One of the Smithsonian Museums that I have been dying to go to is the Natural History Museum. I finally got the opportunity to go! This is an interesting one to visit because there are so many different exhibits to see. Just a few of the sections that they have are on the ocean, mammals, human evolution, butterflies and insects, dinosaurs and fossils, gemstones, and orchids. Because there is so much to look at we spent hours there.
In the ocean section, there were exhibits of preserved sharks, fish, and squid. I found this to be most interesting because we were able to see these animals in person, rather than solely in pictures. When you see them in person, you realize how large they can grow. The one I found most shocking was the giant squid. The sign stated that it was only about two to three years old but it had already grown to about twenty feet long, if not longer. I am horrified that the next time I swim in the ocean I might encounter one of these!
Another part of the museum that was very interesting was the butterfly observatory. It is a structure built specifically to let the butterflies fly freely. It has gardens of flowers growing that inhabit hundreds of butterflies. These flowers provide the nourishment that they need. I felt as though I was in a tropical jungle.
Lastly, my most favorite section was the one on gems and minerals. In this section they have exhibits of the most beautiful stones used to make jewelry. My favorite, of course, were the diamond displays. They had diamonds in many different colors and in many different jewelry settings. They even had jewelry owned by many different queens and famous people such as Marie Antoinette. Although these pieces were beautiful, nothing compared to the Hope Diamond necklace. Replaced with a temporary setting, this piece was breathtaking and every girl’s dream to own. This by far, for me personally, was the best part of the museum. The history behind it and its beauty make it so magnificent.
I posted pictures of this trip so everyone can enjoy how great it was!
-Andreanna
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