Washington DC

Toured the Museum of Natural Science and Museum of American History. 

The Museum of American History was one of the best on the Mall.  Among the most interesting artifacts on display were:  George Washington’s sword, the portable desk used by Thomas Jefferson while drafting the Declaration of Independence, Ben Franklin’s walking cane, the stove-pipe hat worn by President Lincoln the night he was assassinated and Dorothy’s ruby slippers, to mention only a few.  Definitely, one of the better museums on the Mall.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections

Among the larger exhibits at the Natural Science Museum were the evolution of humans and information about our oceans and waterways.  Heads depicting the various species related to the development of modern man were particularly interesting.  The exhibit on how our waterways and oceans function, as well as, discussion on the health of the world’s waters reveal how much has changed and is changing in a very short period of time due to man’s activities.