The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is just about adjacent to the Washington Monument. If you’re heading to Washington, D.C. for Obama’s inauguration and plan on standing outside in the cold with millions of other Americans, we’d recommend taking warm shelter in a side trip — to the whole of the universe.We generally try to avoid being in Washington, D.C. in December — when my beloved hometown at its coldest and dreariest — but there was no way we were missing my cousin’s wedding. (Congratulations, Karen and Stephen!)
And besides, my parents said they’d take us to the museum. And if you’re looking to both stay out of the chill and immerse yourselves in a whole different world, this is the place.
We started in the newly re-designed Sant Ocean Hall, and our eyes nearly popped out of our heads. The ceiling soars above approximately one gajillion different sections, with a tropical aquarium, intricate fossils, hanging models, drawers full of stuffed water birds, and of course, creepy, slimy things in jars.
Teetering on the edge of overwhelmed, we stumbled into a dark theater to catch Deep Ocean Explorers, a documentary tour of the sea from top to bottom by some of the few people who’ve ever gone so far below.
Talk about a dream trip…Adam and I agreed that hands down, we’d rather venture into the deep ocean than explore outer space. You know, in case anyone’s ever asking.
When we at last resurfaced, my mom pointed out that the museum had also recently rehabbed its Annenberg Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals. For the next hour, we all got lost in yet more deep recesses of the planet.
This hall is full of answers to questions that have often lingered in the back of your mind:
Why is jade green?
What’s inside an ancient meteorite?
What kind of rock would make the best kitchen counter?
We chiseled our way through a warren of displays on the dazzling “ites” of the world. We indulged our tastes for bling in a rainbow of crystals, shards, and polished treasures, safely experiencing the Earth’s finest eye candy without all their peril, tragedy and plain bad luck.
Like, for instance, that world-famous symbol of cursed beauty, the Hope Diamond.
Be sure not to miss the large mammals. Or the permanent exhibit on Evolution. Or the room full of flitting butterflies…
And for the love of all that’s holy, wear comfortable shoes to tread across almost a square mile of marble!
