The
Newseum was highly recommended by friends, so we decide to check it out.
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| Facade of Newseum |
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| Main entry |
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We start off in our usual fashion by climbing up to the top floor so we can work our way downward through the exhibits. It's such a beautiful day we first step out on the top balcony to admire the views.
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| Large airy atrium |
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| Clear view of the Capitol Building |
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| Traffic below us |
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This looks like a good place to start from news carrying pigeons to modern day satellites.
The printing press with moveable metal type was the main invention that led to the news as we know it today. On display is a replica of the printing press
Benjamin Franklin used to print the
United States Declaration of Independence and the
Bill of Rights.
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| Benjamin Franklin's printing press |
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| Moveable type |
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| Bill of Rights |
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Printing presses were first used to make copies of important books, such as the
Gutenberg's Bible in the 1450's and the Chronicle of History 1493 (shown below). As printing presses became more common they evolved into making pamphlets announcing major events and then to more local news.
We are stunned by the number of original documents on display. I could spend a whole day here just reading them.
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| Chronicle of History book page |
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| Pamphlet announcing the death of a king |
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| Salem Witch Tryals |
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Many more modern major news stories are available via interactive kiosks.
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| Scopes Trial |
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| Salk Vaccine |
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| Death of John Lennon |
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I find the room of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs to be so arresting that Peter, Jill and Mark have a hard time getting me to move on. The ones below affect me the most:
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| Mother and child leap to their deaths to escape a fire |
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| This Vietnam War photo has always haunted me |
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| Female circumcision in Africa using a razor blade |
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The large group of exhibits on the
911 Attacks is also emotionally wrenching:
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| Remains of a broadcast tower |
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| Second plane striking the remaining building |
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| SF Examiner's take on the story |
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One reporter covering the attacks first ran away from the burning buildings to get more film. After loading his cameras, he ran back into one just before it collapsed. Below are what's left of his belongings:
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Possible death and bodily harm are all too often part of the job. This wall shows photos of reporters who lost their lives in just in the past year.
Surprisingly only 13 countries of the world have a free press. |
We end up by returning to the Bill of Rights and the specific freedoms it spells out:
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| Freedom of Religion |
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| Freedom of Speech |
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| Freedom of the Press |
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| Freedom of Assembly |
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| Freedom to Petition |
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Of course we exit through the gift shop and all end up buying things. Of all the museums we visited in the DC area, the Newseum packs a wallop. We are all sorry to learn the Newseum lost its lease and was forced to close on December 31, 2019.
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| Mark models his new cool shades |
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