National Portrait Gallery
Museums & Galleries
7
2
The museum is large, but manageable, meaning you can walk through most of it in just a few short hours. While it hosts the kinds of staple items you'd imagine, like portraits of all of the American presidents, there are also spaces for rotating exhibits which include new media, contemporary photography and painting, and other interpretations.
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National Gallery of Art
Museums & Galleries
6
2
Though there are favorite pieces at other American museums, this one is a vast national feat boasting America's great collections of work throughout history. West Building houses works by Europeans from the medieval through the late 19th century, as well as pre-Modernist works by Americans. East Building holds modern and contemporary works.
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Eastern Market
Other
8
4
The market is alive on weekends, although some indoor stalls remain open on weekdays. Given its proximity to Capital Hill, one can easily combine a visit to the Hill with a stop at Eastern Market.
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Museums & Galleries
5
1
Just over 40 years old, the Hirshhorn is a place of art, criticism, and dialogue in its history and in the contents within the museum. The sculpture garden is unique and hosts a spectrum of things from a wishing tree to works by Rodin. The Hirshhorn has thousands of pieces and boasts contemporary exhibits year round.
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Washington Monument
Museums & Galleries
5
0
The monument can be waved at from a distance, admired up close with a walk-around of the cornerstone memorials and flags, or visited properly through the visitor center and a trip up to the viewing deck. The monument is one of the tallest landmarks in the US. The landmark has seen its fair share of contemporary controversy, so tickets are required.
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Newseum
Museums & Galleries
4
0
With 15 galleries and 15 theater spaces, the Newseum covers many important news events internationally and historically. One highlight is the "Today's Front Pages" Gallery, which boasts daily front pages from nearly 100 international newspapers. Another popular feature is Newseum's Berlin Wall gallery, which displays panels of the Berlin Wall.
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United States Botanic Garden
Museums & Galleries
9
2
Established in 1820, this free attraction is well worth a visit and consists largely of a gorgeous enormous greenhouse located on the corner of the National Mall adjacent to the United States Capital and the National Museum of the American Indian.
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National Museum of the American Indian
Museums & Galleries
5
1
The curvilinear architecture of the building as well as surrounding landscaping and other design features were made in collaboration with Native American tribes across the Western Hemisphere. Open since 2004, this is the first museum dedicated entirely to Native Americans. The building opens to large high-ceiling performance space.
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National Air and Space Museum
Museums & Galleries
5
0
The National Air and Space Museum is not just about displays and broad education. It is also a cornerstone for research. Research about the history of and science behind aviation and space, yes. But also, of planetary science, geophysics, and geology. Short of a visit to NASA, this is as close as many of us can get to these amazing innovations.
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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Museums & Galleries
4
0
The memorial museum is one of the most elegant and horrifying efforts at preservation and conservation of this atrocity that has been made. There are other spaces of mourning, like the camps themselves; this made space is a blend of historic memory and emotional truth which seeks to keep that idea, "never again", at the intellectual forefront.
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Vinofest
Museums & Galleries
2
0
Organized by Vinolovers, this festival is a way to be introduced to great wine, music, and food as well as a way for those already cultured to mix, mingle, and celebrate with their favorite libations and moves. This past Vinofest featured DJs Questlove, White Ford Bronco, and Trouble Funk among others.
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C&O Canal
Museums & Galleries
3
0
In the summer, you can frequently spot wild animals such as turtles and heron, and year-round, the canal offers lovely views of the Potomac River. The Canal starts at Georgetown, making a visit (whether for 30 minutes or three hours) convenient and worthwhile.
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Kogod Courtyard
Museums & Galleries
2
0
The courtyard is completely enclosed and thus available to you rain or shine. Like many museum and memorial spaces in DC, the courtyard is also free for all. A good spot for couples, families, tourists, strollers, and anyone in the vicinity. It is also used for lectures and special events, with a lineup of speakers/artists to boot.
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Torpedo Factory Art Center
Museums & Galleries
4
1
It’s a former (you guessed it!) torpedo factory that has been turned into three floors of local artists' studios that you are free to visit. Peruse the paintings, drawings, pottery, and photography, engage with the artists themselves, and don't forget to check out the waterfront area outside.
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National Geographic Museum
Museums & Galleries
3
0
This is an all ages museum. The space is small, but the exhibits change frequently and include all kinds of exploratory and new media practices and contents. Recent exhibits include Monsterfish and Indiana Jones. They also have frequent photography and film exhibits covering a variety of topics--historic, imagined, and contemporary.
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