AU students can now visit the newly renovated Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History, which opened Nov. 21 after being closed for two years.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell read Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to a 200-person crowd on the museum's steps before it opened, according to The Washington Post. Additionally, the Children's Chorus of Washington sang the National Anthem to the crowd, which was mostly dressed in patriotic colors.
The ceremony signaled the beginning of a three-day festival. Historical images were projected onto the building on Friday and Saturday evening. People dressed as historical figures, including George Washington, were available to greet children, and will continue to do so regularly on weekends. Almost 3,000 people attended the first few hours of the opening, the Post reported.
One of the most notable changes is a new gallery for the Star-Spangled Banner exhibition, which displays the U.S. flag raised in victory after the 1814 British bombardment of Baltimore's Fort McHenry, according to the museum's Web site.
The Smithsonian invested $85 million dollars to renovate the museum, most of which came from federal funds and private partnerships, according to the site. The majority of the money went to architectural enhancements to the 42-year-old building and to improve the building's electrical, plumbing, lighting and security systems. Museum attendees will also encounter new food and gift shops.
Most of the items in the building were kept in the location under strict security during the renovation, according to the Web site. Some were put in storage and others were set up as traveling exhibitions.
Kathy Franz, a history professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she thinks the museum's changes are positive, but it's difficult to capture history in a confined space.
"[A]s a U.S. historian and public historian I think the renovation is exciting - the architectural changes will open up the museum and make it a much more pleasant place to spend time," she said in an e-mail. "But the physical renovations might have been easy compared to rethinking how to represent the diverse stories that make up American history."
Franz also said the museum was difficult to navigate prior to the renovations, which helped to improve this problem. Before the renovations, many people came in looking for the popular exhibits, such as Dorothy's ruby slippers from the 1939 MGM film "The Wizard of Oz," and had a difficult time finding them. The museum's curator, Brent Glass, has been instrumental in making the museum more navigable, she said.
As a graduate professor, Franz said her students have been attentive to the museum's evolution and care about the renovation.
John Grooms, a senior in the School of Communication said he does not think the renovations will draw him to the museum.
"Out of all the museums that neighbor the Smithsonian Metro stop, I would probably be more eager to go to it than other ones," he said. "That being said, I don't think the renovations have had a great effect on how much I want to visit."
"I think it's great that it's open now," Franz said. "It's sort of the first line of history for many people. The museum really provides that. As a teaching tool, it's invaluable."
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