Someone sneezed on me while I was perusing the National Art Gallery yesterday and I ended up catching something (thanks buddy, whoever you are). I spent all day yesterday downing medicine. Today I felt a bit better, enough to venture out but by the end of the day, I think I made myself worse. Don't worry --I didn't sneeze on anyone when I went exploring.

My first stop, the Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle). I was sorely disappointed. The outside promises exhibits of wonders inside.

Sadly, that is not the case. The Castle was mostly filled with sweaty tourists sitting around avoiding the heat.

My next stops were much much more interesting: National Museum of American History and Ford's Theatre

I only spent an hour in the National Museum of American History --it was a little too packed to do much perusing/picture taking.

Nancy Reagan's inaugural ball dress.

Thanks FDR!! (sarcasm)

Model of the Gunboat Philadelphia

The recovered Gunboat Philadelphia.

In October 1776, American troops in a ragtag collection of newly built boats faced an advancing line of British ships on Lake Champlain in New York. The Americans, under the command of Benedict Arnold, were forced to retreat, but not before they fought the British to a standstill. One of the American vessels, the Philadelphia, sank during the battle and rested on the bottom of the lake until 1935. It was recovered that year with much of its equipment intact and came to the Museum in 1964, complete with the 24-pound ball that sent the gunboat to the bottom.

Ford's Theatre:

Sanitary Commission Quilt

Constructed to raise money for the Sanitary Commission, this quilt was signed by 56 famous politicians, Northern generals and other public figures during the Civil War period, including President Abraham Lincoln, General Ulysses S. Grant and poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Lincoln's signature on the Sanitary Commission Quilt

Programs

This is the balcony Abraham Lincoln and his wife sat in when he was shot.

The other balcony.