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Dates: Tuesday, February 25th or Thursday, February 27th, 9:30am
Location: Online
Website: https://anacostia.si.edu/
Museum Musings
Museum Musings
This week we’re talking to the Anacostia Community Museum, one of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. This free museum seeks to preserve local history and effective community change. Check out their mission and description:
It’s also worth checking out their little video overview (about a minute), here:
You can feel free to explore the museum website here: https://anacostia.si.edu/
The Smithsonian
We know that Anacostia is one of the Smithsonian museums, but how did THE Smithsonian get its start? We owe it all to a man named James Smithson, who died in 1829. James was the illegitimate son of a wealthy Englishman who actually never even visited America! For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, Smithson left the entirety of his estate, a half million dollars, to the United States government. He dictated that his gift be used to establish an institution dedicated to knowledge gathering and learning. Though it would take until 1846 for the Senate to pass an act to organize the institution, its legacy continues to inspire and impact generations.
To read more about the Smithsonian’s history, you can check out their retrospective on 175 years here:
The Smithsonian is now the largest museum, education, and research complex in the world, with 21 museums, the National Zoo, and 9 research facilities! Check out the list of museums that make up the complex:
Check out this 1 hour lecture from a history professor (I know, I’m partial) from American University! He talks about the evolution of the Smithsonian as an institution and how museums can represent groups of people that previously have been underrepresented in museums in the past. He covers many of the museums under the umbrella of the Smithsonian as well! You can watch it here:
The Vatican Museums, Vatican City, Italy
Considered a micronation, Vatican City holds a wealth of cultural and religious treasures. Nestled in the heart of Rome, this 120 acre area is home to St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world. The massive Basilica can host 20,000 people for prayer and showcases the world’s largest dome (topping out at 448.1 feet). Aside from the stunning displays of 16th century mosaics and architecture, the Vatican also houses the Vatican Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel (pictured).
You can see the official museum website here: http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html
You can take a virtual tour of many parts of the museum by visiting here: https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html
The British Museum, London, United Kingdom
Founded in 1753, the British Museum was the first national museum to cover all fields of human knowledge. With over 8 million objects, it is considered to be one of the largest museum collections in the world. It houses antiquities from around the world, including the Rosetta Stone, which was carved in 196 BCE. It is the UK’s most popular attraction, welcoming around 6.5 million visitors each year.
To see their website, click here: https://www.britishmuseum.org/
To find ways to virtually explore the museum, click here: https://blog.britishmuseum.org/how-to-explore-the-british-museum-from-home/
Le Louvre, Paris, France
Even the building itself showcases French political and architectural history, dating back to the 12the century. The Louvre is famously home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, as well as the famous statue Venus de Milo. The galleries of art and antiquities occupy almost 15 acres and are divided into departments (Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, etc.). It is one of the most popular museums in the world, as it welcomes over 15,000 visitors per day! If you want to see famous works of art in privacy, this certainly isn’t the place for you!
The official website can be found here: https://www.louvre.fr/en/histoirelouvres/history-louvre
Virtual tour options can be found here: https://www.louvre.fr/en/online-tours
Quilting Fun
Quilting Fun
One of the exhibits available at the Anacostia has to do with quilting. Before we explore the crafting creations of community quilters, read on for a little bit of stitched history!
Quilting has a rich history from all over the world. Padded fabrics have been used in a variety of applications, from clothes to blankets, to even armor. But quilting took on a new life in North America with the arrival of English and Dutch settlers. Quilting derives from the Latin work culcita, which means stuffed sack. Now, it can be a noun or a verb; it refers to a stitched blanket or the act of actually stitching them.
Though quilts were initially just about function in the American colonies, they eventually evolved into works of art that tells a story. To read more about the history of quilting in America, click here:
https://www.quilting-in-america.com/History-of-Quilts.html
But to really dive into quilting, I highly recommend this episode of the PBS series “Craft in America” on quilts! (Ken Burns even makes an appearance - my little history nerd heart is all aflutter!)
Click here to watch the 56 minute episode!
To see the quilter bios from the episode and get more information, check out the crafting website here: https://www.craftinamerica.org/episode/quilts
See you this week!
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