How to Choose a Museum

I’ve long admired any parents (or educators) determined to expose their children to as many places, as much culture, and as many different museums as they can. I don’t think most of us realize that life is our greatest education until we’re too busy with adult responsibilities to go out and suck the marrow, so to speak, from life’s opportunities. So we do our best to open our children’s world from a younger age. Maybe they will learn earlier than we did how very much there is to learn.

My own museum experience was sadly lacking before my recent DC/NYC excursion. I had been to local ones and certainly understood the concept. I’d been to several exhibits virtually so that I even understood the thrill of seeing concrete evidence of historical events or pop culture that has moved you.

There were many things I wanted to feel and experience in my tour of the many museums on our itinerary. I can’t wait to write about each of them and provide more details. But for now, some highlights. Maybe these thoughts will help you choose a museum for Washington D.C. or New York City educational tours.

Air & Space

Did you know the Smithsonian’s Air & Space Museum is the most visited museum in the world? I’m not sure I understood this before I went. And, still, I admit I preferred some of the other museums. But this all has to do with your interests. If flight and space exploration interest you even the smallest bit, GO TO THIS MUSEUM. It’s size is overwhelming as you’ll find planes and space shuttles inside. It has the history of flight and of space exploration, exhibits on how we study space, and planes and space shuttles you can actually walk through. (There were long lines for each of these exhibits when I was there). There’s also a two-story gift shop in this museum stuffed full of interesting things, including a child-sized space suit I still wish I had bought.

Natural History

I couldn’t wait to compare the Smithsonian’s Natural History museum in D.C. with the Natural History Museum in New York. And now that I have been inside both, I can’t possibly steer you one way or the other. There are fascinating dioramas and giant mammals and reptiles inside both museums. The one in D.C. is also known for its gem stones, including the famous Hope Diamond. The one in NYC has the brilliant Hayden Planetarium, which offers an amazing film on stars (with other films showing at different times for variety).

I did find the Smithsonian’s version a little more crowded than the museum in New York. I didn’t enjoy my D.C. experience quite as much as we were in such a rush, and no museum – let alone that one in an older building with narrow spaces – is set up for people in a rush. The New York City museum on the other hand felt extremely modern with lots of wide space. We were rushed there as well, but hit the best highlights (according to the group sales coordinators who gave us a tour), and I couldn’t wait to return and take more time. The planetarium (featured here in the sphere at the top of this picture) was stellar.

Art

The National Art Gallery, across the National Mall from Air & Space, was not on our itinerary. But we had a couple hours to kill and a few more museums to hit, so we spread out to choose our own pace and see the things we wanted to see. The National Art Gallery building alone drew me in, and I just had to run across and check it out. I had just been whirled through several DC attractions and attempted to tour Air & Space on my own. And I was overwhelmed. There is so much to see in that museum (as in the other places we had been), so many kinds of exhibits – interactive screens, literature, video, exhibits. There’s no way to take it all in, and I found it difficult to even know where to begin. You must allow at least two hours for any museum. That’s something I feel strongly about now.

After the feeling of being rushed and perhaps over-stimulated, walking into the National Art Gallery was a breath of fresh air. Inside its so spacious and majestic, absolutely beautiful. And then I strolled through room after room, almost completely empty except for the beautiful art on the walls. Art that was so much bigger and so much more fascinating than I’d ever realized it to be when I’d only seen it in a book. I was in love with this museum. It has both classic and modern art galleries, and both are well worth your time if it interests you at all.

One of our later experiences on the trip was The Met in NYC, and I can’t recommend this museum enough either. There is absolutely something for everyone inside. Sculpture, classic paintings, armor, even fashion – an exhibit on the history of fashion for the American Woman was definitely my favorite part of the experience despite a boatload of wonderful experiences there.

I also had no idea about the terrace at the Met where you can get gorgeous pictures of the top of Central Park’s trees with Manhattan towering above. There’s also always a temporary exhibit on this rooftop, which is also fascinating.

American Indian

I totally shortchanged this museum in order to make my jaunt to the National Art Gallery. It’s part of the Smithsonian and probably my favorite building in one way: It epitomizes the variety of the Smithsonian facilities and the way each stands out unique and beautiful in its own right. I ducked inside for only a moment and was met with a live show in the amazing interior – a giant atrium, hallways spiraling around it as the walkways to further exhibits. Just stepping inside I was convinced this museum told an amazing story – many amazing stories – and it does it well.

The Newseum

Go. Simply stated, because this post is far to long already, go to the Newseum in Washington D.C. It’s a fascinating, comprehensive look at history through the eyes of journalists who capture it, sometimes at the cost of their own lives.

Crime and Punishment

Despite the telling of the stories of many bad men and women through history, this museum is fun, fun, fun. Kids and adults will enjoy it.

American History

This was probably my favorite, which brings me to my final point. Although I am a firm believer in the joy of being surprised and that we should try things we aren’t sure about and give them a chance because they just might change our life, when choosing among the many, many museums available in the world, start with your interests. It’s the easiest place to begin. For me, the displays of pop culture, the captured Dumbo from Disney’s most iconic ride, the inaugural gowns from several First Ladies, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and so much more – these were my greatest thrill.

So go with your interests in mind. Start there. You definitely won’t be disappointed if you choose any of the museums I’ve mentioned here, and hopefully your initial interest will lead to many other things.