First Ladies Tour at the Smithsonian American History Museum

Name: First Ladies Tour at the Smithsonian American History Museum
Start: 2020-04-12T15:00:00-04:00
End: 2020-04-12T17:00:00-04:00
Location: constitution avenue northwest 1300

Image from eventbrite.com

12 APR Sun 2020

3:00 PM 5:00 PM

Event ended

Smithsonian First Ladies Tour Rescheduled To April 12

Due to the temporary closure of the Smithsonian we’re rescheduling this event for Sunday , April 12.

If you are interested in joining us on this new, tentative date then you’re all set; no further action is required on your part. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

If you’re not able to join us on April 12 then we’re happy to provide a full refund.

Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.

Thank you!

Learn about the First Ladies of the United States at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. There’s a lot more to the First Ladies role in the White House than just “dishes and dresses” - although we’ll see those too. Our program will cover First Ladies from Martha Washington to Melania Trump, with the emphasis being on “modern” First Ladies from Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-1945) to present (portraits shown below).

The First Ladies program explores the unofficial but important position of First Lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation. The First Ladies exhibition features more than two dozen gowns from the Smithsonian’s almost 100-year old First Ladies Collection, including those worn by Frances Cleveland, Lou Hoover, Jacqueline Kennedy, Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and Melania Trump. A section titled “Changing Times, Changing First Ladies” highlights the roles played by Dolley Madison, Mary Lincoln, Edith Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson and their contributions to their husband’s administrations. The First Ladies encourages visitors to consider the changing role played by the first lady and American women over the past 200 years. Numerous pieces from the White House china collection are also on display.

Please note that Washington, DC History & Culture is an independent, non-partisan, non-political organization and all are welcome.

Your host for this program is Robert Kelleman: the Founder / Director of the non-profit community organization Washington, DC History & Culture, an art history graduate from University of Michigan, and former employee of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Here’s a great article by Taylor Markey from the University of Maryland “Writer’s Bloc” on the previous First Ladies program we hosted at the Smithsonian. : )

https://umdwritersbloc.com/2018/03/12/insight-into-the-lives-of-the-first-ladies/

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Registration: As this is a limited space event and to reduce “no shows” there is a $10.00 per person registration-in-advance fee / donation to attend, with proceeds supporting our Washington, DC History & Culture non-profit community programs. Full refund if the event is cancelled or if you change your RSVP to “no” at least 48 hours beforehand. You do not need to bring your ticket/confirmation with you; upon arrival we’ll just check your name off our RSVP list.

Weather: This program is indoors and will thus take place rain or shine.

Meeting Point: 3:00 pm sharp outside of the “Star-Spangled Banner” which is on the 2nd floor of the museum, and the same level as the National Mall entrance. We recommend arriving on site at the museum at least 20-30 minutes early so that you have time to pass through the security screening, use the restroom, etc. Look for a group of friendly people and your host Robert, wearing a cream-colored scarf. We’ll be outside of the Star-Spangled Banner exhibit for a few minutes before heading up to the 3rd floor - first to the American Presidency exhibit and then to the First Ladies exhibit.

Additional Questions: Anything that can’t be answered by the above event description, Google, or common sense please let us know.