of elevation. Low light levels protect the flag, yet are dramatic enough to evoke an atmosphere of the "dawn's early light." The room has separate environmental systems maintaining a temperature of 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 50 percent.

The Gettysburg Address

Lincoln's short address at the Gettysburg, Pa., cemetery Nov. 19, 1863, became one of the most eloquent speeches in American history. The manuscript that is on view in the museum's new Albert H. Small Documents Gallery is one of five drafts, the last known to have been written in Lincoln's hand. Penned in March 1864 for an anthology to raise funds for the Union, it was kept by one of the book's publishers, Alexander Bliss, and was auctioned in 1949. Oscar Cintas, a former Cuban ambassador to the United States, purchased it and on his death in 1957, he asked that it be placed in the White House collection. The manuscript has been displayed in the Lincoln bedroom, which is not open for public tours. Mrs. Laura Bush approved the loan of this copy of the Gettysburg Address to the museum for display from Nov. 21 through Jan. 4, 2009.

Reopening Year Highlights

Opening in December, "First Ladies at the Smithsonian" will showcase premier objects from the nearly century-old collection, including 14 dresses ranging from the time of Martha Washington to Laura Bush.

As part of the Smithsonian-wide celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, the museum will bring together -- for the first time -- its unique and unparalleled Lincoln collection. "Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life" will open Jan. 16, 2009.

"The Scurlock Studio and Black Washington: Picturing the Promise" will be on display in the special preview gallery for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Beginning Jan. 30, 2009, this exhibition features more than 100 images created by one of the premier African American studios in the country and one of the longest-running black businesses in Washington.

Another highlight will be the 8,000-square-foot exhibition, "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America," which opens in spring 2009. A new permanent exhibition, designed to engage the public in a dynamic exploration of American maritime history, it will build on the Smithsonian's unparalleled collections of ship and patent models, documents and images to bring the sights, sounds and stories from the oceans, inland rivers and coastal communities to the museum's visitors.

The $85 million renovation is made possible through a public-private partnership with $46 million in federal funds and the remaining $39 million from individuals, foundations and corporations. The museum's $80 million donation donor, Kenneth E. Behring, has contributed $16 million to the project.

The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. Documenting the American experience from the Colonial times to the present, the museum looks at growth and change in the United States. The museum is located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W., and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

To learn more about the museum, visit americanhistory.si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, call 202-633-1000; 202-633-5285 (TTY).

Claire Yezbak Fadden is the Associate Editor of LifeAfter50.com.