In reply to:

You would probably get away with a digital camera without flash.


Theoretically, but if you try to sneak a quick pic without a flash of the original "Star Spangled Banner" flag, and the 117 year old guard slips out of his coma for just long enough to see it, and you try to explain to him that non flash photography cannot possibly damage anything, and in your anger at his failure to listen even a little bit or to stop reaching for your camera you mumble for him to go F himself and walk away, you will be most unceremoniously ejected from the Smithsonian.

Not that I'm bitter.
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_____________________________ It's getting to be ri-god-damn-diculous.