Top Ten Museum Artifacts in Washington, DC
On another Monument Monday, I thougth I’d come up with a Top Ten List of the most important artifacts, national treasures, and pieces of history in Washington, DC’s museums and archives. With all of the the Smithsonian Institution museums, the National Archives, Library of Congress and so many, that was tough to come up with just ten. So here’s mine list (plus 1), in no particular order. 
Feel free to add to the list by making a comment below.
1) The Declaration of Independence on display in the Rotunda of the National Archives.
2) The U.S. Constitution, also at the Archives.
3) The Bill of Rights, the third in the trilogy of landmark American documents, also at the National Archives.
4) The 45.5-caret Hope Diamond located in the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals in the Harry Winston Gallery at the National Museum of Natural History.
5) A moon rock brought back from the moon’s surface, by Apollo 17 astronauts in December, 1972, at the National Air and Space Museum.
6) The 1903 Wright Flyer, also at the National A&S Museum. Built by Wilbur and Orville Wright, it was the first engine driven plane to fly. It flew for just 59 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903, but change the way people travel forever. Also at the Air and Space on the National Mall.
7) The Gutenberg Bible at the Library of Congress. One of only 3 perfect original copies of the 1,282-page Gutenberg Bible, which dates back to 1450.
8) George Washington’s Landsdowne portrait by Gilbert Stuart on display in the America’s Presidents exhibition at National Portrait Gallery. 
9) The Star-Spangled Banner, the massive 30 feet x 42 feet flag which survived and proudly flew after surviving a 25-hour shelling and bombardment of Baltimore’s Fort McHenry by the British in 1814. The flag inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem “The Star-Spangled Banner”, which was later set to music and became the nation’s National Anthem. Normally on display at the National Museum of American History (closed until Fall 2008).
10) Renoir’s highly recognizable and classic French impressionist painting Luncheon of the Boating Party at the Phillips Collection.
Bonus) Ginevra de’ Benci by Leonardo da Vinci, one of only 17 paintings attributed to da Vinci, on display at the National Gallery of Art.
Images – da Vinci and Declaration of Independence – public domain, all others from personal collection ©2008, Jon Rochetti
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POSTED IN: Art, Attractions, Museums, Travel Tips – General Information
1 opinion for Top Ten Museum Artifacts in Washington, DC
Bunny got Blog
Jul 28, 2008 at 10:41 am
This is truly amazing.
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