Some of the museums, such as the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museums, also run IMAX movies (70 mm films) or special interactive exhibits which cost around $6.00 a person. These shows vary throughout the year, but you can find a current listing is at the Smithsonian website.

An Englishman who had never set foot in America founded the Smithsonian Institute. In 1829, James Smithson bequeathed over half a million dollars to the U.S. government to create an institute “for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.” The United States government eventually used the gift to catalogue mankind’s current knowledge in its museums, to fund science research, art projects, and to further exploration into unknown areas. Today, the government is still responsible for 75% of the institutes funding with the rest coming from private donations.

Each museum is truly unique. The National Museum of American History displays full-size trains and tractors, unusual exhibits of popular culture such as the ruby shoes from the Wizard of Oz, a collection of inaugural gowns from the First Ladies, and the American flag that inspired the national anthem. The National Museum of Natural History is famed for its displays of minerals and gems including the Hope Diamond, animals including the largest squid ever found, and the bones of many prehistoric creatures. The Air and Space Museum has the original aircraft used by the Wright Brothers as well as the Spirit of St. Louis, the first airplane to make a solo transatlantic crossing from New York to Paris. It also contains historic Mercury and Gemini space capsules, many rocket ships and a lunar landing module.

The Mall, at the center of DC, is within easy walking distance of the Capitol Building, the White House and most of the monuments. The Smithsonian Metro station, near the center of the Mall, provides convenient access and brings you only one block away from the original Smithsonian administrative building. Federal Triangle, Archives-Navy Memorial and L’Enfant Plaza Metro stations are also within easy walking distance to one or more of the museums.

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Washington DC offers many historical and educational attractions, a variety of cultural and entertainment activities, plenty of multi-ethnic dining experiences and an array of shopping opportunities. Outside of the city, there are many civil war battlefields within a short drive; and President Washington’s home at Mount Vernon is just south of DC. The port city of Baltimore and Anapolis, home of the US Naval Acadamy, are within an hour drive. Even Piladelphia and New York City are within a half-day drive.

Today Washington DC is a city of variety and contrast. The central area is beautifully designed with broad avenues lined with magnificent buildings and monuments set in spacious green parks. The surrounding neighborhoods vary from modern commercial districts and upscale residential neighborhoods to ethnic enclaves and working class neighborhoods. The city houses a myriad of workers, diplomats, politicians and immigrants from many lands. It is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the US with numerous ethnic neighborhoods and restaurants featuring a wide variety of exotic cuisines. Suburban communities in nearby Virginia and Maryland house an army of government workers and businesses supporting the operation of our huge federal bureaucracy.

There is a lot to see in Washington DC and most of it is free. You can tour the US Capitol Building, the White House, the Supreme Court and many federal government agencies like the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (where they print the money) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) (where they shoot a machine gun). You can visit the Washington Memorial, the Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt Memorials. You can see Arlington National Cemetery, the Vietnam memorial, the Korean War memorial and the Battle of Iwo Jima memorial. You can even spend several days touring the many parts of the Smithsonian Institute, one of the largest and finest collection of museums in the world. None of it will cost anything!

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