And if you're interested in decorative arts, you could come visit...us!  The
DAR Museum, right down 17th street from the White House, 32 period rooms,
and a gallery with glass, ceramics, and a changing exhibit gallery.  Right
now it's "Stuff of Childhood, Artifacts and Attitudes" and in October it'll
be "Forgotten Patriots: African-American and Native American Service in the
Revolutionary War."

We're absolutely free, and our building is rather nice.  Of course, you have
to like ceramics and furniture and portraits, otherwise you'll be bored :-)

If you're here before the end of September, there is a public art exhibition
on the streets of the city - the Party Animals.  Donkeys and Elephants, each
different, and they're all really fun.  If you do rent a car, there are also
lots of fun daytrips very near DC - battlefields, nice little towns in horse
country, Mt. Vernon and other historic homes.  And I second the
recommendation for Dumbarton Oaks - the gardens alone are worth the
admission.  Very nice to walk through.  There's the Corcoran, although I
don't find their collection really mesmerizing - they do have the Jackie O
clothing exhibit up right now.  National Archives are closed for
renovations, so that's out, as is the White House (only open to a few select
school groups these days).  There's the new International Spy museum - a bit
pricey and, since it just opened, crowded, but I hear it's a lot of fun.
There's a huge range of smaller museums in DC that you can hit on days when
you don't feel like walking forever in one of the Smithsonian buildings -
The Octagon, Dumbarton House (different from Dumbarton Oaks), Phillips
Collection, the Textile Museum, Decatur House (not sure if they're open
right now), and Tudor Place.  The Department of the Interior has a museum
inside, with mostly Native American artifacts.

Phew!  I need to get out more and see some of these places myself!

Genevieve

Genevieve Ellerbee
Associate Registrar
DAR Museum
Washington, D.C.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: celiacurtis [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 11:58 AM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Re: Visiting Washington DC
>
> I grew up in DC, and have one additional suggestion to make ...
>
> If you are staying in the Dupont Circle area, take the time to visit the
> Phillips Collection. It is a smaller, private art museum (impressionists,
> O'Keefe, etc) in an old historic house, and is well worth the time and
> admission fee. It is the home of the famous Renoir painting, "Luncheon of
> the Boating Party", and the atmosphere is quite unique, especially after
> being in so many huge museums on the Mall. The museum is just off the
> actual circle, near Massachussetts Ave.
>
> Other hidden "gems," if you are looking to spend some time away from the
> Mall, are Hillwood Museum (Russian decorative arts and beautiful gardens,
> but reservations are required) and Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown (wonderful
> Meso-American art and more gardens! Admission is virtually free). I also
> second the recommendation to see the National Cathedral. If you don't have
> a car, it is also easily accessible by bus (the N-lines go right by it
> from the Dupont area, you can ride free with a Metro transfer).
>
> Have a wonderful trip! If you explore some of the old neighborhoods
> (including the residential areas around Georgetown!), Washington is a
> beautiful and charming city. I miss it!
>
> Celia Curtis
>
>

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