When we visit the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., we are awe-struck by everything the buildings have to offer -- Judy Garland's famous shoes, the notorious Hope Diamond, the lovable Giant Pandas. However, we never really stop to think how the Smithsonian came to. For this final blog post, I would like to appreciate for a moment James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Institute.
Supposed to be born in 1765, Smithson was the illegitimate child of Elizabeth Keate Macie and Hugh Smithson, 1st Duke of Northumberland ("James Smithson -- Founder Smithsonian Institute"). Studying natural history in Pembroke College, Smithson furthered his interests by becoming a chemist and a mineralogist. He gained quite an illustrious reputation as a scientist, not just as the son of a Duke. He lived a good life and was very wealthy from his family estates as well as his career. In 1826, Smithson penned his own will. Smithson died on June 27th, 1829 in Italy and buried in a British cemetery.
Smithson's Grave in Italy in 1896.
Upon his death, his nephew, Henry James Dickinson, was to inherit all his fortunes and estates. If his nephew were deceased at the time of his death, or have no heirs after, Smithson made provisions for that also. He writes in his will, "In the case of the death of my said Nephew without leaving a child or children, or the death of the child or children he may have had under the age of twenty-one years or intestate, I then bequeath the whole of my property... to the United States of America, to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an Establishment for the increase & diffusion of knowledge among men." Smithson's nephew, Henry James Dickinson, died just a mere six years later at the age of twenty-four. The money was then presented by President Andrew Jackson to Congress ("Our History"). The fortune totaled somewhere in the figure of 100,00 gold sovereigns, or roughly $500,000. The bequest was accepted on July 1st, 1836. The Smithsonian was officially established in 1847.
Smithton's Skull (ewwwww)
In 1903, Alexander Graham Bell, acting as a regent for the Smithsonian Institution, traveled to Italy to propose moving Smithson's remains to his namesake institution ("Smithson's Crypt"). The request had some hard arguing, but finally, two years after Bell first mentioned it, the plan for reburial in Washington was accepted. In 1904, Smithson was exhumed from his Italian grave site, which suffered much from poor design and weather conditions. Apparently, there wasn't too much precaution about opening up dead men's coffins back then, for in the picture to the left, a U.S. Consul is holding Smithson's skull! It is said that before the casket was sealed for the transport to America, Mrs. Bell, Alexander Graham Bell's wife, placed a wreath of cypress leaves with his coffin. The same cypress trees that lines the pathways of the Italian cemetery were he was interred for so many years.
Smithson's crypt lying in state.
"A simple dignified mortuary chapel was then created in the room to the left of the north entrance of the Smithsonian Building by the Washington architectural firm of Hornblower & Marshall. The room featured three non-ecclesiastical stained-glass windows, a plaster ceiling with a deep cove molding and a floor made of dark Tennessee marble. The entrance to the room was sealed off by a heavy iron gate fashioned from pieces of the fence that had surrounded the Italian grave site. Photographs of the chapel show a somber and contemplative room, an effect further enhanced for the dedication ceremony by two large palm and laurel wreath arrangements flanking the Italian
marble monument. The significance of the palm as a symbol of eternal peace and the laurel wreath, emblematic of glory, made these appropriate adornments for the neo-classical tomb."
So-- the next time you are in Washington, admiring all the beautiful treasures we've just discussed in this blog, make sure to stop by the Smithsonian Castle, and pay your respects to James Smithson, the incredible founder of this incomparable national museum and institution. Without him, our rich history of not only America, but of the world, would be scattered everywhere.
Tai Shan, one of offspring from the two Giant Panda at the Smithsonian National Zoo.
Ranging in size from 220 to 250 lbs., the Giant Pandas are one of the rarest bears in the world ("Giant Panda Facts"). Only about 1600 survive in mountain ranges today, found typically in China. Approximately 160 Giant Pandas are carefully protected, observed, and bred in zoo facilities around the world. One of these facilities is located at the Smithsonian, where Tain Tain and Mei Xiang are its famous inhabitants.
