Tag Archives: museums

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will take place June 29-July 4 and July 6-9. 

The Annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an international exhibition of living cultural heritage. This year will be the 50th anniversary of this popular event. Attracting more than one million visitors yearly, the two-week long celebration is the largest annual cultural event in the United States.

The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 12th Streets and inside the Arts & Industries Building. There is no admission charge. Visitors should dress for hot and humid weather. Parking around the Mall is extremely limited, so visitors are advised to use public transportation. Smithsonian is the closest Metro station to the Festival site. L’Enfant Plaza, National Archives, and Federal Center stations are within a half-mile. For general Smithsonian visitor information, http://www.si.edu/Visit or call 202.633.1000 (voice).

Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with special events taking place most evenings beginning at 5:30 or 7 p.m. View the schedule here.

I highly recommend that you visit their website to plan your visit http://www.festival.si.edu/

5 Totally Cool and Unusual Museums

The weather has put a bit of a damper of everyone’s mood but luckily I found in the February issue of Chesapeake Family an article that provides families with five totally cool and unusual museums in the local area to help keep their children entertained despite the cold and the snow!  Here is a short listing.    For more detailed information pick up a copy of the February issue which can be found in many places including schools and doctor’s offices!

(1) The Baltimore Streetcar Museum located at 1901 Falls Road in Baltimore.  Their website is www.baltimorestreecar.org/index.html; Admission for adult is $7/ children $5 and kids under 4 are free.

(2) The National Museum of Health and Medicine located at 2500 Linden Lane in Silver Spring.  Their website is www.medicalmuseum.mil/index.cfm;  Admission Free

(3) The National Cryptological Museum located at the NSA Headquarters, Ft. George Meade 8290 Colony Seven Road, Annapolis Junction.  Their website is www.nsa.gov/about/cryptologic_heritage/museum/index.shtml; Admission Free

(4) The National Capital Radio and Television Museum located at 2608 Mitchellville Road in Bowie.  Their website is http://ncrtv.org. Admission Free

5) Geppis Entertainment Museum located at 301 W. Camden St in Baltimore.  Their website is www.geppismuseum.com.  Admission: General $10, seniors $9 and students $7