You just knew it was going to happen.
When those 33 Chilean miners were rescued from a dark, underground death, their gear went to the Smithsonian Museum in the nation’s capital. Where else? The Washington, D.C., institution is often called “The nation’s attic.”
The museum’s Natural History wing now has an “Against All the Odds” exhibit, which includes the familiar rescue capsule, mementos and personal stories from the miners who spent two months (two months!) trapped underground in 2010.
That makes a visit to the Smithsonian Museum even more vital during my annual fun-and-sun pilgrimage to Florida. Because of heavy snow and a light wallet, I have missed my Washington visits for the last two years.
Many people, including some truck-driving friends of mine, would not be caught dead in a museum. The Smithsonian is just the place for them; they just don’t know it.
As background, the “Smith” is the world’s largest museum and research complex, with 19 museums, nine research centers and more than 140 affiliated museums across the planet.
There must be something you are interested in with 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens. That’s right, 137 million. There are 6.4 million digital records, 1.8 million library volumes and 100,000 cubic feet of archival material.
They have the original “Star-Spangled Banner,” for God’s sake.
Amid the fossils, airplanes and spacecraft, the “Smith” also has exhibits designed for the weird among us, myself included.
On permanent display are the glorious red slippers that Dorothy wore in “The Wizard of Oz.” The slippers, worn a little around the edges, are one of the most popular exhibits.
You want weird?
How about a million-year-old sloth dung? They don’t have that at the Farnsworth Museum. How about the original Crash Test Dummies, Vince and Larry, which taught us all we need to know about seat belts?
You want to see Teddy Roosevelt’s teddy bear? They’ve got it. I’m surprised he gave it up. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see Harry Truman’s bowling pin. The political collection includes Abe Lincoln’s gold watch, Ben Franklin’s cane, George Washington’s tent, and FDR’s famous “fireside chat” microphone. Warren Harding’s silk pajamas (a must!) and — get this — the locks of hair from the first 14 presidents, from Washington to the immortal Waldo Pierce, are included. Macabre items include the top hat Lincoln was wearing when he was shot and the cup McKinley used just before he was shot.
Someone has maintained a sense of humor over the years, collecting barf bags, shrunken heads, poison darts (those would be handy), a total of 50,000 flies, (not in the lunchroom) and 3,000 sea slugs. (A must see!) They also have the (stuffed) rats that made a space flight for our new friend, old enemy, Russia.
How many people have you wanted to “stun” in your life? The Smithsonian has had the phaser from “Star Trek” since 1987. The M*A*S*H sign post is there.
If you are my age (sorry), I know that you have been wondering where television puppet Howdy Doody ended up. You know now. The original Kermit the Frog is there with him.
You either loved him or hated him, but everyone knew Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali. I loved him because he made me a small fortune when he beat Sonny Liston as a 15-1 underdog. The museum has his gloves and robe, thank you.
I am not sure why, but the Smithsonian also has 50,000 jokes on file, donated by the famously disheveled Phyllis Diller. She always recorded each joke on index cards, and they are kept in 48 file drawers. I never thought she was that funny. Maybe that’s why she needed 50,000 jokes, many about her lazy husband, Fang. “I became a stand-up comedienne because I had a sit-down husband,” she said.
You like motorcycles? The “Smith” has Evel Knievel’s Harley XR-750. That alone is worth the price of admission. Wait a minute. There is no admission charge.
No wonder I like the Smithsonian so much. Well, that and the million-year-old sloth dung.
Send complaints and compliments to Emmet Meara at emmetmeara@msn.com.