DK Travel : Washington, D.C. : Museums & Galleries

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Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

Another of the underground museums of the Smithsonian, the Sackler is a leading center for the study and display of ancient and contemporary Asian art. Its events bring Asian art and philosophies to life, and its occasional presentations of Tibetan monks carrying out the ritual of sand painting a mandala are always huge hits.
Ceramic Teapots

Ceramic teapots in various colors, styles, and sizes. The most popular are the decorative mini teapots. In the National Museum of Natural History.
Chrysanthemum Satin Kimono

One of the many magnificent fabric creations available at these two Oriental museum stores. They also have unusual novelties such as haiku refrigerator magnets. In the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (see Art Galleries).
Compass

The Lewis and Clark expedition organized by Thomas Jefferson in 1803 was able to follow rivers much of the way, but depended on a compass like this one for guidance. Formerly in the National Museum of American History.
Corcoran Gallery of Art

Corcoran exhibitions tilt toward contemporary media, especially photography. The city’s first art museum, and one of the three oldest in the United States, is also housed in one of America’s most significant Beaux Arts buildings, designed by Ernest Flagg and completed in 1897.
Dinosaurmania

The ultimate action figures, plus many genuinely informative as well as fun activities and kits, are found in the TriceraShop here in the National Museum of Natural History.
Dumbarton Oaks

The collections of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art here are among the most important in the world. The elegant Federal-style house was the site of the 1944 meetings that ultimately led to the founding of the United Nations. The galleries are closed until 2007 (see Dumbarton Oaks Museum and Gardens).
Freer Gallery of Art

The amazing Peacock Room is among the finest and most subtle examples of interior design found anywhere in the city. Created for a London home by James McNeill Whistler, and recreated here, the elegantly painted walls and ceiling served as a complement to a collection of blue-and-white porcelain. A discerning collection of works from Asia fills the spacious display areas.
Freeze-Dried Astronaut Ice Cream

Everyone should try this at least once. It has an odd texture but it really is a dessert treat for space-farers. In the National Air and Space Museum.
Geodes and Fossils

The Gem and Mineral store has beautiful examples of geodes – sparkling crystals grown within hollows of other stones – and of fossils embedded in various matrixes. In the National Museum of Natural History.