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Fall 2024 Museum Exhibits & Experiences to Check Out in Washington, DC
Staging the Supernatural: Ghosts and the Theater in Japanese Prints – Through Oct. 6 The Japanese Edo period (1603–1868) gave credence to essential ideas about the supernatural in Japanese culture. Many of the beliefs that came to prominence during this time are still held as conventional wisdom today. This exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art allows you to explore the roles that ghosts and spirits play in the retelling of Japanese legends as well as real events. Staging the Supernatural features woodblock prints and illustrated books that showcase the spooky specters that haunt the Japanese theater traditions of noh and kabuki. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 Park Chan-kyong: Gathering – Through Oct. 13 The Seoul-based Park Chan-kyong has gained international recognition for photography and film that has been unflinching in its examination of the history of modern Korea. The National Museum of Asian Art will showcase the first solo presentation of his work in a major U.S. museum. The exhibition features images that highlight the artists’ masterful use of the camera to capture tradition, history and disaster in a contemporary society. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 Recent Acquisitions – Through Oct. 27 The National Portrait Gallery’s annual display of its most recent additions will feature 21 pieces this fall. The latest iteration of the exhibit will focus exclusively on portraits representing women or made by women. Subjects include Beyoncé, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, writer Octavia Butler, actress Greta Garbo and many more. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 Sewn in America: Making, Meaning, Memory – Through Dec. 31 The DAR Museum presents a groundbreaking exhibit featuring sewn items from every textile section of its collections including clothing, household items, needlework and quilts. Sewn in America examines how the activity shaped gender roles, from the homestead to professions like dressmaking, tailoring and factory work. Pieces from the 18th century to today will be juxtaposed to show how women of diverse backgrounds have used needles to express emotions and battle injustice. Hours | Free Admission DAR Museum, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 Imprints in Time – Through Jan. 5, 2025 The recently renovated and reopened Folger Shakespeare Library offers a special exhibition filled with objects rarely displayed to the public. Visitors can go on a journey through time and space, from the tombs of ancient Egypt all the way to the surface of the Moon. Stuart and Mimi Rose’s collection of manuscripts and books informs a momentous survey of human history, knowledge and creativity. Hours | Free Admission Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 Star Power: Photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell – Through Jan. 5, 2025 Hollywood’s premiere photographer during the onset of the studio system, George Hurrell set the template for how to capture the brightest stars of the cinematic universe. As MGM’s in-house portraitist and in his own studio, Hurrell used lighting expertise and the sharpest of eyes to create glamorous images of Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and many, many more. The National Portrait Gallery displays many of these Golden Era photographs in the new exhibit. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 Fragile Beauty: Art of the Ocean – Through Jan. 5, 2025 In honor of the majesty of the ocean, Hillwood showcases a variety of marine-related art in its collection for the very first time. Originally inspired by the rediscovery of one of the largest paintings at Hillwood (once owned by Marjorie Post's father, C.W. Post), Fragile Beauty explores representations of water and art crafted by precious materials. Hours & Admission Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 Conversations: Kerry James Marshall and John Singleton Copley – Through Jan. 31, 2025 The National Gallery of Art opens its second installation as part of the Conversations series, which focuses on three masterpieces from artists working nearly two centuries apart. An 18th century canvas by John Singleton Copley and two 20th century works by Kerry James Marshall each address the horrors of the Middle Passage and the transatlantic slave trade. Visitors can consider each in a shared exhibition space for the first time. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC Brilliant Exiles: American Women in Paris, 1900-1939 – Through Feb. 23, 2025 Be amazed by sixty defiant women who made the courageous decision to cross the Atlantic Ocean to pursue their artistic dreams immersed in the majesty of Paris and its dynamic cultural scene. Brilliant Exiles marks the first exhibition to focus on the impact of American women on Paris – and of Paris on American women – from 1900 to the outbreak of the second World War. You can gaze at portraits of icons such as Josephine Baker, Isadora Duncan, Zelda Fitzgerald, Loïs Mailou Jones, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Anaïs Nin, Gertrude Stein, Ethel Waters and Anna May Wong. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, DC, 1900-2000 – Through March 2, 2025 The Anacostia Community Museum sheds light on fascinating local history with an exhibit featuring captivating original artworks, rare video footage and can't-miss artifacts including Alma Thomas’s paintbrushes and watercolor paint set, an early 20th-century lifelike marionette that William Buckner made with his local high school students, original Elizabeth Catlett prints that once hung in the halls of her DC high school and Sam Gilliam pieces from his tenure as a teacher at McKinley Technical High School. Experience the influence, power and creativity of the Black artist-educators who empowered generations of DC students. