How to Do the Smithsonian without Killing Yourself
Well, you're in Washington, DC, looking at your "must do" list of sites. Trash it. There is no way you are going to do that list.
Even those of us who live here, as as AlteCocker does, haven't done all those things. It's impossible.
"Where's The Smithsonian?" a tourist will ask (never mind the ones who ask "Where's the Mall?" and then expect stores instead of museums).
Well, the Smithsonian is a series of museums. They are all free if you don't live in the United States. As AlteCocker tells people who live here, we pay taxes for The Smithsonian, so you had better visit them if you are in Washington.
There are four large museums on The Mall and then the two buildings of The National Gallery of Art in which most of you will be interested. There is no way you are going to see it all. You need to read up ahead of time (including hopefully reading AlteCocker's nonsense) and pick and choose. A brief summary of the museums follows.
1. The Museum of American History. AlteCocker is a history nut. You can see everything from the flag that flew over Fort McHenry to a selection of first ladies dresses in there (they now rotate them as a preservation measure). There are old cars, train engines, campaign memorabilia. This museum is truly the nation's attic. Top of the list
2. The Museum of Natural History. Contains the most visited item in The Smithsonian: The Hope Diamond. Are you interested in dinosaur bones? Go to this one. If you live in other big cities, however, this museum will be fairly similar, so you might want to run in and check out The Hope Diamond and go elsewhere. It does, of course, depend on your interest. IMAX theater with a mix of traditional and 3-D films (charge; reduced price for subscribers to Smithsonian Magazine).
3. The Air & Space Museum. This has been long been the favorite of many people. It contains such objects as the Wright Brother's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, moon rocks and various space crafts. Well, it does depend on how interested you are in all these things, but YentaKvetch still prefers the American History Museum (did she say that before?). There is an IMAX theater with a mix of traditional and 3-D films (charge; reduced price for subscribers to Smithsonian Magazine).
4. National Museum of the American Indian. This museum, often overlooked by tour groups (thank God!) deals with all the native peoples of the Americas--not just those in the United States. Wonderful modern exhibits. You can spend hours there. When you go, start on the top of the building where there is a fabulous multimedia production and work your way down. End by having a meal in the restaurant. It has very unusual food and has won awards! Definitely not your standard museum hamburger/fries cafeteria.
5. The National Gallery of Art--East and West Wings. This is a wonderful art museum. Personally, AlteCocker loves it, but, if you are here with little Cockers, you may have to pass it by. Do look for special exhibitions. They go on all the time and many are wonderful. Again, it's a choice and up to you!
6. Other museums on The Mall include the African Art, Sackler, Freer, Hirschorn, etc. If you only have a short time, you may want to give these a pass. Now, don't get AlteCocker wrong, these are wonderful museums and in many towns would be at the top of the "must do" list. If you only have a limited time, however, it will be hard to fit them in.
7. Off the Mall are the American Art and Portraiture Museums (actually connected to one another in the same building). The building containing them is near the Verizon Center and has different hours from the rest of the museums. They open at 11:00am and close at 7:00pm, so, if you want somewhere to go after the others close, you have an option (Metro: Gallery Place).
7. Off The Mall and 4 miles from Dulles Airport is the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. It contains the space shuttle Discovery, the stealth bomber and the Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima). On a short visit, unless you are staying near Dulles, you probably will miss this museum. The only way to get there is by car or taxi and it is a long way out. While the museum is free, parking is $15 before 4:00pm and free after that.
In "doing" The Smithsonian, it is you who will decide. If you have a special interest, feel free to junk what AlteCocker advises and do your own thing. Just know that you can't do it all--and after 3 hours in a museum your eyes will begin to glaze over--if they are like AlteCocker's.
For food while marching lock step through The Smithsonian, AlteCocker recommends a brief diversion to the Reagan Trade Center or Post Office Pavilion food courts if you are here with kids whose taste buds do not tend to the adventurous. There are a multitude of food stalls and the kids can jam down a pizza while the adults have slightly more dignified food. Both can be reached off 12th Street, NW, if you exit the Natural History Museum on the Constitution Avenue, NW, side.
