The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. is the world’s largest museum, education, and research complex with 19 museums, galleries, gardens, and the National Zoo. But the best part of the Smithsonian is that all of these places are free! Yes, you heard that right—free! When taking a trip to the capital of the United States there are the free places you should visit.
National Air and Space Museum
Located on the National Mall with 23 galleries of exhibits based on rockets, aircraft, spacecrafts, and missiles, this museum is a science and flight lovers’ dream. The museum also has a planetarium, an IMAX theater with a five-story screen, the Hubble Telescope test vehicle, and the Wright Flyer.
National Zoo
Open 364 days of the year, the National Zoo sits on 163 acres in Washington, D.C.’s Rock Creek Park. The Zoo is home to more than 2,700 animals representing over 390 species with some of the highlights being the giant pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, Aldabra tortoises, Panamanian golden frogs, sea lions, and orangutans.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
The country’s first collection of American Art, the museum offers a view of the American experience over three centuries. Not only is the building one of the oldest in Washington D.C., but the collection inside is also one of the largest and includes works from famous artists like Winslow Homer, John Singleton Copley, and Georgia O’Keefe.
National Museum of American History
The museum exhibits American life from Colonial times to the present and focuses on culture, politics, technology, and science. With more than three million historical objects including the Star-Spangled-Banner, Washington’s uniform, Jefferson’s lap desk, and Dorothy’s ruby slippers, the museum has it all.
