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photo credit: Joshua Davis (jdavis.info)
It is almost impossible to take a vacation in Washington DC and not to visit a museum. Museums are practically a staple of the DC travel itinerary. This is due to several factors. For one thing, Washington DC has a number of amazing museums that are practically destinations on their own. For another thing, Washington DC is a place which people visit primarily to get an education in American history and that’s something that is easily done by visiting the museums in the city. And for another thing, there are just as many interesting things to learn about in DC that it’s natural to stop into the museums that offer this information.

If you’re spending time in Washington DC, you’re going to want to spend some time in the city’s museums. Which museums you’ll want to see depend upon your specific travel interests but there are some that stand out as must-sees no matter what it is that you’re interested in. (The Smithsonian museums typically fall into this category.) Here’s a look at some of the top Washington DC Museums for different types of interests:

Washington DC History and Cultural Museums

The most common reason that people take a trip to the nation’s capital is because they want to learn about the history of America and the people who have lived in this diverse area over time. Numerous museums throughout Washington DC are available to explore the history of America and its people. Here is a look at some of the ones that people enjoy visiting when they’re in Washington D.C.:

photo credit: gorik
National Museum of American History. This is one of the most amazing history museums in Washington DC. It’s a Smithsonian museum intended to capture the very essence of America through exhibits that explore its history. Unfortunately for people traveling to DC this summer, the museum is actually closed until the fall for renovations. However, it’s definitely one to put on the list for a future visit as its one of the most important museums in the city.

photo credit: Phillip Ritz
American Indian Museum. The history of America would not be complete if we failed to explore the history of the Native American people. This Smithsonian museum does precisely that. Exhibits including displays of art are designed to educate the visitor about American Indian tribes, their history and the relationship this history has to general U.S. history.

Anacostia Community Museum. This is a Smithsonian Museum set up to allow visitors to explore the history of African Americans. It relies on a multi-level perspective which considers the individual, family, community and society history of African Americans within the American society.

City Museum of Washington DC. This is one of the best museums in the city for people who have just arrived in the area. That’s because it is a museum devoted solely to exploring and explaining the history of the city itself. Visitors can learn a wealth of information about everything that they are going to see during their stay by making this one of the first museum stops on the DC vacation.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site. Frederick Douglass played an important role in the history of America. Visitors can learn all about that role by visiting the historic home and museum where this information is gathered into exhibits. Although people go here for the historic information that’s available, they also get the added perk of an amazing view of Washington DC from this hilltop home where Douglass once lived.

photo credit: dbking
Holocaust Museum. The Holocaust was a horrific part of world history that we are still trying to understand and grasp to this day. This museum serves to explore and interpret the history of the Holocaust and the lasting impact that it has had on society. Exhibits here offer a great overview of what this time period was all about and serve to educate people about the history of the Holocaust. Many people consider this museum to be a must-see on a DC vacation.

photo credit: maveric2003
Library of Congress. People who are interested in history are usually people who read books. Those people will be interested in the national library which is the world’s largest library based on shelf space. You could read a book a day in this place every day for the rest of your life and never even make a dent in the amount of material there is to read here.

Washington DC Art Museums

Washington DC is rich with creativity and that’s best reflected in the art museums that dot the landscape of the city. There are modern art museums and historic art museums so there’s a little bit of something for everyone that’s even remotely interested in art. Here is a look at some of the favorite art museums of Washington DC:

photo credit: mhaw
Archives of American Art. This is a Smithsonian art museum that is of great interest to writers and researchers with a love for the arts. That’s because it is a museum that collects writings about artwork over the years. There are over sixteen million letters and other written materials held here which discuss all different types of art from all different periods of time. If you’re a scholar with an art interest then you’re going to find this to be an interesting and unique art museum.

photo credit: drcorneilus
National Museum of African Art. This is a Smithsonian art and cultural museum that specifically displays are from the African cultures. Textiles, sculptures and painting and all other mediums are exhibited in both permanent and temporary collections in order for visitors to the DC area to gain insight into different African cultures.

photo credit: ktylerconk
American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery. This is a Smithsonian Art Museum which is the first federal art museum to be created. Its goal is to offer up an understanding of American art and the artists who create it. The Renwick is an adjoining gallery where the works of modern artists are on display. This is a large and impressive art museum that will interest anyone with a passion for the arts.

Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. This is a highly important museum to all artists interested in design because it is the only museum in the entire nation that is solely devoted to the exploration of both historic and contemporary design. It looks at specific types of design as well as the role of design in the history of the world.

photo credit: Mike McCaffrey
National Building Museum. Another specific art museum is this one which is specifically focused on the exploration of construction and architecture history. Temporary exhibits here touch on all different types of architecture ranging from Amish barn-raising architecture to modern movements in green building and construction.

photo credit: Tiago TH
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. Combined together these two museums make up the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. People who are interested in Eastern art, the general art history of the world or the Asian cultures will all find that the exhibits at either of these museums can offer great insight into these areas.

photo credit: Jeff Kubina
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. This is a Smithsonian Museum which is a contemporary art museum. People with an interest in modern art that’s being created in America today will find that the most cutting-edge artists are often featured on display at this museum. The blog for this museum gives a great overview of the type of material being presented at the museum today.

photo credit: markart
National Portrait Gallery. This is a Smithsonian Museum and one of the most unique art museums in the nation. In fact, many people don’t classify this as an art museum at all but rather as a history museum because it uses portraiture to preserve and explore the interesting people who have characterized the nation’s past. The building that the museum is housed in is itself a historic landmark and of interest to travelers for that fact.