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC 20020 Bond In Motion – Through April 2025 Across more than six decades of films, James Bond has become the on-screen embodiment of spies for millions. The International Spy Museum pays homage to the fictional character, along with his allies and adversaries, with a breathtaking display of iconic vehicles from the movies. In total, visitors can fix their eyes on 17 pieces, including cars, motorcycles, submarines and even more from the Q Branch Garage. Hours & Admission International Spy Museum, 700 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024 Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860-1960 – Through April 20, 2025 This year, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden brings you one exciting event after another in celebration of their 50th anniversary. The museum's latest exhibit features works from more than 120 artists, so we suggest giving yourself plenty of time to soak up all the wonder. The revolutionary installation offers well-known masterpieces alongside contemporary creations from a wide range of artists including Francis Bacon, Jean Dubuffet, Lee Krasner, Wifredo Lam, Jacob Lawrence, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollock. 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Free admission Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560 Isaac Julien: Lessons of the Hour – Frederick Douglass – Through Nov. 26, 2026 The first joint acquisition of the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (the two share a building) is Sir Isaac Julien’s fascinating moving image installation, which blends period reenactments across give screens to give the viewer insight into the life, accomplishments, activism and brilliance of Frederick Douglass (1818-1895). 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 Do Ho Suh: Public Figures – Through April 29, 2029 South Korean artist Do Ho Suh has created a special edition of his work Public Figures for installation at the very front of the National Museum of Asian Art, signifying the next phase of the museum. Suh was commissioned for the project thanks to his outstanding international reputation. He was one of the earliest contemporary artists featured at the museum and this new sculpture will be the first installed outside the Freer Gallery of Art in more than 30 years. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 Change Your Game – Ongoing The National Museum of American History’s Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention developed a new exhibit filled with interactive elements that highlight the intersection of invention, sports and technology. Items on display include a prototype of the Jogbra from the 1970s, a football helmet with Crash Cloud prototype to help protect the brain, a Hawk-Eye camera used during the pandemic by the U.S. Open to automate line calls and prostheses that made extreme sports possible for athletes with amputations. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560 Building Stories – Ongoing The National Building Museum invites your family to embark on an immersive exploration of architecture, construction, engineering and design found in children’s books. Curated by children’s literature expert Leonard Marcus, Building Stories marks the first national exhibition to showcase the built environment’s role as an essential character in formative tales of our collective youth. Expect plenty of interactive elements. Hours & Admission National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 John Akomfrah: Five Murmurations – Ongoing Artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah addresses the COVID-19 pandemic, the murder of George Floyd and worldwide protests in support of Black Lives Matter in a visual essay to define our turbulent times. Utilizing an image archive filled with seminal works of art and scenes shot during the fraught 18-month period between 2019 and 2021, Five Murmurations features insights into post-colonialism, diasporic experience and the concept of collective memory. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 Glen Kaino: Bridge This jaw-dropping aerial sculpture is comprised of 200 golden arms hanging from the ceiling of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Luce Foundation Center. Each piece is a casting of the outstretched right arm of Tommie Smith, the American winner of the men’s 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. During the medal ceremony, Smith bowed his head and raised his Black-gloved fist in an act of protest. Decades later, Glen Kaino collaborated with Smith on the grand statement of an installation. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 Tuan Andrew Nguyen: The Island – Aug. 16 – May 4, 2025 In his DC debut, Tuan Andrew Nguyen presents his video work The Island (2017) alongside the sculpted headdress Bidong Spirit I, which was created specifically for the film. Both works were inspired by and reference the Malaysian island of Pulau Bidong, a landing place for Vietnamese escaping by boat after South Vietnam’s collapse in 1975. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 Paris 1874: The Impressionist Moment – Sept. 8 – Jan. 19, 2025 Discover the origins of one of the most important art movements in history thanks to a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. The museum is replicating a legendary exhibit from Paris in 1874 that helped bring about the dawn of Impressionism. In the display, you will be able to view beloved paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and many more. