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Commemorate Veteran's day with a tour around the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums. Postage stamp, "Hometowns honor their returning veterans," courtesy of the National Postal Museum.

Monday, November 9: Curator’s Talk with Cesáreo Moreno

The Anacostia Museum is pleased to host the newly-opened exhibition The African Presence in México, which looks at the history, culture and Art of Afr0-Mexicans from the colonial era up to the present day. The show’s curator, Cesáreo Moreno, will be on deck today to discuss topics such as the history and cultural renditions of Africans in Mexico, Spanish history and the slave trade. This event is free but reservations are required. Please call 202-633-4844 to reserve your spot today. Anacostia Community Museum, 2:00 PM

Tuesday, November 10: Home-School Open House

The National Portrait Gallery education department hosts a homeschool open house with mini-tours of special exhibitions, story time for children, hands-on art activities, and an interactive self-guide for groups. Reservations are required. Attendees please e-mail the number of children with ages, number of adults, mailing address and phone number to: provostg@si.edu. National Portrait Gallery, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm

Wednesday, November 11: Robert M. Poole’s On Hallowed Ground

Smithsonian magazine contributing editor Robert M. Poole will be available to sign copies of his book On Hallowed Ground: The Story of Arlington National Cemetery, a portion of which was adapted into a magazine article in the November 2009 issue. American History Museum, 12 – 2pm

Thursday, November 12: Meet Our Museum: Confederate Currency—Whatever It Took to Keep It Circulating

There are those out there who will assert even today that during the s0-called “War of Northern Aggression,” the South was not defeated, it was simply overwhelmed. Although the preservation of the Union would  indicate otherwise, the South had its moments of sheer ingenuity—an example of which being how they kept money in circulation during the Civil War, and curator Dick Doty of the American History Museum’s Numismatics collection will talk about the methods they used. A question and answer session will follow. Free. American History Museum, 12:00-12:30 PM

Friday, November 13: Vice Adm. Donald D. Engen Flight Jacket Night: A Conversation with Alan Bean

On November 19th, 1969, Alan Bean became the fourth man to set foot on the Moon during the second lunar landing as the Apollo 12 lunar module pilot. After a distinguished career at NASA, he retired in 1981 to pursue painting and public speaking—and both of those talents will be on display this evening at the Air and Space Museum. Alan Bean will discuss his life and career and be available for book signings. And don’t forget to explore the galleries of his otherworldly artwork in the companion exhibit, Alan Bean: Painting Apollo, First Artist on Another World. Air and Space Museum, 8:00 PM.