Changing America

Changing America is the new exhibit in the National African American History and Culture gallery located in the National Museum of American History. This exhibition parallels to huge events in American history that transformed our nation. The first event highlighted is the Emancipation Proclamation which was signed January 1, 2013. That section of the exhibition talks about what that meant for those enslaved and how their lives were transformed by the proclamation.
The second important event is the March on Washington (MOW) which occurred in 1963. In talking about the MOW, the exhibition also talks about several movements that led up to this great event. Marian Anderson singing at the Lincoln Monument, A. Phillip Randolph's failed attempt in the 1940s, and the major players in organizing the MOW like Randolph, Bayard Rustin, and others.

Exhibition Entrance 

Center Section/intro panel that shows the two different sections. I also like the A.P.R. quote. 

Harriet Tubman's shawl. 

Commemoration print of the emancipation proclamation

Another commemoration print. I actually did some research on this object as part of my internship.

Transitioning to MOW side with a wonderful MLK quote. 

A sign carried at the MOW 

Official MOW poster I believe 

The exhibition concludes with showing how the MOW also inspired other campaigns like the Poor People's Campaign, and the American Disabilities movement. 

 One of the coolest parts of this exhibition was the fact that several of the objects in the emancipation proclamation side I have done research on as part of my internship. It made my day to see them in person.
Overall, I think this is one of the best exhibitions that has been sponsored by the museum. However, my one complaint would be that it is slightly cramped mainly because of how small the gallery is. The walkway between the cases felt almost claustrophobic and I'm sure was at the minimum allowance for ADA requirements.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/exhibitions/changing-america

Time to Explore

Grad School has definitely put a damper into my blog writing. I think it's been over a year since I last updated, and I am feeling like there is a need for a change in direction. Working in museums over this last year where I have learned more and more about what good interpretation and informal learning looks like. In addition, I have been consistently asked what can museums do better, and how would I possibly change what museums are doing now. So this blog will probably get incredibly nerdy.

Of course the consequence of being in grad school for museum work means that I don't actually go to museums all that frequently. Life has a way of distracting you, and making you not want to spend even more time in a museum. However, there are some exhibits that I have been looking forward to opening, and I'm planning to go to during my winter break.

Food: Transforming the American Table, 1950-2000 at the National American History Museum
This exhibit contains Julia Child's kitchen (which I love) as one of the centerpieces. Check out the website

One Life: Amelia Earhart at the National Portrait Gallery
I have always loved Amelia Earhart, I guess being the daughter of a pilot will do that! In addition this exhibition also appears to have artifacts in addition to the various portraits!
The website 

A Will of their Own: Judith Sargent Murray and Women of Achievement in the Early Republic at the National Portrait Gallery
I just happened upon this by looking at the NPG website. The hilarious part is that my final project for my Historic Site Interpretation Class revolved around this very topic! Check out the website

While I am sure that I could add more, I find it bet when I limit myself to a couple exhibits, otherwise I get overwhelmed and can't concentrate on the various elements I've now been trained to notice. I'm really excited for this semester of school to be over, and hope that this break allows me to explore some new exhibitions!

The City of Brotherly Love

 A few weeks ago I was able to go to Philadelphia to do research for a paper. I was able to do research as well as be a tourist as well. I had so much fun, and have fallen in love with Philly. I want to go back and spend more than a few hours. Regardless here are some pictures from my trip and I apologize for the overload.

Independence Hall. They are working on restoring the tower, and I think it is scheduled to be done soon. 

I don't remember what this is, but Philly has some gorgeous architecture. I love the pattern on the window above the door. 

If I remember correctly this is the building that the Philly/Independence National Park NPS Headquarters is located. 

Another architectural detail. 

An example of an English style garden? I just really loved this gazebo and pathway. 

I love the pattern on this gate. 

Part of "Bank Row" All of these buildings used to contain some of the first banks in Philly. Fortunately the buildings are still there!

This is the whole reason why I came, for this exhibit. This is the street entrance to the Presidential House exhibit.  The liberty bell center is in the background.

Me inside the exhibit. 

The dining room area. Each room is supposed to have mini vignettes about several of the slaves that lived at the Presidential House in Philly. The colored panel has a significant event that happened in the house? I was kind of confused by them, I didn't exactly know the significance of the events that were on some of the glass colored panels. 

Archaeolgoical remains of the Presidential House, and the structure that was built ontop in the early 19th centruy. the Rounded portion in the upper right corner is part of a window that George Washignton added to the house. 

NPS sign about the house, gave a brief summary, and is nice because of the visual of what the house used to look like. 

Independence National Park 

The Liberty Bell!

A George Washington Statue. Fun fact this one is also on the GWU Campus. This is a fun game to play. How many George Washington statues can you find!

This is the train board at the station in Philly. It's so old school. When I was in the station I felt like I was back in 1943 or something. It was magical, and I was totally romanced. 

The train station was beautiful!

So that was my trip to Philadelphia in a nutshell. It was the first time that I had taken a trip by myself, and I survived. I was a bit nervous, but it was wonderful. I do wish I had someone with me, but that's for another time. I was able to see the exhibit, and get more source ideas for my paper!

The District

Well it's been a few weeks since my trip to The District also known as Washington D.C. I really had a great time although it was a whirlwind trip filled with business and not much pleasure. My Dad flew us up there and we spent 3 days traipsing around D.C., Maryland, and Virginia looking at the school, apartment hunting, and airplane business. I did find an apartment, and recently found out that I did get it! I was really nervous that I wouldn't be able to secure an apartment in my price range, but I was successful. Another bonus is that it is about a 10-15 minute walk to a Metro station. So I will have easy access to and from school. There is also a bus that will take me tot he station if I don't feel like walking.
So the main purpose of my trip was to find an apartment and see GWU. However Dad and I also got to go to the National Air and Space Museum on Sunday night when we got there. During the summer months some of the Smithsonian's are kept open a little later to account for the tourists and such. I really enjoyed the exhibits and I think my Dad did as well. After we left the museum we took the opportunity to take a couple of pictures on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol building, while heading back to the Metro Station.