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond – Sept. 7 – Nov. 30, 2025 A new exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, will showcase the imprint of Asian Americans on the physical and cultural terrain of the nation's capital. Installed in a gallery that overlooks DC's Chinatown, the exhibition features examples of cultural products that feature Chinese, Korean and Japanese heritage and/or express coalitional Asian American and BIPOC identities. These include displays of artwork, material culture, images and other graphic material drawn from Smithsonian collections and shared by local lenders, including community members and repositories such as the DC History Center and the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University. A free celebration on Sept. 7 marks the exhibit's opening. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 In the Library: Life in the Impressionists’ Paris – Sept. 9 – Jan. 20, 2025 A companion piece to Paris 1874, the National Gallery of Art displays dozens of photographs and prints in its Library Atrium. The exhibit provides insight and context for the great late 19th-century Impressionist works as the images illuminate a society changing rapidly thanks to industrialization, widespread military clashes, new technologies and the redefinition of urban spaces. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC Sublime Light: Tapestry Art of DY Begay – Sept. 20 – Summer 2025 In honor of one of the great fiber artists, the National Museum of the American Indian showcases 48 works by DY Begay. Across these dozens of tapestries, Begay explores her homeland and heritage through a divine sense of color, stirring innovation and sharp eye for design. Her pieces effectively illustrate a non-Western way of being to contemporary audiences. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560 An Epic of Kings: The Great Mongol Shahnama – Sept. 21 – Jan. 5, 2025 One of the most celebrated medieval Persian manuscripts – considered the national epic of Iran as it covers the beginning of time through the 7th century – informs a new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. The Great Mongol Shahnama (now dismantled) includes stories and illustrations; the exhibit offers a rare opportunity to view 25 folios from the manuscript alongside contemporaneous works from China, the Mediterranean and the Latin West. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 Spirit & Strength: Modern Art from Haiti – Sept. 29 – March 9, 2025 The world’s first Black republic flourished with creativity in the mid-1900s thanks to seminal painters like Hector Hyppolite, Rigaud Benoît and Philomé Obin. Their images and depictions of Haitian daily life, religious traditions and history influenced generations of artists. The National Gallery of Art’s exhibit offers the first chance to see 21 works by Haitian artists as well as contemporary pieces that build on their illuminative legacy. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC OSGEMEOS: Endless Story – Sept. 29 – July 6, 2025 Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo are the identical twin brothers that comprise OSGEMEOS, which is Portuguese for “the twins.” The Hirshhorn Museum presents the first U.S. survey and the largest American exhibition of work by the duo to date. In total, the full-floor exhibit features roughly 1,000 artworks, photos and archival materials that detail OSGEMEOS’ unique artistic voice that combines heritage, urban art, graffiti and magical elements. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560 The ‘70s Lens: Reimagining Documentary Photography – Oct. 6 – April 6, 2025 Across a wondrous collection of roughly 100 works by more than 80 artists, the National Gallery of Art gives visitors a chance to explore the dramatic shift in documentary photography that played out during the turmoil-filled decade of the 1970s. As Americans faced the Watergate scandal, inflation, energy crises and a host of other developments, documentary photographers shifted their collective perspective, leading to brilliant images that depict vibrant communities, suburban sprawl, conceptual art, nature and much more. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC William Gropper: Artist of the People – Oct. 17 – Jan. 5, 2025 The Phillips Collection presents DC’s first exhibit dedicated to William Gropper, a social realist whose art addressed mid-20th century political issues with feverish satire and brutal honesty. The son of poor immigrants from Romania and Ukraine, Gropper provided searing commentary on anarchy, labor, democracy, freedom and human rights across thousands of published illustrations, more than 30 of which will be on display at the Phillips. Hours & Admission The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return – Oct. 18 – July 6, 2025 The National Portrait Gallery and the Archives of American Art present an exhibition that goes in-depth on artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres’ engagement with portraiture, identity and history. Gonzalez-Torres’ groundbreaking work revolutionized the artform, elevating the notion of what a portrait could be. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 Breaking It Down: Conversations from the Vault – Nov. 2 – Jan. 19, 2025 From the outset, Phillips Collection founder Duncan Phillips and his wife, Marjorie, aimed to celebrate individual artists and key aspects of their vision and spirit. In a new exhibit, the museum serves up a deep dive (and new takes) on artists who have come to define the Collection, including Georgia O’Keeffe, Paul Klee, Saam Gilliam and Arthur Dove. Modern groundbreakers like Sean Scully, Joyce Wellman and Sylvia Snowden will also be showcased. Hours & Admission The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi and Miné Okubo – Nov. 15 – Aug. 17, 2025 The work of three essential American artists of Japanese descent – all women – is explored in-depth at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Breathtaking in scope, the exhibit proves that Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi and Miné Okubo should be mentioned alongside all the great artistic visionaries in American history. Each suffered through relocation and incarceration during WWII, but were not defined by it, coming to create magnificent and resonant works. