Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.

During our September road trip south, Janet and I arrived in Washington, D.C., in the late afternoon. Before our sunset walk along the National Mall, we visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The museum was huge, with so many interesting things to see! We especially enjoyed the dinosaur fossils, exhibits about human history and evolution, and the amazing collections of colorful crystals, minerals, and gemstones. Unfortunately, we had limited time and only managed to explore about 35% of the museum. There was so much more to discover, and we could have easily spent an entire day there. We really wished we had more time! It was a fascinating visit and definitely a place worth coming back to. September 2026