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Picture by Philip Bermingham
no-admission museums
To go with its monuments and
memorials, the National Mall boasts
an impressive lineup of free
museums. Visitors should take
advantage of the wide range of
experiences on hand, from
immersing themselves in classic art to
marveling at the wonders of
aviation and our natural world. Let
your wallet breathe and explore
these free museums during your next
trip to the nation’s capital.
The National Gallery of Art’s
collection spans two major buildings
– one classical, the other modern –
and encompasses a six-acre sculpture
garden containing a rotating display
of permanent works and traveling
exhibitions.
The National Air and Space
Museum boasts the world’s largest
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collection of historic aircraft and
spacecraft, including Charles
Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, the
Wright brothers’ original 1903 flyer,
astronaut space suits and a lunar rock
sample.
The most visited natural history
museum in the world, The National
Museum of Natural History boasts
an incredible rotating collection of
127 million items including dinosaur
bones, the Hope Diamond, ancient
Egyptian mummies and so much
more.
Over four million people make their
way to the vast National Museum
of American History each year. No
surprise, since the museum’s
collection boasts more than three
million objects that tell the American
story. Among these, a few crowd
favorites include the flag that inspired
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the “Star-Spangled Banner,” the
Greensboro lunch counter, Julia
Child’s kitchen, Dorothy’s ruby
slippers from The Wizard of Oz and
Abraham Lincoln’s stovepipe hat.
An iconic landmark along the DC
skyline, The Smithsonian Castle is
the perfect place to begin your day of
exploration. You can find important
information on each Smithsonian
museum and marvel at the
structure’s striking architecture.
JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER
FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Located on the banks of the Potomac
River, the nation’s performing arts
center, presents the best music,
dance, theatre, international, and
children’s programs in nine theaters
and stages. There’s such a wide
variety of things to see from the
symphony to jazz in the jazz club.
There is also daily tours that explore
the center, too. Kennedy Center
really is a living memorial, and there’s
a lot to see!
Capitol Hill
A trip to D.C. would not be
complete without a visit to the seat
of our legislative and judicial
branches. “Jenkins Hill”, as it was
called, was thought to be an ideal
location to build our Congress
House. As the government holdings
and staff expanded, the Library of
Congress’ Jefferson Building, the
Supreme Court Building, and
Congressional office buildings were
built here. Taking a tour of the
Capitol Building requires a ticket,
which is free but reservations are the
only way to guarantee a spot. We
recommend that you book up to 3
months in advance if you are
planning to visit during the peak
Spring/Summer touring months.
courtyard with a vast glass roof
designed by Norman Foster.
PERFORMING ARTS
Art Galleries
The National Gallery of Art’s
neoclassical West Building is home to
one of the world’s best collections of
paintings, sculpture, and more, dating
from the 13th to the 20th century.
The I.M. Pei–designed East Building
opened in 1978 and houses mostly
modern and contemporary art on
four levels.
The Donald W. Reynolds Center for
American Art and Portraiture, a
majestic Greek Revival building in
Penn Quarter, is home to both the
American Art Museum and the
National Portrait Gallery. The
museums take up opposite sides of
the building, which has a central
Each year, Shakespeare Theatre
Company hosts its special Free for
All series, in which performances of
one of The Bard’s classic plays are
made available to the public, free
of charge.
The Luce Foundation Center
for American Art (located inside
the Smithsonian American Art
Museum) hosts Luce Unplugged,
a free, monthly concert series that
showcases local talent. Thursday
shows are tributes to a Luce Center
artwork, while Friday shows feature
two bands, a cash bar and free drink
samples from a local brewery or
distillery.
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