Washington, D.C. plays home to one of the largest and most varied collections of museums anywhere in the world, covering a depth of topics and themes almost unmatched even among other global capitals. D.C.’s extensive array includes the renowned “Big Five,” which features the Smithsonian Institution Building, National Air and Space Museum, and National Museum of Natural History, in addition to the popular Newseum and solemn United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. While all fantastic institutions and rightly among the most-visited, this is but a scratch on the surface of the city’s repertoire, so take a break from the big crowds and plan your itinerary to head for Washington, D.C.’s five most underrated, can’t-miss museums.
1. National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian commemorates the struggles and celebrates the cultural splendor of both North and South America’s native populations. Though history is naturally a huge part of this Smithsonian museum’s holdings, one of its special focuses is displaying native civilizations as living, breathing, and developing societies. Marvel at the massive array of artifacts, photographs, and dioramas cataloguing the archaeological and social history of the Americas’ indigenous peoples from prehistory to the present day. With exhibits organized by region, you can wander all the way from Alaska to the Amazon in a single trip to Washington D.C.
2. National Museum of American History
The idea of the “American experience” represents a common theme in plenty of the capital’s attractions, and the National Museum of American History serves as perhaps the most comprehensive display anywhere. Home to thousands upon thousands of archives, photographs, artifacts, and other media, it tracks America’s development from the days of the Revolution through September 11, 2001 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There’s something here for everyone: the mixture of military, cultural, and political topics can appeal equally to both history and pop-culture buffs. Be sure to get a glimpse of the “Star Spangled Banner” itself, the 1812 flag that inspired the national anthem.
3. Smithsonian American Art Museum
Head to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, another one of the institution’s fine repositories of culture and creativity, to see some uniquely American takes on the biggest artistic movements of the last two centuries. More than 7,000 artists have their masterpieces on show here, including a whole host of African American, Hispanic, and other minority artists. Colonial-era pieces sit side-by-side with angsty art from the 20th century. To make sense of it all, try joining a guided docent Washington tour that gives an interesting overview of the museum as a whole.
4. The U.S. National Archives
Don’t leave Washington, D.C. without a stop at the U.S. National Archives and a bit of appreciation for some of history’s most influential documents. Head for the main chamber and gaze at the actual Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights, displayed right in front of you behind protective glass. Countries other than America also get in on the fun: the United Kingdom and France are represented by the Magna Carta of 1297 and Napoleonic-era Louisiana Purchase Treaty, respectively. History-defining charters and declarations aside, you’ll also get to enjoy the spacious rotunda in which they’re all housed.
5. International Spy Museum
No trip to the nation’s capital is complete without some undercover intrigue, and the International Spy Museum can give you a taste of what it’s like to operate as a real-life James Bond. Don’t let anyone blow your cover, though, as you’ll quickly find out that the world of espionage is high-pressure and high-stakes. You can get an up-close look at an array of the gadgets and techniques used by spies throughout history and their evolution in today’s high-tech industry. As it turns out, there’s probably a whole lot more to the practice of stealing secrets than you thought.
More than just the “Big 5″
Washington, D.C. stands among America’s major centers of tourism, and its world-class museums are a huge part of its appeal to locals and visitors alike. However, the city’s selection of museums extends far beyond the biggest and most popular, and its offerings after the “Big 5″ include a sizeable selection of repositories for culture, history, and the human experience.
Originally from Seattle, Washington and currently based in the Republic of Georgia, Alex Whan is an avid world traveler and freelance writer who’s traveled extensively from Europe to India.
