# Smithsonian

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smithsonian/668961>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 16, 2013, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smithsonian/668961 "2013-09-16T11:54:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smithsonian/668961/41 "2013-09-18T17:55:37Z")

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If a shutdown of the federal government happens next month, it could have a real impact on what is open during your visit. You might want to keep an eye on that before making your bookings.

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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:** [September 19, 2013, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smithsonian/668961/42 "2013-09-19T00:56:05Z")

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There are public transportation methods to get from both Dulles and BWI to downtown Washington. Yes, if the flight into them is only $50 less than to National, it’s not worth it. If it’s $100 less, it’s hard to tell. If it’s $200 less, it’s probably worth it to fly from them. I just wanted to say this because a lot of people assume that because BWI contains the word “Baltimore,” it’s a long distance from Washington. It’s not. It’s 32 miles from the center of D.C., while Dulles is 27 miles from the center of D.C. and National is 4 miles from the center of D.C.

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**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2013, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smithsonian/668961/43 "2013-09-19T12:24:15Z")

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> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#):
>
> …url][http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml](http://www.nationalcathedral.org/about/darthVader.shtml)
> 
> [Darth Vader grotesque - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darth_Vader_Grotesque)
> 
> \> It’s Episcopalian, so they are pretty laid back in terms of doctrine and won’t  
> \> pressure you into anything . . .
> 
> I’m not sure why you even bother to mention this. You can walk around the grounds of the cathedral all you want. There are organized tours and other things inside or you can walk around by yourself in certain cases. (There’s a “suggested contribution.”) Obviously they know that they are a tourist attraction and that most people standing outside looking at the building aren’t asking to be converted.

Really. I think we took a tour, then walked around the cathedral & grounds. Plus the nice giftshop. Definitely worth a visit.

The [Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception](http://www.nationalshrine.com/site/c.osJRKVPBJnH/b.4747303/k.C02F/Visit.htm) is accessible my Metro & beautiful in a gaudy, neo-Byzantine way. And I promise the Roman Caholics won’t try to throw holy water on anybody!

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