Here’s a quick one. This place was a bust, luckily it was also free. Surprising, because it was a Smithsonian extension of the one in D.C. I love learning about the Native Americans and we were really excited to go, but it was horribly lame. The coolest thing there was an arcade counsel with games that villianized Indians, it made a good point about stereotyping; unlike the flawed assertions made by anti-Chief cronies accusing students with the highest respect for the Illiniwek people of racism! Anyway, I was hoping the museum had stuff from many different tribes, mainly those of the Midwest and Southwest regions, but we were let down. It only had things from Northwest Pacific tribes. I suppose it may have been good because I am not very familiar with those peoples. Still, the exhibits weren’t riveting and somewhat confusing. I guess I’ll have to go D.C. or back to Cody, Wyoming.
In front of the museum, which was the US Customs building, is Bowling Green which is New York’s first park.
-George and Michelle the Illini (Yes, Michelle is an Illini because according to my fine university “Illini” refers to the people of the state of Illinois and not its former tribes that comprised the Illiniwek people, thus we can still be the Fighting Illini, but cannot use the “abusive and offensive” Chief as our symbol. YES, IT IS THE STUPIDIST THING I HAVE EVER HEARD)
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- Michelle at Bowling Green
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- First Public Park Plaque
go illini!