The Newseum

Growing up int DC comes with the expectation that one will visit every monument/museum on or around the Mall by the time one hits high school. I think this is why I'm wary of most museums, just because so many have been forced on me on the early years of my life. One of my favorite museums, though, is new(ish) to DC and combines history, learning, multimedia, and an interactive experience for visitors who are tired of your run-of-the-mill statue museum.

Welcome to the Newseum.

The Newseum is dedicated to the history of US media and journalism, with more than 200,000 square feet full of historical newspapers, broadcasts, photographs, and films. Visitors are surrounded by screens that flash current news from around the world as they also step back into the 1800s to read daily front pages from the time of the Civil War. The museum helps bring into perspective how far journalism has come in hundreds of years: from newspapers that took time and effort to print manually to flashing screens that can shout the world news to us as we sit in cars, at our computers, or pass by the buildings in Times Square.

One of my favorite exhibits from the Newseum (quite obviously because of my odd obsession with the 9/11) is the 9/11 gallery. In the center of the massive room is the actual destroyed and disfigured antenna from the top of one of the Twin Towers, which is surrounded by the newspaper headlines from around the world that showed the shock and awe of every nation in response to the attacks. This picture gives an idea of the room, but it's really much more spectacular and awe-inspiring in person. I know millions of dollars and considerable thought and dedication go into every museum around the country, but I think this room in particular is emblematic of this.