Most of the museum restaurants are overpriced and mediocre and packed with school children in the spring. A special place in hell is reserved for the McDonald's at Air & Space. Ugh!
Even those of us who live here, as as AlteCocker does, haven't done all those things. It's impossible.
"Where's The Smithsonian?" a tourist will ask (never mind the ones who ask "Where's the Mall?" and then expect stores instead of museums).
Well, the Smithsonian is a series of museums. They are all free if you don't live in the United States. As AlteCocker tells people who live here, we pay taxes for The Smithsonian, so you had better visit them if you are in Washington.
There are four large museums on The Mall and then the two buildings of The National Gallery of Art in which most of you will be interested. There is no way you are going to see it all. You need to read up ahead of time (including hopefully reading AlteCocker's nonsense) and pick and choose. A brief summary of the museums follows.
1. The Museum of American History. AlteCocker is a history nut. You can see everything from the flag that flew over Fort McHenry to a selection of first ladies dresses in there (they now rotate them as a preservation measure). There are old cars, train engines, campaign memorabilia. This museum is truly the nation's attic. Top of the list
2. The Museum of Natural History. Contains the most visited item in The Smithsonian: The Hope Diamond. Are you interested in dinosaur bones? Go to this one. If you live in other big cities, however, this museum will be fairly similar, so you might want to run in and check out The Hope Diamond and go elsewhere. It does, of course, depend on your interest. IMAX theater with a mix of traditional and 3-D films (charge; reduced price for subscribers to Smithsonian Magazine).
3. The Air & Space Museum. This has been long been the favorite of many people. It contains such objects as the Wright Brother's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, moon rocks and various space crafts. Well, it does depend on how interested you are in all these things, but YentaKvetch still prefers the American History Museum (did she say that before?). There is an IMAX theater with a mix of traditional and 3-D films (charge; reduced price for subscribers to Smithsonian Magazine).
4. National Museum of the American Indian. This museum, often overlooked by tour groups (thank God!) deals with all the native peoples of the Americas--not just those in the United States. Wonderful modern exhibits. You can spend hours there. When you go, start on the top of the building where there is a fabulous multimedia production and work your way down. End by having a meal in the restaurant. It has very unusual food and has won awards! Definitely not your standard museum hamburger/fries cafeteria.
5. The National Gallery of Art--East and West Wings. This is a wonderful art museum. Personally, AlteCocker loves it, but, if you are here with little Cockers, you may have to pass it by. Do look for special exhibitions. They go on all the time and many are wonderful. Again, it's a choice and up to you!
6. Other museums on The Mall include the African Art, Sackler, Freer, Hirschorn, etc. If you only have a short time, you may want to give these a pass. Now, don't get AlteCocker wrong, these are wonderful museums and in many towns would be at the top of the "must do" list. If you only have a limited time, however, it will be hard to fit them in.
7. Off the Mall are the American Art and Portraiture Museums (actually connected to one another in the same building). The building containing them is near the Verizon Center and has different hours from the rest of the museums. They open at 11:00am and close at 7:00pm, so, if you want somewhere to go after the others close, you have an option (Metro: Gallery Place).
7. Off The Mall and 4 miles from Dulles Airport is the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. It contains the space shuttle Discovery, the stealth bomber and the Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima). On a short visit, unless you are staying near Dulles, you probably will miss this museum. The only way to get there is by car or taxi and it is a long way out. While the museum is free, parking is $15 before 4:00pm and free after that.
In "doing" The Smithsonian, it is you who will decide. If you have a special interest, feel free to junk what AlteCocker advises and do your own thing. Just know that you can't do it all--and after 3 hours in a museum your eyes will begin to glaze over--if they are like AlteCocker's.
For food while marching lock step through The Smithsonian, AlteCocker recommends a brief diversion to the Reagan Trade Center or Post Office Pavilion food courts if you are here with kids whose taste buds do not tend to the adventurous. There are a multitude of food stalls and the kids can jam down a pizza while the adults have slightly more dignified food. Both can be reached off 12th Street, NW, if you exit the Natural History Museum on the Constitution Avenue, NW, side.
Most of the museum restaurants are overpriced and mediocre and packed with school children in the spring. A special place in hell is reserved for the McDonald's at Air & Space. Ugh!