8 Must-See Ag Exhibits At The Smithsonian

The Smithsonian Institutionis the populace ’s big museum and research complex , with 19 museums and 9 research centers that foreground a huge regalia of matter . Though it may not be the first thing that comes to judgement , agriculture is all over the Smithsonian ’s museums . Next time you ’re in Washington , D.C. , treat yourself with these eight farm - focused exhibit .

1. Food: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000, National Museum of American History

This exhibitionexplores how food — and the access to it — has changed for Americans over the second half of the 20th century . The centrepiece of the exhibit is a full - scale refreshment of Julia Child ’s kitchen with all of the original items that she donated to the museum , but there ’s also a engrossing look at how American agriculture evolved over the prison term geological period and how social and ethnic movements affect our area ’s cuisine .

2. Kids’ Farm, National Zoo

betting odds are eminent that your youngster are already quite familiar with where their food amount from , butthis installationat the National Zoo allow visitor to get up snug and personal with farm animals and even help out with task on the farm . There ’s a pizza garden to explore , along with a functioning b that teaches child how crybaby , goats , pig , alpacas , donkey and cattle are housed . Plus , Game of Thronesfans , the Farm ’s six Salmon Faverolle - Leghorn crosses are named after female character from the series !

3. American Enterprise, National Museum of American History

This exhibitionprovides an overview of how capitalist economy and majority rule combined to grow America from a humble agricultural nation to one of the world ’s large economies . Most interesting is the second era discuss — The Corporate Era , from the 1860s to the thirties — which have artefact like Eli Whitney ’s cotton gin , John Deere ’s original plow and the 1920s - geological era Fordson tractor pictured above .

4. America’s Mailing Industry, American Postal Museum

you may even find agriculture in the unlikeliest of places at the Smithsonian museum ! The American Postal Museum is presently put together a forcible exhibit that explores the impact of the postal industry — both the United States Postal Service and private industry — and they ’ve asked ag - focalise companies likeBurpeeandLehman ’s , which is well - experience for its modest - technical school ware and mail - fiat catalogs , to be a part of it . The physical exhibit is still upcoming , but you could research the materialsonlinein the interim .

5. Victory Garden, Smithsonian Gardens

This gardenis a recreation of a World - War - II - era victory garden , which were planted to insure an passable food provision for both troops and citizens . All the veg and herb featured are heirloom variety that were available to nurseryman in the forties , and the garden also have some of the coloured mansion that typically accompanied triumph gardens in this time period .

6. Heirloom Garden, Smithsonian Gardens

competently named , this gardenspecializes in heirloom flower and herbs that have been around for decennium and were cultivated in American gardens prior to 1950 , like the McKana Giant Columbine above , which became popular enough after World War II to be appoint an All - America Selections winner in 1955 .

7. Butterfly Habitat Garden, Smithsonian Gardens

The plant featured inthis gardenwere all pick out because they were deemed significant in the life cycle of butterfly aboriginal to the United States . group into four separate home ground — wetland , meadow , woodwind instrument ’s edge and an urban backyard — these plant attract as many as thirty species of butterflies , include the beautiful Buckeye butterfly above , throughout the year .

8. Smithsonian American Art Museum

Because agriculture is so essential to America ’s ethnic identity , it can even be find throughout the whole kit and caboodle of American creative person . There ’s no consecrated Agriculture Department expo in theAmerican Art Museum , but there is farm - focused art , including Kenjiro Nomura’sThe Farmabove , sprinkle all over the museum . It ’s enthralling to see how unlike artist render the highs and low of farm piece of work on their sheet .

mayhap the best part about all of these exhibitions and attractions is that they are totally free ! What ’s not to love about that ?

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