September Museum Roundup

Photo by Jonas Bendiksen, Courtesy National Building Museum

>> In 2008, for the first time in human history, more people lived in cities than in rural areas. One-third of these urban dwellers—more than one billion people—resided in slums. The National Building Museum opens a multimedia exhibit titled The Places we Live, which documents the homes of 20 different families in four slums around the world. Opening September 15.

>> The Corcoran opens Sargent and the Sea on September 12. This exhibit will feature more than 80 paintings, watercolors, and drawings depicting seascapes and coastal scenes from the early career of John Singer Sargent.

>> You only have a few more days to vote on the new setting of your choice for the Hope diamond. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the donation of the diamond to the Smithsonian, Harry Winston has created three new settings for the large rock. The winning design will be on display in Spring 2010 at the Natural History Museum.

>> Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942 - 1964 opens at the American History Museum, September 9. Begun in 1942 to fill labor shortages in agriculture and the railroads caused by World War II, the bracero program eventually became the largest guest worker program in U.S. history. The exhibit draws extensively from the museum's collection of photographs taken by photojournalist Leonard Nadel in 1956, as well as oral histories, documents, and objects collected by the Bracero Oral History Project.

>> This just sounds great: Vulture Awareness Day at the National Zoo. Starting at 10 a.m. volunteer interpreters will be on hand behind the Bird House to provide insight to these large birds. Meet the zoo's king vulture and watch him enjoy a special frozen treat. September 5. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

>> Tonight try your luck at grabbing door tickets for Asia After Dark at the Freer Gallery. This evening's theme is "Peacock Shock" where suggested attire of peacock colors and accessories is highly recommended. Participate in a text message scavenger hunt, drink a "Golden Peacock" and eat foods from various local restaurants, then dance the night away. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., tickets will be available at 6:15 p.m. $20

>> Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species turns 150 this year and the Natural History Museum celebrates with two exhibits opening this September. Darwin's Legacy opens September 10 and Since Darwin: The Evolution of Evolution opens September 12. The exhibits focus on the significant role that Darwin's theories have played in explaining and unifying all the biological sciences as well as its influence on the Smithsonian Institution and the Natural History Museum.

>> Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845-1924 opens at the National Portrait Gallery September 25. The exhibit tells the story of the many changes to the West, through 100 portrait photographs of the defining men and women of this period.

>> Tonight and tomorrow learn about the figure in contemporary art with Hirshhorn Associate Curator Kristen Hileman and The Phillips Collection Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Vesela Sretenovic. This two-part discussion on the figure in contemporary art will take place tonight at the Phillips Collection and tomorrow at the Hirshhorn.