Things to Do in the Washington Region

Albert Einstein Planetarium
National Air and Space Museum
Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-IMAX (4629)
877-932-IMAX (4629)
Special accommodations: 202-357-1400
Web site: www.si.edu/imax/

This planetarium is in the National Air and Space Museum. Accommodations can be made for wheelchair seating, simultaneous audio translation into French, German, Spanish and Japanese; audio description in English; and captioning in English. Planetarium hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily. Closed Christmas. Single admission: $8.50; ages 2-12, $7 single; 60 and older, $7.50; Smithsonian members, $6.50. $5 for an additional show.

Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Pl. SE
Washington, DC 20020
Phone: 202-633-4820
Smithsonian museums information: 202-633-1000
Web site: www.anacostia.si.edu
Email: info@si.edu

This Smithsonian museum is dedicated to African American history and culture. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Christmas. Free.

Art Museum of the Americas
201 18th St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-458-6016
Fax: 202-458-6021
Web site: www.museum.oas.org
Email:

This museum spotlights the art and cultural traditions of the 34 member countries of the Organization of American States, with an emphasis on modern and contemporary art from Latin America and the Caribbean. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. Free.

Bead Museum
400 Seventh St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-624-4500
Web site: target="new">www.beadmuseumdc.org
Email:

This one-room museum is dedicated to beads and other ornaments, with exhibitions and tours. Hours: noon-6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's and Easter. Free, but donations welcome.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th and C Streets SW
Washington, DC 20228
Tour Office: 202-874-2330
866-874-2330
202-874-3019
Web site: www.moneyfactory.gov

The public may tour the printing facility, which produces millions of dollars' worth of paper money every day. Tours lasting 45 minutes are conducted weekdays 9-10:45 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. Free tickets are distributed at the ticket booth on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of four per person beginning at 8 a.m. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. The visitors center is open 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. through August and 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. weekdays during non-peak season. Summer hours, in effect through Aug. 31: 9-10:45 a.m., 12:30-2 p.m., 2-3:45 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Closed on weekends, federal holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-639-1700
Web site: www.corcoran.org

One of Washington's oldest art museums. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursdays; closed Tuesdays. Admission: $12; seniors, military and students with ID, $10; members and children 6 and younger, free.

DAR Museum
1776 D St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-879-3241
Web site: http://www.dar.org/museum
Email: museum@dar.org

The museum has examples of decorative and fine arts in 33 period room, docent tours and genealogy research library. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. Free.

Decatur House Museum
1610 H St. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-842-0920
Fax: 202-842-0030
Web site: www.decaturhouse.org/
Email: decatur_house@nthp.org

This is one of the District's oldest residences. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon-4 p.m. Sundays. $5 suggested donation. The visitors entrance is at 1610 H St. NW.

Department of the Interior Museum
1849 C St. NW
Washington, DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-4743
Web site: www.doi.gov/interiormuseum

This museum features objects and documents dealing with topics such as art and zoology. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and the third Saturday of each month, except for federal holidays. Free. Adults must show a photo ID when entering the Interior building to gain admittance to the museum. Reservations are required only for guided tours or appointments to view the building's New Deal murals in restricted areas, and they must be made two weeks in advance.

Dumbarton Oaks Museum
1703 32nd St. SW
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-339-6401
Fax: 202-339-6419
Web site: www.doaks.org
Email: dumbartonoaks@doaks.org

This 19th-century Georgetown mansion is a major research center and a showcase for Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, and books on garden history. The galleries of the Byzantine and pre-Columbian collections are closed and will not reopen until the renovation of the main building is complete. The garden remains open to the public. Consult the Dumbarton Oaks Web site for updates. Garden hours: 2-6 p.m. daily except Mondays, March 15-October. Admission: $8; children and senior citizens, $5. Open 2-5 p.m. November-March 14, free. Closed during inclement weather, federal holidays and on Christmas Eve. Garden entrance: R and 31st streets NW. Garden season passes: $55 individual, $75 double, $85 family. Museum entrance: 32nd Street NW between R and S streets.

Folger Shakespeare Library
201 E. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-544-4600
Box office: 202-544-7077
Fax: 202-544-4623
Web site: www.www.folger.edu

The library is dedicated to the life and works of William Shakespeare. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, except federal holidays. Exhibition and building tours are available at 11 a.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays. Garden tours begin at 10 and 11 a.m. every third Saturday, April-October. Free. Call 202-675-0395 for group tours.

Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
511 10th St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-426-6924
Fax: 202-426-1845
Web site: www.nps.gov/foth

Closed for major renovations.

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
1411 W St. SE
Washington, DC 20020
Phone: 202-426-5961
Tour reservations: 877-444-6777
Web site: www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm

This site is dedicated to the legacy of 19th-century black leader Frederick Douglass. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, mid-April through mid-October; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily, mid-October through mid-April. Tours begin 9 a.m.; 12:15, 1:45, 3 and 3:30 p.m. Group tours start at 9:30 and 10:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Reservations are recommended for all groups, and are required for groups of 11 or more. Reservations, $1.50 per person or $5 for a school group.

