ABSTRACT
In October 1991, my husband and I were in Washington D.C. participating in the wedding celebrations of his youngest daughter. In between family functions, we attended the opening day of the “Circa 1492” exhibit at the National Gallery. We were amazed at the small turnout for such an unprecedented display of African, American, Asian, and European objects, many considered national treasures, all dating from the time of Columbus’s voyage to the Americas, gathered together for just three months in this one location only. In a city continually riveted with news-making political events, mostly accepted without much concern by the general public, a Congressional hearing was deemed much more important than the opening of an exhibition.
