Smithsonian Welcomes ‘The Walking Dead’ (photos)
By • October 12, 2017 One Comment 8291
“Desperate people in search of humanity. Fighting factions looking to protect a way of life. The imminent threat of all-out war. Enough about Washington, D.C.! We’re here to celebrate ‘The Walking Dead.’ Today is the day that zombies — or, as we call them, walkers — claim a place in the Smithsonian.”
Charlie Collier, AMC president and general manager, uttered these words during his introductory remarks at a special donation ceremony on Oct. 10 in Washington, D.C., when the Smithsonian National Museum of American History acquired several truly gruesome objects from the post-apocalyptic television series “The Walking Dead.” Based on the Robert Kirkman comic-book series of the same name, the TV series premiered Oct. 31, 2010; the Oct. 22 premiere of season eight will mark the 100th episode. The show, about a worldwide zombie apocalypse, attracts the most 18-to-49-year-old viewers of any cable or broadcast series. It has been exclusively shown on cable television channel AMC and internationally on Fox International Channels.
On hand at the ceremony were producer and writer Scott M. Gimple and actors Lennie James (Morgan in the series), Danai Gurira (Michonne), Norman Reedus (Daryl) and Andrew Lincoln (Rick). The donated objects included a Hershel Greene head prop, character Merle Dixon’s weaponized hand rig, character Daryl Dixon’s crossbow and a bust of “Bicycle Girl” from the pilot episode. They will join items in the museum’s collection from other shows that have shaped American culture, including the “Howdy Doody” puppet, Archie Bunker’s chair from “All in the Family” and Fonzie’s jacket from “Happy Days.”
The National Museum of American History is located on Constitution Avenue NW between 12th and 14th Streets on the National Mall. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily except Dec. 25. Admission is free.
View Jeff Malet’s photos from the “The Walking Dead” donation ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below.
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- “The Walking Dead” (left to right) producer and writer Scott M. Gimple and actors Norman Reedus, Danai Gurira, Andrew Lincoln and Lennie James (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Actor Norman Reedus holds a “Hershel Greene” head prop, one of several objects acquired by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History from AMC’s post-apocalyptic television series “The Walking Dead.” Photo by Jeff Malet.
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- This Walking Dead Bicycle Girl Zombie bust was one of several objects acquired by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Costumes used in the series. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actors (left to right) Lennie James, Danai Gurira, Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln were in attendance. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Donated objects (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Charlie Collier, AMC President and General Manager (left) officially signs over “The Walking Dead” artifacts to the Smithsonian, as museum curator Eric W. Jentsch watches. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Charlie Collier, AMC President and General Manage (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “Daryl Dixon’s” crossbow (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Charlie Collier, AMC President and General Manager (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- Producer and writer Scott M. Gimple (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actress Danai Gurira (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- John Gray (left), Director of the National Museum of American History chats iwth “The Walking Dead” producer and writer Scott M. Gimple (photo by Jeff Malet).
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- “Merle Dixon’s” weaponized hand rig. (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actor Norman Reedus (left) was interviewed by Kevin McCarthy of WTTG FOX 5 (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actor Andrew Lincoln (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actor Lennie James (photo by Jeff Malet)
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- “The Walking Dead” actor Andrew Lincoln (left) chats with Rep.Hank Johnson (D-Georgia.) Some of the earlier filming for the series took place in Johnson’s congressional district. (photo by Jeff Malet)
Your final picture that states Andrew Lincoln is chatting with Rep. Hank Johnson is incorrectly labelled. The man speaking with Rep. Johnson is not Andrew Lincoln. Notice the man is clean shaven. Mr. Lincoln is pictured at the event with a beard. I believe the gentleman pictured is actually the AMC President and General Manager Charlie Collier. If you look at other pics of Charlie Collier you can see he is wearing dark glasses, a grey suit and a purple tie like the gentleman in the final picture.