Anacostia Museum
1901 Fort Pl SE, Washington, DC 20020 202-633-4820

Description: ANACOSTIA. Housed in a former Civil War fortress, this community museum broke new ground by combining art outreach programs with museum installations. It seeks to both "influence and archive" the culture of the community, and since its inception in 1967, it has honed in more closely on African-American culture and heritage. The museum is also unique in that it doesn't collect just physical artifacts, but stories and accounts in the oral tradition to develop a more comprehensive cultural view. METRO: Smithsonian
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Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
1050 Independence Ave SW, National Mall, Washington, DC 20560 202-633-4880

Description: NATIONAL MALL. Physician Arthur Sackler was fascinated by all things Asian, and the museum that bears his name is a magnificent showcase for the works that he painstakingly collected. Highlights of Sackler's collection include Chinese jades and bronzes, while the Vever Collection consists of an extremely rare collection of Islamic manuscripts from the 11th century through the 19th century. Japanese prints and portraits are also presented here, and the ImaginAsia program brings the East to life for children of all ages. METRO: Smithsonian
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Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20006 202-639-1700

Description: DOWNTOWN. This venerable museum began construction in 1859 and has the honor of being the oldest art institution in DC. The Corcoran has several impressive collections; the Clark collection of Dutch and Flemish masterpieces is one of the most noteworthy. The Walker collection focuses on dramatic works by Renoir, Monet and Pisarro. In addition to these European displays, several exhibits are devoted to contemporary American pieces by artists such as John Singer Sargent and Winslow Homer. On Sundays, the museum hosts a popular gospel brunch. METRO: Farragut West and Farragut North
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El Museo Fondo Del Sol
2112 R St. NW, Florida Ave, Washington, DC 20009 202-483-2777

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. Since 1973 this museum has offered an array of multi-cultural exhibits, with a strong collection of pre-Colombian art as well as an ever changing assemblage of African American, Caribbean, Native American, and Latino art. A full schedule of special programming includes concerts and lectures, along with performance art and video presentations. Well worth a visit! METRO: Dupont Circle
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Freer Gallery of Art & Arthur M. Sacker Gallery
1200 Jefferson Dr SW, National Mall, Washington, DC 20560 202-633-4880

Description: NATIONAL MALL. This museum has three claims to fame: it was the first Smithsonian museum dedicated exclusively to art, it houses a fantastic collection of Asian art, and it has perhaps the world's most extensive collection of works by American James Whistler. Charles Lang Freer collected thousand of Asian art and artifacts during his lifetime and also purchased many pieces from his good friend Whistler. The Asian collection has expanded to over 20,000, though the American collection has remained unchanged per Freer's request. The Freer connects to the the Sackler Gallery via an underground exhibition space. METRO: Smithsonian
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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
7th St SW and Independence Ave SW, National Mall, Washington, DC 20560 202-633-4674

Description: DOWNTOWN. You can't miss the Hirshhorn, a unique cylindrical museum visible from the Mall. Managed by the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art and is surrounded by a peaceful tree-lined sculpture garden. There are more than 5000 paintings and 3000 pieces of sculpture displayed here, including works by Jasper Johns, Edward Hopper and Andy Warhol. METRO: L'Enfant Plaza (Maryland Avenue exit)
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Kreeger Museum
2401 Foxhall Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007 202-338-3552

Description: GEORGETOWN. This private facility has been open to the public only since 1994, but the Kreeger, with 200 works collected in a post-modern mansion near Georgetown, has earned a fine reputation for its varied displays and its artist-outreach programs. From the 1940s through the 1980s, Carmen and David Kreeger spent their insurance fortune building this magnificent mix of works by Picasso, Monet, Renoir, Munch, Kandinsky and more. Lectures and concerts are frequently held here. Reservations are required for weekday visits to the museum. No reservations needed for Saturday tours.
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National Building Museum
401 F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 202-272-2448

Description: DOWNTOWN. The Building Museum offers a wide array of exhibits covering architecture, construction and engineering, but the biggest draw here may be the architecture of the facility itself. The Great Hall is the essence of Italian Renaissance splendor, with massive columns, a dramatic fountain, and an ornate ceiling soaring 15 stories high. A 1200-foot terra cotta frieze decorates the exterior. Inside, learn about design through interactive exhibits, or see temporary exhibitions focusing on the development of ghettos, factories, parks, roads and more. A must for the architecture buff or the casual observer. METRO: Judiciary Square.
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National Gallery of Art
4th St and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565 202-737-4215

Description: NATIONAL MALL. One of the world's most prominent and admired museums, the National Gallery delights visitors with exhibits spanning the art of the Middle Ages to the art of today. The West Building covers the 13th through 19th centuries, while the sleek East Building (designed by I.M. Pei) is devoted to modern and contemporary works. All told, there are 3000 paintings, 2000 pieces of sculpture and over 100,000 prints, drawings and papers held here, including paintings by da Vinci, Raphael, Titian and Rembrandt. After touring the galleries, be sure to allot time for the stunning Sculpture Garden situated at the corner of 7th and Madison. METRO: Judiciary Square, Archives or Smithsonian
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National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Ave SW, National Mall, Washington, DC 20560 202-357-4600

