Deciding that you will take a day to see the Smithsonian Institution is allowing too little time, as the Institution is much wider in scope than you may have originally thought. It actually encapsulates 19 museums as well as the National Zoo, all home to must-see exhibits and attractions. Some of the more popular stops within the Smithsonian include the National Air and Space Museum, the national Museum of American History and the National Museum of the American Indian. The depth and breadth of everything here justifies the time and space that it takes to see it all.
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History boasts the world's largest natural history collection that will inspire several "oohs' and "aahs" from visitors of all ages. Among the highly dramatic and memorable exhibits are a 70 million-year-old dinosaur egg, an incredible giant squid, and a look at a truly unforgettable tarantula feeding that will inspire several gasps among all who view it. In addition to all of these exhibits, the museum offers even more adventures via the 3-D IMAX theater within its facility.
Ford's Theatre has a built-in drama all its own. This is where John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln, and that unsettling episode still resonates in the structure today. Take a tour that retraces the incident, and you can also get a look at some of the interesting backstage areas. And if you are visiting for a performance, the excellent acoustics and inviting seating arrangement will ensure that whether you are watching a play or a musical production, the entertainment takes on a deeper significance when you consider that you are sitting within some truly historic walls.