D.C.’s Best Free Attractions
Amid Washington D.C.’s bevy of free museums and entertainment, it’s hard to tell which attractions really deserve your attention. This guide showcases five of the Capital’s must-see freebies, guaranteed to impress any eager visitor.
The Department of Agriculture’s pièce de résistance occupies a roughly 500-acre plot from northeast New York Avenue to the Anacostia River. Its horticultural holdings are the nation’s finest collection of compelling plant life; the gardens have neighborhoods dedicated to Asian vegetation, conifers, bonsais, official state trees, dogwoods, and countless diverse flowers. One of the Arboretum’s most famous and photogenic attractions is the installation of the National Capitol Columns, former buttresses of the Capitol building. Should you encounter nice weather in the District, a walk through the Arboretum is mandatory.
The Archives’ biggest draw is the Rotunda, containing the three documents known as the “Charters of Freedom.” Visitors can peruse the original drafts of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, and the facility also holds a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta, by Edward I. What’s more enticing is the fact that the Archives promote free-form browsing; there are no lines to view the documents, and every visitor can read at his or her leisure. History buffs will appreciate the extended collection, which includes the drafts of the Louisiana Purchase and the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
The Watergate-adjacent Kennedy Center is one of the District’s most impressive and recognizable edifices; audiences flock to its nightly events for the ambience as well as the acoustics. The Millennium Stage operates every evening at 6, and all its associated acts perform free-of-charge. Two stages anchor the Center’s Grand Foyer and feature a wide range of performers, many of whom are sponsored by the Kennedy Center’s Artist-in-Residence program. The foyer itself is an impressive enough draw; with 60-foot ceilings and a depth of 630 feet, it’s one of the largest rooms in the world.
The National Geographic Museum
The Explorers’ Hall that houses the National Geographic Museum features past and present anthropological undertakings in equal measure. Upcoming exhibitions include the Chinese Terracotta Warriors, considered to be one of the world’s most impressive and important artifacts. A current exhibit explores maritime oral traditions and the history of whaling, while another showcases the magazine’s best photographic work. Check the museum’s schedule of speakers for a more in-depth experience; the NGM regularly books anthropologists, historians, artists, and scientists to lecture to willing visitors.
The National Air and Space Museum
One of the Capital’s most stalwart and beloved attractions, this Smithsonian mainstay holds the largest collection of air and space travel memorabilia in the world. Visitors stroll through large, open spaces containing the disused bodies of actual warplanes, as well as models and portions of rockets. Other popular holdings include vintage missiles, Martian and lunar rocks, and the original Wright Brothers’ “Flyer” from 1903. Families with children will especially enjoy the hands-on exhibits, which include some original NASA spacesuits, and adventurous kids will love the flight simulators and informative IMAX features.
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Categories: Travel on the Cheap