Description: DOWNTOWN. This Smithsonian-run museum is dedicated to the study and collection of African art from all time periods and regions, with a focus on sub-Saharan areas. Located on the Mall, largely underground in the Smithsonian Gardens complex, the museum has a permanent collection of more than 7,000 pieces, including masks, jewelry, carvings, photography, and artifacts made from materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, and ivory. The collection of ritual objects is particularly extensive and educational. METRO: L'Enfant Plaza or Smithsonian
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National Museum of the American Indian
4th St and Independence Ave SW, National Mall, Washington, DC 20560 202-633-1000

Description: DOWNTOWN. This stunning, sinuous museum ­ crafted of limestone and set amid forty "grandfather" boulders and an extensive planted landscape ­ acknowledges the Native American experience in culture, cosmology, craft, and history. Almost a million artifacts represent communities from North, South, and Central America, mesmerizing visitors with their age, beauty, and utility. The building also serves as a gathering space, complete with library, gift shop, theaters, and a cafe with authentic Native American dishes. METRO: L'Enfant Plaza
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National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005 202-783-5000

Description: DOWNTOWN. Inside a spectacular beaux-arts building, this is the only museum of its kind in the world. Instead of focusing on a particular period or style, this museum focuses on the achievements of women artists "of all periods and all nationalities," according to its mission statement. In addition to showcasing more than 2,600 works by 700 artists, including famous pieces by Georgia O'Keeffe, Frida Kahlo and Mary Cassatt, this museum conducts research and publishes studies related to women and the arts. METRO: Metro Center
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National Portrait Gallery
8th St and F St NW, Washington, DC 20013-7012 202-633-8300

Description: DOWNTOWN. The National Portrait Gallery is housed in a beautiful historic Greek Revival building, constructed in 1836 as the U.S. Patent Office. The museum's contents include a complete collection of presidential portraits, and the American Origins:1600-1900 exhibit features 17 galleries of portraits of other historic figures such as Pocahontas, Henry Clay and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Additional exhibits are devoted to American athletes and entertainers.
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Phillips Collection
1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009 202-387-2151

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. In a refurbished Georgian Revival mansion in the heart of vibrant DuPont Circle, you'll find the Phillips, America's first museum of modern art. What began as a private collection in 1921, now includes more than 250 works from the 19th and 20th centuries. Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" resides here, along with works by Picasso, Manet, Matisse, Braque, Daumier, Dove, Cezanne, El Greco and Bonnard. Classical music programs are held on Sundays from September through May. The admission price varies with the current exhibt and covers the permanent collection. METRO: Dupont Circle
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Smithsonian American Art Museum
8th St and F St NW, Reynolds Center, Washington, DC 202-633-7970

Description: DOWNTOWN. Adjacent to the National Portrait Gallery, the American Art Museum's collection ranges from colonial works to contemporary folk art and features artists such as John Singleton Copley, Gilbert Stuart, Mary Cassatt, John Winslow Homer, James McNeill Whistler, Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe and Andrew Wyeth. The museum also offers a fascinating selection of African American and Latino art.
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Textile Museum
2320 S St NW, Washington, DC 20008 202-667-0441

Description: DUPONT CIRCLE. This museum teaches visitors about the history and evolution of textiles, which have played an important role in the economic and cultural history of our world. The vast collections of rugs and other pieces of textile art showcase the technical developments made over the years. The selection includes pieces from around the world, such as African, Asian and Latin American textiles. Don't miss the stellar collection of Oriental carpets. In the Activity Gallery, try your hand at working with various materials and dyes. METRO: Dupont Circle
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The Athenaeum
201 Prince St, Alexandria, VA 22314 703-548-0035

Description: This eye-catching Greek Revival structure was built in 1850. Originally a bank, the unique apricot-colored building later served as a hospital during the Civil War. Years later it became what it is today ­ an excellent museum with a broad range of fine art from local and regional art on display. Performances by the Alexandria Ballet are often on the schedule. METRO: King Street, then DASH bus
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The Smithsonian Institution
1000 Jefferson Dr, Washington, DC 20560 202-633-1000

Description: NATIONAL MALL. The Smithsonian ­ for many, the image of the 19th-century sandstone "Castle" immediately springs to mind. The Institution itself is larger than most realize (19 museums and the National Zoo in DC alone) and granting only one day to "do the Smithsonian" is a mistake. Always-popular stops are the National Air & Space Museum and the National Museum of American History (closed until Summer 2008); however, the beautiful National Museum of the American Indian has emerged as a hot attraction, and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington-Dulles serves as a fascinating repository of nearly 80% of the Smithsonian's air and space collection. METRO: Smithsonian
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