New Perpectives on History and Biology

This Monday, Columbus Day, I spent my afternoon at the National Botanic Gardens and the National Museum of the American Indian. These two strikingly different museums fascinated me in their own unique way. The National Botanic Gardens was a refuge of peace, quiet, and exotic features. Meanwhile, the National Museum of the American Indian provided a greater depth of knowledge on the expansive history of Indian peoples in the Americas and their courage to survive in today's globalization-centered mindset.

The National Botanic Gardens was a lovely trip because on a warm, bright, sunny day I was able to enjoy to serenity that is afforded to one when walking through the quiet beauty of a garden. The Gardens are split into "branches" off of the central lobby inside. The "branches" are the Jungle, Hawaii, Children's Garden, Endangered Species, Medicinal Use, and the Desert. Each area, as you would figure, has vegetation from each biome that is listed. The jungle was thick, dense and very green in terms of plant life, while the desert featured a vast array of cacti and small, brown shrubbery. I truly enjoyed the Hawaii section for its color (plenty of whites, yellows, reds, and violets) and variety(size/shape). In addition, the Medicinal Use "branch" was interesting because so often we see the product of all of the various herbs and spices that we use in medicines or food, but we do not often see the full plant. When I was younger, I remember my great-grandmother having a spearmint bush as well as sugarcane down South. But, some of the herbs there were cinnamon, oregano, vanilla, licorice, tea, bay, and others. Also, the the lobby features some massive flora such as the bamboo tree, a banana tree, a palm tree, and others.

Next, I went to the National Museum of the American Indian, which is a part of the Smithsonian Network of Museums and Libraries. Referencing my experience as an intern for an architectural firm, I was struck by the beauty of the building. This beauty is derived from its keeping in American Indian traditions, specifically the Western tribes like the Pueblo and Navajo. Its is a four-story building, but it does have huge spaces that are improperly used. Moreover, the Museum is accurate in its representation of all Indian tribes throughout the Americas (not just North Am.). I enjoyed the exhibits and their depth and quality. I also learned alot about the strife that American Indians have today in regards to gaming. Many feel that it does not uphold the values and traditions of Indian culture, while others see the immediate and long-term viability of Indians fiscally. One area of specific interest was that of the Afro-Indian relations. I realized that at a time when there were more Blacks in America than any group (mainly as slaves) they had cooperative relations with Indians who suffered similar injustices. They also bonded through shared moral and philosophical beliefs. This was important to me as my maternal great-grandfather and great-grandmother were Afro-Indian (Creeks of Mississippi and Chickasaw of Georgia, respectively).

All of these things, in conjunction, created a very special day with lots of new information and appreciation for the life we have, in the world that we are in. I hope others can have such an experience as well.

KAL