Washington DC’s Phillips Collection was one of the country’s first museum of modern art, opening in 1921 in what was the home of Duncan Phillips.  From its inception with merely a few paintings, the collection has grown until it moved to a larger space and officially became a museum.

At its current location among the brownstones of Dupont Circle (1600 21st Street NW, on the corner of Q and 21st), the Phillips has two buildings full of art and a outdoor courtyard for sculpture display.  The permanent collection includes works from American and European impressionists, post-impressionist, and modern artists.  You’ll also see some of the great masters, including Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Klee, Monet, Picasso, and Matisse.

Current exhibits on display are:  Early Moderns: A Celebration of Gifts from Gifford and Joann Phillips, running March 21-September 6, 2009, and this is not that CAFÉ, running May 7-December 2009.

The Phillips Collection has be reached via Metro’s red line Dupont Circle stop.

Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm, and Sunday, 11 am – 6 pm.  Thursday night offers extended evening hours, and the museum is open until 8:30 pm.  On the first Thursday of the month, Phillips after 5 offers jazz performances, food and drink, gallery talks and film, running from 5 – 8:30 pm.  Sunday concerts are also offered October – May.

Weekday admission to the permanent collection is by donation.  Weekend admission and special exhibits are $12 for adults, $10 for student and seniors (62+).  Tickets can be purchased online through Ticketmaster or at the museum.

Photo credit:   daquella manera @flickr

Since I don’t have a money tree growing in my backyard, a visit to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the closest I’m going to get to the source of money.  They’ve even named their website Money Factory.

The “money factory” is located in Washington DC and Fort Worth, Texas, and it’s here that all the Federal Reserve notes are printed.  They also engrave all the White House invitations, and print other security documents.  These are the folks that really can show you the money.

FREE tours are offered at both the DC and Fort Worth location.  You’ll see a short movie about the process of making money, and then tour the facility as you watch paper and ink combine to make millions of dollars.  Along the way you’ll pick up some interesting money facts and trivia.  The tour itself (excluding wait time) takes a bit over an hour.  It ends at the money gift shop, where you can buy novelty items as well as find serious collectibles.

The DC location is at 14th & C Streets NW, and in Fort Worth at 9000 Blue Mound Road.  The respective websites will list all the information you need to take the FREE tour.  There are some quirks and exceptions about the tour, and it can be impacted by the Homeland Security threat level, so check for details as part of your planning.

The tour is FREE, and is very popular.  It’s crowded during the summer, the most popular time to visit, but it also makes a great rainy afternoon activity.  The tour is appropriate for school age children, but younger ones might be bored.

Photo credit:  wikimedia

Enjoy viewing the sights and the  colorful gardens around the Netherlands Carillon, on the Virginia shore of the Potomac River.  This spot borders the northern end of Arlington National Cemetery (adjacent to the US Marine Corps War Memorial), and overlooks the District of Columbia.

Among thousands of tulips on the grounds, along with lots of other flowers,  is a bell tower — a carillon — that was a gift to our country from the Netherlands.  There are 50 bells in the carillon, the largest about 7 feet in diameter and weighing in and over 12,000 pounds, and the smallest measuring about 9 inches in diameter and weighing about 35 pounds.  The bells are programmed to chime the hour 10 am – 6 pm daily.  They also ring out in special concerts.

Stairs lead up to an observation platform, and from there a smaller staircase leads up to the glass enclosed bell cabin.  Climb the stairs for the view, or enjoy the sights from ground level.

The grounds are part of the National Park Service, and are large enough enjoy a picnic, toss a frisbee, or walk around looking at the tulips, the carillon, and the Iwo Jima monument.  Admission to the park is free.  Parking can be difficult.

It’s a great place to spend an afternoon, but my favorite time is dusk.  As you watch the sun go down you can also see the lights of the monuments and the city come on.  It’s a special time just before nightfall.

Photo credit: cliff1066 @flickr

Don’t let down time at an airport get you down.  If you have downtime at Dulles Airport (Washington DC), you can visit the Steven F. Udvar- Hazy Center, companion museum to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (located on the National Mall).  Between the two museums, the Smithsonian offers the largest aviation and space collection in the world.

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

Throughout Barack Obama’s campaign, I read many stories about the quilters who were making quilts and wall hangings to commemmorate his run for the Presidency.  Now that Obama is President Elect, these quilts take on more significance.

An exhibt has been organized in Washington, DC for the Inauguration.  Check out Kyra’s post at Black Threads, Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of Our 44th President for more details about time and place.

For more about Obama and presidential quilts:

Club captures presidential race in unique quilt

East St. Louis quilter selected for inaugural exhibit

History attractions prepare for inaugural in DC

(Whether you agree or disagree with Obama as President, you’ll have to agree that this movement has given quilts and quilters more recognition.)