Washington DC - Day Two

We started our day today at the National Museum of Natural History. Again, there is so much to see in each museum that you could spend two entire days. We had a few hours as we wanted to do two museums today. There's more to Washington than museums, you know!

Greg loved the Gems and Minerals section of the museum, which is where the infamous Hope Diamond is housed. I don't think I'll be getting something like this for Christmas!



The dinosaur section was very interesting. Here you can become thoroughly educated on exactly what kind of monkeys, fish, slime, etc. you evolved from! :)







There was a section on insects sponsored by Orkin, and strangely enough, it was the only part of the museum with live creatures in it. Shouldn't Orkin want dead insects?

Here is Carys in the replica ant hill. In this little tunnel, you looked through a glass to see actual live ants running around "underground".


We ate lunch before heading to the National Museum of American History. I thought McDonald's yesterday was expensive. The cafeteria in the museum cost us a whopping $69! Thankfully, these are the only two days where we really had no other options but to eat in a museum. It should be cheaper from here on out.

The very first picture we took open entering the lobby of this museum was this one. Very appropriate for these three kids!


The museum just reopened last week after a 2-year renovation. So, they had lots of neat stuff and lots of things for the kids to touch. (The exhibition of the First Ladies' Inaugural gowns was not open yet, though. :( )

The first exhibit we visited was called America on the Move, and it was mostly the history of transportation.

Anyway, my kooky kids had to pose like the statues/mannequins in the displays.




Watch out, Chase!


How does this kid come up with these crazy poses? She's the one who posed on the railroad tracks like she was dead last year when we went on the Christmas train.

This toy steam shovel fascinated us as Greg has the exact same toy that was his dad's.


There was a small exhibit called "Thanks for the Memories" that included some sports and movie memorabilia. Every girl needs her picture with the ruby slippers!


There was a fascinating exhibit on the American Presidency. Here we see the 50th president standing in his place on the timeline, much to the chagrin of my friends with liberal/Democratic political leanings!


Or maybe this will be the 50th president. I'm not sure if she's smart enough, politically, but she has the charisma!


The final exhibit we saw today was awesome. It was called The Price of Freedom and was a history of America at War.

The boys had to have a picture in front of this Huey helicopter.


We took a bunch of other pictures in this exhibit, but I'm not on my computer at home with my photo editing program, so I won't bore you with bad pictures.

I will include this last one of some beams from the World Trade Center. It was a sobering exhibit, but really makes you think about the price so many have paid for the freedoms we enjoy today.