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Julia Child: Celebrating 100 years

On the 100th birthday of one of the most lauded American chefs, a look back at Julia Child’s work and the reopening of the Smithsonian exhibit featuring her extraordinary kitchen.

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Julia Child with chef Pierre Franey on July 6, 1976. Her first show, "The French Chef," debuted in February 1963. It ran for 10 years and won a Peabody Award and an Emmy Award for educational programming.

James A. Parcell / The Washington Post

Julia Child makes bourride, a Provencal fish stew, on 'The French Chef.' The show followed the publication of her first book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” in 1961.

Julia Child makes bourride, a Provencal fish stew, on "The French Chef." The show followed the publication of her first book, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” in 1961.

/ WGBH

Julia Child shows a salade Nicoise she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France, on Aug. 21, 1978. In 1979 she published “Julia Child and More Company,” which won a National Book Award.

Julia Child shows a salade Nicoise she prepared in the kitchen of her vacation home in Grasse, southern France, on Aug. 21, 1978. In 1979 she published “Julia Child and More Company,” which won a National Book Award.

/ AP

A portrait of Julia Child by Hans Namuth, taken in 1977. The print was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery.

A portrait of Julia Child by Hans Namuth, taken in 1977. The print was gifted to the National Portrait Gallery.

/ Hans Namuth/National Portrait Gallery

Julia Child shows off tomatoes in the kitchen at her home in Cambridge, Mass. More so than the tools and techniques she popularized, Child's most lasting legacy may be her spirit and sense of humor.

Julia Child shows off tomatoes in the kitchen at her home in Cambridge, Mass. More so than the tools and techniques she popularized, Child's most lasting legacy may be her spirit and sense of humor.

Jon Chase / AP

Julia Child shares a moment with Jamie Stachowski at 1789 Restaurant in August 2002, during a photo op with the staff who produced her 90th birthday dinner. To the left is Ris Lacoste. Other notable Washington faces in the crowd: Francois Dionot, founder of L'Academie de Cuisine (back row); Cliff Wharton, who became executive chef at TenPenh (third row, second from the right); Mitch Berliner, food entrepreneur of Meat Crafters and co-founder of the Bethesda Central Farm Market (second row, at far left); and Susan McCreight Lindeborg (third row, just behind Berliner).

Julia Child shares a moment with Jamie Stachowski at 1789 Restaurant in August 2002, during a photo op with the staff who produced her 90th birthday dinner. To the left is Ris Lacoste. Other notable Washington faces in the crowd: Francois Dionot, founder of L'Academie de Cuisine (back row); Cliff Wharton, who became executive chef at TenPenh (third row, second from the right); Mitch Berliner, food entrepreneur of Meat Crafters and co-founder of the Bethesda Central Farm Market (second row, at far left); and Susan McCreight Lindeborg (third row, just behind Berliner).

Courtesy of Ris Lacoste

Julia Child joins Martha Stewart in the kitchen to make a dessert on Stewart’s “Home for the Holidays,” on Dec. 11, 1995. Child collaborated with many other chefs, most notably Jacques Pepin on her shows, including “Cooking With Master Chefs,” and “Julia Child & Jacques Pepin Cooking at Home.”

Julia Child joins Martha Stewart in the kitchen to make a dessert on Stewart’s “Home for the Holidays,” on Dec. 11, 1995. Child collaborated with many other chefs, most notably Jacques Pepin on her shows, including “Cooking With Master Chefs,” and “Julia Child & Jacques Pepin Cooking at Home.”

On display at the Smithsonian exhibit is a vintage photo of Julia Child taping a TV show in her kitchen. The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening after being revamped.

On display at the Smithsonian exhibit is a vintage photo of Julia Child taping a TV show in her kitchen. The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening after being revamped.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening in time for her 100th birthday on Aug. 15.

The Julia Child kitchen display is reopening in time for her 100th birthday on Aug. 15.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Smithsonian curators who had negotiated with the 89-year-old icon in her Cambridge, Mass., kitchen in 2001, catalogued the room’s contents, packed them up and created one of the National Museum of American History’s most beloved exhibits, only to disassemble it a decade later for the sake of infrastructure improvement, are reopening the kitchen at its new site, where the museum’s Hall of Agriculture used to be.

The Smithsonian curators who had negotiated with the 89-year-old icon in her Cambridge, Mass., kitchen in 2001, catalogued the room’s contents, packed them up and created one of the National Museum of American History’s most beloved exhibits, only to disassemble it a decade later for the sake of infrastructure improvement, are reopening the kitchen at its new site, where the museum’s Hall of Agriculture used to be.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The piece of wood with 'Julia Child' written on it was used for pulling baking racks from the oven.

The piece of wood with "Julia Child" written on it was used for pulling baking racks from the oven.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Three of Julia's Child cooking shows were televised in the kitchen, amid the utensils, objects and art that made her happy.

Three of Julia's Child cooking shows were televised in the kitchen, amid the utensils, objects and art that made her happy.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Some of Julia Child's measuring cups and utensils used by the chef, a few of which have a yellow 'J' painted on the bottom.

Some of Julia Child's measuring cups and utensils used by the chef, a few of which have a yellow "J" painted on the bottom.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Some canisters are labeled with a simple piece of tape. Child’s French Legion of Honor medal of 2000 and the 1996 Emmy statuette for “In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs” are displayed nearby.

Some canisters are labeled with a simple piece of tape. Child’s French Legion of Honor medal of 2000 and the 1996 Emmy statuette for “In Julia’s Kitchen With Master Chefs” are displayed nearby.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

A fish mold that belonged to Julia Child is on display.

A fish mold that belonged to Julia Child is on display.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

Keen eyes can now decipher Julia Child’s handwritten label on the coffeemaker and assess the physics of a countertop stone-crab claw cracker that looks like it belongs beside an architect’s drawing board.

Keen eyes can now decipher Julia Child’s handwritten label on the coffeemaker and assess the physics of a countertop stone-crab claw cracker that looks like it belongs beside an architect’s drawing board.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

On display are four dozen pots and pans that Julia Child used in her kitchen.

On display are four dozen pots and pans that Julia Child used in her kitchen.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

The Julia Child kitchen is not a walk-through display. It's viewed through windows in order to keep the various pieces inside from being disturbed.

The Julia Child kitchen is not a walk-through display. It's viewed through windows in order to keep the various pieces inside from being disturbed.

Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post

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