I'm currently working on this blog! I will be adding more info (a LOT more), so please check back periodically. Thanks!
Public Transportation
The use of public transportation, including taxis, in Washington is recommended as free parking is limited and posted times are enforced. Metrorail, Washington's subway system, and Metrobus link the city with nearby communities in Maryland and Virginia. The Federal Triangle and Smithsonian stations, on Metrorail's Blue, Orange and Silver lines, are located near the Mall. Every subway station is equipped with an elevator and most with escalators.
SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS
The Smithsonian Institution is collectively the world's largest museum. There are 21 museums, plus the National Zoo, 21 libraries, 14 education and research centers, and historical and architectural landmarks, mostly located in Washington DC. I won't be listing them all, as this is a guide on the best places to visit as a family.
The National Air & Space Museum
Hours: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Cost: free
Open every day except December 25th.
Free timed entry passes are currently required for all visitors, regardless of age, and one person is allowed to reserve up to 6 passes
ADDRESS
6th St & Independence Ave SW,
Washington DC 20560
202-633-2214
All visitors need to enter through the entrance on Independence Ave.
Highlights: lectures and hands-on family days, discovery stations, drop-in story time held Thursdays at 11am, drop in science demonstrations, and amazing shows at the planetarium
Here are a few photos I have taken on our trips to the Air & Space Museum...
********************
Hours: 10am-5:30
Cost: free
Open every day except December 25th
No tickets are required for entry
Address:
The museum entrance is located on Madison Dr. NW between 9th St. NW and 12 St. NW
Highlights: coral reef tank talk, the butterfly pavillion, playdates on Tuesdays from 10:30-12, covering a wide range of topics geared for kids of all ages
Here are a few of my photos that I took on one of our many trips here.
********************
National Museum of American History
Hours: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm
Cost: free
Open every day except December 25th
No tickets are required for entry
ADDRESS/LOCATION
The museum is located on the National Mall at Constitution Avenue, N.W., between 12th and 14th Streets, Washington, D.C.
The closest Metro stop is Smithsonian, on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines.
Museum entrances are located on Constitution Avenue on the first floor and Madison Drive (National Mall) on the second floor. There may be a short wait to enter the building.
Highlights for Kids -
Wegman's Wonderplace - Wegmans Wonderplace is the first exhibition on the National Mall designed for children 0 to 6, providing the youngest historians with age-appropriate activities and experiences
Really Big Money - Really BIG Money is an exciting new money gallery for children. It features some of the world’s largest and most surprising monetary objects
Spark Lab - Draper Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors
Highlight for Families -
Change Your Game - This family-friendly, interactive exhibition explores the intersection of invention, sports, and technology
Do Not Miss -
The Star Spangled Banner - The flag that Inspired the National Anthem - This immersive gallery features the 200-year-old, 30-by-34-foot flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write his famous lyrics
America on the Move - Includes a section of the historic Route 66, includes amazing automobiles and how the body shapes & design has changed over the years. Kids enjoy getting to walk through a train car! This major exhibition examines how transportation—from 1876 to 1999—has shaped our American identity
Entertainment Nation - Through the National Museum of American History’s extraordinary collection of theater, music, sports, movie and television objects, the exhibition Entertainment Nation features a powerful, ever-changing selection of objects and interactive experiences
Food - Transforming the American Table -From the impact of new technologies, to the influence of social and cultural changes, the exhibition explores the transformation of food and drink in post-WWII America
Lighting a Revolution - Electricity Hall
The American Presidency -
More than 900 objects, including national treasures from the Smithsonian’s vast presidential collections, bring to life the role of the presidency in American culture
The First Ladies - The inaugural ball gowns of the First Ladies can't be missed. This exhibit explores the important position of first lady and the ways that different women have shaped the role to make their own contributions to the presidential administrations and the nation
The Price of Freedom - American's at War -Surveys the history of America’s military from the French and Indian Wars to the present day, exploring ways in which wars have been defining episodes in American history (The artifacts here are incredible & include uniforms worn by our founding fathers, including George Washington, furniture where important treaties were signed, & even includes a taxidermied horse of one of the presidents.)
These are pictures I have taken on various visits to the museum.
The following photos are not taken by me. They are on the museum's website, and all credit goes to them. These are photos of exhibits that are for kiddos of all ages, and they offer interactive play and education.
Wegman's Wonderplace
Museum of American History
Wonderplace is open Wednesday–Sunday from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Monday–Tuesday.
This is geared toward infants to pre-school age.
Spark Lab
Ages 6-12
Really Big Money
Children's Exhibit
Really BIG Money is an exciting new money gallery for children. It features some of the world’s largest and most surprising monetary objects. Big in size, quantity, or denomination, each piece can help children learn about the world around them, including communities and cultures, the natural environment, political leaders, and the process of exchange. Highlights include the long tail feathers of a Resplendent Quetzal bird, a 31-pound Swedish copper plate, and a coin head made from 165 Roman coins.
Aligned to elementary social studies learning standards, Really BIG Money teaches children about world cultures and supports the development of financial literacy. It also promotes creative thinking through a blend of object investigations and interactive experiences throughout the gallery. Visitors can measure themselves next to a five-foot seven-inch currency blade and see their own faces on money through customized mirrors. Play the Match the Money game online by clicking HERE now or while you are visiting the gallery! Match all of the objects and unlock a magical animation showing a flying quetzal bird traveling the world through banknotes!
********************
The National Archives
Click here to plan your visit!!
