DC Day 4: Holocaust Museum + Smithsonians

I started out Sunday earlier than everyone else. I got up early and got ready, leaving a sleepy Adam in bed. Then I took the Metro down to the Mall and made the short walk to the Holocaust Museum to wait in line. The Holocaust Museum is a popular destination. I tried to get tickets before our visit back in March, but it was full. They hand out tickets the day of on a first come basis.

When I arrived, there was only about 10 people in front of me. The line forms in an alleyway alongside the museum with benches. So I settled in on a comfy bench which would be my home for the next 1.5 hours. The line gradually got huge. The fam met me at 9:45, just in time for the tickets to be handed out before the 10 am opening (each person in line can collect up to 20 free tickets). We got the 10:15 time slot, but they let us into the exhibit right away.

Photos aren't allowed inside. It was a really moving experience. The museum is very well done and follows the rise of the Nazi regime and what they did to the Jews and others that didn't fit in with their "ideal." We took our time in the exhibit and were in there from 10-12:30.

We grabbed a quick lunch at the Holocaust Museum Cafe before heading down The Mall to the National Archives.

We had a 1:30 reservation at the National Archives which allowed us to bypass the long line and immediately enter through security. Once there, we made our way up to the Charters of Freedom rotunda where we saw The Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, and Constitution. Pretty amazing. We looked around at other displays but only stayed for an hour.

Next, we made a brief stop at the Sculpture Garden,

photo from mom

 before entering the National Gallery of Art West building. The West Building houses all of the classical art. My favorite section was the Impressionists, of course.

We saw Little Dancer Aged Fourteen by Degas,

Monet's Rouen Cathedral, West Facade in Daylight

Monet's The Japanese Footbridge,

Van Gogh's Self-Portrait,

 Van Gogh's Roses,

Van Gogh's The Olive Orchard,

and Monet's Woman with a Parasol (Madame Monet and Her Son).

On the classical side, I enjoyed Vermeer's Lacemaker,

and Da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci. The only da Vinci in North & South America!

By then, Dad, Christine and Adam were eager for a break. So they went and relaxed with gelato for Christine and beer for Dad and Adam in the lobby cafe while mom and I checked out the modern art in the East building. I was really disappointed that Matisse's cutouts and Pollock's Lavender Mist weren't on display.

But we did see other great pieces like Braque's Harbor,

Kandinsky's Improvisation 31 (Sea Battle),

Picasso's Nude Woman,

 Picasso's Still Life,

Picasso's Harlequin Musician,

and Mondrian's Tableau No. IV.

After the museum, we decided to split up with Dad, Christine and Adam heading down to the game (with a stop in Maryland!) and Mom and I heading over to the National Portrait Gallery. There we appreciated all the Presidential Portraits. Especially this unfinished piece of George Washington -

Mom and I met back up with everyone by Nationals Ballpark at 6. Once again, I have many photos to share from the game, so I'll save that for another post.