Was cool and one of the most beautiful buildings I've seen…read more Old bible. Books. Paintings. Sculptures. Stairs. Reading room with no books?

I have only visited the Library of Congress at a personal level a couple of times. Other visits…read morewere due to events/meetings there. If you are visiting D.C., I cannot stress the importance of a stop here. To this day, it remains the largest library in the world. Pretty impressive. It's also the oldest federal cultural institution. Periodicals, books, etc. available in over 470 languages. More than 178 million pieces of articles from manuscripts, recordings, photos, printed materials, to books and so on. Library acts as a source of research for Members of Congress and handles copyright laws. This building and all its components are an important part of our nation's history.

I must have visited this museum half a dozen times over the years, but each and every time, it…read morefeels so fresh...and always so awe-inspiring! It's been over a decade since we last visited...and it felt as if I visited it the first time. So many new additions, it seems? I was especially interested in seeing the parts of the museum featuring the Dinosaurs and the Human Evolution...as I recently saw series on Netflix and PBS. The exhibits on both were phenomenal. I won't go into too much details since everything has been written and then some by other Yelpers...but all I can say is that this should be part of each and every DC trip. It's definitely one of the more popular (bustling!) Smithsonian museums...and with good reason! It's truly a treat to see this and other amazing exhibits and art works at these Smithsonian museums...and all for free!

The Museum of Natural History is a great experience for children and adults. Keep in mind, some…read moremight find the facts throughout the museum to be controversial as a lot of the information is based in theory and not empirical. There are competing theories of human and natural evolution, and the preponderance of information in this museum is scientific. That said, from a Western scholastic perspective, this museum is consistent with school books. It takes you from beginning to present, and the billions of years in between, and in many instances describing human and natural evolution in detail. I've visited the original museum as a kid and adult prior to the renovations, and the new museum post-renovations. For those experiencing the new museum for the first time, you'll love it and I believe the exhibits are a good use of space. However, much of the exhibits and graphics are visually appealing to youth, but I'd expect more interactive exhibits to keep kids engaged. This museum is massive and you could easily spend all day here. I believe adults can appreciate this museum because virtually all of the exhibits (not including the exhibits constructed specifically for kids) are text-based displays and graphics, requiring extensive reading. As a reader, this museum is laden with little known facts and additional context displayed in subtext and graphics. RECOMMENDATION: the museum is vast, covering multiple floors. At times it can seem like you might be coming full circle at the end of a hall only to walk into an entirely new corridor leading to a new exhibit or new wing on the floor. I recommend arriving early and dedicate the first few hours to one floor, take a break on- or off-site, and returning after lunch to conclude your visit on another floor. There is enough exhibit to entertain you for at least 5-6 hours. There is street parking available and I recommend arriving early if you desire parking close to this museum. The Museum of American History is next door, so it would make sense to strategically place these museums on one day's itinerary. Overall, a very good museum. You can easily spend all day here, so plan accordingly.

This museum is so magical!…read more Our group of nine had a blast weaving our way from room to room. The museum is equally fun for kids and adults with topics like language, reading, translation and karaoke to make a few. Everything was so well thought out and interactive. I couldn't get enough of the library room where books come to life with video-like illustrations building off the pages. It felt like we were transported into Belle's massive and dreamy library from Beauty and the Beast complete with a secret hidden room off the side (tucked behind a bookcase door). We had kids ages 2-5 and it was perfect for them. Note that you'll need to park strollers in the basement level. To top it all off, we had a fabulous lunch at Immigrant Food located on the lower level. Oh, how could I forget to mention that the museum is free? Amazing!

Funny story - I was looking for kid-friendly ideas of things to do in DC and asked ChatGPT for…read moreideas. One of the responses was the Planet Word museum, which I never heard of. I looked it up and decided to try it! They recommend you get timed passes online ahead of time; it's free but they do recommend a donation. This museum is SO COOL! As someone who loves different languages and words I loved everything about this place! My kids loved all of the interactivity. There is a room with an interactive word wall and you can interact and answer and request more info on the history of certain words. For example, I learned that "ketchup" was named after a Chinese sauce even though they are not similar. There is also a magical library room where you can pick a book off the shelf and place it on a book holder and the book is read to you. There are also mirror shadow boxes that come to life if you read the inscription. Finally, the kids loved the karaoke room - you select a song and as you sing along you see the types of parts of speech at play in the song. Great experience, would for sure recommend and go back!