700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20408
The exhibits are open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Last admissions are 30 minutes prior to closing. We are open every day except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
866-272-6272
I always encourage my friends to visit the National Archives, because it usually is one of the quicker museums to visit, and for me, being able to see these incredible documents is something I believe all Americans should be able to do. Photography is not allowed, and I want to stress how seriously they take that. I have seen what happens when people try to be sneaky, so please don't even try. But I do promise you that it is such a special thing to view these historical documents.
********************
National Museum of African
American History & Culture
Hours of Operation
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday–Sunday
12 to 5:30 p.m. Monday*
*10 a.m. on federal holidays
Closed Dec. 25
12 to 5:30 p.m. Monday*
*10 a.m. on federal holidays
Closed Dec. 25
Passes for Individuals:
- All Smithsonian visitors, regardless of age, must have a free, timed-entry pass to enter.
- Companions or personal care attendants accompanying a visitor, will also need a free timed-entry pass.
- Visitors will be able to secure a maximum of up to nine passes for personal use only.
- Passes may not be sold or transferred.
- Passes are valid only for the issued date and time and void if altered.
ADDRESS:
1400 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC
Please know that these photos are not taken by me. All of the credit goes to the museum's website.
********************
National Museum of African Art
Open daily from 10:00-5:30
*Closed December 25th*
Best way to get there.
The easiest way to reach the National Museum of African Art is via public transportation. If traveling by Metrorail, exit at the L’Enfant Plaza stop (on the Blue, Orange, Silver, Green and Yellow lines) and use the Maryland Avenue/Smithsonian Museums exit. If traveling by bus, take the DC Circulator’s National Mall route or 30, 32, 34 or 36 Metrobus lines.
********************
National Postal Museum
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is always free!
2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
Our entrance is on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE.
Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Admission is always free!
2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002
Our entrance is on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE.
I want to say that this is one of the most underrated museums in D.C. We didn't visit it until our second assignment there. It is amazing for kids, and there are some really engaging, fun activities. We were lucky to visit when they had an event going on, because we got to listen to "Aaron Burr" & "Alexander Hamilton" talk and interact with each other and with the audience. It was amazing! The pictures below are ones that I have taken in the museum. I highly recommend this museum!
********************
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Free timed-entry tickets are required to enter the Museum's Permanent Exhibition only. Tickets are not required for Daniel's Story and other special exhibitions.
The Museum is located on the National Mall and is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The Museum is free and open every day. It is closed on Yom Kippur & Christmas Day.
ADDRESS
100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW
Washington, DC 20024-2126
The Museum is located on the National Mall, just south of Independence Avenue, SW, between 14th Street and Raoul Wallenberg Place
The nearest Metro stop is Smithsonian on the Orange, Blue, and Silver lines, located one block east of the Museum. For more information on Metro and bus routes, visit the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s website.
The Holocaust Museum is one of the most impactful, meaningful, and important museums that a person will ever see in their lifetime. I do want to say up front that this is not a museum you can speed through. I recommend a minimum of at least 3 hours, but ultimately it will come down to the type of museum go-er you are. If you like to read every plaque, watch every presentation, and look carefully at each item that is on display, then I recommend you give yourself at least 5 hours. Each and every exhibit in this museum is impactful, and honestly, no matter how many times I go, I feel like I see something I missed during previous visits. From the room filled with shoes of those killed in the gas chambers to the wedding rings, gold teeth and other personal effects the Nazi's took from the victims... there is just no way to describe how overwhelming it is.
I absolutely want to give a warning to parents who may be thinking of taking their kids to this museum. It isn't possible to set a minimum age requirement and call it good. There are several factors that need to be taken into account.
* This museum is a quiet and somber place. Will your child be able to be calm and respectful throughout your visit? It can be really hard for kids to be quiet for several hours, and some of the longer hallways can look really inviting and tempting to race in. If they are able to handle the quiet environment, the next thing you need to consider is their maturity level. Are they are emotionally able to handle the difficult subject matter. If you haven't had discussions about the Holocaust already, taking your kiddos to this museum is not the way to introduce them to it. You have to understand that there are graphic photos and video, gas chamber doors, the bunks where 7 adults would sleep on each "bed," and cattle cars you walk through.
I believe strongly that a simple age restriction is not the best way to decide who should be allowed to visit this museum. I recommend that parents who are considering visiting this museum with their kids look at how much their kids already know and understand about the Holocaust, really think about their maturity level and think about how visiting the museum will affect them emotionally. It is a tough museum to visit, and my husband and I leave there teary-eyed and emotional every time. I do want to caution you that the photos are not filtered, and there is nudity. This museum showcases some of the worst atrocities known to man, and the content reflects that.
Ford's Theatre
Tickets ARE required here, but they only cost $3.50.
They sell out incredibly fast, so check the dates for availability.
There are occasionally free tickets, but you must go in person the morning of your visit to the box office to see if any are available. I strongly recommend reserving your ticket for your peace of mind.
The museum is set up to allow timed entry every half hour. The Theatre is NOT included in every ticket, so make sure you select that includes it. Also, certain tickets ONLY include visits to ththe Petersen House and Aftermath eexhibits.
Please make sure to reserve the right ticket, as many people don't know the differences in tickets offered. Your ticket should include these 4 things: Museum, Theater Walkthrough, Petersen House, & Aftermath Exhibit.
The Petersen house is a really neat visit historically, as you are able to tour the house that Lincoln was carried to sfter he was shot (it's right across the street), you get to see the sitting room where Mary Todd Lincoln waited, and the room and bed that Lincoln died in.
********************
The National Building Museum
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments make my day!!! :)