# Please suggest D.C. historical museums/attractions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 6, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366 "2007-11-06T01:44:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366/21 "2007-11-06T15:51:28Z")

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You do realize that you could spend two weeks just touring the various museums of the Smithsonian, don’t you? Two days isn’t enough time to see much of anything.

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**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366/22 "2007-11-06T16:04:54Z")

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You should also know that the American History museum is closed for renovations, but some items are on display at Air & Space.

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**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366/23 "2007-12-01T12:19:34Z")

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[QUOTE=Wendell Wagner]  
You do realize that you could spend two weeks just touring the various museums of the Smithsonian, don’t you? Two days isn’t enough time to see much of anything.  
[/QUOTE]

Thanks for all of the tips everyone!

I’ve been to DC three times before and have seen many of the Smithsonian museums … plus we will probably take the family in the next couple of years and see those again … that’s why I was looking for some other recommendations.

I don’t think anyone mentioned the museum re coins/currency (I was tempted to refer to it as the mint but don’t think that is right is it?)

Driving to Baltimore, Alexandria or Annapolis is tempting me because I might not get to those cities any time soon …any suggestions on the latter two or additional sugestions on Baltimore?

If I drive, what is the best time of day (before rush is fine, I’m an early riser) to make those trips and not hit major traffic?

Thanks again!!!

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**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2007, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-suggest-d-c-historical-museums-attractions/425366/24 "2007-12-01T16:04:16Z")

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[QUOTE=Shagnasty]  
I have heard great things about the Spy Museum but I don’t think that is in D.C. proper.  
[/QUOTE]

The Spy Museum is in D.C., but outside of D.C. is the [National Cryptologic Museum.](http://www.nsa.gov/museum/)  
Its exhibits are not targeted at children and it has really neat stuff if you’re into that sort of thing.  
This was the exhibit that impressed me the most:

> [@](#):
>
> The collection includes an extremely rare copy of the first book ever written in the Western world on the subject of cryptology, Polygraphiae by Johannes Trithemius. Although an abbot, some believed his works on steganography and cryptology were inspired by demonic influences, an accusation he denied but didn’t fight. Because of the controversial matter, Polygraphiae was not published until 1518, two years after his death.

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