The Freer Gallery and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery make up the Smithsonian’s Asian Art museum, and can provide a well-rounded look at some art often over-looked.

The Freer Gallery is location on the National Mall at Jefferson Drive at 12th Street SW, and was the first Smithsonian museum dedicated to the fine arts.  In the gallery you’ll find collections of arts from China, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia.  Also smaller displays from the Near East.  You’ll see Japanese screens, ceramics, sculpture, and manuscripts.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery is named for the doctor who donated the original collection.  It is also on the National Mall, at 1050 Independence Avenue SW, and is connected to the Freer by an underground passageway that also serves as exhibition space.  This gallery is home to a beautiful collection of Chinese bronzes and jades, along with painting, lacquer ware, ceramics, metal ware, and sculpture.  There is also a significant collection of Islamic Art.

Both galleries are open daily, 10 am – 5:30 pm, with the exception of Christmas Day.  Admission is FREE.

Photo credit: Unhindered by Talent @flickr

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Visit the Smithsonian Asian Art Museums

Udvar-Hazy is full of exhibits that you may find familiar, including the Enola Gay, an Air France Concorde, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, the Gemini VII space capsule, and the quarantine unit used for the returning crew of Apollo 11.   There are lots of other exhibits that cover both military and private aviation and space exploration.

You’ll also find an IMAX theater, flight simulator, and observation tower.  From the tower you’ll get a nice view of the surrounding area, as well as have a prime viewing spot for watching take offs and landings at Dulles Airport.

Fit your museum viewing time to your available time, and wander through at a comfortable pace.  You can spend hours and hours looking at everything, or just a quick hour to catch the highlights.  Pick up a “flight plan” at the visitor’s center and locate the important displays and artifacts so you don’t miss anything on your must-see list.

The Center is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 10 am to 5:30 pm, with an extended closing time of 6:30 pm during the summer.

Museum admission is FREE; daily parking is $15.  There is a shuttle between the two Air and Space Museums, and between the Center and Dulles Airport.  A taxi from the airport to the museum will run about $12-15.

Photos courtesy of National Air and Space Museum

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Udvar-Hazy Center Near Dulles Airport

Did you know there exists a quilt made by Harriet Tubman?

What about Rosa Parks’ sewing basket?

Fabric with African and African American images

Pearl Bailey’s needlepoint piece

A sewing machine used by Harriet Powers

These and many more Kyra mentions in her list of suggestions. 

After going through Kyra’s list, can you think of others to add?

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Kyra’s Quilting Tips for the New National Museum of African American History