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th & G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 The Print Generation – Nov. 16 – April 27, 2025 The National Museum of Asian Art presents a selection of prints, crafted using a new approach as part of the sōsaku hanga (creative print) movement, that tore down the notion of the early-20th century Japanese artist. Made during a time of imperialist expansion, foreign occupation and wartime scarcity, these innovative works broke the constructs of traditional Japanese printmaking and garnered international recognition and acclaim. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Free Things to Do: Events, Festivals & More in Washington, DC
With access to free museums, the monuments and memorials, the Library of Congress and more, Washington, DC is unrivaled for its many free attractions. But at any given time, you can also take advantage of free one-of-a-kind events, groundbreaking exhibits and unique festivals, making DC the capital of free events. Check out the list below for some of the latest free happenings creating buzz around the city. • • • ‘In Mid-Sentence’ – Through March 8 Photographs that depict moments of communication make up this display from the National Portrait Gallery. Pivotal moments in history are showcased throughout, from JFK’s speech at the 1960 Democratic National Convention to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech to Walter Cronkite’s meeting with Daniel Ellsberg as the “Pentagon Papers” were published. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘Sacred Dedication: A Korean Buddhist Masterpiece’ – Through March 22 The Freer|Sackler worked with the National Museum of Korea to bring the oldest surviving gilded wood figure in an informal pose to the District. The sculpture of Gwaneum, recognized as the most popular deity in Korean Buddhism, was carved sometime between 918 and 1392. When the piece was first placed into worship, important texts and symbolic objects were sealed inside, a practice founded on the belief that adding dedication material to a Buddhist sculpture gave it life. The exhibit showcases recent research and new info about the sculpture itself and what was placed inside, as well as the rituals that went into image consecration in 13th century Korea. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘America’s First Veterans’ – Through April 5 While generals and leading officers of the Revolutionary War have received statues and glowing historical reviews, junior officers and enlisted men returned home after fighting to a new republic deeply in debt and unconcerned with appreciating and supporting them after their important service. The Anderson House displays paintings, prints, artifacts and documents that memorialize the men who fought for U.S. freedom and faced countless struggles in re-adjusting to civilian life. Hours: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday, 12 - 4 p.m on Sunday Anderson House, 2118 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 • • • ‘Picturing the American Buffalo: George Catlin and Modern Native American Artists’ – Through April 12 European artist George Catlin ventured beyond the Mississippi River in the mid-19th century and documented Native American communities that were set to undergo mass migration and removal. Catlin painted scenes and portraits of the Great Plains, depicting the vital buffalo herds in the process. This exhibit showcases his work, as well as pieces from modern Native artists, highlighting the significance of the buffalo to these communities in the process. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th Street NW & F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘One Life: Marian Anderson’ – Through May 17 A singer, diplomat and muse, not to mention a strong fighter against segregationist policies, Marian Anderson was an iconic figure of mid-20th century America. Her historic performance at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 was a monumental moment, but this National Portrait Gallery exhibit dives much deeper, displaying paintings, photos, personal effects and archival materials that highlight Anderson’s stirring and influential career. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘Chiura Obata: American Modern’ – Through May 25 One of the most influential Japanese American artists of the 20th century receives an in-depth retrospective. Chiura Obata emigrated to the U.S. from Japan in 1903 and embarked on a seven-decade career that synthesized Japanese and American styles across an array of works, from intimate paintings to scrolls to still lives to woodblock prints. The exhibit features more than 150 works and personal effects of Obata’s, many on public display for the first time. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th Street NW & F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘Women of Progress: Early Camera Portraits’ – Through May 31 See daguerreotypes and ambrotypes of icons such as Margaret Fuller, Lucy Stone, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Lucretia Mott in this exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery. While these women were doing incredible work in advancing civil rights, portrait photography was on the rise. The historic portrayals are all the more poignant in 2020, as the work of these women still reverberates today. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘We Return Fighting: The African American Experience in World War I’ – Through June 14 This temporary exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture consists of 4,200 square feet, three sections, 26 themes, nine media pieces, a photo gallery and interactive elements throughout. The life experiences of African Americans during the World War I era (1913-20) are detailed, including those who enlisted in the military. Many expected to return to a changed America more accepting of them; instead, the status quo prevailed, and many African Americans set about re-shaping the country, which inevitably led to the revolutionary Civil Rights movement. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Visit National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘I Am… Contemporary Women Artists of Africa’ – Through July 5 This exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art draws on the museum’s permanent collection to feature 28 women artists that take on topics of faith, community, racism, identity, the environment and politics in their stunning work. Utilizing a range of media, the exhibit shows visitors how these artists have powerfully contributed to the dialogues on the most important issues of our time. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today – Through Aug. 30 The National Portrait Gallery holds the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition each year, asking artists to submit innovative works in the art of portrayal, resulting in an awe-inspiring variety of pieces. See the work of 46 finalists in the resulting exhibition of works from 2019. Visitors will marvel at how artists of today use a wide range of tools, devices and media to re-imagine portraiture. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. National Portrait Gallery, 8th Street NW & F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • Recent Acquisitions – Through Aug. 30 In this exhibit, the National Portrait Gallery displays both historical and contemporary pieces that have recently come into its possession (25 in total), including subjects such as Morgan Freeman, Audrey Hepburn, Philip Glass and Andy Garcia. Each figure displayed has had an impact on the history and culture of America through his or her work. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. National Portrait Gallery, 8th Street NW & F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 • • • ‘Pat Steir: Color Wheel’ – Through Sept. 7 The Hirshhorn Museum currently displays the largest painting installation to date by the abstract artist Pat Steir. The new paintings are showcased in the Museum’s second-floor inner-circle galleries, spanning the entire perimeter, creating a jaw-dropping color wheel across thirty pieces. Steir has built a four-decade career out of her meticulously crafted but seemingly random paintings, done using her own distinct technique. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, 7th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘Lee Ufan: Open Dimension’ – Through Sept. 13 For the first time, the Hirshhorn’s 4.3-acre outdoor plaza is devoted almost entirely to the work of one artist. Lee Ufan, one of Korea’s most celebrated creators who rose to prominence in the late 1960s, presents 10 new sculptures from his continuing Relatum series. It’s Ufan’s largest single outdoor sculpture project in the U.S. and the first time that his work has been exhibited in DC. Each sculpture relates to the Hirshhorn’s architecture in some way, creating what Ufan likes to call an “open dimension”. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue and 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • 'Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote' – Through September The seven-decade struggle for women’s suffrage is illuminated in striking detail in this exhibit at the Library of Congress. Visitors can retrace stories of diverse women who changed America. The exhibition draws from the collections of Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucy Stone, Mary Church Terrell and other suffragists – in their own words. Photographs, film footage and rare manuscripts will transport visitors back in time as women took their place in the public square. Use #ShallNotBeDenied to share your experiences at the museum. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Saturday Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540 • • • ‘Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul’ –Through Oct. 25 The Sackler Gallery showcases this breathtaking virtual exhibition that takes visitors to Palmyra and Aleppo in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. All three are among the oldest settlements in the world and have recently been ravaged by war. The exhibition features large-scale projections and digital reconstructions of monuments and ancient structures, underlining the importance of cultural heritage and the preservation of the past. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC • • • ‘Hokusai: Mad about Painting’ – Through Nov. 8 While Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai is mainly known for his unforgettable and iconic Great Wave Off the Coast of Kanagawa, he composed thousands of pieces during his nearly 90 years on Earth. The Freer Gallery, in honor of the centennial of its namesake’s death, presents a wide range of Hokusai’s works that were acquired by Charles Lang Freer roughly a century ago. Visitors can experience Hokusai’s mastery in woodblock printing, painting, drawing and view his renderings of everyday Japanese life, known as manga. