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A Baker's Dozen of Freebies Around DC - Great for Rainy Days Too!
Here are some of the more popular free activities for DC tourists that happen to be inside and are great for a rainy day.
1. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center has six theaters where you can see various plays, ballets, musical performances and much more. The Kennedy Center is also home to the Washington Opera and the National Symphony Opera. Even though you will have to pay to see a performance, you can take a guided tour of the Kennedy Center at no charge. On a tour you will visit the performance halls, and have the opportunity to see the artwork and sculptures that have been donated to the Center over the years.
2. The Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian is free just like everything other attraction listed here and it is the best deal of them all. I say this because the Smithsonian is enormous with 16 museums and art galleries. It could easily take you a day to tour each museum, and they're all free! You can see everything from the Fonz' leather jacket used on Happy Days to the beautiful Hope Diamond. You can even see real spaceships!
3. The U.S. Capitol
Want to see how our government works? Take a free guided tours of The I.S. Capitol building. You can real senators and representatives as they work with policy and laws. As for the actual building, you can see the marvelous rotunda of the Capitol building and even see the original Supreme Court chamber.
4. Observe the Supreme Court in session
All of the sessions at the majestic Supreme Court building are open to the public and are absolutely free. And if there isn't something going on the day of your visit, you can still enjoy a lecture in the courtroom. There are also exhibits and a film to explain the workings of justice at the country's highest court.
5. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
This museum is free but it is recommended that you call ahead to reserve tickets for your desired day or you could end up being turned away. This popular museum portrays life with the rise and fall of the Nazis, as well as the horrible treatment Jews, among others, had to go through during the Holocaust. When you enter you will be given a booklet describing the life of a Holocaust survivor or victim. As you move through the museum, you are told when to turn the page of your booklet and find out more about what your person went through during the reign of the Nazis. At the end of the tour you find our what ended up happening to your person. This museum can be very moving, emotionally, but it is one you should not miss.
6. Tour the Pentagon
The pentagon houses the U.S. Department of Defense and you are welcome to a free visit where you can see our country's high-ranking military personnel as they stroll the corridors. However, you will be left to wonder what goes on behind the closed doors because only official personnel are allowed to see top secret goings on.
7. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Money, money, money! There's lots and lots of money at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing but you wont need to pay any of your own to enjoy it. Visitors can give themselves a free tour past the moneymaking machines that grind out U.S. currency. Unfortunately, this tour doesn't give you anything too take with you.
8. National Geographic Society
At the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall visitors enjoy a wide variety of temporary exhibitions as well as permanent and interactive displays that reflect the richness and diversity of our world. In the main gallery space in the 17th Street building (corner of 17th & M Streets NW), visitors will find exhibitions on culture, natural history, scientific finds and exciting new National Geographic Society projects. 3-D models of the Grand Canyon and Mount Everest are part of the permanent collection on display. The outside portico of the building showcases National Geographic's famous photography and houses state-of-the-art relief maps and artifacts highlighting more than a century of worldwide coverage. Across the courtyard, additional exhibits in the M Street building (1600 M Street NW) are also on display. The National Geographic Store offers books, videos, educational gifts, maps, magazines, memberships and more.
Admission is free. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed December 25. For further information, the public may call (202) 857-7588 or visit the Museum's Web site at http://www.ngmuseum.org. The National Geographic Museum is located at 1145 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C. National Geographic is a short walk from Metro's Farragut North and Farragut West stations.
9. Ford's Theater
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in he Ford's Theater in 1865 by John Wilkes Booth as he enjoyed a play from his box seat. National park Service now operates a museum in the theater where you can see artifacts and photos at no charge. The park rangers can even tell you about the night the former president was shot, in detail. The Peterson House, right across the street, is where Lincoln was carried and later died after being shot. Again, you can look in the theater at the exhibits and talk to a ranger for free. If you want to actually see a play, you'll have to play for that.
10. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Visitor Center
There are over 14,000 law enforcement officials that have been killed in the line of duty are they are all honored at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Visitor Center. The names of every officer are inscribed on marble walls, and you can see some of their stories with the interactive video displays nearby. Be sure to ask for your free children's activity packets, maps and brochures.
11. Tour the FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is another great building to tour, and it's free. You can see pictures of the ten most wanted criminals, the crime labs that are actually used, and even a live firearms demonstration by agents. Unfortunately, in these times of threats to our national security, the FBI tour is temporarily closed. But call when you are headed to DC to see if it is opening any time soon.
12. National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art exhibits both European and American works of art. You can see various are paintings, sculptures and other works of art. And the museum regularly hosts exhibits from around the world.
13. Hear the Voice of America
The worldwide television and radio service opens its facilities in DC to visitors. You can see a film and exhibits on the broadcaster's history, as well as tour the newsroom and facilities.
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