Jonathan Meyer, Author at What To See In Washington DC

The Top 3 Smithsonian Museums to Visit This Labor Day Weekend

MuseumsAugust 31, 2024159Views 0Likes 0Comments

Pick one of these museums and pack the kids in the car for a fun Labor Day weekend trip. All three museums offer a unique, fun experience for the whole family. Option #1: National Air and Space Museum Explore the world of air travel, from flying cars to space capsules. They just finished renovating the…

Mount Vernon’s Head Gardener is Retiring

MuseumsAugust 24, 2024140Views 0Likes 0Comments

He's gardened at Mount Vernon longer than George Washington ever did. Washington lived here for 45 years. Dean Norton, the current head gardener, has worked at the estate for 55 years. And now, Mount Vernon's longest-serving garden is retiring. This renowned gardener and garden historian has helped care for the estate since 1969. His career…

Imago Dei: Gordon Parks at NGA

ExhibitJuly 27, 2024186Views 0Likes 0Comments

This newly opened exhibition at the National Gallery of Art reveals the image of God reflected in the faces of men. Gordon Parks combined documentary photography and studio portrait styles to create a unique blend of authenticity and story. He showed all his subjects the same, whether they were a legendary boxer or simple suburban…

How to Visit the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Pavilion for Free

ExhibitJune 22, 2024253Views 0Likes 0Comments

Millions of dead insects and animals fill the Natural History Museum. But on the second floor, you can enter the Butterfly Pavilion, filled with lively, colorful butterflies that land on everything inside, including you. Because this is an added experience, it costs. For families, tickets that cost $8 for adults and $7 for children ages…

Laying Flowers at Arlington National Cemetery: A Unique Memorial Day Opportunity

EventsMay 24, 2024200Views 0Likes 0Comments

You, too, can lay flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier this Memorial Day. Arlington National Cemetery is a special place to visit on Memorial Day. Over 400,000 people from every American war are laid to rest here. Our nation's most prominent cemetery honors the war dead in many ways, from funerals to public…

DC’s Competing WWI Memorials

MemorialsMay 18, 2024405Views 0Likes 0Comments

A sixty-foot-long bronze sculpture with 38 figures is going up here in downtown Washington, DC. Sculptor Sabin Howard focuses on the journey of a WWI survivor in his developing, monumental sculpture. Set in Pershing Park, next to the White House, it will reimagine our WWI memorial. People gravitate to sculpted human figures, not stark, theoretical…

Enjoy Mount Vernon’s Revolutionary War Weekend

EventsMay 4, 2024228Views 0Likes 0Comments

War breaks out at Mount Vernon this weekend- and you're invited to participate. Saturday and Sunday are Mount Vernon's annual Revolutionary War weekend. During this event, you can step back in time and experience life during this tumultuous time in American history. For two days, the Mount Vernon estate will be full of: Marching men…

George Washington’s Cherries: An Incredible Find at Mount Vernon

MuseumsApril 27, 2024276Views 0Likes 0Comments

George Washington has been gone for 225 years. But, like with many historical figures and sites, things are still waiting to be discovered. Last year, we were in the basement of the Mount Vernon mansion for a tour. Little did we know there was a surprise waiting just beneath the bricks we walked on. This…

Wilbur Wright and… Washington DC?

MuseumsApril 13, 2024298Views 0Likes 0Comments

When you think of Wilbur Wright, you probably think of Dayton, OH, or Kitty Hawk, NC. But here are three surprising connections between Wilbur, the Smithsonian, and Washington DC. 1) Wilbur wrote a letter to the Smithsonian on May 30th, 1899. The Smithsonian was still a young institution, barely over fifty years old. Yet it…

Remembering WWI with a New Memorial

Exhibit, MemorialsApril 6, 2024486Views 0Likes 0Comments

One hundred and seven years ago, we entered WWI when Congress declared war on Germany. The terrible effects of this war resulted in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. It also gave us the DC War Memorial built by local Washington DC residents to honor local casualties. Now, a new monument…