Welcome To Our Smithsonian Museum Kids

by Elias Shams
Although, I already knew the difference between the information people find on a blog compare to other online media or websites, for the first time, I personally experienced yesterday.

I have a friend in the UK running a school. He is organizing a four days trip to DC for his students ranging from eleven to thirteen years old. Given, the Smithsonian Museums is one of the must visited places in DC, he asked for my two cents about the museum. I sent him a few links including the one for the museum. But, he insisted on something with more of a personal experience and opinion. Bingo!

One of the fundamental differences between us, the bloggers and people behind the other sites, is our network of like minded people who know us long enough to trust our opinion on things.

Kids, first thing first. Allow me to present to you a video I made about my great experience in the museum. You will probably experience the same thing I filmed every moment of my visit yesterday. There were a few obstacles, but overall, it was Awesome

Just Kidding! Hope you didn’t fall for this. Did you? This was from a movie that was made in the Smithsonian museum last year

Visiting the Smithsonian Museums with student groups is a challenge given that there are 17 museums (not all directly on the Mall) and individual interests of students vary greatly with age and sex. Most teachers select just a few locations and then give their students freedom to explore within the building, meeting back at a prearranged time. SI Education staff have prepared a page to assist teachers.

There is also a page for general information on groups. Teachers also need to factor in time to pass through building security and to review what their students are carrying into the buildings. Note that all museums except American Art open at 10am but the Smithsonian Castle opens at 9:30 and has bathrooms and an introductory film.

The three most popular indoor museums for school groups are:
(Note : All these facilities have cafeterias)

National Air and Space Museum
Tops with boys, this museum has originals of almost all milestones in aviation in addition to a planetarium and an IMAX theater. Hugely crowded so should be first on a morning agenda.
. Address: Constitution Avenue Northwest & 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20004, Tel: (202) 633-2214 map

National Museum of Natural History
This is where the dinosaurs, mammals and ocean creatures hang out (well, almost all are dead so they do hang). It also has a great IMAX theater showing nature films some in 3d. Don’t miss the exhibit

Written in Bone, Forensic Files of the 17th-Century Chesapeake – examines history through bone biographies, including those of colonists at Jamestown, VA, and those living in the wealthy and well-established settlement of St Mary’s City , Md
. Address2: 10th St NW, Washington, DC – Tel: (202) 633-2950, map

National Museum of American History
Don’t miss the new Star Spangled Banner exhibit, America on the Move -History of Transportation and The American Presidency. Tops with girls for the First Ladies Galley

You can visit this museum in three different, but close by locations:
. Address1: 14 Constitution Avenue Northeast, Washington – Tel: (202) 633-1000, map
. Address2: 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, On the National Mall, Washington – Tel: (202) 633-1000 map
. Address3: 950 Independence Avenue Southwest, Washington – Tel: (202) 633-1000 map