By Barry Zander, Edited by Monique Zander, the Never-Bored RVers
I was a newspaper editor and reporter back in the days when newspapers were the primary source of news. Decades later, ink still flows through my veins. In other words, even today I gravitate toward the news. I
All the Pulitzer Prize winning photos on display -- a time for reflection
mention this because I put the new Newseum in Washington, D.C. at the top of my list of museums in our Capital City.
The Newseum houses an incredible collection of things that matter to us all. It’s about things so many of us have personally experienced (depending on age) so it’s filled with information we can identify with, and then gives us a different perspective on what we read or saw on television.
In the FBI Section -- The shoes of the Shoebomber
Matter of fact, it explains how television vaulted into first place as a reliable source of news when President John Kennedy was assassinated, as shown in an incredible series of temporary dynamic exhibitions. It explains the importance of Edward R. Murrow. The relationship between the media and the FBI sustained my attention.
The most emotional experience was looking at the Pulitzer Prize winning photos through the years. Almost every one of the more than 80 pictures made me think, reflect, evaluate, understand.
Woven throughout the five stories of galleries are movies and other active visuals that take the viewer through the history of journalism from before the writing of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to the use of cellphones, I-pads and other new devices I don’t even know about in capturing the news, and the use of Tweets, Facebook and other 21st Century methods of transmitting news as it happens.
When I worked for the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, I was always proud of our editor, Ed Price, for returning to the newsroom at 1 a.m. to have Page 1 re-plated to make us the first newspaper in America to report on the shooting of Bobby Kennedy. Nowadays, the news gets out as soon as it happens – I get bulletins on my phone instantly when news breaks.
John Kennedy's son John-John at the funeral -- it was TV news' coming of age
We visited about six or seven Smithsonian Museums during our stay in the D.C. area last week and found value in every one. I personally would put the Newseum at the top of my list.
Our final stop before boarding the Metro to return to our trailer was the Archives of the United States, where we saw the Declaration of Independence and learned the importance of having the millions of documents stored in its vaults. We are a relatively young country, one that values our history. Older countries have been through so many upheavals with invasions and changes in boundaries and governments, there probably was no single course of record-keeping. We have it all on paper, film and other media.
Our granddaughter will be with her class going to Washington, D.C., later this month. I suggested to her dad that he talk with her about not missing this opportunity to learn so much. We have seen so many students who were apparently more interested in socializing and snapping quick cellphone photos than looking at what was in front of them and allowing the meaning to sink in. What a shame!
It’s practically impossible to retain everything one sees in Washington, D.C., but it’s bound to build appreciation and respect for America’s greatness. If you haven’t been there, put it on your bucket list; if you have, maybe it’s time to return.
From the “Never-Bored RVers,” We’ll see you on down the road.
© All photos by Barry Zander. All rights reserved
COMMENTS TO PREVIOUS BLOGS
From Liz Bard: I hope you were able to go to the new Air and Space Museum out near one of the airports. My husband can’t wait to go there.
If you visited Arlington National Cemetery I hope you and your wife stopped in at the Women in the Military Memorial and Museum Service of America that is the white parapet at the entrance of the cemetery. This is a fantastic museum that explains about women in the military. The displays change all the time and they have a gift shop.
You said you have been to the Vietnam Memorial (The Wall) … have you and your wife visited the Women’s Memorial there? This November will celebrate 20 years since we dedicated the memorial and had a parade from the Smithsonian Museum of American History to The Wall in 1993. How close are they to opening the information building that will be near the Vietnam Memorial that will hold some of the items people have left over the years?
When I was at the dedication in 1993, I ran into some men from New Jersey, and I learned a little more about the carillon at Cathedral in the Pines in Rindge, NH. The carillon was dedicated by a family whose son was injured in war, and it was their way of saying thank you to all the military nurses, Red Cross women, etc. We found it the end of April 1973.
We will be out for about 6 weeks this year, but unfortunately not all the way to the East Coast. Hope to see you down the road.
BARRY’S NOTE: Thanks, Liz, for your comment, which allows me to make a point about visiting Washington, D.C. While Monique and I chose ahead of arriving the places we wanted to see, we also stumbled upon others that we found fascinating and interesting. Going online to learn what’s available gives you the chance to decide on what interests you so you can get the most out of your stay. We did not get out to Dulles Airport to see the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, after having filled our cup of space travel at the NASA complex in Huntsville, Alabama, and the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. We did hear that it is worth visiting. According to the Internet, the Vietnam gallery is open, but we didn’t know about it.
So much to see and do, but no matter how much time you can spend in D.C., you’ll find it worth the visit.
From DWR in Camp Verde — I grew up in DC and a few years ago a friend who knew that told me he was going to take his family to DC for a week and see all the museums. My response was that he could drive by and see them but would never see what was in all of them in a week. Since displays change often in the Smithsonians, you can go several times and see different things. Think about this: when the Washington
“Once crossing the avenue at 7th Street, our young druggist lost a shoe, which sank into the ooze and was with some difficulty recovered.” – Dr. William Gunton, 1807
Monument was finished, the area between it and the river was a swamp. Now, courtesy of the CCC, it provides space for the Lincoln, Jefferson and other memorials, the tidal basin (Yes the Chesapeake Bay tide does reach there) and on the other side, National Airport.
Bruce H. Besmen — Thanks for coming to visit. I hope you have a great time here. It’s funny to read about other peoples visit to town. I drive by most everything you will see here on a daily basis and don’t even glance at any of it. I have worked at the Pentagon (including the rebuild after 911), Treasury, Eisenhower Executive Office Building (presidential cabinet offices), and the Supreme Court Building among others in my job as an historic renovation electrician.
I have to laugh at the fact that I keep my coach ready to just “Get out of this area” and all the traffic. But I guess that’s what we all do, every one trades towns when we travel. I’ll be heading west this summer. I assume that you are staying at Cherry Hill just 10 min. from us. Please enjoy our Beltway. Ha! Ha! Have a safe journey.
Roadtrekker — I looked up Fort Monroe (near Hampton, Virginia) and it is a new National Park, so hopefully all will be preserved! Love reading your blogs. We like going to Williamsburg in the Spring when it isn’t too hot yet, so this article was extra enjoyable since we are familiar with DC and Williamsburg areas.
Because of the numerous Spam comments on this site, the comments section has been deactivated. Please email us at neverboredrvers@gmail.com and I will pass along your comments. Learn about Alaska and see travel photos at ontopoftheworld.bz (and much more to come when time allows).