7 reasons to take a Smithsonian Tour
- Laura Bruckmann
- Apr 14
- 5 min read
Visiting the Smithsonian is a must-do for visitors to Washington DC. If you only have 1 day in Washington, this is one of our top recommendations.
The Smithsonian Institution was established by law in 1846. The original funding was provided by James Smithson who bequeathed his fortune to the United States of America. Shortly after the founding, a Castle was built on the National Mall, opening in 1855. In subsequent years, a National Museum building was erected next door to the Castle and eventually thematic museums were created along the National Mall.
With just a bit of research, it is plain to see why the Smithsonian regularly tops the list of attractions in Washington DC. There are 21 museums, eleven of which are along the National Mall, each focusing on a special area of the collection. Overall, there are a dizzying array of options for how to spend your time. Our Smithsonian Highlights tour breaks down the Smithsonian Institution and makes it simple to enjoy.
Below are some frequently asked questions about the Smithsonian and our Smithsonian Highlights tour. Use the links below to jump to your question.
If the museums are free, do I really need to take a Smithsonian tour?
We think so! The logistics of coordinating which museums to visit, how to get tickets if needed, what to see in the museums, and how to find those treasures once you are inside can be daunting. Taking a tour allows us to handle all of that for you and add the enjoyment of storytelling to your experience. With the opportunity to ask questions in your small group, a tour is clearly the best way to maximize your time at the Smithsonian.
The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex. How do you choose which collections to visit?
Along the Mall itself is the Museum of the American Indian, the Air & Space Museum, the Hirshorn, the African Art Museum, the Asian Art Museum, the Museum of African American History, the Museum of American History, and the Natural History Museum. Each of these buildings houses treasures of the Smithsonian collection and most rotate their exhibits so each time you visit there is something new to see. Smithsonian tours can simplify your options. Our Smithsonian Highlights tour takes you to the three most popular museums: the Museum of Natural History, the Museum of American History, and the Air & Space Museum.
Each museum collection contains millions of items. How do you decide what to see?
This can be the hardest part of visiting the Smithsonian. With so many amazing objects, you could spend a day at each museum. So with your limited time in DC, you have to be more selective among what is out on display. Our guides have combed through the museums for the most iconic and popular items on display. In a three hour tour, we’ll take you to see the Hope Diamond, the Star-Spangled Banner, the Ruby Red Slippers, and Neil Armstrong’s Spacesuit, plus many more treasures.
Each museum is hundreds of thousands of square feet. How do you find the items you are most interested in seeing once you’re inside?
Each of the museums has its own website and building maps. Helpful volunteers can help orient you to the museum when you enter. However, if you’re like us, it’s easy to get distracted by other exhibits along the way and the buildings are so massive it is easy to lose your way.
On a Smithsonian tour, your guide knows the museums inside and out and will guide you right from one highlight to another. Need a restroom or a water fountain on your National Air and Space Museum tour? No problem, we will get you to the nearest one. Would you prefer an elevator in the Museum of Natural History? Your guide knows how to navigate each floor of the building using stairs, elevators, and escalators to make your trip as convenient as possible.
While the museums are free, several require timed tickets. How do you get them and what would be a good time?
Smithsonian tickets are managed by the specific museum. It can be hard to know when tickets will be made available and if you don’t book quickly they can sell out. Some Smithsonian museums tickets will allow you to arrive early while others prefer that you don’t start arriving until the ticketed time.
Unscripted Tours books tickets in advance following each museum’s particular policies. You won’t have to worry about a thing as your guide will have your tickets, scan them for the group and make sure that you arrive at the perfect time to enjoy the museum.
So many impressive objects to see, but do you have time to read all of the information?
Many of the items that you’re seeing are priceless objects from history. Each has a unique story and relationship to the museum collections and perhaps to your daily life. While information placards are provided it can be time consuming to read your way through a museum.
Taking a tour allows you to look and listen to the story at the same time. Our knowledgeable guides will give you the need to know information and the insider stories about each object. Storytelling is one of the hallmarks of our tours and will make your three hours together go by in a flash.
After seeing all of those amazing things, what if you have more questions?
Even if you walk through the whole museum and read all of the posted information, you may have more questions. It can be hard to get ready answers about a specific object or how it relates to something you’ve seen before.
Walking with a guide throughout your tour, means that you get to know one another. Your guide will better be able to answer your questions because they have learned more about you. Each of our guides also brings years of study and experience to their role and can often suggest additional reading materials, related objects to see, or even other destinations that relate to your question. And if you’ve found that perfect Final Jeopardy question that your guide doesn’t know, they can contact our team in real time and usually get an answer for you in just a few moments.
Now that you know more about the museums, it's time to book your Smithsonian tour today! With small groups, our available tours book quickly.
Comments