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Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryvsNational Gallery of Art
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and National Gallery of Art are both highly recommended by professional reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ranks slightly higher than National Gallery of Art. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History comes in at #6 in Washington DC with endorsements from 7 sources like Fodor's, Frommer's and Time Out.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Frommer's
Lonely Planet Lonely Planet
Time Out
Travel + Leisure
Michelin Guide
Where
Atlas Obscura
U.S. News & World Report
Fodor's Show All Reviews
10th Street and Constitution Ave., Washington DC, DC 20560
From $0/night
Frommer's "The National Museum of Natural History is the largest of its kind in the world and one of the most visited museums in Washington." Full review
Lonely Planet "The Smithsonian’s second-most popular museum clogs with kids, but adults will find lots to love here too." Full review
Lonely Planet "The castle houses the Smithsonian Visitor Center, which makes a good first stop on the Mall. Inside you’ll find history exhibits, multilingual touch-screen displays, a staffed information desk." Full review
Time Out "The gem at the heart of the Museum of Natural History is a state-of-the-art IMAX cinema and an 80,000sq ft brushed steel and granite Discovery Center housing a cafeteria and exhibition space." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The National Museum of Natural History investigates the world and its creatures, examines ancient rituals, and explores the unfolding universe." Full review
i
Be sure to see The Last American Dinosaurs, the Hall of Mammals, the Hope Diamond display, and the walk-through butterfly house.
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"The National Museum of Natural History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, ranks as one of the most visited museums in the world." Full review
Where "Exhibits track the natural world since prehistoric time (anthropology to zoology)." Full review
Atlas Obscura "The 28,000-year-old specimen is remarkably intact. " Full review
U.S. News & World Report8.0
"With more than 126 million artifacts on display, this robust Smithsonian museum on the National Mall attracts millions of visitors each year." Full review
Fodor's "One of the world's great natural history museums offers 18 exhibition halls...there are more than 145 million specimens in the collection. Marvel at the enormous African bush elephant" Full review
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Orkin Insect Zoo (don't miss the daily live tarantula feedings).
National Gallery of Art Fodor's
Concierge Lonely Planet Travel + Leisure Fodor's Fodor's Michelin Guide Where Where U.S. News & World Report Show All Reviews
West Building, Constitution Avenue and 6th Avenue, Washington DC, DC 20002
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Fodor's "The East Building opened in 1978 in response to the changing needs of the National Gallery, especially to house a growing collection of modern art."
Concierge "Rodin sculptures; masterpieces acquired from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; three French and Italian period rooms; and a selection of drawings from da Vinci."
i
Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the densest crowds.
Lonely PlanetTop choice
"Set in two massive buildings, the National Gallery of Art houses a staggering art collection (over 100,000 objects), spanning the Middle Ages to the present." Full review
Travel + Leisure "The two architecturally opposed buildings that make up this museum jointly contain one of the world’s most extraordinary art collections." Full review
Fodor's "The two buildings of the National Gallery hold one of the world's foremost art collections, with paintings, sculptures, and graphics that date from the 13th to the 21st centuries." Full review
Fodor's "The East Building opened in 1978 in response to the changing needs of the National Gallery, especially to house a growing collection of modern art." Full review
Michelin Guide 3 Stars
"The National Gallery's world-class collection of masterpieces traces the development of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present." Full review
Where "Newly renovated with 12,250 square feet of additional public space, featuring skylight tower galleries highlighting works by Alexander Calder and Mark Rothko." Full review
Where "This elegant building contains one of the world’s finest collections of American and European paintings and sculpture dating from the 13th century, including this hemisphere’s only da Vinci painting." Full review
U.S. News & World Report6.0
"Composed of the East Building, which houses the gallery's more modern works...and the West Building, which contains the collection's older works (from Sandro Botticelli to Claude Monet)." Full review
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If you're any kind of art connoisseur, you should make a stop at the National Gallery of Art
