The museums in Washington, D.C., are nothing short of world-class, offering a wide variety of exhibits in addition to dining and popular cultural events. Exhibits range from ancient artifacts to modern art, and include everything from dinosaur skeletons to President Lincoln's top hat. While some museums primarily offer passive viewing and reading experiences, others such as the Newseum take interactivity to new levels.
The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian includes a total of 18 different museums, all of which are free to the public. It would be very easy to visit the nation's capital for two weeks and spend almost the entire trip at Smithsonian museums. The Museum of Natural History is the most popular museum in the United States, offering everything from fossils to replicas to live exhibits, including a variety of insects and a living coral reef with tropical fish and hermit crabs. The museum features a 3D IMAX theater, two cafes, and an ice cream/espresso bar. The Smithsonian's other family favorite is the National Air and Space Museum, which houses actual airplanes and spaceships, including the Apollo 11 Command Module used when mankind first walked on the moon. You can touch an actual moon rock, enter a Boeing 747 cockpit, visit the planetarium, go to the IMAX theater, or grab some food at the museum's food court.
Smithsonian Art
The Smithsonian Institution includes a wide range of art museums, ranging from classical masterpieces to the most modern of modern art. The National Gallery of Art is the most famous of these, offering famous masterpieces such as "The Dance Lesson" by Degas. The museum hosts traveling exhibits and is also well-known for its sculpture garden, which includes a cafe and a fountain and pool that are converted into a skating rink during the winter months. There is also a weekly Jazz in the Garden series of concerts from May to September. Other Smithsonian museums specialize in particular types or eras of art, such as the Museum of African Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Freer and Sackler Galleries, which specialize in Asian art. The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden focuses on modern art, from modern masterpieces by Rodin and Matisse to experimental art by today's cutting-edge artists.
Other Art Galleries
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located across the street from the grounds of the White House. It boasts an impressive selection of masterpieces by famous European artists such as Picasso and Monet, but even more impressive is its collection of American art ranging from the Colonial Era all the way to 1980. American artists such as Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper are represented in the museum's collection. There is also a photography collection, and every spring there is a display of the work by the senior class of the Corcoran School of Art. There is a cafe on site which offers breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Other Museums
While the Smithsonian's many museums are among the most well-known, there are many other museums that are worth visiting. The Holocaust Memorial Museum bears witness to the horrors of the Holocaust; because of the nature of its exhibits, it is advised that you not visit with young children. For a more interactive experience, the International Spy Museum offers both exhibits and a variety of activities, ranging from Operation Spy, in which you must find a nuclear trigger that has gone missing in one hour or less, to cracking a safe or conducting a polygraph test. Another highly interactive museum is the Newseum, with galleries, theaters and two broadcast studios. There are also stations where you can take on the role of a broadcast journalist and record your own performance; it can be downloaded later for a small fee.
Something for Everyone
You will never run out of things to do at Washington, D.C.'s museums, whether you want to view art, learn about something new through a 3D IMAX movie, or take on the role of a spy trying to save the world. With a wide variety of activities for all ages, the museums in the nation's capital are the perfect travel destination for people from all walks of life.
Member Comments