One of the things I love best about living in Washington is easy access to cultural institutions — museums, embassies, parks, monuments, and libraries — all of which offer a plethora of free programs.In many Smithsonian museums and government buildings, there are beautiful auditoriums that present concerts, lectures, and film — often free to the public.
The William G. McGowen Theater, deep inside the National Archives building on Constitution Ave., is a leading venue for the screening of documentary films.
The Foundation for the National Archives is honoring Steven Spielberg as the 2013 recipient of its Records of Achievement Award in recognition of his film legacy, “which has brought to life defining moments of our nation’s history.”
Here are the details on the four films:
Saving Private Ryan,Friday, November 15, 7 p.m.
- Nominated for 11 Academy Awards®, Saving Private Ryan (1998; 169 minutes; rated R) is an explosive WWII drama in which Private James Ryan becomes the object of a desperate and dangerous rescue mission in war-torn Germany after authorities learn his three other brothers already have been killed in combat.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Saturday, November 16, noon.
- Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982; 115 minutes; rated PG) follows the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends 10-year-old, Elliot.
Amistad, Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m.
- Amistad (1997; 155 minutes; rated R) recounts the trial that followed the 1839 rebellion aboard the Spanish slave ship Amistad and captures the complex political maneuverings set in motion by the event.
Lincoln, Monday, November 18, 7 p.m.
- Lincoln (2012; 150 minutes; rated PG-13) chronicles the final four months in the life of the man regarded as America’s greatest President. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role, the untold story focuses on a defining moment in Abraham Lincoln’s life – as commander-in-chief of a country in chaos; as a husband and father afraid of losing his own son to the war; and as a man guided by his conscience to end slavery.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are accepted. Free tickets are distributed at the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue, starting 60 minutes prior to show time.
The Art of Structural Tile
If you go downtown to see one of these films, you might want to combine your visit to the National Archives with a stop at the National Building Museum. The Building Museum is hosting a small exhibit on Guastivino Vaulting.
The exhibition Palaces for the People: Guastavino and America’s Great Public Spaces runs through January 20, 2014. According to the exhibition materials:
The Guastavino family’s soaring tile vaults grace many of the nation’s most iconic structures including Grand Central Terminal, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the Boston Public Library, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Nebraska State Capitol. Yet the name, the accomplishments, and the architectural legacy of this single family of first-generation Spanish immigrants are virtually unknown.
There is marvelous Guastavino tile vaulting at the National Archives, but not in the rotunda dome.
If you do go to the National Building Museum, be sure to check out the gift shop, which is my favorite in Washington.