National Expansion

A little over two weeks ago I went up in the St. Louis Arch, formally dedicated as "Jefferson National Expansion Memorial." As fantastic as the view is from the top (at 630 feet tall), I found myself more in awe of what is below the arch, the "Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Museum." I love museums. Nothing fascinates me more than to wander around a museum and peering into the portholes of time, catching little snapshots of history; the time before me.

The Gateway Arch's museum is very well constructed. A bit confusing because although there existed a definite trail to follow through history, the period displays were scattered around their respective time, one needed more time than I had to fully appreciate the quality of material culture this museum contains. Displayed properly, as this museum exemplified, material culture and the historical descriptions can be very captivating. Many times artifacts are set out with minimal explanations to give context to the object; most times a description is all that accompanies the material and one is left to fill in vast gaps with an (usually incorrect) idea of the importance and necessity of the object. I felt like a kid in the candy store, ooo-ing and ahh-ing at nearly everything, so much to read, so much to see! I'm pretty sure Brandine and Cricket had about enough of wandering around, so I didn't get to spend nearly enough time there.

Inspiration to dive more into American History did find a place within me (I've mostly concentrated on European happenings) and I'm eager to delve back into my native history. As we were leaving I happened upon this quote, which left me speechless and still.

"At the rate of progress since 1800, every American who lived into the year 2000 would know how to control unlimited power....To him the 19th century would stand on the same plane as the 4th - equally childlike - and he would only wonder how both of them, knowing so little, and so weak in force, should have done so much." Henry Adams, 1907

Would that I could hear his thoughts now.

What will be my "so much"?