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Freer|Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘Dewing’s Poetic World’ – Through Nov. 30 Thomas Wilmer Dewing’s paintings often featured a single female consumed by her thoughts, alone and passive. This exhibit explores the contradiction between Dewing’s works and his social life, which was often filled with dancing, trips to the theater and dinner parties. Through archival photographs, visitors will learn of Dewing’s lifestyle, his creative partnership with his wife and his friendship with Charles Lang Freer. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Freer|Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote’ – Through Jan. 3, 2021 This 3,000-square-foot exhibit at the National Archives uses more than 90 items, including records, artifacts and photographs, to tell the complex story of diverse suffragists in securing women’s voting rights. The exhibit also goes well beyond 1920 to show the relentless struggle that occurred throughout U.S. history to win voting rights for all women. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. National Archives, 701 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408 • • • ‘Ordinary Equality: DAR Members and the Road to Women’s Suffrage, 1890-1920’ – Through January 2021 The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Museum & Archives showcases how its members helped secure voting rights for women through social reform. You’ll see photographs, biographies, letters and more that highlight the accomplishments of more than 40 women. Admission is free. Note that the museum is closed on Sundays. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. DAR Museum & Archives, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 • • • ‘Sculpture Down to Scale: Models for Public Art at Federal Buildings, 1974-1985’ – Through March 28, 2021 As can be observed in DC, monuments and public sculptures are essential to the American landscape, serving as public expressions of identity, morality and pride. This exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum features nine models (or “maquettes”) of incredible works that were meant to be public art. You will see the true and original vision of each artist in these models, which are works of art in their own right. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004 • • • ‘Magnificent Obsessions: Why We Collect’ – Ongoing The phenomenon of collection is the focus of this exhibit at the National Museum of American History. Learn about pioneering collectors who helped shape Smithsonian Libraries through their infinite curiosity and desire to preserve the past. You’ll encounter the sheer diversity of the Smithsonian’s collections and how the institution continues to preserve historic treasures and modern items. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Smithsonian National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘All Work and No Pay: A History of Women’s Invisible Labor’ – Ongoing This exhibit at the National Museum of American History highlights women’s work in the home and the corresponding issue of unwaged labor. “Costumes” for domestic work ranging from colonial times to the 1990s show how women are expected to manage the housework regardless of class, race, culture or community. Visitors will be able to learn the inequality and unfairness of this outdated societal assumption through artifacts and images. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560 • • • ‘True to Nature: Open-Air Painting in Europe, 1780-1870’ – Feb. 2 – May 3 Artists such as André Giroux, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Simon Denis and John Constable are featured in this fascinating exhibit that explores the practice of painting en plein air. These avant-garde creatives would take painstaking journeys to incredible sites such as the ruins of Rome, the streets of Paris and the Swiss Alps to depict breathtaking landscapes. The exhibit offers roughly 100 oil sketches made outdoors all over Europe, including several recently discovered works. Hours | Free admission National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565 ‘Raphael and His Circle’ – Feb. 16 – June 14 Raphael is a titanic figure in art’s expansive history, helping to define aesthetic brilliance as we perceive it today. In honor of the 500th anniversary of his death, the National Gallery of Art presents 25 of his drawings and prints in an in-depth exhibit that will showcase his tremendous influence on artists that came after him. The work of Raphael’s collaborators and followers will also be featured. Hours | Free admission National Gallery of Art, Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565 • • • Washington’s Birthday Celebration – Feb. 17 Honor the birth date of America’s first president with a free day of festivities at the beautiful Mount Vernon. You can witness a presidential tribute and wreathlaying at Washington’s tomb, take in an official observance ceremony, watch a military demonstration, listen to patriotic music, hear stories from previous Washington birthday celebrations and pose in front of a life-sized Lansdowne painting of G.W. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free admission George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121 • • • ‘Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists’ – Feb. 21 – May 17 The Renwick Gallery will be home to the first major thematic exhibit to focus on the artistic achievements of Native women. This long overdue showcase will offer 81 pieces across a range of mediums, including photography, sculpture, textiles and beadwork. Collaboration was key in bringing together this marvelous exhibit: Native women curators, historians and artists established new scholarship and interpretations of the pieces, helping to illuminate the vital artistic contributions of Native women. