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May 30, 2012       The Newseum was spectacular!  Don’t miss it.

One of the few museums in D.C. that is not part of the Smithsonian complex, this is a standout in every way.  We started with the Gallery of Pulitzer Prize –winning photographs.  Wow.  We weren’t permitted to take photos, so can’t give a visual, but we lingered long in here.  Many of these we remember as front-page news during our lives.  Utterly amazing photos.

The only downside to this place is its layout.  The interior is like out of an M.C. Escher drawing.  We constantly were pouring over the map, often to no avail, to try and figure out how to get from one area to another.  For all the cool exhibits, the place is a navigation nightmare.

 

There were sections devoted to sports reporting, pieces of the original Berlin Wall, great books, history of news, first amendment freedoms, broadcast studios

the oxymoronic reporter’s ethics center, the 9-11 attack, including a spire from the top of one of the twin towers,

the journalists’ memorial, a world news gallery where you can read the front pages of newspapers around the world on the day of your visit,

interactive game kiosks to test your skills as a reporter, a gallery on the evolution of electronic news gathering technology . . . . whew!  We got hungry.  Fortunately, the Newseum sports perhaps the best museum cafeteria in the city, operated by Wolfgang Puck’s team.  It was a little daunting for some,

but the food was worth it.  We both scored with beautifully cooked salmon with herbed breading on a bed of Napa cabbage, a side of mac-n-cheese (Loni opted for potatoes), and perfectly-cooked veggies.  All that for only $10.75! 

Suitably stuffed, we perused the rest of the exhibits till nearly closing time.

In a bit of serendipity, I came across this display.  Ellsworth is Mom’s home town!  Wonder if she knew this guy?  Probably not.  He was 20 years her senior, so probably left for the bright lights while she was a babe, and returned long after she had moved away.

This was one of the highlights of our trip, and well merits the two-day pass.