O Say Can You See?

All things presidential

2009 is upon us. The last year has seen major changes. For us here at the museum, being open again is certainly among the largest! As a country we’re approaching a change of historic proportions—where one administration will leave office and another will take its place. On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be sworn in as the forty-fourth President of the United States.

If you’re planning on coming to witness the swearing-in or parade be sure to stop by and get warm while you take in some of the sights. We’ve put up answers to the most common questions we’ve received regarding visiting on Inauguration Day. You’ll be in good company—historical interpreters will be on hand portraying past presidents Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln. If you’re interested in exhibitions that relate to the presidency or the inauguration you might want to seek out the following:

• The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden explores the personal, public, ceremonial, and executive actions of the 43 men who have held the office of President over the past 220 years.
• The First Ladies at the Smithsonian showcases objects from our nearly century-old collection, including 14 dresses ranging from Martha Washington to Laura Bush.
• Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life (opening Jan. 16) brings together—for the first time—the museum’s unique and unparalleled Lincoln collection to explore the life and times of this extraordinary figure.
• America’s New Birth of Freedom: Documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (opening Jan. 16 in the Albert Small Documents Gallery) hosts 10 rare and important documents from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill, including a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and letters expressing Lincoln’s views toward emancipation and the conclusion of the Civil War.

Dan Hoerr is new media assistant at the National Museum of American History.

My list for inauguration weekend

As a program producer and member of the department that manages visitor services, I’m making my list for inauguration weekend: Cell phone. Contact list. Schedule. Shampoo. Pajamas. Sleeping bag . . .

We’re reviewing stanchion layouts for various lines to popular exhibitions: the new Lincoln show will be especially popular, we know, and the First Ladies exhibition will be packed. The roster of Renewing America’s Promise inaugural events for Saturday through Monday promises to be lively and thoughtful. President George Washington and his friends, Thomas and Abe, will address our visitors several times (well, costumed actors playing the presidents). The authentically-dressed mid-19th century Federal City Brass Band will provide all the proper ruffles and flourishes. I’m especially delighted that the a cappella group, In Process… will perform Civil Rights-era songs.

For the 20th, our speechwriter is weaving together enlightening and entertaining anecdotes from historical inaugurations, memorable excerpts from inaugural speeches, and inaugural poetry by past poet laureates. One of our favorite museum actors will present our “Inaugural Moments” spoken-word program four times that day.

This year’s inauguration—with its anticipated crowds, heightened security, traffic restrictions, iffy weather, and an inaugural ball in the evening—has upped (way upped!) the ante for all of us at the museum. Bands and A/V techs and florists are dropping off equipment and displays days in advance; caterers will park refrigerated trucks throughout the weekend on our loading dock. Back hallways and freight elevators, unfinished exhibition spaces, and offices on public floors are being commandeered for kitchens, green rooms, and supply centers. Building maintenance crews, visitor services staff, actors, security officers, photographers, and volunteers who live in the District are planning to walk to the museum, and those of us who commute from beyond the Beltway will be camping out in our offices on the 19th, so we all can be ready at 8 a.m. on January 20 when the doors open to the public.

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Of course! Being able to tell our grandkids about our connection to this historic event—and that we got to spend “a night at the museum?” . . . Priceless!

Back to my list: ID badge. “Ask me” button. Coffee pot. Toothbrush. Extra pair of shoes . . .

Sue Walther is a programs coordinator at the National Museum of American History. She normally works Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Historic inauguration, historic multitudes

While the museum isn’t expecting all of the projected millions of inaugural attendees to visit us, we are expecting enormous crowds. As a Visitor Services Coordinator, I work on the museum floors with visitors quite a bit. If you’re coming to the National Mall for the festivities in honor of the inauguration of Barack Obama, I have some suggestions to make your visit go a little smoother.

"George Washington" converses with visitors.

First, try to come earlier in the day; while we’re busy all day, we’re at our busiest in the afternoon. There may be lines to enter the building. Our north door, on Constitution Avenue, won’t be open on Inauguration Day (Jan. 20), so plan accordingly.

Next, please don’t expect to see everything in one visit! On very busy days we have predictable lines at some of our most popular exhibitions like The First Ladies at the Smithsonian, Dorothy’s ruby slippers and other artifacts in Thanks for the Memories, and the Star-Spangled Banner, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to see all of these on one visit.

Check out our Web site for information about what will be going on at the museum and what will be different over the weekend so that you can better plan. For example, Spark!Lab won’t be open on Tuesday, Jan. 20 but a special spoken-word program “Inaugural Moments,” featuring historical inauguration speeches will be available several times that day. And keep your eyes out for special programs with famous Americans like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson! If you’re looking for real-time updates over the long weekend, be sure to follow us on Twitter.

The best thing you can do to ensure you have a wonderful visit is to bring good-natured patience. You will be in a historic city at a historic time with millions of other people just as excited to be here as you are. If you are in line to see something, strike up a conversation with those around you. You never know who you might be standing next to or what you might learn! There will be a lot of special energy in Washington, D.C.

And, above all, enjoy your trip to the museum!

Jane Fandrey is a Visitor Services Coordinator at the National Museum of American History.

Scenes from the front line

Wearing my red director’s badge, I have plunged back into the throngs of visitors in the first month since we reopened to gauge how they are responding to the transformed museum. I have personally met hundreds of people from around the world and they all have strong reactions to what they are seeing. One woman from Hong Kong cried when she saw the Star-Spangled Banner, “even though I am not an American.” On the other hand, some visitors who loved our previous displays are dismayed when they fail to find one of their old favorites. We can’t always address their concerns, but I do pay attention and I will make changes whenever possible.

The biggest surprise for me has been the terrific reception for living history programs that take place throughout the museum. The holiday music program was a spectacular success and I loved it when visitors sang along with the performers. The sit-in experience at the Greensboro Lunch Counter has been especially engaging for visitors of all ages. I am amazed and pleased at how many children are staying after the performance and asking questions of our very patient actor. He is so effective in his role as an organizer of non-violent protest that the museum’s security detail tried to escort him from the building on his first day (we had failed to inform them that we would have this piece of theatre on a regular basis).

For me, the display of the Gettysburg Address remains a highlight of the first six weeks since our reopening. I cannot think of a single speech that better expresses what it means to be an American or represents the hopes and aspirations of the American Dream. The fact that thousands of visitors can see this document for themselves has given me great personal and professional satisfaction.

Brent D. Glass is Director of the National Museum of American History.

Si señor!

¿Habla Español? You can now get information in Spanish about the Museum—what to see, how to get here, and what to do! In an effort to reach out to our ever-growing number of Spanish-speaking visitors the museum has created a Web page En Español that provides information—in Spanish—about museum hours, programs, exhibitions, amenities, safety, and security.

Spanish translations of several major exhibitions such as the The Gettysburg Address, The Star Spangled Banner, The American Presidency, and First Ladies at the Smithsonian are also available as easy-to-download PDF files.

Help us spread the word about these resources among your Spanish speaking neighbors and friends.

Para informacion en español, visite En Español.

Magdalena Mieri is director of the museum’s Program in Latino History and Culture.