What's interesting is the working relationship between China and the U.S. to bred these beautiful bears ("Meet the Zoo's Giant Pandas"). If you remember watching the news a few years ago, Mei Xiang and Tain Tain were transported to Washington from China to create offspring. Their child, a boy bear named Tai Shan (pictured above), was born in the National Zoo on July 9th, 2005. A month old, he weighed less than two pounds. As of December 2010, Tai Shan weighed over 150 lbs! Tai Shan was transferred to China while his parents, Tain Tain and Mei Xiang, remain in the U.S.
The Panda Plane!
I wanted to post this blog about the Giant Pandas because of the recent news on government budgets. If a budget plan is not finalized by today, it could mean that the National Zoo and other national parks across the country would be included in the government shutdown. What does this mean for Mei Xiang and Tain Tain? A recent article in the Los Angeles Times interviewed the Zoo's spokeswoman, Karin Korpowski-Gallo, yesterday. She stated, "Consider it business as usual inside the zoo". The article continued to say that:
The 30% of zoo staff, including administrative, that does not take care of animals ("like me,"
Tai Shan leaving Washington for China in 2011.
Korpowski-Gallo said) would not come to work. But the keepers, curators, vets, nutritionists (a commissary of staffers prepare
daily meals)who minister to the needs of 2,000 animals would remain at work.Similarly, at the zoo's conservation facility in
Front Royal, Va. -- which is rarely open to the public -- all hands-on animal care would continue. That means the two tiny clouded leopard cubs that were born last week and are considered genetically valuable will be oblivious to the government upheaval. They will continue to be hand-reared by the staff, get nightly feedings and be otherwise looked after round the clock.
Back in Washington, the zoo's giant anteater, Maripi, and her
4-month-old pup,Pablo, who have been attracting a lot of
attention, will still be wandering their grassy exhibit. She'll
be sniffing out the peanut butter that keepers hide forher
to find (a zoo enrichment activity) while transporting her
offspring everywhereon her back. "He slides off on occasion,"
said Korpowski-Gallo. "She bends around
to get him back on."
If only members of Congress worked together that well.
("Government Shutdown: What about the Zoo Animals?", Observations and Provocations from the LA Times Opinion Staff)
Tai Shan's 1st Birthday.
One question pops into my mind: Why the Zoo? If it's shutting down to the public but employees and such are still busy at work, what's the huge savings here? Why not shut down a different museum? It's odd, isn't it? Especially when there are living creatures involved. I mean, the goal here of the Zoo is to keep the awareness in the public's mind that these animals are facing extinction -- and now, with the government shut down, the public won't be able to realize how much these Zoos need our help. I think that by the government shutting these parks and zoos down send a message that if desperate times came with desperate measures, the zoos and parks would be the first things to go.
One way to challenge this battle is to become involved and stay aware. On the Smithsonian's National Zoo website, there are many ways to help. You can adopt a species, where for just $65 you can receive a plush likeness of the animal you adopt. Also, you can give a gift membership, sponsor an event, help build a new home for the sea lions, purchase a commemorative bench at the Zoo, or, if you are in the area, sign up to volunteer! Here is the website for supporting the Zoo: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Support/
There are also live web cams were viewers can watch what the cute little bears are doing during the day. Right now, there's the image of one of the pandas munching on some delicious bamboo : )
Also, here' a great video from "Good Morning America" highlighting the newest panda cub at the Atlanta Zoo. His name is Po, meaning "precious" or "treasure". This video gives fantastic insight into why zoos are so important and why these pandas need our help: (It's actually requested by ABC News not to embed, and it won't allow me to upload from YouTube. Here's the link however: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS20BAmL8Fo ).
Another video of a baby panda-- I would totally be like the women in here..."Baby, baby!" He's so cool looking, just chillin' out, ya know?
P.S. just found this one too -- should I be worried that the panda has the same first name as me?
Julia Child's Kitchen. Smithsonian Institute (Hooked on Houses).
