I think the American History Museum is very cool and the National Museum of Natural History.  

Posted By: AllyVixen

Looks like I have a long TDL list lol.  Ladies/Gents, what would you say is a "Must See" in Washington , just curious ?

-- Modified on 1/14/2015 11:04:43 AM

I generally say the Mall / Lincoln Mem. / Washington Mon. And maybe the Vietnam Memorial.

Those are the ones that are always in movies and on TV - and you want to be able to tell people "I've been there!"

If you're into art my favorites include The National Gallery (impressionists!), the Hirshorn (cool modern), and the National Portrait Gallery.  If you're a foodie, I would hit Union Market (north of Union Station), and the DC institution Ben's Chilli Bowl.

Enjoy!

Jay

Space Museum is the most popular Museum in the US, & one of the most popular two in the world.  And like all Smithsonian Museums in DC it is free!

But there is one thing you MUST see. Ginevra de Benci by Leonardo da Vinci, in the National Gallery of Art. It is the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci on public view in either North or South America. This painting is significant because (well, not only b/c it was LdV) but also because it was one of the first examples of art to feature the subject in a natural setting (I mean, the trees and stuff in the background). That was really groundbeaking at the time. Artists were just starting to paint people without a religious connotation, you know, just straight portraits. I think this is an engagement portrait.  She was about 16. There is some dispute on that, but it's generally acknowledged that she was a celebrated beauty in her time and the inspiration for several poems. In his paintings, some of his brush strokes were so fine because he used brushes with only one hair.  Sometimes you don't see that because the paintings were reworked or messed up over time. This particular painting was cut up and used as a table cover at one time. Really.

It's just incredible that it's right here in our backyard. If only to pay homage to one of the greatest talents that ever lived, you should go see it.

You can also see Raphael's Alba Madonna, some splendid Van Goghs, Degas' dancer, 18th century French portraits, Old Dutch masters, oh the list goes on and on. Beauty and history.

Then you should have lunch in the Fountain Court on the main level (not the cafeteria, the food is awful except for the sorbet) but the buffet lunch.  And for fun go through the light show on the moving sidewalk between the wings.