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The Meridian International Center
The Meridian International Center, in partnership with the Library
of Congress Center for the Book, presents its’ latest in a series of
exhibitions drawn from children’s picture books. This Land is Our
Land: Discovering America and the World Through Original
Illustrations from Children’s Books includes 75 works of art by over
70 artists. The natural wonders that can be found in our 50 states
are shown, as well as representations of the ways of life in 15
countries. What better way to show your children about the
similarities of people everywhere than through the one medium that
is universally understood – the picture book. This exhibit is on
display from February 18, 2006 through late April.
Before You Go
Look into the history of the Meridian International Center. The
Center is made up of two houses, The Meridian House and the
White-Meyer House. Designed by renowned architect John Russell Pope,
the houses are adjacent to each other and surrounded by gardens.
They fill a city block and their architectural and historic
significance is difficult to ignore. Both houses were owned by
prestigious families: Meridian house by Ambassador Irwin Boyle, a US
Foreign Ambassador, and White Meyer house by American diplomat Henry
White, Ambassador to Italy and France, and Eugene Meyer, whose
children grew up in the house. Some of the guests the Meyers
entertained in the house included Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai
Stevenson, and John and Robert Kennedy. Both homes are rich with
beautiful antiques and tapestries from all over the world. The
White-Meyer House is the home of the Cafritz Galleries, where This
Land is Our Land is on display.
On the Way There
Talk about the books your children are familiar with. Point out the
different types of illustrations in the books they know and talk
about how the illustrations help to tell the story and give the
reader some insight into the culture of the people in the stories.
How are cultural differences shown with pictures? Talk about obvious
things like clothes and skin color, but also point out subtleties
like medium and color choice. Read books to your child that show
geographical and cultural differences.
Ages 3-7
Beautiful illustrations, accompanied by the books for which the
artwork was produced, are on display in the gallery. Young children
will like to see the books and poster that are available. Check out
the special group readings as well.
• Ages 8-18
If you have a child who is loves reading and literacy and has an
affinity for geography; he will love this exhibit. Information about
culture and geography, as well as museum activities is available and
the full-color catalog and poster are excellent additions to the
display.
While you are there, older children will love seeing some of the
antiques on display in the adjacent rooms of the house. 18th century
European overdoor paintings, antique brass hardware and lighting
fixtures, and tapestries are some of the original decorative
features of the house. Many important people were guests in these
homes, and children may be interested to know some of the famous
people who grew up there as well.
Meridian House
1630 Crescent Place, NW
Washington, DC
White Meyer House
(The Cafritz Galleries are located here)
1624 Crescent Place, NW
Washington, DC
www.meridian.org
Admission: Free
Time needed : One to two hours
Food: Not available on site.
Rest rooms: On site
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 2 – 5 PM
Closed Monday, Tuesday and National Holidays
Phone number: (202) 667-6800
Tips on how to get there: Both houses are located one block off 16th
Street NW, across from Meridian Hill Park. Parking is on Crescent
Place on the right hand side of the street past White Meyer House.
Parking is free.
Metro: Take the Red Line to Dupont Circle. Take the Q Street exit,
walkup New Hampshire Avenue To 16th Street and head north. From the
Green Line take the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cordozo
stop. Take the 13th Street exit and west on U Street three blocks to
16th Street and head north. From 16th Street walk three blocks and
turn left on Crescent Street.
Your kids will really like looking at the full color catalog that is
full of illustrations of some of the books they love, and some they
will grow to love.
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