In honor of Veteran’s Day I am spotlighting Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States and home to some of the most famous and historic sites in the world. In this blog I am featuring a list of must-see museums that call D.C. home. They are some of the most visited sites on the planet and for good reason. If you have school age children a trip to D.C.’s museums is one of the best hands-on learning opportunities you can give them.
National Air and Space Museum
Even if you are not a fan of aviation the exhibits housed in this famous space will blow you away. The museum is home to the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. From the original Wright Brothers’ plane to Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the Apollo 11 command module (complete with a sample of moon rock you can touch), the Concorde and 200 other aircraft, the museum’s contents will leave you speechless. While you are there take time to sit in on the Curator’s Choice Lecture Series, a 15-minute discussion held each Wednesday at noon during which the staff chats about the museum’s collection and answers questions such as how astronauts go to the bathroom in space.
Museum of Natural History
There’s nothing like traveling to the nation’s capital and leaving with a picture of your kids standing next to a huge African elephant. That’s what you’ll get if you visit the Museum of Natural History (and you bring your camera). The elephant greets you in the museum’s rotunda and from there you can explore the rest of the building which includes other natural treasures such as the 45-carat Hope Diamond, a Tyrannosaurus rex and a giant sloth.
National Museum of Women in Arts
This is the only museum in the world that is exclusively dedicated to showcasing women artists. Some of the featured artists include Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Frida Kahlo. The museum is located downtown near McPherson Square and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children under 18.
International Spy Museum
Okay, this museum won’t shed light on how the democratic process works, but your kids will thank you for taking them there. This place is F-U-N from the get-go. As soon as you step foot into the International Spy Museum you are asked to adopt a cover identity complete with new name, age and birthplace. Throughout your visit “border guards” at interactive stations interrogate you to see how much you remember. The museum is filled with interactive stations including the eavesdropping post that allows you to pick up a pair of headphones and listen to conversations captured by bugs hidden around the museum. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from November to March and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily from April to October. Admission is $13 for adults, $10 for children under 18, and free for children under 5.
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