This is America. Гришенкова Е.Г. - 15 стр.

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15
10. What is the most valuable object in the National Museum of American
History? Why?
Museum of American History
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. collects, cares for and
protects more than one hundred forty million historical objects. Some of them can be
seen at the National Museum of American History.
There are sixteen museums in the Smithsonian Institution. They include the
National Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Hirshhorn
Museum of modern art. All the museums are free to the public and open almost every
day of the year.
A visitor would need more than a week to see all of the Smithsonian museums.
In fact, it takes almost a full day to walk through the National Museum of American
History. This museum is in the area of Washington called the National Mall. Last
year, more than five million people visited the National Museum of American
History.
The museum’s collection gives visitors a better understanding of American
history, science and culture. The American History Museum cares for and protects
more than eighteen million objects.
These special objects include the nation’s most famous flag - the Star Spangled
Banner, the table that Thomas Jefferson used while writing the Declaration of
Independence, the papers showing music written by the great jazz musician, Duke
Ellington.
However, the museum can show only a small percent of its collection at one
time. The museum is open for seven and one half hours each day. But this may not be
enough time to see everything inside. Visitors may want to plan their day at the
museum to fit their personal interests. Maybe they want to see the special exhibits
that are shown for a limited amount of time. Or perhaps they want to see the
permanent exhibits that have been in the museum since it opened in 1964.
One permanent exhibit on the first floor of the museum examines science in
American life. During the past one hundred twenty-five years, scientific research and
technology have greatly influenced American culture. This exhibit includes historic
pictures and objects that bring scientific ideas to life.
For example, visitors can learn more about America’s effort to develop an
atomic bomb during World War II. This program was called the Manhattan Project.
One of the first pieces of equipment scientists used to break up atoms is here. This
early “atom smasher” looks like a round tube that can be turned by hand.

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