The National Mall in Washington DC has some of the best attractions in our national capital. The National Mall is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) of the United States Department of the Interior. You cannot clearly mark the extent of this place but I think that it extends from the Lincoln Memorial to the United States Capitol grounds, with the Washington Monument in between. The Mall features many museums of the Smithsonian Institution plus several art galleries, memorials, monuments, and cultural institutions. I am an ardent student of history and culture so as you can easily guess, the museums are my main attraction at the Mall. I have visited the dozen or so museums and art galleries in the National Mall many times but I always go back. From my many experiences in the Mall, I can now list the best museums that you should visit in Washington DC.
National Museum Of Natural History
As the name implies, the National Museum of Natural History is a museum of natural history on the National Mall. The museum is open daily except for Christmas and admission is free. It’s one of the biggest and most visited museums in the world. You will find over 126 million specimens in this museum including animals, fossils, plants, human remains, cultural artifacts, minerals, rocks, and meteorites.
National Air And Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum was opened in 1976 in Washington DC. It’s one of the most visited museums in the world. This amazing facility features many artifacts covering various periods in the evolution of aviation and spaceflight. There are also very many exhibitions and collections from space and about planetary science. You will find the first plane by the Wright brothers on display here. And the first space capsule in exhibition. The National Air and Space Museum is open daily and admission is free.
National Museum Of African Art
The National Museum of African Art was founded in 1964. The museum houses a vast collection of African art. There are over 9,000 works of traditional and contemporary artworks from Africa. The museum’s collection also includes over 300,000 photographs and 50,000+ library volumes. Most of these collections are from Sub-Saharan Africa and Arab North Africa. This museum has the largest collection of African art in the United States.
National Museum Of American History
The National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center is one of the finest museums in the capital. It features a comprehensive display of artifacts all about the heritage of the United States of America. These artifacts cover the political, socio-cultural, scientific, and military history of the United States. You will find the original Star-Spangled Banner on display in this museum. It’s an educational hub where you can learn everything you need to know about our beloved country.
National Museum Of The American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian is all about Native cultures of the Western world. The museum was established to advance knowledge and understanding of Native people. It supports their culture and traditional values and promotes their transition in modern Native life. You will learn a lot about Native Americans in this museum.