.JPG)
I'm joining Annie's Friday Smiles and this week we are once again visiting the inside of the new museum. It's not really a new museum, because I've been here before. However, for this visit, I'll be checking out some areas I've never seen before. But first, let's start with a couple of funnies I blatantly stole from my friend Kaybee's Ink, Paint, & Me blog. Do check out her fantastic blog in case you've never been before. Like she noted, these hit rather close to home and have a ring of truth to them.
I have come to the conclusion
that buying craft supplies and
actually using them are two
separate hobbies!
My 2019 New Year's resolution
is to finish all my craft projects from 2018
that I should have done in 2017,
after I started them in 2016
after buying the supplies in 2015
with the patterns I found in 2014!
Let's get right to the museum, now. So many photos, so little time.
We begin in the gift shop where I had to turn in my ticket I had printed at home allowing two people to visit this day free as part of the Smithsonian Museum Day. I wish I wore Tee shirts (I go from sleeveless to long sleeves) because I really loved the one showing our city flag being devoured by Ivan the T-Rex.
You definitely can't walk by this life sized T-Rex and not be impressed. But it was time to head for MY destination, the 2nd Floor. Sally never left the first floor.
For today's photos, we will visit the Founding of America, then next week we will move on to the Hall of Presidents.
A few notes about this sign: Native Americans and Slaves were our shame. It should never have happened. Instead of trying to live in peaceful harmony in a new land, we tried to convert the Native Americans to our way of life. We should never have owned slaves or forced Native Americans onto reservations. I can't say that enough. You would think that with this new land, we could at least treat all people equally. That didn't happen and we still feel shades of this today.The President is SUPPOSED to implement and enforce the laws written by Congress, but this one thinks he is a god and can bully his way into getting what he wants. Presidents before this one have upheld these ideas, ideals, and concepts, but . . . .
These are the 13 original colonies. 
I realize this is a lousy photo because of the lighting, 
but if you raise each colony that fits like a jigsaw puzzle, you read about important details. You can also see when each was colonized. I spent way too much time here, reading, reading, reading. 
What happens when everything is under glass or plexiglass? You photo bomb yourself. You can see my very curly hair and my really loose fitting top. I simply can't stand anything against my skin, that's why my clothes are about three sizes too large for me.
I did it a second time, too. 
This explains about Colonial families and their children.
All of the colonies had well documented information. I liked how it kept the information simple enough for children, yet interesting enough for adults. This explains how Georgia was named for King George II who let Oglethorpe bring debtors to the new world. Many of them were unhappy for the various reasons noted, which caused the colony to fail.
I would hate to be a vegan or someone needing a Keto friendly diet starting out in the colonies. They would either starve or adapt. How is it, all these Casein free, gluten free, paleo, and Keto requirements have only come to light in the past 60 years or so? 
Most colonists cooked in a pot over an open fire. 
I'll pass on the squirrel and goose, thank you. I've had squirrel and it tasted like grease!
Pirates were a problem, especially in the southern states. 
Once again, I ask you, why must every civilization we Anglos come in contact with, be converted to our way of thinking. 
As is often the case, the church is the center of every colony, no matter how large or small. 
These are the circumstances leading up to the creation of our independence. 
Some ways the colonies chose to protect themselves. In case you thought I was alone in this room, you can see how crowded it was. I just tried to stay out of the way and not get jostled too much. 
More great information about the 13 original colonies. 
Even more information from each of the original 13 colonies. Gosh, I wish Sam Adams stout beer made it this far west!
Thankfully, I was too short to photo bomb this picture. 
Unfortunately, the same can not be said here
and here. 
Thankfully there were people standing in front of the Continental Army uniform.
Seems I got nothing readable from Connecticut. 
Information about Virginia was paired with an interactive display. 
Lots of people also visiting meant I couldn't wait forever for them to leave before a whole new group took their place. 
It is here we note the Revolution has begun. 
It was good to read that women became famous during the Revolutionary War. It's a pity they weren't covered under the constitution.
These are the laws created by the Founding Fathers. The Declaration announced that the Thirteen Colonies,
at war with Great Britain, would regard themselves as
thirteen independent sovereign states, no longer under British rule.The Constitution is the law of the land. It set up the three separate bodies of government, with separation of power divided into the three distinct powers: Congress, President, and the Supreme Court.
The Bill of Rights is the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. There are now 27 amendments.
We are now into the area of the Presidents. 
Any idea who this desk belonged to? In case you can't tell (yes, it's a former president), all will be revealed next week. I suspect those of you who live in the U.S. will know better than my International friends. In fact, this may be of little interest to those of you who live abroad. I DO hope you found it interesting, though.
As always, I am grateful for your continued visits. Now let's visit Annie's Friday Smiles,
where it never hurts to begin the weekend with a big smile, just like
Annie's. Feel free to join in with a post of your own, too. She'll welcome you just like she did me several years ago.
Dollar Exchange Rate
