O Say Can You See?

You Asked, We Answer: Why can't I take a picture of the Star-Spangled Banner?

Cameras are everywhere. I currently have three devices in my purse that I can take a picture with. We love it when our visitors take photos to share with family or spread through their own Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter networks. So it’s understandable that some of you have been asking:

Why don’t we let you take a photograph of the Star-Spangled Banner?

 

The Star-Spangled Banner is an extremely delicate object. While it’s amazing that a flag intended to be used for about five years has survived almost 200, there’s no guarantee that it is going to be around forever. It’s our job as museum professionals to protect this precious object, and the greatest threat to the flag over the long term is light. The flag’s fibers absorb the energy from light, which causes harmful chemical reactions and deterioration. The flag chamber and the viewing area next to it are lit as dimly as possible to minimize the amount of light that hits the surface of the flag.

While the short, intense burst of a flash might seem like an insignificant amount of light, it can be very damaging to a textile as fragile as the Star-Spangled Banner. Take that burst of light and multiply it by a thousand and you begin to see the accumulated damage. Three weeks ago we were averaging 30,000 people a day through our doors. If you stood in other popular spaces in the museum, like the pop culture gallery, you would see hundreds of flashes going off in the space of a few minutes.

So why can’t you just take a picture with your flash off? Well, in a perfect world you could, but it is too difficult for our security staff to police every possible…ahem…flasher. Many times people with auto-flash on their cameras and phones don’t even know how to turn it off. Preventing everyone from taking a photo is the only realistic way to fulfill our obligation to protect the Star-Spangled Banner while keeping it on view for all to see.

We do understand the disappointment many people feel not being able to take a picture of this amazing national treasure. So just for you we’ve uploaded a bunch of images—taken by our fabulous Smithsonian photographers—to our Flickr page. Feel free to download these, even stick them in your vacation slideshow! You’ll be able to share your precious memories of seeing the flag while making sure it’s around for future generations to admire.

Megan Smith is an education specialist at the National Museum of American History.

Slideshow: 2009 year in review

2009 has been a remarkable year for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Thanks to supporters like you, we were able to serve over 4 million visitors with world-class exhibitions and engaging programs. I hope you enjoy this slideshow of our treasured collections and some of the best moments of 2009.

You can still make a difference this year—today is your last chance to make a donation to the National Museum of American History and benefit from a 2009 tax deduction. Help us prepare for an exciting New Year by making your donation before midnight tonight. 

Thank you for all that you do for the National Museum of American History. Best wishes for a happy and safe holiday season.

Dana Allen-Greil is the new media project manager at the National Museum of American History.

Top 10 posts of 2009

To come up with the top ten “O Say Can You See?” blog posts of 2009 I relied on you, dear readers, to tell me what should make the cut. It was a busy year and the museum’s team of bloggers published more than 150 posts.

Flickr photo by prspect06.

What do you think of this list? Do you have a favorite post that didn’t make the cut?

The ten most-read posts of 2009 were:

1. Julia Child Recipe of the Week series
   These posts, in which a different museum staffer followed a new Julia Child recipe each week, were so popular that they dominated the list.  I counted the whole series as #1 so we could feature some of our other spectacular content. You're invited to try a recipe yourself and share your experiences with us.
2. A secret message inside Lincoln’s watch?
   Abraham Lincoln never knew of the message he carried in his pocket. In March, the museum uncovered a secret message hidden inside a pocketwatch for over a century. It's the personal side of history--the story of an ordinary watchman being inspired to record something for posterity. This post includes a photo slideshow and video coverage of the opening of the watch.
3. Night at the museum
   About 20 museum staffers slept over at the museum on the eve of Inauguration Day.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to welcome the first of our 40,000 plus visitors who had shivered outside waiting for our doors to open.
4. Your burning questions answered: First Ladies’ dresses
   If you’ve been to the new exhibition, First Ladies at the Smithsonian, you may have found yourself asking: Where are all the other first ladies’ dresses?
5. The Kennedys’ visit to American history
   During the memorial service for Senator Edward Kennedy in August, several speakers mentioned his love of American history and his son, Ted, Jr. noted that his father was “a civil war buff” who sponsored vacations that left the family, in some cases, “injured and exhausted.” The museum's director recounts the tour he led for the Kennedy clan during their visit in 2006.
6. Protecting our museums
   Tragedy befell the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in June when Officer Stephen Johns, who had served the museum for six years, was fatally wounded by a gunman. The news was especially shocking to those of us in the museum community because we see museums as safe places, places of enlightenment.
7. American history 2.0
   During the “Smithsonian 2.0” conference about the future of the Smithsonian’s digital presence, we were reminded that authentic artifacts have a power that will never fully be replaced by their digital facsimiles. What do you think we should be doing to extend the museum experience to virtual visitors?
8. Video games, Ralph Baer, and my first accession
   Imagine that it’s your first day on the job and your new boss brings you into a storage area filled with papers and strange looking objects, all donated by Ralph Baer, the Father of the Video Game. These are the notes and prototypes that made playing games on your television possible. And now it’s your job to process them.
9. Historic inauguration, historic multitudes
   While the museum didn't expect all of the millions of inaugural attendees to visit us, we did expect enormous crowds. This post includes useful tips for visiting the museum on especially popular days.
10. The strangest object in the Photographic History Collection
    Most people wouldn’t expect to find a .36 caliber pistol in the nation’s Photographic History Collection.  It may seem an unlikely match, but the stewardship of the gun within the Photographic History Collection says a lot about the deep and multi-faceted American story that this museum is privileged to tell.

The feedback we’ve received from our readers this year has been both encouraging and helpful in shaping what we cover and how. We hope that in 2010 you will continue to comment on the blog and spread the word to your friends.

Why not get started now? Leave a comment with your suggestions on topics you’d like to see covered on the blog in the future. What artifact, era, historical character, or behind-the-scenes museum topic are you most interested in hearing about?

Dana Allen-Greil is new media project manager at the National Museum of American History.

Recipe of the Week: Julia Child's French bread

Today’s post is the sixteenth in a series of weekly Julia Child recipes. This week Team Julia members Nanci Edwards, Rayna Green, and Paula Johnson tackle Julia’s deliciously crusty, French bread.

While this is the last post of the series, we will continue to share news and thoughts about Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian and other topics relating to American food and wine history. Thanks to all who responded to this series—we enjoyed hearing from all of you! As 2009 comes to a close, we encourage you to continue cooking, trying new recipes and techniques, and sharing your experiences with others.

Recipe of the Week: Julia Child’s eggplant and zucchini gratin, ratatouille

Today’s post is the fifteenth in a series of weekly Julia Child recipes. This week staffers Valeska Hilbig, Deputy Director of the Office of Public Affairs, and Matthew MacArthur, Director of New Media, put their culinary skills to the test. Following Julia’s guidance, Valeska brought together a colorful eggplant and zucchini gratin with vegetables from the local farmer’s market, while Matt created a fragrant ratatouille that fed the whole family. 

“Make the kitchen a really important part of your home.” 

Julia Child spoke of her kitchen as “the most loved and most used room in the house.” She and her husband Paul worked together on its design and spent many years cooking, dining, and entertaining friends and family in their kitchen. This week’s cooks rediscover the pleasures of cooking with family, reliving memories inspired by certain flavors, and sharing meals made with seasonal, locally-grown produce.