Smithsonian National Museum of American History

We came here after our trip up the giant pencil. This is the museum where the original 'star-spangled banner' is kept (try saying that 10 times fast in cold weather), along with displays about its origin and the writing of the national anthem. Also, a collection of memorabilia, including the original red shoes that Dorothy wore from the Wizard of Oz movie. The kids and dads went to see some sort of transport display, which included some trains while my friend and I went to see a display on food habits and changes, including (and I loved this one) a display of all the coffee cup tops patented over the years (pictured above) and a recreation of Julia Child's kitchen. It would be good to come again without tired children, so you could read the displays, and not have to worry about losing a toddler dressed in navy blue in the darkened display area for the old flag, for example.