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free admission Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006 • • • ‘Graciela Iturbide’s Mexico’ – Feb. 28 – May 25 One of the most important photographers of the Latin American experience, Graciela Iturbide has been capturing stunning images of her native Mexico for five decades. This new exhibit at the National Museum of Women in the Arts will be the most comprehensive display of Iturbide’s work in more than 20 years. Over 140 photographs in the artist’s signature style of black-and-white gelatin silver prints are structured around nine themes, providing eye-opening insight into Iturbide’s homeland. The exhibit also features Iturbide’s powerful shots of Frida Kahlo’s objects left at her home after her death. Hours & Admission National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005 • • • ‘John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal’ – Feb. 28 – May 31 Like Bob Dylan switching from acoustic to electric, John Singer Sargent stunned the art world when, at the peak of his success as a portraitist, he switched from oil painting to charcoal. In the decades to follow, Sargent drew some of the most influential men and women of early 20th century Anglo-American culture. The National Portrait Gallery displays the first exhibition of Sargent’s portrait drawings in more than 50 years. 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free admission National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001 No city provides as many world-class activities for free as Washington, DC. Discover 100+ free things to do in the ‘Capital of Free!’
Guide to DC's Sports Scene
Washington Nationals See Major League Baseball at the state-of-the-art Nationals Park in Capitol Riverfront. The stadium offers magnificent views of the Capitol dome and Washington Monument along with the 2019 World Series champions. Don’t miss the famous Presidents Race, which happens between the top and bottom of every fourth inning. Make sure to check the promotional schedule before you go. You can also get tickets for 20% off with the code VISITDC. D.C. United Did you know that D.C. United is one of the most successful soccer teams in the country? Catch a game at the premier Audi Field and see why. Winners of four MLS Cups, the squad takes the field from March through October. Extra points if you sit in the particularly boisterous “Screamin’ Eagles” fan club section. Grab some tickets and enjoy one of the best sporting atmospheres in the area. Washington Commanders DC stands awash in burgundy and gold during football season, when the beloved Washington Commanders take to FedExField in nearby Landover, Md. Winners of three Super Bowls in their decorated history, the team is led by head coach Dan Quinn. The team’s loyal and raucous fan base means tickets can be hard to come by, but you can depend on Stubhub.com to provide options at different price points. Preseason games start in August and the regular season runs from September through December. Washington Wizards Head to Capital One Arena for a Washington Wizards basketball game to see NBA stars in action. With plenty of ticket options, you can find the setup that works best for you. The arena is centrally located in DC’s bustling Penn Quarter & Chinatown neighborhood, so after the game you can grab dinner, check out a museum or relax with a nightcap at one of the neighborhood’s buzzworthy bars. The season runs from October through April. Washington Capitals When things cool down for the winter months, be sure to catch Alex Ovechkin, John Carlson, Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson take the Capital One Arena ice for the Washington Capitals. The team has been particularly successful in recent years, bringing the city some of its best sports moments of the past decade, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2018. You’ll see throngs of fans Rocking the Red near the Capital One Arena on game days. A ticket to any section is a treat: there are no “bad seats” for a Caps game. Washington Mystics The 2019 WNBA champion Washington Mystics have become one of the most exciting draws in the city. The team calls the Entertainment and Sports Arena home from May through September. Head to Mystics Ticket Central to start planning an evening of hoops-themed fun. Washington Spirit Audi Field is also home to the 2021 NWSL champions. The Spirit's talented roster includes 2023 World Cup selections Andi Sullivan, Aubrey Kingsbury, Ashley Sanchez and Trinity Rodman. The team brings fierce competition to the field March through October. DC Defenders Head to Audi Field to catch the UFL's DC Defenders in action. Catch the 2023 North Division champions in action each spring at Audi Field with Fan Fests, beer snakes and a growing fan base to look forward to. Shields Up! Capital City Go-Go This NBA G-League team plays its home games at Entertainment and Sports Arena from November through March. You can watch future NBA talent in action in a highly competitive environment. Check out the schedule for the upcoming year and also know that season ticket memberships are available. Old Glory DC Catch Major League Rugby in the DC area from February through June. Pick up tickets to see Old Glory DC at the Maryland SoccerPlex in nearby Germantown, Md. Washington Kastles At the moment, the most successful professional sports team in the city does its domination on a tennis court. The Washington Kastles have won six World Team Tennis titles, including five straight from 2011-2015. Stacked with stars and special guests (both Martina Hingis and Venus Williams have taken the court for the Kastles), you can watch the squad at Kastles Stadium in late summer. DC’s sports scene goes beyond professional action. Georgetown University’s basketball team, which plays in the Big East Conference, calls the Capital One Arena home, while George Washington University takes the floor at the Charles E. Smith Center as part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. DC College Sports: American University Catholic University Georgetown University George Mason University George Washington University University of Maryland, College Park Make sure to check out our events calendar for other exciting entertainment in the District.
