My first thought of the new People’s Museum was that it was about some culture, tribes, or discovery somewhere else. But it was about US. This is our story about the presidents, their families, and all the people who worked at the White House or came to visit the White House from 1790 to the present. The adults and children will marvel at the technology that makes learning about our White House fun and interesting.
The Starting Place
There is a 1:5 scale of the south façade of the White House, well-known as the background of most activities and announcements from the White House. The museum’s multimedia programs make presidents and others come alive and talk about their historic and contemporary moments from their time in the White House. You will see the slaves that built the White House and worked there. You also will hear their family dogs barking and see the mischievous children who put buckets on the transom so that whoever opened the door next got soaked.
The Green, Blue and Red Rooms
There are amazing replicas of all these rooms — first in miniature. It is hard to believe the time, patience, and skill involved. Be careful when you get to the wall at the end. I had to touch the wall to be sure it really was not another corridor, but rather an illusion painted on the wall. There was a monitor in the background, just in case.
The Green, Blue, and Red rooms are all in one huge 360-degree room. For each room there is furniture, gifts received, paintings, china, books, and many other items on the walls that one can touch and learn the story of that item. The Green, Blue, and Red rooms each get equal time. Announcements give a minute to change color, so that you can see the treasures in other rooms.
The Oval Office
This is an exact copy of the Oval Office. Bring your camera so you can get your picture sitting in the president’s seat, as well as photos with the phone left for that purpose.
The Cabinets
The presidential Cabinets come to life. We picked the JFK Cabinet, with all the men around him giving advice on the Bay of Pigs invasion. You will see each Cabinet member giving their thoughts, and the arguments among them. Then each of the visitors that watched the Cabinet debate were asked what JFK should do — from a list of options such as declare war, attack only the bases, embargoes, peace treaty, and diplomacy. 80% of visitors voting opted for attacking only the bases. JFK later handled the situation with diplomacy.
Make sure you see that little cubby hole where you can have your picture taken in a variety of patriotic frames. If you give them your email address, they will email you your picture.
The People’s Museum is located at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, and is open seven days a week, 9am-5pm. You enter and exit through the gift shop. You should allow 90 minutes for the visit.
Lenore Marema After spending my whole life in Chicago, I got a job offer that I couldn’t refuse. I was apprehensive, but on my flight to leave, Chicago was at ten below zero, and landed at sunny and 43 degrees, and I never looked back. I moved into the friendliest neighborhood ever. I retired here and still love to go to Chicago— in the summer.
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