Famous chef Julia Child stated once, "The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude" ("Julia Child Quotes"). In episodes of her vastly popular cooking show, The French Chef, that what-the-hell attitude comes through Julia's easy going nature and humbled personality. She puts the viewers at ease in the most intimidating art form ever -- Cooking. We make mistakes cooking, so does Julia Child in some of her episodes. This style of cooking on television was just the beginning. Look today at all the cooking shows on television, walking you through each step to the final Pièce de résistance: a meal worthy of a magazine photo spread.
Julia Child, The French Chef
What some viewers do not realize however, was that this affable and loving woman who cooked meals right along with housewives across America, had a former job as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II ("Julia Child Biography"). It is said that she was assigned different top-secret intelligence assignments in places such as Washington, D.C., China and Sri Lanka. Not bad for a young woman of 29 years to land such a high position! It was one of the assignments that Julia met her husband, Paul Child. They were married in 1946.
In 1948, the Childs moved to Paris where Paul Child worked in the Embassy. It was here that Julia, with a lot of time on her hands, began a love affair with the French cuisine. She was so impressed by the quality and excellence of French food, she wanted to learn herself how to cook it -- as a French chef. The only catch was that the recipes were in French; women in America could not cook these excellent dishes if they didn't know the language! So, with the aid of two other classmates from cooking school, Julia began to translate and collaborate on their own book of French to English recipe translations.
I think the most important thing to realize her is the time frame Julia Child was beginning her future career. This is the late 40s early 50s, when women were just beginning to be more recognized as something other than housewives and mothers. I believe that if this was any earlier in the 19th century or even early 20th century, the publishers may not have been quite as receptive to her goals. When you really grasp what Julia Child was doing here in Paris, it's not difficult to believe that she is so amazing. She was probably learning the language herself, yet that didn't stop her from translating a whole recipe book! It's really remarkable.
Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Etsy.
Back to the biography: At first, the manuscript for the cookbook was rejected; the 734 pages was too expensive to print for a book that might not sell (it is said that the manuscript weighed a whopping three pounds!). Eventually, another publisher took on the project, giving the world Mastering the Art of French Cooking ("Julia Child Biography"). "The book was considered groundbreaking, and remained the bestselling cookbook for five straight years after its publication. It has since become a standard guide for the culinary community."
Back in the U.S. the Childs returned to Cambridge, Massachusetts to settle down. Julia Child was asked to promote her book on a morning program and cooked an omelet on air. The response to her humor and cooking skills was tremendous; the station asked her back several times for $50 per show. Later in 1963, after such success on the morning program, Julia Child was given her own air-time, The French Chef. It is here that Julia made her mark on the world. Everyone who watched her loved her, wanted to be like her, wanted to cook like her. She gives life advice while basting a turkey, boning a duck or flipping an omelet. The show ran for ten years until 1973.
Apart from giving interviews and attending shows like Good Morning America occasionally, Child continued writing cookbooks. In 2001, Julia Child wanted to move back to her home state of California, leaving her famous kitchen set for her shows to the Smithsonian Institute ("Bon Appétit!"). "The exhibition features the actual kitchen, including the cabinets, appliances, cookbooks, kitchen table, and hundreds of utensils and gadgets. The exhibition gives visitors a peek into the working kitchen of one of the world’s best-known cooks, and explores how her influence as an author and host of several television series changed the way America cooks."
Julia Child died in 2004 of kidney failure, two days before her 92nd birthday ("Julia Child Biography"). Her spirit lives on however, for in 2009 Meryll Streep portrayed the pleasant and heart-warming woman in the movie Julie & Julia. The film documents a woman's determination to cook every recipe in Mastering the Art of French Cooking for a year. We follow her ups and down, just the thing that seems to keep her going is Child's humor itself on the shows. When the woman gets frustrated, there's something there in The French Chef that calms her and makes her try cooking again. I think this is the appeal Julia Child has on the world. That although there may be mistakes, you can't deem it a failure.
The Smithsonian does a fantastic job of keeping Julia Child's memory in the minds and hearts of the public. Not only can you visit her famous kitchen, but cooks and chefs can become involved virtually as well. The Smithsonian offers a blog, giving daily recipes and asking viewers to upload photos of their meals, talk about any difficulties they are having and communicate in general about Child's recipes and life. The blog's link is: http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/recipe-of-the-week-julia-child/ ("Julia Child Recipe of the Week").
