7 ms·

If anybody ever visits Washington D.C., it's very easy to get overwhelmed with the world class Smithsonian and National Gallery museums (amongst the dozens of o

by bane 5y ago

If anybody ever visits Washington D.C., it's very easy to get overwhelmed with the world class Smithsonian and National Gallery museums (amongst the dozens of others). But I highly recommend taking the time to go to Baltimore and visiting this museum as well as the nearby Walters Art Museum, both also very very good museums. Other great places for awesome museums within a day-drive of D.C.: Richmond, VA - Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Dulles, VA - Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum Various National Battlefields sprinkled all over the area A bit further out, but possible in a day and easily world class, the Philadelphia Museum of Art

mesofile 5y ago
For any art aficionados visiting Baltimore, I'd also recommend the American Visionary Art Museum, a fantastic experience. https://www.avam.org/ https://www.avam.org/
- moron4hire 5y ago
  Came here to say the same thing. It's a brilliantly wonderful place. Also in DC, don't forget the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. It's one of my favorite modern art museums in the world, and I live 20 minutes from it. I don't go anywhere near often enough.
  - whimsicalism 5y ago
    > Hirshhorn Museum One of the best in DC, although it is currently closed.
  - alaxsxaq 5y ago
    When I'm in DC for a conference at the convention center, part of my breakfast routine is a walk to the Sculpture Garden at the Hirshhorn with a take-out breakfast. I always make a point to listen to the Sunset Song exhibit through at least once.
atombender 5y ago
And while one is in that general area, don't miss a visit to Glenstone [1], a superb combination of art, architecture, and modern museum in the Potomac area, just west of D.C. While the art collection is fantastic (hosted in an older set of gallery buildings by Charles Gwathmey, and a newer building by Thomas Phifer and Partners), the huge park it's located in makes it a particularly unique experience, featuring permanent outdoor pieces by the likes of Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Serra, and Michael Heizer. I've been to many of the art and science museums in D.C. and Baltimore, but Glenstone is my favourite. [1] https://www.glenstone.org/ https://www.glenstone.org/
- imjared 5y ago
  After 10+ years in the area, I just discovered a few weeks ago that this place exists while looking at a map to plan a bike ride. I couldn't believe that some of what's there is from the same world class artists that I saw at the Guggenheim in Spain (Jeff Koons, Richard Serra). I thought for sure Google Maps was playing a trick on me since no friends have ever mentioned it and I certainly haven't been. It's now on my shortlist of places to check out when the weather cools off a bit.
jfengel 5y ago
Note that those Smithsonian museums are all free. It was weird growing up here -- in most other places, you're expected to pay for museums. The Walters and Baltimore Art Museum are also free. Note that Udvar-Hazy is in the slightly odd position that it's technically free but parking is $15. It's very far from downtown, and driving is pretty much the best way there. But the exhibits are beyond cool -- a Space Shuttle, a Concorde, a Blackbird, and a ton of other very cool aircraft.
- whimsicalism 5y ago
  As a fellow person who grew up in DC, it definitely spoils you - I feel surprised every time I have to pay for a museum, especially because the prices are often so high !
Rebelgecko 5y ago
Since this is HN, I can wholeheartedly recommend the National Cryptologic Museum (between DC and Baltimore, pay really good attention to the signs so you don't make a wrong turn and having an awkward interaction with NSA Police). In addition to math stuff, there's a lot of exhibits on the history of computing that is kept pretty well up to date (when I went ~5 years ago they already had a display talking about Heartbleed).

by bane 5y ago

mesofile 5y ago

For any art aficionados visiting Baltimore, I'd also recommend the American Visionary Art Museum, a fantastic experience. https://www.avam.org/ https://www.avam.org/

moron4hire 5y ago
Came here to say the same thing. It's a brilliantly wonderful place. Also in DC, don't forget the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. It's one of my favorite modern art museums in the world, and I live 20 minutes from it. I don't go anywhere near often enough.
- whimsicalism 5y ago
  > Hirshhorn Museum One of the best in DC, although it is currently closed.
- alaxsxaq 5y ago
  When I'm in DC for a conference at the convention center, part of my breakfast routine is a walk to the Sculpture Garden at the Hirshhorn with a take-out breakfast. I always make a point to listen to the Sunset Song exhibit through at least once.

atombender 5y ago

And while one is in that general area, don't miss a visit to Glenstone [1], a superb combination of art, architecture, and modern museum in the Potomac area, just west of D.C. While the art collection is fantastic (hosted in an older set of gallery buildings by Charles Gwathmey, and a newer building by Thomas Phifer and Partners), the huge park it's located in makes it a particularly unique experience, featuring permanent outdoor pieces by the likes of Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Serra, and Michael Heizer. I've been to many of the art and science museums in D.C. and Baltimore, but Glenstone is my favourite. [1] https://www.glenstone.org/ https://www.glenstone.org/

imjared 5y ago
After 10+ years in the area, I just discovered a few weeks ago that this place exists while looking at a map to plan a bike ride. I couldn't believe that some of what's there is from the same world class artists that I saw at the Guggenheim in Spain (Jeff Koons, Richard Serra). I thought for sure Google Maps was playing a trick on me since no friends have ever mentioned it and I certainly haven't been. It's now on my shortlist of places to check out when the weather cools off a bit.

jfengel 5y ago

Note that those Smithsonian museums are all free. It was weird growing up here -- in most other places, you're expected to pay for museums. The Walters and Baltimore Art Museum are also free. Note that Udvar-Hazy is in the slightly odd position that it's technically free but parking is $15. It's very far from downtown, and driving is pretty much the best way there. But the exhibits are beyond cool -- a Space Shuttle, a Concorde, a Blackbird, and a ton of other very cool aircraft.

whimsicalism 5y ago
As a fellow person who grew up in DC, it definitely spoils you - I feel surprised every time I have to pay for a museum, especially because the prices are often so high !

Rebelgecko 5y ago

Since this is HN, I can wholeheartedly recommend the National Cryptologic Museum (between DC and Baltimore, pay really good attention to the signs so you don't make a wrong turn and having an awkward interaction with NSA Police). In addition to math stuff, there's a lot of exhibits on the history of computing that is kept pretty well up to date (when I went ~5 years ago they already had a display talking about Heartbleed).