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All week long we’ve been writing about tomorrow’s grand reopening of the National Museum of American History, and now you can get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the building as it is transformed. Watch the above video to see the stark differences between the museum of old and today’s stunning transformation.

One story from a family of museum fans:

The Dubose Family

In 2006, the Dubose family from Largo, Maryland had been touring the American History museum on its last day before it was shuttered for its two-year, $85 million renovation. At closing time, the Smithsonian guards ordered the remaining stragglers to leave the building, but Mrs. Demetria Dubose had to make a quick visit to the ladies room. Thus she and her family earned an ignoble 15 minutes of fame, posing for posterity with the museum’s director Brent Glass.

“Two-years went by fast,” Demetria Dubose laughed as she told us the story at last weekend’s sneak-peek preview. The last-to-leave Duboses were invited back to be among the first to see the new museum. Looking around the place, Demetria marveled at the new atrium. “A wonderful infusion of old and new,” she declared, “very fresh and open.”

Steven Madewell’s official title is interpretive exhibits coordinator, but he prefers “Resident Eccentric,” a title he proudly points to on a badge he has pinned to his white lab coat.

When the National Museum of American History reopens on Friday, visitors are likely to find Madewell and Tricia Edwards, an education specialist and Spark!Lab’s creator and driving force, presiding over a festival of test tubes and cannon balls, slabs of wax and strings, kites and keys, and machines that whir and liquids that bubble and smoke. Their hangout is a fabulous new hands-on activity center called, Spark!Lab.

The new center is funded by the Lemelson for the Study of Invention and Innovation, dedicated to “exploring invention in history and encouraging inventive creativity in young people.”

Spark!Lab has got that nailed. A few days ago, Madman Madewell showed the ATM blog team around the lab and gave us a chemistry lesson on carbon dioxide. If this really gets you going, then check out Smithsonian.com’s new blog, Surprising Science, and head over to the Spark!Lab this weekend.

Check out the “O Say Can You See?” blog from the American History museum.

Dorothy's Ruby Slippers from the Wizard of Oz

For nearly 70 years the motion picture The Wizard of Oz has given faithful service to its evergreen fashion philosophy: there is nothing more important than owning the right pair of shoes.

Indeed, the ruby slippers were absolutely my “must-see” whenever I visited the Smithsonian. After a two-year vacation at the Air and Space Museum, I was among the first to see the shoes find their way home today, newly installed in the recently renovated Museum of American History, set to reopen November 21.

There they are, and there they’ll stay.

For the two people left in the world that do not know the story, Dorothy is transported to the Land of Oz by a cyclone and tries to get back home to Kansas with the help of three newfound friends and the magical powers of a pair of silver shoes.

The idea to change Dorothy’s footwear from silver to ruby for the 1939 movie came from Noel Langley, one of the three contributors to the film’s screenplay. This was most likely because red would look more striking against a yellow brick road than silver.

Adrian, head of MGM’s wardrobe department, developed several designs for the ruby slippers. The shoes were made in in the beading department, comprised of burgundy sequins (red sequins would register orange on film) applied on chiffon that was then affixed to a satin pump. After filming was completed, the shoes went into storage, lost among thousands of other costumes.

It was not until early 1970 that a pair of Garland’s ruby slippers was discovered. They were found wrapped in a towel and left in a bin in the basement of MGM’s Wardrobe Department. After some sorely needed cleaning, the shoes, used by Garland during dancing sequences, were auctioned in May of that year. They sold for $15,000 to a still-anonymous buyer who donated the shoes to the Smithsonian in 1979.

Curator Dwight Blocker Bowers says the shoes are a standout favorite for visitors because they represent fond memories of childhood and symbolize the basic mantra of Oz. “It’s the idea,” he says, “‘There’s no place like home’ and there is a warm place to cling to even if it’s a shared memory.”