Julia Child in her Cambridge, MA kitchen.
She was a spy. She was a cook. She was a heroine for women in kitchens across America. She made cooking less intimidating. She made it okay to make a mistake. With the Smithsonian's preservation of her kitchen and famous actresses such as Meryll Streep portraying her, Julia Child will never be eclipsed from our memories.
Everyone knows the 1939 movie Wizard of Oz, but did you know that Dorothy's famous ruby slippers were actually suppose to be silver? Just imagine -- these iconic shoes that are recognizable everywhere, that are even considered to be a icon of American entertainment, could have been something completely different! Written by Frank L. Baum in 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz follows the same storyline of the movie except for one major costume change. The shoes in the book were silver rather than red! What made them change to color for the 1939 movie?
The Wizard of Oz, 1939 (Lahr).
The answer to this lies with technology rather than personal taste. Technicolor was changing the way movies were made ("Technicolor"). The intensity and vibrant colors brought new life to the movie industry in films such as Gone with the Wind and Singin' in the Rain. Against the yellow backdrop of the brick road in The Wizard of Oz, the silver shoes were deemed a poor color amongst producers of the film. The color changed to the famous ruby hue to be more dramatic in the Technicolor film ("Dorothy's Ruby Slippers"). As you can see in the image, the ruby color definitely shows up well against the golden tones of the yellow brick road. Even in the shadows, you can still see the gleam and glitter of those incredibly gorgeous shoes.
These size five shoes are still making headlines in recent news. In 2008, designers created a challenge against one another to remake the image of Dorothy's famous slippers for the then upcoming 70th Anniversary of the film's making--- "If Dorothy were living in the 21st century, what would she wear?" Here's some sketches by famous designers such as Betsey Johnson, Christian Louboutian, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and many others in response to the challenge:
Which design do you think is better? Perhaps the original ones are the best! (Although those Betsey Johnson ones are pretty rockin'!)
Garland's shoes are still making headlines today and not just back for the film's 70th Anniversary. I just typed into a search engine "Ruby Slippers", and under the News section there's the latest article on them. For her 25th birthday, pop artist Lady Gaga received a pair of the desirable slippers from her managers. What a birthday present! Estimated at over $40,000, this pair was one of five total shoes made for Judy Garland. Lady Gaga performed with the sparkly shoes on her birthday at a performance in Los Angeles' Staples Center on March 25th. Apparently when she was younger, Lady Gaga auditioned for the lead role in The Wizard of Oz but it went to someone else. She said on stage during the show:
Lady Gaga & Garland's shoes
"I wanted to be Dorothy so bad. I was in 8th grade and she was a senior. I definitely deserved to get it, but I didn’t get it. I was one of the people in the chorus, the worst role. On behalf of myself and all of those bullied around the world, now these ruby slippers are mine. When you don’t feel like Dorothy today, maybe you feel like someone on the chorus or the Scarecrow – just know you will have opportunities in your real life to change things and maybe someone will hand you a pair of ruby slippers.” (Molls)
It's really amazing that 72 years after the movie first debuted on the screen, it's still making news headlines!
I picked this blog post to be about the famous Ruby Slippers because it is showcased in the Smithsonian's American History Museum. They represent a time in American history when the economy was in horrible conditions, much worse than they are considered to be today. The Wizard of Oz distracted people living during The Great Depression with its vibrant colors, whimsical plot and sense of being happy and there's a place "over the rainbow". Even if only for a few hours, people who went to the theaters to see Judy Garland took their minds off their worries, which is perhaps why the movie industry is so costly yet profitable today.
P.S. I also have video from the Smithsonian's website about the story of the Silver shoes. I can't upload onto this post, but I can upload it onto a separate post from the Smithsonian's website. If you get a chance to watch it, it shows just how beautiful the shoes really are. The red color that is!
Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. National Air & Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
On May 20th, 1927, Charles Lindbergh stepped into the cockpit of the small, single-engine monoplane named the Spirit of St. Louis for a daring attempt to fly from New York to Paris non-stop ("Smithsonian"). Even more challenging, Lindbergh would be making the trip alone, with only the "Spirit" as company. Less than thirty-four hours later, Charles Lindbergh safely landed in Paris, with a flight log of over 3600 miles. It would be the first non-stop, solo, transatlantic flight in aviation history.
The Spirit of St. Louis and Charles Lindbergh, Paris, France 1927
How did this event occur? My thoughts were always that Lindbergh was pushing the limits; seeing how far technology and human judgment could go. In fact however, it was a contest put out by a New York Hotel owner -- a Mr. Raymond Orteig. The prize? $25,000 on the completion of a successful flight. Much different from my original thoughts of experimenting the ability of an aircraft! Sounds more like an amusement than scientific research! Aside from winning the grand prize, Lindbergh's achievement brought forth a wave of interest in the aviation industry. Stocks soared through the roof and since Lindbergh's flight was so successful, tourists felt more comfortable to try traveling by flight.
Aside from my interests in the Smithsonian, I have a special curiosity in things that defy explanation and are deemed "paranormal". I recently read a book entitled, "The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible", written by John Geiger. It is a series of narratives describing desperate and severe circumstance that threatened the life of the subject. One of these narratives was by Charles Lindbergh himself, written in his journals during the famous 1927 non-stop flight from New York to Paris. While on board the Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh experienced moments of panic from ice building up on the wings, traveling through storms, and fighting the urge to succumb to sleep (84). Geiger writes, "He [Lindbergh] gradually became aware that, while his body demanded sleep, and his mind made decisions his body failed to heed, he had ceded control to a "separate mind", a force that he recognized as being something of himself, and yet not." During Lindbergh's twenty-second hour of the trip, he writes what he begins to feel around him:
the fuselage behind me becomes filled with ghostly
riding weightless with me in the plane. I feel no surprise at
their coming. There's no suddenness to their appearance.
Without turning my head, I see them as clearly as though in
my normal field of vision.
Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis (Cockpit). Photo: Eric Long
Geiger continues to write, "Lindbergh felt the 'phantoms' were speaking to him, and he judged them to be friendly... He felt he knew them; they were familiar, and he felt also that they were there to help, 'conversing and advising on my flight, discussing problems of navigation, reassuring me, giving me message of importance unattainable in ordinary life'"(85). After his successful landing in Paris, Lindbergh never mentioned to the press what he felt or saw with him in the plane's cabin. Even in his book detailing his passage, he never mentioned the friendly 'phantoms'. Only until 1939, in his memoirs did he write something in passing about "disembodied beings". Again in 1953, Lindbergh wrote in an article for The Saturday Evening Post, that:
I've never believed in apparitions, but how can I explain the
forms I carried with me through so many hours of this day?
Transparent forms in human outline-- voices that spoke with
authority and clearness-- that told me--- that told me--- but
what did they tell me? I can't remember a single word they
said (87).
Charles Lindbergh and his flying companion (Solar Navigator)
What do you think? For a man who was awarded the Medal of Honor, and who had the skill to fly solo on a thirty-three hour flight back in 1927, do you believe what he saw? Do you think that inside that tight, small cabin, there were beings guiding him and helping him throughout his difficult journey? If so, one would be hard-pressed to agree that the Spirit of St. Louis flight was really solo. After reading that information willfully given by Lindbergh himself, it's exciting to see such an historical artifact as the Spirit of St. Louis in a different light!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I was fortunate enough to travel to Washington, D.C. for President's Day Weekend. Although I had a limited time frame to peruse the museums, my first stop was at the National Museum of Natural History. The top priority: THE HOPE DIAMOND.
King Louis XIV & "The French Blue"
Originally weighing a whopping 112 3/16th carats, this rare blue diamond was trimmed down to a smaller size of 69 carats under the orders of King Louis XIV himself (Smithsonian). Nicknamed "The French Blue", or "The Blue Diamond of the Crown", the diamond was said to have been set in gold and strung by a ribbon from the King's neck. Louis XIV's grandson, King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette was known also to sport this royal jewel on occasion.
