How lucky are we to live in a city that has so many amazing museums?

Touring the museums in D.C. is a popular activity for tourists, but that doesn’t mean locals can’t explore too!

If you’re looking for something fun to do on your day off, or want to gain a little bit of extra knowledge for the heck of it, visiting one, or many of the museums in D.C. is the perfect way to do that.

While there are many incredible exhibits worth paying a visit too, we picked out five that will cause serious FOMO if you miss seeing them this summer.

1. Berlin Wall Gallery – Newseum

Every news and history junkie should visit the Newseum, specifically this exhibit. The Berlin Wall Gallery has eight 12-foot-high concrete sections of the original wall on display, and it is actually the largest portion of the original wall to be shown to the public, outside of Germany. The gallery shows how news and information contributed to overturning an undemocratic society.

#FrayLifeTip: If you don’t have enough time to see the Newseum in one stop, purchasing a general admission ticket gets you in free the very next day!

2. Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall – Air & Space Museum

If you grew up in the D.C. area, then it is likely your parents took you to this museum as a kid. But, if you never got the chance to go, one exhibit is especially worth heading to the National Air and Space Museum for. The Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall boasts the first American jet aircraft, Spirit of St. Louis, the fastest aircraft ever in the air, the North American X-15, and the first privately-developed vehicle to get to space, SpaceShipOne, among many other historical planes, rockets, and spacecraft.

#FrayLifeTip: For an out of this world experience, partake in a film screening, or space and aircraft simulation at the Lockheed Martin IMAX Theater.

3. Baseball Americana – Library of Congress

This summer, the Library of Congress will open an exhibit on the sport that is often hailed as America’s pastime; baseball. Baseball Americana will explore the history and evolution of the game as a whole, and feature artifacts including the first handwritten printed references to the sport, original rules of baseball, historical images, films, and other items that played a role in what the sport is today.

#FrayLifeTip: For bookworms out there, check out the Library of Congress Shop for unique books and gifts to take home.

4. Watching Oprah: The Oprah Winfrey Show and American Culture – National Museum of African American History and Culture

From 1986-2011, Oprah Winfrey hosted one of the most watched talk shows ever, The Oprah Winfrey Show. This special exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture will tell the story of Winfrey’s life, and how she has influenced society, mass media, and pop culture. Artifacts from Harpo Studios in Chicago, Illinois where the show was filmed, will be on display in addition to photographs and videos.

#FrayLifeTip: Entrance to the museum is free, however, make sure to get a timed pass online, or by phone before the day of your visit. A limited number of same-day timed passes are available online.

5, The American Revolution: A World War – The National Museum of American History

This year-long exhibit will examine the depths of the American Revolution, the 1781 victory at Yorktown, and the Franco-American partnership that made it all happen. Two paintings by Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe, The Siege of Yorktown, and The Surrender of Yorktown will be featured, as well as an early 1780s portrait of George Washington.

#FrayLifeTip: This museum can get busy during peak hours, so get there early to avoid a crowd. The museum opens at 10 a.m.

What is your favorite D.C. museum exhibit? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to tag us on social using #FrayLife if you check out any of these five exhibits!

View More Articles By Briana Florez

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