Wednesday, 23 November, 2022
In Washington, D.C., you’ll find many exceptional museums that cater to a wide range of interests. Many are affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution and are well known to locals and visitors alike. These museums are well worth a visit, but they can get pretty busy. Let Koons Woodbridge Hyundai be your guide if you’re interested in exploring some lesser-known but equally interesting museums in D.C. Here are some must-see museums in Washington, D.C., that you might not have heard of but will want to check out.
National Postal Museum
Fun for kids and adults alike, the National Postal Museum takes you on a journey through the history of the United States postal system. You’ll discover how the postal system has changed and evolved over time. You can check out old mail cars; learn about Owney, the postal mascot; and find out how mail is sorted and delivered. Kids love the hands-on exhibits that let them sort packages, walk on a mail train, and look through old stamps.
Exhibits of stamps that have never been on display before and stamps from around the world open up a whole new world to visitors. From the outside, the museum doesn’t look large. However, allow yourself plenty of time to explore, as there’s more here than meets the eye. The National Postal Museum is always free.
DC Alley Museum
An open-air venue, the DC Alley Museum is the perfect place to get some great photos of murals created by local community artists. What started in 2015 as a handful of murals has grown to include many works by a variety of talented artists. Community members have generously donated their garage doors to some of the best artists in the city. Their goal is to expose locals and tourists alike to their works. Because there’s no building or single place to go, this museum is open 24 hours a day and free to check out.
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is just five miles from downtown Washington, D.C. Guests can explore the 25 acres of gardens, including 13 acres of formal gardens in bloom, for free. Although the original resident, Marjorie Post, designed the garden to bloom in the spring and fall, it now has plants that delight visitors throughout the year. Stroll through the greenhouse to see vibrant orchids, and walk around the Japanese garden to feel a sense of peace and serenity. No matter when you visit, there’s sure to be something in bloom.
If you want to tour the estate, there is a fee, but it’s well worth it. The home features artwork and furniture from around the world. The elegant French drawing room is fit for a queen, and you’ll see tapestries, beautifully designed tables and chairs, and paintings that will delight you. There are numerous rooms in the large mansion, which a tour guide will take you through, showing you all the splendid artifacts collected by the estate’s owner.
Dumbarton Oaks
Founders Mildred and Robert Woods Bliss curated the collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art that you can see when you visit Dumbarton Oaks . It would be best if you allowed yourself plenty of time to visit this free museum. It houses over 1,200 Byzantine works and collections from 30 ancient American cultures. This expansive collection is sure to impress, as it’s a culmination of pieces accumulated over decades. The couple began collecting them in the early 1900s and continued to do so throughout their lives. From jewelry and tapestries to sculptures and painted ceramics, you won’t want to miss a thing in this museum.
Outside, you can explore the extensive gardens. Walk through the woodlands, where you’ll find winding paths and open meadows. Check out what’s happening in the Kitchen Garden, with its vegetables from around the world. There’s so much to explore at Dumbarton Oaks that you would need to spend a few days here to see everything.
The Kreeger Museum
The Kreeger Museum is a hidden gem in the city with a mission to share art, architecture, and music. Here, you’ll find the amassed collection of David and Carmen Kreeger. The couple spent 15 years collecting art together, so you can be sure their museum is impressive. Make sure you check out the sculpture garden, with its large-scale works by John L. Dreyfuss surrounding the reflecting pool. You can also view works by famous artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Picasso.
Not only is the museum full of exquisite pieces, but the home itself is an architectural masterpiece. It sits on over five acres of wooded land, overlooking the nation’s capital.
National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
You’ll find the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum within the U.S. National Arboretum. This museum contains miniature horticultural masterpieces. It started with a gift of 53 bonsai trees from Japan to honor the United States Bicentennial. Since then, the display has grown to over 300 pieces, including the Chinese art of penjing. Both bonsai and penjing are forms of art that use woody plants in containers to portray the natural growth of trees. These wild art forms change with the seasons and require constant care. So, you’ll want to visit often to see them as they change.
After your museum visit, you can check out the rest of the arboretum. You’ll find sections full of beautiful ferns, luscious herbs, and elegant flowers.
These are just a few of the museums awaiting you when you visit Washington, D.C. While the better-known museums are exceptional, exploring some of the little-known hidden gems will create memories to last a lifetime.
If you need the perfect ride to get you to these museums, stop by Koons Woodbridge Hyundai . We have the vehicle you want at a price you can afford. Our staff isn’t just knowledgeable about the D.C. area, they’re also ready and waiting to answer all your questions about our Hyundai inventory and many automotive services.
The Capitol from the Old Post Office tower by Vlad Tchompalov is licensed with Unsplash License
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