The Smithsonian Museums on the Mall

Before I talk about the Smithsonian Museums, I want to address a question some people (rightly) have about the bus trip to Washington: Where will the buses depart from in Dayton and Columbus?


Likely, our buses will depart from the parking lot of the Meijers on Main Street in Englewood (Dayton) and the Meijers on Hilliard-Rome Road in Hilliard (Columbus). However, those details are still being negotiated. Further, both buses will depart and travel together; there is not one bus for Dayton and one bus for Columbus. I'll stay in touch by email, letter, and this blog so you'll know the departure locations well before our January trip.



The National Museum of American History


This Smithsonian museum recently reopened after a $85 million renovation. NPR covered the reopening on "All Things Considered" (click to listen to the story here). The museum's website provides information on exhibits, educational programs, and events, including ones available on the day of the inauguration. One that interests me is an exhibit and talk about the Greensboro student sit-ins in 1960, which helped spark student protests across the South during the Civil Rights Movement, and therefore helped change this Nation. The talks are scheduled for 12:00 (which is the same time as the swearing-in ceremony) and 3:00 p.m. Note that all programs/times are subject to change.


Among the ongoing exhibits is one about the U.S. Presidency, which I suspect now will have to be updated. Yeah! You can also see Dorothy's ruby slippers and the actual flag that inspired the "Star Spangled Banner."



Like all the Smithsonian museums that line the National Mall, this one offers respite from the cold, a cafe, bathrooms, and areas to sit and relax. And, like all the Smithsonian museums, admission is free.
(The interactive version of this map is
available here)

From now through January, I will feature some of the places and events available to us on our Day of Presence* in Washington. Check back regularly.



*"Day of Presence" is a reference to Douglas Turner Ward's comedy-drama "Day of Absence," in which all the Black people in a Southern town disappear one day and the town descends into chaos. A movie version of this tale, "A Day Without a Mexican," shows what happens when one day Californians wake up and not a single Latino can be found.