The Bead Museum. Beads are an interesting aspect of art that rarely gets explored. This museum explores beaded jewelry and the history beads as well as the way that they are used in different cultures. It’s mostly an art museum but partially a history museum and one that’s unique from museums elsewhere in the nation.

Washington DC Science and Technology Museums

Washington DC may be filled with history but that doesn’t mean that it’s not on the cutting edge of technology as well. Science and technology museums are among the most-visited museums in Washington DC by both locals and travelers. Here is a look at some of the best science and technology museums in the city:

photo credit: wanderingYew2
National Air and Space Museum. This is a Smithsonian museum that will wow anyone interested in the history of air and spacecraft. It has the largest exhibit of airplanes and spacecraft out of any museum in the world. In fact, the collection is so huge that this museum actually consists of two separate buildings at different addresses. Each building lets you explore the history of the space exploration in the United States. The museum isn’t all about the past, though; it also remains a major technology and space science research center to this day.

photo credit: Jeff Kubina
Natural History Museum. Many people find that the best way to explore the history of an area isn’t to look at the culture or people but to look at the natural science history of the area. These people are interested in animal life and plant life and the way that these have changed over time (often as a result of the actions of the people in the area). The Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum is a great place to explore this information.

photo credit: Changrs
Marian Koshland Science Museum. This is a U.S. National Academy of Sciences museum which has the mission of bringing science information and exhibits to the public in an easy-to-understand way. People seeking basic science news and history will find that this is a good museum to start with.

National Museum of Health and Medicine. People who are interested in the science and history behind medicine will find that they can spend weeks at this museum learning all about it. There are over twenty five million pieces in the museum’s collection which reveal the rich and interesting history of scientific developments made in health and medicine over the years.

Washington DC Niche Museums

Not every museum in Washington DC falls into the most common categories of museums found around the world (history, culture, art, science or technology). Some museums are just there to reveal insight into specific niche areas of interest. Here is a look at some of the top Washington DC museums for certain interests:

photo credit: sherseydc
National Zoo. Most people don’t think of the zoo as a museum but when the zoo is operated by The Smithsonian, it’s a little bit different. Anyone who likes zoos in general will be amazed by this one. Even people who don’t typically like zoos may find this one interesting. It’s a leading research and conservation area where you can learn a lot about the animals of the world and the impact that people have had on them.

photo credit: Mr. T in DC
National Postal Museum. Anyone who is interested in the history of communication in the United States will need look no further than the exhibits of the postal museum to see how that communication has changed over time. This Smithsonian Museum is actually located inside of a historic post office and serves to explore the history of the American postal service. It’s definitely a different type of museum and one that offers a look at history through a really unique lens.

Folger Shakespeare Library. This is a research library where people go primarily to learn more about Shakespeare since the library holds the largest collection of his works. The museum is housed in a historic library.

photo credit: spakattacks
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Botanical Gardens. This is an interesting museum that combines many different interests. It’s a research library of interest to people who want to know more about Byzantine and Pre-Colombian studies as well as for people interested in landscape history. It’s housed in a historic nineteenth century mansion of interest to those people who like architectural explorations. And the grounds are covered with amazing botanical gardens that are ideal for people interest in exploring urban nature.

photo credit: Silus Grok
International Spy Museum. This is one of the most popular niche museums in Washington DC. It is a massive museum which serves to explore the true and fictional history of spies. People who don’t even like museums typically find this one to be interesting enough to warrant their time.

photo credit: Anosmia
National Bonsai Foundation. If you’re intrigued by the art of the bonsai tree then you’ll want to check out this museum which has a bonsai collection that includes Japanese, Chinese and North American bonsai tree collections. It is said to be the first bonsai museum to ever be created and to have the largest collection of bonsai trees anywhere in the world.

photo credit: Son of Groucho
Newseum. This is an interactive museum designed to explore the world of journalism. Washington DC is a center for news fans today; it’s where all of the interesting political news is derived from and therefore it’s a fitting place for a unique museum of this kind. It is one of the newest museums in Washington DC but it has rapidly become one of the most popular for both locals and travelers to enjoy. The core of its mission is to continue to promote the freedom of speech and freedom of the press that are so important to the history and modern way of life in America.

Visiting Washington DC Museums

The majority of the museums in Washington DC are free and are open to the public every day except on major holidays like Christmas. There are a few museums (like the International Spy Museum) that do charge admission and there are others (like the Frederick Douglass Museum) that are free but charge a small fee for reservations so you don’t have to wait in line. The fact that the museums are affordable makes it possible to make visiting them a major aspect of your Washington DC vacation.

The museums of Washington DC are located all throughout the city and even in neighboring suburbs of Washington DC. However, those people who are seeking to find a concentrated area where many museums are present are going to want to look for the National Mall. This is an open-area national park which is surrounded by tourist attractions including many museums, galleries, theaters and historic landmarks. If you only have a short amount of time to spend in Washington DC, this is where you should go to look for good museums.

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