Smithsonian Virtual Tour

Paying a visit to a museum will never go out of style. It is an enjoyable way of learning and viewing the art and/or history of what is being displayed. With the majority of museums closed due to the global pandemic, it is unfortunate that we cannot physically be at certain ones. Think about how many children are missing out on great field trips to interesting museums. Although it sounds upsetting, don’t worry. There is a light at the end of this tunnel– and that light is Virtual Tours. We may not be able to go to a museum, so why don’t we bring the museum to us? Virtual museum tours are very great for being convenient, cost-efficient, or even if you are a teacher wanting to take your students on a virtual field trip. So, how about we go on a Smithsonian Virtual Tour?

There are five major Smithsonian museums located in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Smithsonian museums are a hot-spot for tourists. The average visitors per year falls between an estimate of nine and ten million. That is a lot! Thank goodness for Virtual Tours, no need to worry about the long lines and crowd; we will get a perfect view of everything. How about we head over to our first Smithsonian museum? Let the Smithsonian Virtual Tour begin!

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

Welcome to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture! This Smithsonian museum was opened recently in 2016 and also the most visited Smithsonian institution. Many famous individuals have visited and spoken here like Barack Obama, John Lewis, Oprah Winfrey, and more.

From the outside, along with a view of the National Mall, the architecture of the SNMAAHC’s exterior is beyond beautiful. There is a meaning behind why it was built the way it is; the way the building looks stacked represents the caryatids of the yoruba shrine and the bronze color is based on iron work by enslaved workers in Louisiana. It is truly amazing how we are looking at history just from the outside. I cannot imagine what we are about to see inside, let’s go see!

The main museum exhibits are underground. Once you are down, you go through history chronologically.

The exhibit does start off very heavy due to the unfortunate circumstances that African Americans have had to go through in the past. On display is shown how slave ships were set up by crowding 200 Africans on a small ship to cross the entire Atlantic Ocean giving them little water, clothing and food. Their are also real objects that shows what slave owners used to torture their slave; which can be sensitive to see.

Next we come to look at the Paradox of Liberty. Here are shows of statues of influential people who were living in the year of 1776. Standing out front in center was Thomas Jefferson, who not only wrote the Declaration of Independence, but who also was an owner of over 600 slaves. Other statues of Toussaint Louverture, Elizabeth Freeman, Phyllis Wheatley, and more.

Moving along, we are now looking at old paper advertisements for slaves to be sold. Also, there is a red and white flag here that slave owners would put out when they have slaves for sale. Looking down at the floor is a real rock where slaves would stand on while they were getting humiliated and auctioned.

Many famous artifacts that belonged to places and influential African Americans are on display like a clock from the oldest African American bank in the country and Loraretta Pemberton’s wedding dress.

Now we can head on upstairs. There are exhibits here that honors historic African-Americans and movements like The Obama’s, Oprah Winfrey, Black Lives Matter, Black Panthers, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcom X.

One of the most emotional pieces here in this museum is the casket of Emmit Till. You walk by the casket and it will likely leave you into tears because of his horrific story.

Lastly part of the exhibit to lighten the mood, one of the highlights of the museum is their big waterfall. The water comes from the ceiling shooting down, along with a Martin Luther King Jr. quote along the wall.

The SNMAAHC was honestly amazing and gives you so much to be informed about African American history and culture. It is sad to go, but we must head to our next Smithsonian Virtual Tour!

National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Here we are, the National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. This Smithsonian museum has a lot of different exhibits. They have historical artifacts like rockets, spaceships, airplanes which tell the story of aviation and space exploration.

We started our tour at the well known successful airplane built by the Wright Brothers in 1903. When looking at it, it looks very fragile along with the thin white architecture of the plane.

Next, we walk over then looking up to look at another airplane, the Spirit of St. Louis. The way this historic airplane dangles on the museum’s ceiling gives it more of a good idea on what it had looked like when flying in the sky.

This next plane we are looking at belongs to the amazing Amelia Earhart. The big shiny red exterior of the plane along with its silver spinner still makes it look brand new.

Over here, looking up in the corner is the X-15, a rocket powered airplane. This holds the record of the fastest and the highest.

Going up on the balcony, we are able to enter an airplane to see what it looks like from the front with its controls. Pretty cool, right?

Now let’s go back down to the mid level. This is back of Skylab, America’s first experienced space station. Look how huge it is! Across there is a display of the toilets that were used in space. How interesting does that look?

Last section in the museum is the Apollo 11 command module. This was the home for the first man to walk on the moon in July 1969. Nearby is the Lunar Lander, the famous spacecraft that landed on the mood. Ending this section with touching real moon rocks! This is so amazing.

