So we left our trip to Washington D.C. at the National Gallery of Art.
If we want to continue our walk through the Mall till the Lincoln Memorial we will encounter the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art was founded by Warren M. Robbins, it presents a rich diversity of artistic traditions from throughout the continent. Right in front of it there is the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, where some scenes of the movie “Night at the Museum” were filmed! With a collection of 145 million specimens and artifacts, the museum is interactive not only for children but for everyone!
You will also find the Smithsonian Castle, the signature building and home to the Smithsonian Visitor Center where you can see the collections highlights from each of the museums! Right behind it, there is the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, displaying one of the world’s most important collections of Asian art, with more than forty thousand objects from China, Japan, Korea, South, and Southeast Asia.
Smithsonian Castle
Continuing walking on the right you will find the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, an archival collection that includes a remarkable array of American history in documents, photographs, and other works, including major holdings on the histories of American business and music. Then, you’ll find the National Museum of African American History and Culture, that promotes and highlights the contributions of African Americans.
Now you are finally arrived at the Washington Monument, in honor of the first president George Washington. The structure was completed in two phases of constructions and you can observe that from the different colors of the bricks. Go up with the elevator, you can have free tickets, and enjoy the 360° view of this breathtaking city. On the other side of the Monument, you can see the gigantic World War II Memorial and relax in the fresh air at the Tidal Basin, a reservoir between the Potomac River (yes, Washington D.C. has a river!) and the Mall. There, when it’s Spring you will be amazed by the cherry blossoms. Get ready to take pictures if you are here during this season!
Now, if your day is almost at the end, and I can surely imagine it is, why don’t you go back to the White House and have a great dinner at The Old Ebbitt Grill? This restaurant is Washington’s oldest saloon, founded in 1856 and has still the atmosphere of Victorian time. With wooden decors and paintings collected during the years on the walls, and their great food you will perfectly end a tiring day.
Don’t get scared by the amount of information you are reading in these articles. Here I’m trying to give you a list and some advice on what and how to visit Washington D.C. You aren’t obviously obliged to see each museum, take a look from here of what can interest you and just skip the ones you don’t care. I hope you’ll find helpful this little explanation on how the Mall works and what you can find in there, because I swear I’m still struggling to understand the amount of places where I can go here in Washington D.C.!
Old Ebbitt Grill