What a beautiful and easily access Botanical garden. There are several areas for each of the plants…read morelike tropical, desert, Hawaii, etc. Great place to sit and enjoy the flowers and some shades after a long day of walking around the national mall or capitol hill.

Dear reader, The…read moreUnited States Botanic Garden is an absolute treasure and one of the loveliest ways to spend your time in DC. It feels peaceful, fascinating, and quietly spectacular all at once, which is really a rather strong combination. From the moment you walk in, there is so much to take in that it becomes very easy to lose track of time in the best possible way. The large orchid exhibit was especially breathtaking. It had that rare quality of making everyone slow down a bit and simply look, which feels increasingly impressive these days. The colours, shapes, and sheer variety were amazing. It made the entire visit feel even more special. The medicinal plant section was another standout for me because there is genuinely so much to learn there. It adds a thoughtful and educational layer to the visit without ever feeling dry or overly serious. The atriums are amazing and full of interesting things to see like bananas(?!), and the large tropical area is particularly fun to explore. It feels lush, immersive, and just a little dramatic, as though you have wandered into a completely different climate for a while. The outdoor area is also wonderful and makes the whole place feel even more expansive and relaxing. A further point in its favour is the gift shop, which is absolutely worth a stop. It is full of interesting things and does not feel like an afterthought, which one must appreciate. Even better, the prices are pretty fair, so it is actually possible to leave with a little something without feeling entirely taken advantage of. They have a vending machine where you can get really fun art prints too! Overall, the United States Botanic Garden is beautiful, engaging, and very much worth visiting. Between the orchids, the tropical rooms, the medicinal plants, the outdoor spaces, and the charming gift shop, there is so much to enjoy. I would happily return again and again, and quite enthusiastically at that.

Never met a museum we didn't like and the Spy Museum delivers…read more We had a private tour and the docent(s) were 5*. Be prepared to spend many hours here, it's that big and detailed.

Thebuber driver who dropped us off the Wharf told us about this interesting museum, and we found it…read morea special add on to pur weekend visit to DC for the cherry blossom this year. The museum is a huge collection on various spy and related topics throughout the humankind history. Things are not what they appear to.look.

The Smithsonian Institution is often referred to as the "Smithsonian Castle" since the building…read morelooks like a building from Downtown Abbey. It's the original Smithsonian Museum and quite a large one for its time. However, as other Smithsonians opened up, this one lost its place as one of the biggest museums in the city. Now it houses a few smaller exhibits, a cafe with plenty of seating, and offices for a few of the Smithsonian staff. If you want to get away from the crowds, it's a good spot to retreat to with food, water, bathrooms, and AC.

It is the freaking Smithsonian! Holy crap ya'll! This is it! Fantastic, just breathtaking. Here is…read morethe best advice I can give. Don't act like you're the star here. Dress comfortable. Wear the most comfortable shoes you own because you WILL travel. Don't be so cool and above it all that you Lose the wonderment and majesty of everything there. Pace yourself, and realize that you're not going to see everything unless you move to DC and dedicate your life to the place. Yes,.... they have that many exhibits and artifacts. Enjoy ya'll. This is a real treat!

It was a nice museum where you'd learn about optical illusions, principles of perception, with…read moregreat applications and illustrative examples. Great for kids and adults alike. It was a little small and by the end of it, I asked if that was it. It has a small gift shop where shirts, toys, puzzles, plasma lamps, etc are available.

Not sure why this place is $30 for one floor of content??…read more The most underwhelming museum I've ever been to. Not worth the price at all. We got a few photos just because we paid, but I will not be back!!