What an awesome time at the National Air and Space Museum, but we have more to go. There is so much more to see on this Smithsonian Virtual Tour. Quick, let’s go!

National Museum of the American Indian

We have now made it to our third museum on our Smithsonian Virtual Tour, the National Museum of the American Indian! Base the exterior, it gives you that earthy feel and look with the waterfall, rocks, and trees. Walking in the entrance, you will notice it has a wide open area and a tall dome ceiling. There is so much to look at in this museum along with the different tribes.

At the front end of the museum is a pipe tomahawk that belonged to Chief Joseph. Behind it is a James Madison peace medal– and behind both of those two objects is a type of war club.

Going up to the fourth floor, let us view this Ubik mask. It belonged to a tribe in Alaska and it was used to heal people who were sick. Looking over are moose mittens, which are also from Alaska. They are very colorful!

This next exhibit is called Our Universe. It is looking at seven different tribes. Also, it is based on how they think the world was created. There is some beautiful pottery art in here along with other historic artifacts.

Moving on, this next piece in the museum is really interesting. This is a bronze statue commemorating the alliance between the Oneida Indian Nation and George Washington during the American Revolution.

The next exhibit we stop in is called Nation to Nation. On display are belts and sacred badges of friendship that represent peace agreements between different tribes and white settlers. More artifacts are shown, and the Treaty of New Echota from 1835; the treaty that laid the groundwork for the Trail of Tears. Look who signed it big and bold, it is Andrew Jackson!

In the next room is a Cheyenne painting of the late 1800s, telling the story of the Battle of the Little BigHorn. It is so interesting to look at.

Wrapping up, the last part of the museum we are looking at is a chronological timeline along the wall that focuses on all the promises the Americans made to the Native Americans.

This was a great learning experience at the National Museum of the American Indian! I highly recommend it to everyone. So, where to next?

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Smithsonian American Art Museum

Who is ready for some art? I know I am welcome to the Smithsonian American Art Museum! The outside of the museum looks very similar to the Philadelphia Art Museum with its giant pillars in the front. Let’s go in!

The first exhibit we are entering is a small and special one. This exhibit is by the Korean artist Xhosa. As you can see, he makes art with everyday objects. These are made with ethereal fabric and it makes things look familiar but also unusual at the same time.

The next exhibit is going to take a look at is specially for African American folk art. One piece of art right here is by Thornton Dial, who made this piece out of junk. This is called The Beginning of Life inthe Yellow Jungle.

Over here is an exhibit of 1930s American art. These are all paintings that were based during the great depression.

Now we are in the main gallery. When first walking in, you will notice right in the center is the iconic Statue of Liberty, just smaller. More picture paintings are shown along the walls, including a painting of Niagara Falls.

Up next is a room dedicated to Geoge Catlin. He painted Native Americans and landscapes.

In the museum, there is also a presidential gallery and a Civil War Gallery filled with painting and statues.

There are exhibits of modern and contemporary art. Notice that walls are white so the colorful paintings are able to pop out, and so it did!

The last part of the museum I wanted to show you is called the Electronic Highway. It looks super cool and colorful with its electric lighting reflecting back at us.

We did it! That was the end of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Coming back is a must, but heading to the last museum of our Smithsonian Virtual Tour is a big must!

National Museum of American History

Well, we made it to home stretch. This is our fifth and final stop of the Smithsonian Virtual Tour, the National Museum of American History! Taking a walk through this museum is like taking a journey in America’s past.

The first exhibit of the museum we will look at is a section dedicated to superheroes and comics. Fun, right? There are displays of Wonder Woman’s costume from the original series, next to it are the claws for the Wolverine, Captain America shields, Batman’s mask and Batmobile.

Going upstairs, we will go view the military history hall. This has information and artifacts that were from D-Day. There are also guns that were used in the Revolutionary war and outfits worn by George Washington.

Next, there is a World War II display that shows artifacts that were used during the war like lots of guns and other objects.

There is also a display dedicated to Pearl Harbor. What you see here are pieces of bombs and pieces of the plane, the radiogram and a uniform from that day.

Now we moved into the Vietnam War section. There is a helicopter along with different uniform pieces and guns. Along the walls shows you the horrific booby traps that were used during the time.

This museum is very huge, giving us the people’s education of American history. It was great!

Closing Time

We made it! Five museums in one sitting, I am amazed. As always, I hope you enjoy that wonderful Smithsonian Virtual Tour just as much as I did. I can’t wait to see you on our next Virtual Tour!