A trip to Washington, DC, won’t be complete without having a bit of a museum fix. The nation’s capital is brimming with attractions that are fun, educational, and historical at the same time. And among these museums you shouldn’t miss is the Smithsonian Institution, an education and research complex that’s also dubbed as the world’s largest and most visited museum.
Must-see attractions at the Smithsonian
With a collection of 19 museums, it’s hard to imagine there are possible contenders for the title. Tourists tend to think the Smithsonian is composed of only one facility. But in reality, it’s a complex that has so many things to offer to tourists and locals alike.
If you’re up for an educational tour, you can always drop by one of those 19 attractions and get yourself your share of fascination, knowledge, and a few new fun facts to ponder. From mineral specimens to sculptures, paintings, artwork, dinosaur fossils, airplanes, and spacecraft, there’s no shortage of fascinating attractions and activities at any of the Smithsonian museums you decide to visit.
Whether it’s your first time in DC or not, preparing a list in advance can nicely jump-start your tour. If you’re wondering which Smithsonian museums are worth your precious time, here’s a rundown of exhibitions and galleries you shouldn’t miss as you get a glimpse of what the nation’s capital has to offer.
National Museum of Natural History
If you have limited time to stroll around DC and you want to include only the must-see attractions in your bucket list, make sure to give the Museum of Natural History one of the top spots. This is the place if you’re up for a once-in-a-lifetime experience of touching actual dinosaur skeletons and bones. You can’t find plenty of places in the world where you can have this chance, so now is the moment to give it a try.
The Hall of Fossils showcases a massive collection of interactive exhibits and displays of fossils, from a real Tyrannosaurus rex to a brachiosaurus. True enough, the species you’ve only read or heard about in movies come to life in the gallery, and you wouldn’t want to miss it for the world. To know which highlights of the museum to check first, here are two you can consider:
- The Hope Diamond:It’sa 45.5-carat blue diamond weighing almost 5 pounds, which was donated to the institution by Harry Winston sometime in 1958. (4)
- The Whitney Flame Topaz:Donated by Coralyn Wright Whitney in 2018, the stone is said to be one of the world’s finest Imperial Topaz gems because of its remarkable vibrant red color, astonishing brilliance, and amazing clarity. (4)
These highlights are available at the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, which features a stunning array of mineral specimens you never thought you’d come face to face with. You can get a crash course on the difference between a rock and a mineral. Or try interactive meteorite impressions and choose your meteorite speed and size to see if you can make an impactful one just for the fun of it.
National Museum of the American Indian
For a much-needed cultural refuge, a trip to the Smithsonian’s American Indian Museum could do the trick. The exhibits and displays featured at this attraction highly focus on South and North America’s indigenous peoples and how they’ve significantly contributed to the American culture and history. If you like to find out more about the history, life, and work of these peoples, take a comprehensive look at the collections you can find in the museum, including the following: (1)
- Ethnographic objects
- Plains collection
- Plateau collections
- Southwest collections
- Northwest Coast collections
- Arctic Collections
Virtual field trips are also available and free of charge for a group of students of at least 10 members. Just be sure to register in advance and accomplish a consent form so you can receive the online tour link. You can expect interactive programs during the virtual field trip so your group can learn more about indigenous cultures, histories, and contemporary lives. (6)
National Air and Space Museum
If you’re a frustrated astronaut or pilot, you may want to experience how it feels to be in the pilot seat or see actual aircraft equipment by visiting the Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution. The display is extensive enough to satisfy your craving for anything air and space related, starting with the Wright Flyer, the original airplane maneuvered by the Wright brothers in 1903.
For the astro fan in you, the Apollo Lunar Module (LM) manufactured by the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation is quite a stunner. It would make it easier for you to imagine how an unmanned aircraft looks like in space. The LM is also responsible for one of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind, which is landing astronauts on the moon.
National Portrait Gallery
Admittedly, the long list of American presidents makes it somehow difficult to remember the faces behind the names. In case you’re up for some revisiting, you can always drop by the National Portrait Gallery to take a good look at the portraits of US leaders, as well as some other images.
The gallery also highlights images from famous people with remarkable achievements and character. From American performers to activists, scientists, inventors, and artists, almost everyone who has helped form the national identity is featured in their collection. Be sure to check their website for current exhibitions so you’ll know what to expect on your visit.
National Zoo
The National Zoo may not be a museum per se, but this is another must-see Smithsonian attraction you’d want to visit if you’re already in the complex. The kids will surely love the firsthand experience with more than 2,700 animals they can watch, observe, and take pictures of. Currently, the zoo is also the only place in the United States that’s home to giant pandas after they’ve left the Sand Diego Zoo.
The place may be relatively small compared to other zoos you may have visited in the past, but it’s good enough to hover around a mix of animals and species, such as fishing cats, sloth bears, cheetahs, otters, tigers, and flamingos. The National Zoo also features exhibitions from time to time, where you can learn more about different species and other fun activities for both kids and adults.
The bottom line
Visiting Washington, DC, is already a good experience. You can make it even more worth it by including the Smithsonian Museum Complex in your list of must-see attractions. With so many galleries, exhibitions, and collections to check, you won’t have an idle time at all throughout your tour.