The next day, we were able to take a tour of the GWU Foggy Bottom campus, which is just a few blocks from the White House! The campus is huge compared to Flagler, and walking around I totally fell in love with it. Below are some pictures I took of the campus. 

The 7 story library! I'm sure I will know every inch of it soon!

24-hour Starbucks on the 1st floor of the library. 

The Women's Studies Department building. This house has a great story behind it!

John Quincy Adam's House, He was one of the original founders/financial contributors to the college.

I look disporportionally short in this picture, but this is where the main admissions office is located. I think it is also the official address for the college as well. 

In honor of Mr. Washington himself, these are on the four main boarding corners of the campus, and they look out onto the city. 

The GWU Bookstore. There are three levels, enough said. 

Campus map, they are posted around campus on the street. I can't believe I'm going to a school so big they have maps on the sidewalks. 

Oh the Hippo. The unofficial mascot of GWU. I'm kinda in love with how ridiculous it is.

That pretty much sums up my whirlwind trip to the District. While we were there, we were able to meet up with my cousin and her fiancee which was really cool, as I had not met him yet. I am so excited to begin my journey in the big city. The countdown is on, and we will be on our way in 21 days! I only have 3 shifts left at lovely Panera, and then we will see what kind of wonderful jobs await me in the big city. 

Leavin' on "Jet' Plane

Well tomorrow I will be heading to The District to do some apartment hunting. My Dad is flying us up to D.C. so that I can finally see GWU and tour the school. We will also be trying to find a potential apartment for me, probably in Virginia. I can not wait for this trip, and I'm sure that there will be much more to share once I get back!

Grad School

It's been a long time since I wrote on my blog so I thought a little update was in order and I'm going to try and blog at least once a week.

A few posts ago I wrote about the grad schools I was applying to. Well the results are in and I decided about a month ago to attend George Washington University in Washington D.C.

Talk about a shocker. I never thought I would get into the school (that actually happened to be my dream school), and now I'm accepted and actually going! I still can't believe it, and I don't think it will really be real until I'm there.

I'm still trying to figure out how everything will get paid, but I'm trusting and relying on God to help me figure out how to pay for school and everything else associated with it. The more important thing is that I'm going to be studying what I love at the best school for it. I will be getting my Masters of Arts in Museum Studies, and I cannot wait for all of the opportunities that will be available for me in D.C. This is truly a dream come true.

Update

It's been a crazy few weeks. I have been working a lot at my new job as well as volunteering for Flagler working on the civil rights archive that will hopefully launch in a few weeks. I also have been working on a presentation that I will be giving next week on my senior seminar topic for women's history month. I'm slightly terrified! I don't think it will be much of a problem once i get up there and start talking, I just hope everything makes sense and that it is interesting. I also have to tweak my presentation because I don't want it to really be just a paper presentation, but a genuine presentation. I am excited for the opportunity though.

I did receive the best birthday present on Friday! I found out that I got into the musuem studies program at George Washington Unviersity! I really didn't think I would get in, and it's just an amaizng thing to get in! I don't know if I'm going to end up going there because it is so expensive, but it would be awesome if I was able to go.

Finally, I have lost 25 pounds on Weight Watchers since I started in July. I have dropped two dress sizes and kinda love to shop now. I am hoping that I can get refocused a bit and really work to get quite a few more pounds off before I have to leave St. Augustine and my wonderful group here!

Done!

Well as of last night I have officially applied to all of my grad schools. There are four total and I am praying that I just get into one of them! I am applying to all of them for the programs either named museum studies or public history. Although they are all similar type programs they have different names for them.
I applied to:

I will find out from the schools beginning in about mid march. I am so nervous, but I no matter what I'm trusting God for His plan. Ideally UNC Greensboro is my first choice in schools for various reasons. I am ready to leave Florida! I love it here, but the program looks amazing, the tuition is the least of all schools, and North Carolina actually has seasons which I love.
So now that this little project is finished, I am probably going to keep plugging along with the class I'm auditing and perhaps edit a paper to submit to a history conference in February. I also have begun to watch videos that will be included in a new civil rights archive at my college, and abstracting the information out of them. I'm about half way through the first interview and it is so much fun! This is really the work I was born to do.

Secret Santa

As a history major at a small liberal arts college it is really easy to have a bunch of classes with certain people. Well there is a core group of 5 that have become really close especially this past semester so we decided to have a secret santa since we can't afford to buy everyone a gift! We exchanged gifts tonight and I got the best gift from my good friend Melissa. Out of the 5 we have spent the most time together and know each other really well. As a history major and future museum curator I love old stuff! In fact last weekend we all went antiquing together. I have always wanted kitchen type stuff, but since I don't have my own kitchen I really didn't want to buy kitchen stuff. So instead Melisssa got me some for Christmas and it's all so cute I love it!!

The best thing are these milk bottles in the crate! They are sitting on my bedside table cubes and I am planning to go out and get some sort of flowers to stick in them! They are my favorite part.

I also got this sign that tells you how to make a lattice top cherry pie which I think is just so adorable. It is also pink which as everyone should know I love!!

A vintage potato masher that although i never intend to use will look adorable hanging on the wall one day.

And finally this vintage dish towel which is so cute!

I will be spending the rest of my evening chugging some Diet Coke and studying this.

The lovely GRE which I will be retaking on Monday. Although I am dreading it, I do feel slightly more prepared this time, hopefully my score will reflect that!