Free museums in Washington DC

#bucketlistreboot Most museums in D.C. are free. However, there is one museum that has the most to offer. The Smithsonian. The story behind it is interesting as well. A former rich English scientist, James Smithson wanted to leave his wealth to his nephew. However, his nephew having passed away before the will could be executed as stipulated and hence the next beneficiary on the will list was the U.S. Government with the provision that they use this money to raise a museum. The delegates tasked to retrieving the inheritance went to London and made sure to get the newest coins for that year. The reason? They wanted to make sure they are getting the full amount of gold provisioned in the will so they can melt in the U.S., otherwise older coins might have been chipped, damaged and might have had a few milligrams of gold shaved here or there. Getting your money’s worth couldn’t be truer. And so they did and the U.S. Government raised The Smithsonian and the many museums this organisation covers to date. Entrance is free and there is always a free intro guided tour included. Additional tours that delve into each section are paid. The vary Smithsonian museums cover many topics from African American culture, Vietnam War to Science and Nature. There is certainly a topic for all groups here for sure. We visited the following museums and would certainly recommend them – National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle) #washingtondc #museums