Museums are some of the best attractions that Washington is known for and hence, they are visited by hordes of travelers. A tour of museums in Washington DC could take up more than a couple of days, not only because this city has several museums, but also because each museum has countless treasures across its many floors. You would simply lose track of time exploring their collection and not realize when the day turned dark. However, at the end of the day, a museum tour definitely leaves you satisfied. If you are a mesophile, then below is a list of the five famous museums in Washington DC that you need to visit during your trip.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The recent addition to the National Mall, the National Museum of African American History and Culture has quickly become popular with tourists since its inauguration in 2016. Spread across 400,000 square feet, this museum is one of the best places to learn about African American history and culture. The sprawling four floors that you see above the ground are only a half part of this museum as another four more floors below grade level.
While the lower floors chronicle the landmark events such as the Civil War, Restoration, Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights movement, and others that shaped up African American history, the floors that rise above the ground have exhibits related to African American arts and culture. You will also find Louis Armstrong’s trumpet, Harriet Tubman’s personal book of hymns, silk lace, and linen shawl, and Marian Anderson’s silk dress here.
Admission Fee: Free
National Museum of Asian Art
Equipped with two galleries – the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery – Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art preserves and exhibits an impressive array of Asian art. The Freer Gallery houses around 42,000 objects, right from ones dating back to the Neolithic times to the early 20th century. The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery showcases some of the rarest and most precious Asian art, including Indian, Chinese, and Japanese masterpieces. Apart from various exhibits, the museum also has interesting programs for people of all ages. This museum is also home to the largest collection of works by James McNeill Whistler, including the famed Peacock Room. The National Museum of Asian Art is located on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Admission Fee: Free
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Filled with more than 30,000 aviation artifacts and 9,000 space artifacts, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is one of the must-visit museums in Washington DC for all air and space travel enthusiasts. You can explore Wright Brothers’ 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of Saint Louis, Eisenhower planetarium, Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit, the Space Race of the 1960s, as well as several other iconic aerobatic planes, passenger jetliners, rockets, missiles, space shuttles, etc. Watching a galaxy-themed movie or other space-related shows on the vast screen of Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater is an enthralling experience that stays with you for a long time.
Admission Fee: Free
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
One of the most-visited museums in Washington DC, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum retells the gruesome acts of the Nazis between 1933 and 1945 and the horrors of the genocide. The three floors of the museum are divided into three subsections – Nazi Assault, Final Solution, and Last Chapter. The permanent exhibits at the museum take visitors back to history; journeying them through various times, starting from the rise of the Nazi party to the mass murder of the Jews to the final Allied victory.
The video and audio footage, written and recorded testimonials of Holocaust victims and survivors and various preserved relics from the camps shake you to the core and by the end of this museum tour, you will be left emotionally moved.
Admission Fee: Free
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International Spy Museum
Visit this museum located in L’Enfant Plaza to dig into the history of espionage, learn a little about intelligence operations, gawk at the vast collection of spy gadgets, and test your sleuthing skills too. Upon entry, you will be given a cover identity. Just like pies, you will have to solve various kinds of puzzles, crack secret codes, and spy on others (i.e. museum attendees) as you move from one exhibit to the other at the International Spy Museum. This is a fun way to explore the museum, but you could also do it normally by walking through its exhibits across two floors.
Admission Fee: Free for children under 6 years, $16.95 for young people aging between 7 and 12, $26.95 for adults (13-64 years), and $23.95 for seniors (65+)
Which of these museums in Washington DC have you visited before? Tell us in the comments. Plan a visit t others during your next trip. Book your cheap flights to USA now from Indian Eagle