OUTSTANDING experience!! I truly wish we had an entire day…read moreto explore, but even though our time was cut short, we had a wonderful time. We went during Dead Sea Scrolls... how cool!! Every single employee was friendly, helpful and definitely loved their job. Milk & Honey Cafe was good! Some things were a little expensive but other things were very reasonable. Recommended! Manna Restaurant was delicious, clean & the prices were also a mix of expensive and reasonable. Recommended! Tip: plan for 2-3 days to experience the whole museum thoroughly.

The best Bible collection in the entire world! I wonder if all visitors appreciate how special this…read morecollection is with so many rare Bibles in an absolutely comprehensive collection. Some highlights include: Wicked Bible (First edition 1611 King James with errored 10 commandment missing the "not": though shall commit adultery); both HE and SHE versions of 1611 King James where verse in Ruth is printed "he" in one version and "she" in another describe who went into town), Jim Elliot Bible (first Bible printed in North America, and was in Native American language. Only 1000 printed and most burned by natives during their revolt against colonists), and a John Wycliffe Bible (first Bible in the English Language, before the printing press so was hand-written)! The collection has entire lineage of Bibles in many languages. Amazingly impressive! We were lucky as they had the Dead Sea Scrolls on exhibit during our visit (extra ticket charge, but well worth it given the rare opportunity). This is a temporary showcase. I have seen them before at another venue but this was even more well done. The Dead Sea Scrolls are biblical text found in 1940s and 1950s that date back 2000 years. The accuracy of Biblical text today was in question until this discovery. Miraculously, our current text matches the text from the time of Jesus. They setup 6 free online meetings throughout the year so people can discuss the scrolls with scholars. Beyond the Bibles, they have many video exhibits that are really well done. The Old and New Testament walk-through video journeys were incredible. We opted for the "All Creation Sings" exhibit which has additional fee. I was not overly excited. The main message is good, highlighting worship is not just about singing but about how we live. However I was really hoping for some good worship music. It ends with a weird interactive experience where you approach the wall and cause color to explode with your body movements, which really didn't feel like a worship experience. People with background in Christianity and the Bible will learn a lot. They also donated good job explaining the Bible for those not super familiar with the text. It is azing how they reach both audiences. They also have many child exhibits and games throughout to keep the little kiddos engaged. Highly recommend a visit when you are in DC. The museum isn't free like the many federal museums but it is not expensive and totally worth it!

Space... the final frontier.... Whether you're a kid, or just a kid at heart, your mind will wander…read morewith the possibilities of seeing the actual vehicles and relics of historical significance and marvel at the drive of the human spirit to first take flight, then zoom past the curvature of the ocean until you hit new land, and, finally, break the bonds of gravity and stake your claim in the cosmos. I've been so many times, and it's free to go and see these incredible achievements of humanity in real life. You can look at the lunar capsule and imagine the bravery and ingenuity of the millions of people whose guts and brains it took, over thousands of years, to make such an achievement possible. This is the true legacy of humanity and it inspires while posing the question, what is next for mankind....

We loved coming to the air and space museum. We got the 10 am tickets for when it opened and the…read moreline wrapped around the building. We had a lot of fun here and watched one of the IMAX shows which was about the future of space, it was perfect timing because the astronaut on Artimus II was in it and it was the day they launched. My only wish is that it wasn't so crowded or a way to have less people to be able to enjoy exhibits more and have it be less overwhelming. My kiddo was definitely overwhelmed and overstimulated as were we. We didn't get though everything but all the top floor and some of the first. The cafe doesn't have a ton of food options and the line gets long but it was what we had for lunch.

I am so glad that this theatre is still in operation…read more Also contains a first rate museum in the basement that includes the gun used to kill Lincoln and a pillow that still has dried blood on it So glad that I went!

The famous for theater has become more of a museum nowadays than an active theater, but it still…read moreholds some performances today. It's the historic theater that Lincoln was shot. There's plenty of memorabilia to Lincoln's life and life back then within the theater. It's a very cool historic site that is worth the ticket to admission! Being in the same room and looking up at the box that Lincoln sat in where he was assassinated was a very interesting and also somber experience !