National Archives and the National Museum of American History

B's sister called us up the other day wondering if we wanted to join them in DC for President's Day. Their original thought was the zoo (but we'd just gone on Thursday, and Monday's weather changed to rainy) so they suggested National Archives (which has been on my "do in February" list for a few weeks). We just finished learning about famous Americans and I thought seeing the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and Constitution would be a great way to spend President's Day (I was just slightly worried about everyone else feeling the same way). But it was great.

We met them at my brother-in-law's parents' house and drove to the the Metro Station near them (free parking on federal holidays) and rode the Metro in. We got off at Metro Center because of track maintenance and took a little bit of a walk rather than switch trains twice in order to move half a mile. It started sprinkling just as we got to the National Archives building, but the line was short and we were only outside for about 15 minutes. I don't think the kids thought National Archives was cool at all. They saw the documents, but it was crowded (I can't even imagine how crowded it gets when it's really crowded. And we always got stuck behind some woman who was going to read the entire Declaration right there in front of us blocking our view. Oh well. We can say we saw them, and I thought it was pretty cool.



Then we walked to the National Museum of American History because the cousins had never been and we hurried through it a year ago when we visited. The kids' favorite parts of the Museum of American History: Princess Sparkley: a Peanuts comic display and the First Ladies dresses. Buddy: riding the Metro, the helicopter in an America in wars display, and a tiny moving steam roller in a science hands on room across from Julia Childs' kitchen. Little Guy: riding the Metro, the giant dollhouse, a Dumbo from the Disneyland Dumbo ride.