A lot of the fellows serve cities outside Washington. Although most of them serve in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. itself, the other satellite fellows don’t get to see or experience things in the US capital as they are supposed to do.
For Satellite fellows, coming to D.C. is an opportunity to meet the community of fellows that is spread all over the country where they come together once every four months to learn and socialize at the same time.
The below are some of the interesting things that fellow can do if they arrived to D.C. early, or if they managed to find time after the immersion sessions. The good thing about all the below is that they are for FREE. Yes all admission is free. Just you have to take into consideration that you will go through security every time you enter a museum (I did once 6 museums a day and it was a little bit frustrating at the end after opening my bag multiple times for the Security to check it).
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- You can see modern art sculptures in the garden as well as galleries for famous artists that change from time to time.
- National Air and Space Museum
- I loved this museum as I was able to enter one of the satellites and experience how astronauts live up in the space. Also you can see the Wright brothers first plane prototype and one of Amelia Earhart’s planes.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Since this one is the most recent, and probably the most interesting for some, you have to book an entrance ticket in advance, which is also for free.
- National Museum of American History
- The interesting thing about this is that they have dresses for the first ladies, and the first American flag.
- National Museum of the American Indian:
- This was one of the most touching experiences I had. I really felt how bad the native Americans were treated at that time. You got to see the different cultures of the first people in both Americas.
- National Museum of Natural History:
- This is very interesting because it has different sections about geography, animals, and cultures… the gems section was my favorite.
- National Portrait Gallery
- They have portraits that are very old and drawn by famous artists. Also, they have a section for all the presidents of the United States.
- Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
- Honestly, there is a lot to see here, unless you like mummified animals and you like castles’ architecture.
- National Archives Museum
- The major thing to see here is the constitution of the United States in real.
