Library of Congress- Day One

Today was very busy. We went to the Ford Theater where Lincoln was shot. There were many artifacts on display. Primary source documents related to this monumental event in our nations history. The chairs in the theater were wooden chairs with pads tied to the seat and back. The theater was very small, however there were two levels of balcony seats above the level where Lincoln sat. So I guess it was quite large by the standards of the day.

After looking at the Ford Theater, we went to the Peterson Home, where he was taken after being shot. It too was remarkably small. The home was filled with period furniture, however, none of it was original. The only thing original was the home. Even so, you did get a feel for how it would feel to live in such a home. This home was about 20 feet wide, had low ceilings, and had 4 floors (levels). It was narrow and tall. Hallways and stairways were very level.

The paintings in the National Art Museum were beautiful and there was a wide variety from impressionistic to modern art. There was also an exhibit of famous Britions. On the fourth floor, you could watch the curators and scientist working together to restore a wide variety of artwork from folk art to paintings.

Union Station was also a remarkable experience. It is a very old building, but very will maintained. We just missed attending an exhibition on Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic was built. (They were taking it down.) Someone had created a model of the town as it was when the Titanic was built. There was also a display of the Titanic with primary source photos that gave you a very realistic feel of the disaster.

A highlight of the day, was the International Spy Museum. Artifacts, stories, films and audio files documented the history of spies from the beginning of time to the present. This museum would be a wonderful place to bring a class for a field trip. Kids would love it. Great exposure and information on career in this field.

Julia