Hillwood Museum and Gardens
4155 Linnean Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-686-8500
Reservations: 202-686-5807
Web site: www.hillwoodmuseum.org

This former home of Marjorie Merriweather Post showcases Imperial art of 19th-century Russia, decorative art of 18th-century France and several gardens. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Admission: $12 for adults, $10 for those 65 and older, $7 for full-time college students and $5 for children 6-18. Mansion visitors must be at least 6 years old.

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-4674
202-633-1000
Fax: 202-786-2682
Web site: www.hirshhord.si.edu

This museum has primarily focused its collection and exhibitions on the post-World War II period, with particular emphasis on art created during the past 30 years. Key artists of the 20th century, including Picasso, Giacometti, de Kooning and Warhol, are represented in the collection. Museum hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily except Christmas. Plaza: 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sculpture garden: 7:30 a.m.-dusk. Free.

Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center
1300 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20577
Phone: 202-623-3774
Fax: 202-623-3192
Web site: www.iadb.org/cultural
Email: idbcc@iadb.org

The center features exhibitions with and emphasis on Latin America and the Caribbean, including ceramics, textiles, masks and stone carvings. Hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. Free.

International Spy Museum
800 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
Phone: 202-393-7798
TTY: 202-654-2840
Toll free: 866-779-6873
Web site: www.spymuseum.org

This is a museum about espionage and its effects on current and historic events, focusing on the role spies have played throughout history. Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, subject to change. The last admission is two hours before closing. The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Admission: $18; age 65 and older, active military, intelligence community, $17; ages 5-11, $15; 4 and younger, free.

Kiplinger Research Library
801 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-383-1850
Historical society: 202-383-1800
Web site: www.historydc.org/Do_Research/
Email: info@historydc.org

The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., operates the library chronicling the city's history through literature, maps, photographs and artifacts. The library is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays. Free.

Kreeger Museum
2401 Foxhall Rd. NW
Washington, DC 20007
Reservations: 202-338-3050
202-337-3050
Fax: 202-337-3051
Web site: www.kreegermuseum.org

The museum has paintings and sculptures from the 19th and 20th centuries. Reservations are required for guided tours, offered at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays. No reservations needed for visits 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $8; $5, students and age 65 and older. Due to special exhibition, until July 31 admission will be $10; $7, students and seniors.

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington, DC 20540
Phone: 202-707-5000
Visitor information: 202-707-8000
Web site: www.loc.gov

This is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 134 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 32 million books and other printed materials, 2.8 million recordings, 12.5 million photographs, 5.3 million maps and 59.5 million manuscripts. Public tours are at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. weekdays in the Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building. Saturday public tours are at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. All Library of Congress buildings are closed to the public on Sundays and federal holidays.

National Aquarium
Department of Commerce
14th Street between Constitution and Pennslyvania avenues NW
Washington, DC 20230
Phone: 202-482-2825
Fax: 202-482-4946
Web site: www.nationalaquarium.com
Email: info@nationalaquarium.com

Animal keeper talks and animal feedings take place daily. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Admittance ends at 4:30 p.m. Admission: $5; seniors and military personnel, $4; ages 2-10, $2.50; children younger than 2, free.

National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20408
Phone: 866-272-6272
TDD: 202-501-5404
Public programs: 202-357-5000
Web site: www.archives.gov

The Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights are among the historic documents displayed here. The visitors entrance is on Constitution Avenue between Seventh and Ninth streets. Reservations are required for groups of 20 or more. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, March 15-Labor Day; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily the rest of the year. Closed Sundays and federal holidays. Free.

National Building Museum
401 F St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-272-2448
Web site: www.nbm.org

The museum showcases architecture and building design. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Admission is free; a donation of $5 per person is suggested.

National Gallery of Art
600 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20565
Phone: 202-737-4215
TDD: 202-842-6176
Web site: www.nga.gov

The gallery's east and west wings house more than 100,000 works of art, dating from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Closed Christmas and New Year's. Free.

National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall
1145 17th St. NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-857-7588
Web site: www.nationalgeographic.com/explorer

Changing exhibitions and permanent displays reflect the world's diversity. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed on Christmas. Free.

National Museum of American Jewish Military History
1811 R St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-265-6280
Web site: www.nmajmh.org
Email: nmajmh@nmajmh.org

This museum documents contributions of Jewish Americans to the U.S. military. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Closed Sundays except for previously arranged tours. Closed Saturdays, Jewish holidays and federal holidays. Free.

National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: 202-783-5000
800-222-7270
Web site: www.nmwa.org

This museum describes itself as "the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contributions of women artists." Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays; noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Admission: adults, $10; age 60 and older and students, $8; 18 and younger, free.

