The Hive exhibition runs through September 4, 2017 at the National Building Museum. 401 F Street NW (Judiciary Sq Metro Station).
Raymond Kaskey's American Storyboard
One of the most compelling elements of the National World War II Memorial is a series of bas-relief panels lining the north and south sides of the Memorial near 17th Street NW. DC-based sculptor Raymond Kaskey created the panels (and all other bronze sculptural elements in the memorial).
The 24 panels illustrate how World War II permeated every aspect of American life from the battlefields to living rooms, farms, and factories. They run in chronological order from east to west and are divided into the themes of Pacific front and Atlantic front, including scenes from life in the United States during the war.
Mr. Kaskey was inspired by the 1,200 foot wrap-around bas-relief frieze on the National Building Museum and used World War II era photographs housed at the National Archives to inform artwork on the panels . Here are a few close ups of these amazing depictions:
The Nation We Build Together
The National Museum of American History recently debuted the newly renovated second floor wing, titled The Nation We Build Together. The exhibitions within tell a nuanced story about how foundational American ideals have transformed over 300 years. The exhibitions are deep, artifact rich, and current. The interactive elements are excellent at testing your knowledge of government and political systems, while challenging you to examine your own views.
We can incorporate the best of these exhibitions into a Discover DC tour and pair the experience with site visits to Capitol Hill, the White House, or presidential memorials. Call us (202-681-0046) to schedule an exciting and educational tour. We leverage the best of DC and help you maximize your time here in the city. Learn more and book here.
Meanwhile, get inspired by these photos from The Nation We Build Together!
Who gets to vote? How do we manage voting methods state to state and county to county? The exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith touches on these questions and more, while illustrating how important political agency is to shaping American society.
When the United States of America began, only a small subset of land owning white men could vote. We've opened the door to more and more people over time, but the work isn't finished. The exhibition explores voting expansion over time on the federal, state, and local levels.
Many Voices, One Nation explores what it means it means to "be American," including how complex issues like immigration, assimilation, multiculturalism, and community intersect.
With no limited representation in the House and none in the Senate, residents of Washington, DC face a voting predicament unlike all other American citizens.
Campaign ephemera from recent elections and beyond.
Petition and protest are American traditions, are protected by law, and come in many forms.
When "Reality" Hit Dupont Circle
"The Real World" cast inhabited this beautiful c. 1890s Dupont mansion for the 2009 edition of the MTV groundbreaking reality show. Months of speculation surrounded the potential location of the group house. Many residents wondered which of DC's historic and lively neighborhoods would act as the setting for the show, and therefore the lens through which the audience expreienced the city.
Producers settled on this stately 10,000 square foot home near 20th and S Streets NW. The block is quiet enough to be a great residential location, but close to restaurants, retail, bus routes, and the Metro subway system. For better or worse, the show managed to capture the city's attention for the better part of a year despite achieving less than stellar television ratings nationwide.
