DC? Incredible Museum Scene: Top 10
National Gallery of Art, Image by Kyaw Tun
DC, the district capital, a powerful entity of its own.
Why DC?
Besides seeing the White House, what makes DC special?
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Easy to Traverse
The city is incredibly organized on a grid and is easy to navigate in public transportation metro, bus, walking, and driving altogether.
The city is worth experiencing for the capital sites in pivotal symbolism regarding America's history, making, and government.
However, two aspects make the city worth spending time in as a visitor:
Museums. The city is chock-full of them that are subsidized, they’re free entrance, and the art is quality depth.
Food. It’s a high level of quality restaurants. The food is versatile and also concentrated in a manageable area of geography.
This is about the museums. There are A LOT of museums in DC. 74 museums. Around the downtown mall area, it can feel like every other building is a museum. To categorize the museums, it’s good to know that they’re divided into National Museums, the Smithsonian Institution comprising 17, and other or private museum collections. Oftentimes the embassies additionally host exhibits so they’re sometimes included in the framework.
Here are the highlights.
My Top Museum Picks (In Order)
Renwick Smithsonian
Of the contemporary and Smithsonian collection, Renwick runs a pattern of thought-provoking immersion installations. It’s located steps from the White House and at Farragut West metro station.
Janet Echelman’s light and fiber installation is a net of overhead expanse that plays with humans and the physical world
The installation takes up a huge room on the second floor and pillows adorn the area so you can lay or sit and wonder at what’s hung above
Jennifer Angus In the Midnight Garden as part of the Wonder exhibit, the insects are all real, not endangered, derived from various parts of the world
Green marbles as a part of the immersive Wonder exhibit
Norwood Viviano Global Cities glass installation showing population differentiation in 30 cities
2. Hirshhorn Smithsonian
Hirshhorn also heralds modern and contemporary works, the architecture of the site and gardens are industrial minimal with an emphasis on postwar art. Located at L’Enfant Plaza metro station.
View of the building inside the courtyard looking up. Image by Paulius Dragons
3. Freer Sackler Smithsonian
Primarily East Asian collections that emphasize current and ancient, and of various mediums throughout the galleries. The Freer Sackler is a calming space. Located at the Smithsonian metro station.
Wall display of ancient pottery, Freer Sackler
Buddhist artwork, Freer Sackler
4. National Geographic
The National Geographic Museum is the magazine’s headquarters and hosts events, exhibitions, and speakers. If you’ve ever been an avid reader or appreciate their specific photography base, it’s worth going. Located at Farragut North metro station.
Lit wall of the years of iconic Nat Geo magazine covers
5. African American History and Culture
One of the newest members of the crew, an extensive multi-tiered collection and extensive chronological expression of the history and arts of African American culture. Located at the Federal Triangle (Smithsonian) metro station.
Museum exterior, Image by Bill Herndon
Lower floor ceiling waterfall
6. Natural History
A colossal space, the museum greets you with animals, has one of the most impressive collections of rocks and minerals, and is a neverending fiesta for what the natural globe hosts. Located at Federal Triangle metro station.
Atrium of the Natural History Museum
Amazing geology, Natural History Museum
7. The Phillips Collection
Allegedly America’s first museum of modern art, a private collection of contemporary works. They sometimes host music events, go for the jazz, and coupled with suave bars on-site. Located at Dupont Circle metro station.
Phillips, Image by Taigatrommelchen
Rothko and Rothko collection within the Phillips
8. National Portrait Gallery Smithsonian
The Portrait Gallery is enhanced by the experience of Kogod Courtyard alone. The portraits are a plus. Located at Gallery Place/Chinatown metro station.
Kogod Courtyard, Portrait Gallery
Courtyard, Image by JPellgen
9. Ford’s Theatre
Lincoln was assassinated here, and for history buffs, it’s worth venturing to. There are rooms dedicated to narrative information inclusive to his upbringing and lifestyle, and in addition to the recreation of the theatre. Located at Metro Center metro station.
10. National Arboretum
The arboretum has an impressive layout of beautiful gardens, tree species categorized, and ancient architecture that dots the environment. Located at Stadium-Armory Station metro station.
Columns of the Arboretum
Exquisite bonsai collection at the Arboretum
The National Geographic museum entrance is usually $20, the Phillips $10-$16 and the rest are free but require tickets.
Where to Stay? Hay Adams in Central or Tabard Inn in Dupont Circle
Tabard Inn is an establishment in Dupont Circle, it’s a lovely home-style hotel fitted in classic east-coast design. It additionally hosts a lovely restaurant for dinner and brunch, one of the most outstanding and consistent in all of DC. Tabard Inn has an ideal location in the heart of the city.
For those who want proximity between the White House and the National Mall, Hay Adams will give you a view and that locale. It hosts uber comfortable rooms, lavish estate style. Hay Adams is near to numerous metros, the closest being Farragut West.
These locations are both great base points for getting amalgamated to DC, and all the museum hopping.
*Safety tip
Print the metro map or use the app, however, the DC Metro lines are quite direct and easy to traverse the length of the district with.
Bottom line
I highly recommend visiting DC for the museum scene alone, it’s a wealth of knowledge, and very uplifting.
