When you think of visiting museums in DC, you may automatically think of the museums lining the National Mall. With spring well on its way, tourist season is upon us and the thought of fighting your way through the crowds is enough to make anyone want to stay home. Well believe it or not, D.C. has plenty of fun and interesting museums to offer that aren't located on the Mall, which makes them less likely to fall prey to the normal tourist's itinerary. We list a few of the best museums DC has to offer - there's bound to be at least one that will pique your curiosity.
•· National Building Museum (401 F St., NW) - Located in a block-long red brick building that has been home to a number of inaugural balls, the National Building Museum is a sight in and of itself. Its expansive Great Hall is almost as big as a football field and contains 75-foot-hight Corinthian columns which appear to be marble but are actually made of brick. The building was constructed using 15.5 million bricks and contains exhibits celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. There is also a kid-friendly exhibit on the construction of D.C., including touchable models of the Capitol, the White House, and other local landmarks. The museum also houses an ever changing group of exhibitions, as well as playing host to an extensive educational series including lectures by world-renowned architects. The museum's website has information about visiting the museum, as well as a list of exhibits and lectures.
•· Kreeger Museum (2401 Foxhall Rd., NW) - Built originally to be both a private residence, an art gallery, and a concert hall, the Kreeger Museum is home to an extensive and very impressive art collection. Displaying works by artists including Monet, Picasso, and Cezanne. However the art displayed on the walls isn't the only incentive to explore the Kreeger - the mansion itself is reason enough to visit. Designed by architect Philip Johnson, the building is organized around a modular system with expansive ceilings, teak and coated aluminum accent walls made from travertine and glass rear walls allowing in plenty of natural light. From March 15 through July 31, the museum will have a special exhibit on Philip Johnson which will explore the relationship between architecture and art. For additional information, including hours and exhibits, visit the museum's website.
•· National Museum of Health and Medicine (6900 Georgia Ave., NW) - Not for young children or the overly-squeamish, the National Museum of Health and Medicine is devoted to exploring the human body. Located on the campus of Walter Reed and supported by the Army, the museum traces the history of medicine and examines how the human body works and what can go wrong when it doesn't. Exhibits include a comprehensive display on AIDS, a real specimen of a smoker's blackened lung, and the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln. Hands on displays allow you to try on a weighted smock so you can feel what it's like to be 9 months pregnant as well as a preserved human brain you can touch. The museum's website contains information about hours, exhibits, and a number of educational opportunities.
•· Textile Museum (2320 S St., NW) - Scheduled to open an expansion site in Penn Quarter in Fall 2009, the Textile Museum is dedicated to celebrating textiles of all kinds - from carpets to fabrics and everything in between. With so many works of art and so little space to display them all, the museum's exhibits are constantly changing. The museum has showcased some of the world's most impressive textile collections and even has special days when you can bring in your family heirlooms for inspection by museum curators. On June 7 and 8, the museum will hold its 30th Annual Celebration of Textiles, including artist demonstrations and hand on activities. For more information about the museum, visit their website.
•· Phillips Collection (1600 21st St., NW) - Opened in 1921, the Philips Collection was America's first museum of modern art. Internationally renowned for its collection of impressionist works, the Phillips Collection expanded in April 2006 to allow for more exhibit space to display its extensive collection. The artists represented at the Phillips goes on and on - from to Monet and Renoir to O'Keeffe and Klee. Now through May 25, the exhibit Degas to Diebenkorn shows off the Phillips' newest acquisitions. On Thursday evenings, the museum stays open until 8:30 and offers lectures, gallery talks, and other special programs. On Saturday mornings, introductory talks are offered at 11 a.m. to educate visitors about the permanent collection. Similar talks are offered on Friday mornings at 11 a.m. on the museum's special exhibits. From October through May, the museum also hosts Sunday evening concerts. Information about current and upcoming exhibits, special program, as well as a number of interactive programs are available on the website.
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