Guide to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC
Nothing signifies the arrival of spring in the nation's capital quite like the blooming of the cherry blossom trees and the National Cherry Blossom Festival to celebrate the occasion. Visitors descend upon Washington, DC each year to admire the 3,000-plus trees. The Festival is full of events that honor American and Japanese cultures and represents a close bond forged between the two countries that began with Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s gift of the trees back in 1912. Speaking of trees: you can assist in the effort to preserve and protect DC's iconic cherry trees through the Trust for the National Mall's Adopt a Cherry Tree campaign. The National Park Service offers the latest information regarding peak bloom date predictions. The National Cherry Blossom Festival offers an array of celebratory events that feature local businesses and provide a riveting showcase for Japanese culture. For those who wish to celebrate from afar, enthusiasts can see the cherry blossoms via the live BloomCam. Tell me more about DC's cherry blossoms and peak bloom Peak bloom is the magical period when visitors can see the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The peak bloom dates are defined as the days when 70 percent of the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin have opened their buds, creating an unforgettable sea of pink and white. The National Park Service (NPS) is responsible for measuring the growth of the buds of the trees and provides a prediction of when peak bloom will arrive each year. On average, peak bloom occurs between the last week of March and the first week of April, but the date changes year-to-year. For instance, 2024’s peak bloom occurred on March 17 due to early warm weather, while 2018's bloom did not happen until April 5 due to a cold winter. The blooming period, when 20 percent of the blossoms are open before the petals and leaves fall, can last up to 14 days, depending on weather conditions. Just remember that "forecasting peak bloom is almost impossible more than 10 days in advance," according to NPS. The best viewing of the cherry blossom trees typically lasts four to seven days after peak bloom begins, but the blossoms can last for up to two weeks under ideal conditions. For more tips to help plan your visit, make sure to check out our list of things you need to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Please do your part in helping to protect the National Mall and the cherry blossoms. We kindly remind you to enjoy the blossoms, but never pick them (it’s against the law). More about the National Cherry Blossom Festival The National Cherry Blossom Festival isn't just a celebration of the blossoms—it's a four-week-long cultural festival held across the city. Components of the Festival include the Opening Ceremony, Art in Bloom, the Blossom Kite Festival, Petalpalooza, the annual Parade, Sakura Matsuri - Japanese Street Festival and the annual Pink Tie Party fundraiser. How do I get to the cherry blossom trees surrounding the Tidal Basin? There are many great ways to get to the stunning cherry blossom trees surrounding the Tidal Basin. The DC Circulator's National Mall route makes stops directly on the Tidal Basin at the Jefferson and Martin Luther King, Jr. memorials, as well as other popular sites near the cherry blossoms. If you're taking the Metro, use the Blue, Orange or Silver lines and exit at the Smithsonian Metro stop. From there, it’s a 10-15 minute walk to the Tidal Basin Welcome Area, located at 1501 Maine Avenue SW. Via Metrobus, the 32 and 36 routes will drop you at the National Mall, near the Washington Monument. A 10-minute walk south will bring you to the Tidal Basin Welcome Area & ANA Stage. For more information about getting to the blossoms, check out our guide to reaching the most-popular cherry blossom spots in DC, as well as less-populated areas for blossom revelry. Where can I stay during the National Cherry Blossom Festival? Celebrate springtime by checking out these National Cherry Blossom Festival partner hotels as well as spring packages, deals and discounts at some of the city's best places to stay. In addition to these hotel packages, many DC-area hotels offer special cherry blossom-themed deals and discounts, which may include a free spring-inspired cocktail, chocolates, meals or more. Make sure to check out all the places to stay in Washington, DC. Fun facts about Washington, DC’s cherry blossoms The first donation of 2,000 trees, received in 1910, was burned on orders from President William Howard Taft. Insects and disease had infested the gift, but after hearing about the plight of the first batch, the Japanese mayor sent another 3,020 trees to DC two years later. First Lady Helen Herron Taft planted the first tree in West Potomac Park. Many First Ladies, including Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, have officially commemorated the blossoms. On March 27, 2012, Michelle Obama took up the cause by planting a cherry tree to mark the centennial of the blossoms. One of the earliest recorded peak blooms occurred on March 15, 1990, while the latest recorded peak bloom occurred on April 18, 1958. The majority of the cherry blossom trees around the Tidal Basin are of the Yoshino variety. But another species, the Kwanzan, usually blooms two weeks after the Yoshino trees, giving visitors a second chance to catch the blossoms.