The Freer Gallery of Art, along with the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, forms the Smithsonian Institution's national museums of Mediterranian and Asian art. The Freer contains art from the Mediterranian, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Muslim world, the ancient Near East, and ancient Egypt, as well as American art. It is located on the south side of the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and along with the Sackler Gallery, has an annual average of 900,000 visitors. The Freer adheres to the mission statement of the Smithsonian, which is to increase and diffuse knowledge through exhibitions, research, and publications. The Freer houses 25,518 objects spanning 6,000 years of history, including but not limited to ancient Egyptian stone sculpture and wooden objects, ancient Near Eastern ceramics and metalware, Chinese paintings and ceramics, Korean pottery and porcelain, Japanese Byōbu, Persian manuscripts, and Buddhist sculpture. Collections span from the Neolithic to modern eras.

The National Museum of American History is an eclectic collection of all things American. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution and it is located on The National Mall. It was opened in 1964 and was called The Museum of History and Technology. Over the years the mission of the museum changed and it was renamed. The present collection features the original Star Spangled Banner, the ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz, the Phyllis Diller gag file, and a Buffalo Soldier coat.

There are three floors of historical treasures plus films, rides, programs and special events. The east wing of the first floor focuses on transportation and technology, while the west wing focus is on science and technology. The second floor is dedicated to American ideals and lives. The third floor east wing deals with American wars and politics. In contrast, the west wing deals with entertainment, sports and music.

Artifact walls are on the first and second floors and they have small exhibits. One is devoted to the rise over the century of Chinese food in America. These walls line the center cores of the two floors. There are also two cafes and several stores. Plan to come for the whole day as there is so much to see and do.

There are several works of art on display in the museum. An abstract sculpture made of granite and stainless steel stands outside the museum. The museum is free and the hours are 10:00AM to 5:30PM every day except Christmas Day. Periodically, the museum has extended hours, so check before going.

This store sells political memorabilia and presidential items of various sort, including tie pins, cuff links, seals and scarves. If you do a bit of a search, you can find some documents signed by illustrious statesmen, historic photographs and old videos of significant moments in American history. This store aims at providing customers with finest items at affordable prices.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) has the distinction of being the only museum in the world whose sole focus is women artists. The home of the museum is the old National Masonic Temple and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is ironic that the Masons do not allow women to be members of their temples. The building was refurbished; beautiful marble staircases were added and the lodge is now home to the museum. There are four floors of art and exhibits to view. The fifth floor has a performance hall where public programs are held. Pictures are only allowed using the ambient light available. The museum features a permanent collection of around 3,000 works. There are also traveling exhibitions to view.

Collections of art work in the museum begin in the 16th century with European artists and goes through the present. The works are comprised of paintings, sculptures, photographs, pottery, and works of silversmiths, wordsmiths and musicians. It is truly a remarkable collection with something for everyone.

The museum is also instrumental in beautifying New York Avenue (where the museum is located in Washington, D.C.). There is a sculpture project going on to bring art to the entire street around the building. There are already sculptures in place, so the entire area is a delight to view. The NMWA is located at 1250 New York Avenue, N.W. and is open 10-5 daily except on Sundays when the hours are noon-5. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. There is a fee to visit this museum.

The Renwick Gallery is a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The building itself is a National Historic Landmark having been built in 1861 as a private art gallery. During the Civil War the gallery was used by the Army as a storage facility. After the war ended, the building was refurbished and was opened in 1874 as a public art gallery. It has been used for various other purposes over the years and was finally opened in 1972 as the Renwick Gallery. It now houses the Smithsonian’s collection of decorative arts and crafts.

Kids will love seeing all the art that is created from clay and wood, mediums that they manipulate in school and at home. Another piece that kids of all ages will enjoy is the Game Fish by Larry Fuente. This colorful work of art is made from game pieces that are shaped to look like a trophy fish. It is beautiful and fun. Pieces are also made of glass, metal and fibers. A mass hanging of art in the Grand Salon is also a feast for the eyes. All pieces are from the 19th century to the present and include one-of-a-kind pieces. One of the most beautiful collections is the stained glass windows.

The Renwick Gallery is located at 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue, literally just steps away from the White House. Admission is free and they are open daily from 10-5 except they are closed on Christmas day. Allow at least a couple of hours at the gallery to see most of the exhibits.

Behind the door of the Beadazzled store lies a kingdom of beads, beckoning passers-by with bowls of beads of all shapes, styles, colors and sizes. The variety on offer is enormous and spans from the simplest round to the more showy, extravagant designs. Visitors are welcome to create their own beads selecting strings from the multitude provided by the store. Prices are individual. They also sell blown-glass perfume bottles, paperweights, candles, jewelry and incense. For a more in-depth arts and crafts experience there are how-to books available to buy.