Francillion's drawing of the diamond in question.
Unfortunately, the diamond was stolen during the French empire's meltdown. The royal jewels were looted during the Revolution and "The French Blue" was lost for more than twenty years. In 1812, a jeweler by the name of John Francillion recognized the familiar "steely-blue" color of a diamond in the possession of a London diamond merchant (Wise). It had been cut once again from the 67 1/8th carat to a smaller, much more manageable 44.25 carats. It is said that this was done to disguise the stolen "French Blue" from curious eyes and still fetch a considerable profit. Fortunately for the world, its beauty was still recognizable.
It is rumored that the name "Hope Diamond" came from a certain Henry Phillip Hope, who was doing business for Napoleon during those twenty-odd years "The French Blue" was missing. It is said that Hope was also the "custodian" of the stolen diamond when it went missing in 1792. Napoleon was consumed with the desire to restore all the stolen jewels and considered its theft a war crime. Hope, who wanted to keep his professional relations with Napoleon in good standing, secretly had it cut to disguise the missing diamond. The stolen "French Blue" became what is known today as "The Hope Diamond".
Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean wearing the Hope Diamond, 1915.
After passing through several different owner's hands (or rather necklines), the Hope Diamond eventually made its way to America (Smithsonian). A certain Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean of Washington, D.C. was shown the Hope Diamond in a Cartier in Paris. Unfortunately, the setting was not to her taste and she left the jewelers without it. Cartier reset the diamond for her sake, and flew it to Washington to spend the weekend with Mrs. McLean anyway. His persuasion worked, and in 1911, Mrs. McLean purchased the Hope Diamond as a stunning headpiece. Sometime before her death in 1947, Mrs. McLean once again changed the setting of the Hope Diamond; this time placing sixteen white diamonds encircling the large blue and notorious diamond in the middle.
Upon her death, Harry Winston, the famous jeweler of New York City, bought her entire jewel collection. On November 10th, 1958 however, Winston decided to donate the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., where it remains to this day for all to see.
When I visited this past month, there was something definitely different about the Hope Diamond however. Once again, its rest cannot be in peace, for the diamond was featured in a contest--- what winning design would you like to see for the illustrious diamond? The beautiful setting of sixteen diamonds surrounding the Hope Diamond was exchanged for a more contemporary one. Which do you prefer more?
Last week a family member came to me and asked if I wanted to go on a road trip. Of course, the answer was yes, but interestingly enough we chose to go to Washington, D.C.! I thought this was going to be perfect since I was working on this blog. It would give me the chance not only to act as the observer, but also add a critical eye from the techniques learned in school. So far here's the list of things we are planning on seeing: The Library of Congress; The National Portrait Gallery; The National Botanical Garden; The American History Museum; The Natural History Museum; the International Spy Museum; Mount Vernon (day trip); the Capitol; and the Smithsonian Castle.
The two things I most want to see are the 26 foot squid at Natural History Museum and the Hope Diamond in its new setting also at the same museum. I think it's pretty interesting that the Smithsonian decided to change its setting for a short period of time. With all the history behind it and the curse surrounding it, I can't wait to see what the re-invented piece looks like!
What my intentions are for this blog are: experience first hand the exhibits that catch my eye while in Washington this weekend, and then do research on it. For example, I wanted to create a digital story for the Hope Diamond, including its history, its mysterious rumors and how the setting changed even if only temporary. By actually going to these places, I could incorporate video as well as images and narration from tour guides.
I will be sure to post pics as soon as I can and am looking forward to creating a digital story on this weekend adventure!!!
"A simple dignified mortuary chapel was then created in the room to the left of the north entrance of the Smithsonian Building by the Washington architectural firm of Hornblower & Marshall. The room featured three non-ecclesiastical stained-glass windows, a plaster ceiling with a deep cove molding and a floor made of dark Tennessee marble. The entrance to the room was sealed off by a heavy iron gate fashioned from pieces of the fence that had surrounded the Italian grave site. Photographs of the chapel show a somber and contemplative room, an effect further enhanced for the dedication ceremony by two large palm and laurel wreath arrangements flanking the Italian
