The American Museum of Natural History houses collections ranging from dinosaur fossils to precious gems. The largest exhibit halls include the Ocean Hall, the Hall of Fossils, and the Hall of Mammals (mainly taxidermy, which may be upsetting to some guests). For those especially interested in scientific research, museum staff and volunteers are often working in view of the public in the FossiLab.

The Hall of Gems (or what I call the sparkly object galleries) displays an overwhelming number of both uncut and cut gems and minerals, including the famous Hope Diamond.

Other areas of interest for older children include the Insect Zoo, Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt, and African Voices.

DINING- The Atrium Cafe (with the most seating) and the Ocean Terrace Cafe have a wide range of options for families and groups.

I have visited the Museum of African American History and Culture twice. Both were profoundly impactful. For a chronological history, begin on the bottom floor and move upward through the history galleries, from slavery to the civil rights movement and beyond. At the end, you have the option to stop in Contemplation Court, where you can reflect on the horrors and tragedies, as well as the triumphs, of the African American experience.

The upper galleries, including the Cultural Expressions exhibits, highlight African Americans’ contributions to innovation, popular culture, sports, and art.

The museum provides an excellent resource for parents and educators to talk about race with children before and after their visit to the museum.

Dining- The Sweet Home Cafe is one of the most popular museum dining spots, so prepare for a long queue.

The National Museum of American History holds a lot of the iconic items that one associates with Smithsonian museums. The Museum takes you through innovation in American History, from transportation to how we cook.

One of the most well-traveled sections is “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden,” where you can see President Lincoln’s hat and learn about the inner workings of life in the White House through different administrations. The First Ladies exhibits display inauguration dresses and other items that tell the story of the wive’s contributions to the Presidency.

Entertainment Nation is a newly designed exhibition highlighting all things pop culture. It’s home to Dorothy’s Slippers and other artifacts of movies, television, stage and music.

The museum holds the history from every aspect of American culture, so older children will want to guide their visit based on their interests. Budding chefs will enjoy Food: Transforming the American Table. American on the Move covers transportation throughout history with opportunities to climb on and inside historic modes of transportation.

The new Presente! Exhibition in the Molina Family Latino Gallery of the American Museum of History galleries are a small introduction to what will be housed there. Just about every medium is used in the exhibition; photographs, audio recordings, clothing, sculptures, and paintings.

DINING- “Eat at America’s Table” cafeteria specializes in classic American food, although we prefer the smaller Jazz Café on the First Floor, with coffee and smaller entrees (they had us at build your own macaroni and cheese).

The National Gallery of Art is divided into two wings; the West Building houses the classic collection and the East Building offers the modern and contemporary collection. The winding rooms of the galleries in the West Building require a map (or using the App) if you want to find a specific piece or collection.

The highlight of any trip is the moving walkway between the museum wings, a work of art in itself.

The National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden continues to the East along the Constitution Avenue side of the Mall. Older children interested in art may enjoy the break outdoors and the variety of modern sculptures on exhibit. During the winter the adjacent fountain area is transformed into an ice skating rink.

The Cafe, with both indoor and outdoor seating, has a menu that includes salads, sandwiches and drinks.

The US Botanic Garden is a multi-room conservatory that takes you through spaces with plants displayed by various themes, including a desert, orchid display, and medicinal plant collection. The large Rainforest Conservatory includes a canopy walk. In the central Garden Court we usually find bananas, chocolate, papayas and other edible plants.

Two galleries hold rotating exhibitions, including the annual Winter Holiday train display, once our family Thanksgiving tradition. Artists use natural items to make miniature displays around the train track using one central theme (in past years they have included “National Parks,” “Pollinators,”  and “US Roadside Attractions.”)

The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum has undergone major renovations since 2020. During my winter 2022 visit, timed entry tickets were required and sold out quickly. Current instructions for entry can be found here: VISIT SNASM

A visit to the National Air & Space Museum will be guided by their interest in the different topics of the exhibits. The history of flight is covered from the Wright Brothers to space travel. Our Solar System is covered in the Exploring he Planets exhibits. IMAX and Planetarium shows are available for purchase.

The Museum of the American Indian is overwhelmingly comprehensive (in a good way). Plan for multiple days to really delve into the many cultures that may be foreign to you, despite the fact the people to whom they belong were the first to live on the land where we now do. The imagiNATIONS Activity Center is a space with books, research areas, and space for small children to play in child-size traditional dwellings. The exhibit Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World uses eight tribes to explore all aspects of their culture, from spirituality to how natural resources are used. Americans is an exhibit space that reflects on how American Indians are represented in American culture, and explores the facts behind many legends that we now consider part of American History (including the life of Pocahontas).

All off the National Monuments and Memorials are free to visit, and most are easy to see in less than a full day. The circulator bus is $1/person/ride and provides easy access to all of the monuments around the Tidal Basin and Reflecting Pool.

For more information about the Monuments, visit my Washington DC- Memorials & Places For Remembrance and Reflection Post.