period gardens and a working plantation. For those interested in going a little further afield, Baltimore, with i t s many museums and its aquarium, is less than one hour away by car. Some of the sights of the city include: B. Olive Cole Pharmacy Museum, Baltimore Museum of Technology, Baltimore Public Works Museum, Maryl a n d Science Center, National Aquarium i n Baltimore, Peale Museum (where indoor gas lighting was first used). Public transportation i n Washington, D.C., particularly the Metro, is easy to use and efficient. Considering the difficulties of traffic and the cost and availability of parking in the core city, we recommend u s i n g public transportation.
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