One of the most beloved artifacts in the Smithsonian is Dorothy's ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz (1939). Thousands of visitors approach the glass case each year to stare in awe at the bejeweled pumps as they sparkle under the lights.
But did you know the shoes aren't a matching pair? Or that other…
Last October, I watched eager visitors enter the newly reopened Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum again. Director Christopher Browne personally opened the doors and welcomed the first visitors back into the coolest museum on the National Mall.
If you haven't been yet, here are the best five exhibits for families to experience:
1. The…
It's back-to-school season, so you know what that means. It's time to plan your homeschool field trips!
Any kid will tell you field trips are the highlight of the school year. They're a chance to escape the rigors of the schoolroom and go to a cool museum where they can see exhibits and artifacts on…
V-Mail launched 81 years ago this week.
When William H. VanZee wrote these two letters to his wife, Laura, the Victory Mail system was a well-oiled machine. It allowed millions of families around the world to stay in touch in spite of their separation.
William's letters to his wife, Laura
What is V-Mail?
V-Mail was a…
Last week, the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery opened a new exhibition- “1898: US Imperial Visions and Revisions”.
Entry into Guanica Bay by the Smithsonian
This exhibition explores the United States move from Republic to Empire through many people throughout the pivotal year of 1998.
From Feb 15th, 1898, with the explosion of the USS Maine in…
The National Gallery of Art was America's most popular art museum last year. It beat its main competitor, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, for the first time since 2008.
The National Gallery surpassed the Met with 3.3 million visits compared to 3.2 million visits at the Met's main building.
Photo by Alvesgaspar
These statistics…
Poor Richard is a collection of 73 caricatures of President Nixon. Artist Philip Guston imagines and portrays his character through:
Posture
Speech
Features
Locations
Clothing
Guston's caricatures are distict
It's an excellent opportunity to study the art style in depth. As you walk through this exhibition, focus on these key caricature staples.
Bold lines
Simplify and…
"Philip Guston Now" at the National Gallery of Art explores the works of this modern artist.
It's not an exhibition I recommend for families. But I would recommend it for fathers.
Philip lost his father to suicide when he was 10. Guston's artworks reference this tragedy repeatedly for over 40 years. His father's absence is…
The Spy Museum documents and inspires crazy acts of espionage history. But in a city full of free museums, it seems expensive.
It might not be the best place for a general family visit. However, for special occasions and select family members, it's a fun experience.
Three of our favorite highlights include:
1. U-2 Airplane…
Washington DC has a bevy of museums full of wonderful exhibits to visit. But sometimes it can be hard to escape the busier “tourist” sections.
That's why we've rounded up these five hidden gem exhibits for you to see next time you're in DC. Some are more challenging to find than others, but they're all…