Want to pump up your knowledge on these world-famous pumps? More after the jump! (More…)

Monday, November 17 Brando Himself Cultures in Motion Performance

Actor Edward Gero portrays Marlon Brando and the National Portrait Gallery’s Jewell Robinson conducts an interview with the late, great actor. This piece—a compilation of Brando’s own quotations—creates an intimate portrayal of the iconic star in his own words, revealing one of the most complex figures of American film history. Note: Free, but seating limited; for reservations, call 202-633-8520 or e-mail NPGPublicPrograms@si.edu. Repeats December 1; National Portrait Gallery, Location: McEvoy Auditorium (enter from G St.), 7 PM

Tuesday, November 18 A Portrait of Franklin Roosevelt Lecture, with book signing

Historian H.W. Brands, a professor of history at University of Texas-Austin, draws on archival materials, public speeches and correspondences in his discussion on how Franklin Delano Roosevelt became one of our nation’s greatest leaders. Book signing follows. $25, general; $15, members; call 202-633-3030, Resident Associate Program. Location: American Indian Museum, Rasmuson Aud., enter at Maryland Ave. 7 PM

Wednesday, November 19 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas American Classics: Page to Screen Film Series

In this film adapted from Hunter S. Thompson’s book, a drug-addicted writer and his lawyer take a road trip across America. Starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, and Christina Ricci. Free; first come, first served, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture McEvoy Auditorium (enter from G St.), (1998, 128 min., directed by Terry Gilliam) 6 PM

Thursday, November 20 National Geography Awareness Week Family Day

How good is your geography? Today, during the museum’s annual “Geography from Space” contest, test your knowledge by trying to identify geographic features on images from satellites and the International Space Station. Celebrates National Geography Awareness Week. Free, Repeats Nov. 21, National Air and Space Museum, 10 AM-3 PM

Friday, November 21 National Museum of American History Grand Reopening 3-Day Family Festival and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

The museum celebrates its grand reopening with three days of festivities. • 8:30-10 AM: Official Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony: Museum director Brent Glass, Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough, and other special guests officially reopen the Museum. Enjoy American music performed by the Children’s Chorus of Washington and the Federal City Brass Band; a 20-minute aerial demonstration by the U.S. Army’s Golden Knights Parachute Team; the firing of an authentic War of 1812 cannon; and a reading of the Gettysburg Address, a copy of which is on temporary loan from the White House, by General Colin L. Powell (US Army, Retired). After the ribbon-cutting, follow a procession of historical characters into the building (outside near the Mall entrance.
Note: Rain location: 1st floor, Constitution Ave. lobby).

• 10 AM-7 PM: Grand Reopening Festival: Hear performances of jazz, blues, Latin music, 19th-century string band music, “freedom songs” of the Civil Rights Movement, and military music. Meet actors impersonating Mary Pickersgill, who made the Star-Spangled Banner in 1813; take part in the sit-ins of the Civil Rights Movement; and listen to letters home from American soldiers who served in our nation’s armed conflicts. Have your photo taken with Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, George Washington, Civil War soldiers, and other historical characters in front of the Museum’s iconic landmark objects. Examine everyday objects for clues about the people who made and used them and explore the experience of various Americans — such as soldiers — throughout history at artifact and destination carts.

Location: American History Museum Ribbon Cutting 8:30-10 AM; Outside Mall entrance; Festival: Inside museum 10 AM-7 PM

Saturday, November 22 Black Baseball: Separate and Unequaled Panel Discussion

Dwayne Sims (founder, Negro League Legends Hall of Fame) moderates a panel discussion with former black baseball league players James “Jim” Tillman Sr. of the Washington Homestead Grays, and Albert Weems and Walter “Rock” Greene of the Washington Black Sox. Following the discussion, signed posters and baseballs are available for purchase. Free; but reservations required, call 202-633-4844, Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE, 10:30 AM

(Images Courtesy of the National Archives)

Across the Smithsonian Institution, historians are collecting artifacts from the campaign and that historic night, Tuesday, November 4, 2008.

Smithsonian curators Larry Bird and Harry Rubenstein from the National Museum of American History have been carefully collecting artifacts throughout the primary and election season—everything from McCain and Obama campaign buttons and posters to sample ballots—even convention confetti (check out the video above). Curators at the National Museum of African American History and Culture snapped up a bunch of material, as well, including phone notebooks, photographs and furniture from an Obama field office.

Asked to recall a pivotal moment, Bird offered this: “Probably when we were in Iowa the night Barack won the caucus. Going to a caucus in the suburbs and then going to his victory speech in Des Moines. It was a seminal moment in American electoral politics. We had been collecting that day up to that moment. We have as an icon of that day a handmade, hand lettered Iowa corncob poster that we got from Obama’s Des Moines, Iowa, headquarters.”

Let us know in the comments about your election night experiences and what mementos and memories you plan on keeping to tell future generations about last week’s historic election.

(Video courtesy of the National Museum of American History)