National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-633-4800
TTY: 202-673-7800
Web site: www.nationalzoo.si.edu
Email: nationalzoo@nzp.si.edu

The zoo is home to the giant pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian and their offspring, Tai Shan, plus about 2,000 other animals. Hours: grounds, 6 a.m.-8 p.m., buildings, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., daily March 15-Oct. 31; grounds 6 a.m.-6 p.m., buildings, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., daily Nov. 1-March 31. Closed Christmas. Free.

Octagon Museum
1799 New York Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-638-3221
Fax: 202-626-7420
Web site: www.archfoundation.org/octagon
Email: info@theoctagon.org

One of the oldest and most elegant residences in the District, the octagonal house provided refuge for James and Dolley Madison after the White House was burned during the War of 1812 and is now preserved as a museum of the American Architectural Foundation. Open by appointment only to groups of 10 to 25. Admission: $5, adults; $3, seniors and children. Special arrangements can be made for larger groups.

Phillips Collection
1600 21st St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-387-2151
Fax: 202-387-2436
Web site: www.phillipscollection.org

This private museum was the nation's first museum of modern art and contains masterpieces in a mansion setting. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays, closed Mondays. Weekday admission for the permanent collection is by donation. Admission to special exhibitions and weekend admission to the permanent collection for adults, students and seniors varies by exhibition. Age 17 and younger, free.

Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
3900 Harewood Rd. NE
Washington, DC 20017
Phone: 202-635-5400
Fax: 202-635-5411
Web site: www.jp2cc.org
Email: info@jp2cc.org

The center has interactive exhibits, a collection of Vatican art and a center for scholars. Hours: 10 a.m-5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission by suggested donations of $5 per person, $15 for families, $4 for senior citizens and students.

Sewall-Belmont House
144 Constitution Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-546-1210
Web site: www.sewallbelmont.org
Email:

The museum is also the headquarters for the National Woman's Party. Tours are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays. Last tour begins an hour before close. Suggested donation of $5 per person. Groups of 10 or more must make reservations at least two weeks in advance.

Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
600 I St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-408-3100
Fax: 202-408-5124
Web site: www.sixthandi.org

Originally dedicated as a synagogue in 1908, the building served as the home of Turner Memorial Baptist AME Church from 1951 to 2002. In 2004 it was rededicated as the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue. Tours and exhibit hours the first Sunday of the month.

Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum
Independence Avenue at Fourth Street SW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
Web site: www.nasm.si.edu

The museum maintains the world's largest collection of historic air and space craft. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, except Christmas. Free.

Smithsonian Institution National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-4600
Fax: 202-357-4879
Phone: 202-633-4814
Web site: www.nmafa.si.edu

The cultural diversity of Africa is reflected in this collection, which includes objects and works of art from ancient times to the present. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, except Christmas. Free.

Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
TTY: 202-357-1729
Web site: www.americanhistory.si.edu

The museum is closed for renovations and is expected to reopen this fall.

Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20560
Phone: 202-633-1000
Web site: www.mnh.si.edu

The museum is dedicated to the study of natural and cultural history. Its collections include more than 125 million specimens of plants, animals, fossils, minerals, rocks, meteorites and human artifacts. Hours: 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, except Christmas. Additional hours: open until 7:30 most Fridays and Saturdays until May 17, and daily May 23-Aug. 31. Free.

US Navy Museum
Washington Navy Yard Building 76
805 Kidder Breese SE
Washington, DC 20374
Phone: 202-434-4882
Fax: 202-433-8200
Reservations: 202-433-6897
Web site: www.history.navy.mil/branches/nhcorg8.htm

This museum chronicles the Navy's history, from the American Revolution to today. Reservations and photo ID required. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekends and holidays. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's day. Call 24 hours before visits and before noon on Fridays for weekend visits. Weekdays, enter through the gate at Eleventh and O streets SE. Weekends, enter through the gate at Sixth and M streets SE. Free.

White House Visitor Center
1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-208-1631
Tour information: 202-456-7041
Web site: www.whitehouse.gov/history/tours

The visitor center has a display of photographs and other memorabilia chronicling the transformation of the White House. The center provides tours of the White House to groups of 10 or more. To obtain tickets, contact your member of Congress approximately one month in advance. Tickets are not available at the Visitor Center. Center hours: 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. White House tours: 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, excluding federal holidays.

Woodrow Wilson House
2340 S St. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Phone: 202-387-4062
Fax: 202-483-1466
Web site: www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org

The last home of the 28th president is the District's only presidential museum and a case study of 1920s style. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, except federal holidays. Admission: $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $3 for students, free for children younger than 7. Call for group rates.

Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 888-639-7386
Web site: www.newseum.org

A 250,000-square-foot museum of news tracing the history of journalism, with interactive exhibits in 14 galleries, 15 theaters and two broadcast studios. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Timed-entry tickets required. Admission: $20; $18 for seniors (65 and older); $13 for youths (ages 7-12); free for age 6 and younger.

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