National Museum of American History

The National Museum of American History is the Smithsonian museum where the country's pop culture and its turning points sit side by side, and it is one of the easiest big museums in Washington to enjoy. Admission is free and no tickets are needed, so you can walk in from the Mall or Constitution Avenue. The centerpiece is the Star-Spangled Banner, the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and inspired the national anthem, shown in a dim, climate-controlled chamber at the heart of the building. Around it, the collection of more than 1.7 million objects shows up in famous pieces: the ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz, in the entertainment galleries; Julia Child's actual home kitchen, moved from Massachusetts; the gowns and china of the First Ladies collection, one of the museum's most loved exhibits; and the lunch counter from the Greensboro Woolworth's where four Black college students sat down in 1960 and helped launch the sit-in movement. Elsewhere you find Lincoln's top hat, the portable desk where Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, early computers, vintage cars and trains, and galleries on money, democracy and immigration. Families have two strong extras: Wegmans Wonderplace for children under six and Draper Spark!Lab for hands-on invention, both open Wednesday through Sunday. The honest notes: the museum is large, and exhibits rotate or close for renovation, so a favorite object may be off view; and as a federal museum it can close during funding lapses, so check status before you go. Fit: families, first-timers, history buffs, and anyone who wants a museum that feels like a conversation about the country.

How to read the building: the museum is organized loosely by floor, with transportation, technology and innovation on the first floor, the flag and American identity on the second, and the presidency, the military and pop culture on the third. The second-floor flag hall is the natural starting point, and the Mall entrance brings you in on that level. From there, decide on two or three themes rather than trying to see everything. The American Presidency exhibition, which includes Lincoln's top hat and objects from every administration, pairs well with the First Ladies gallery nearby. The entertainment galleries, with the ruby slippers and objects from television, music and sports, are the favorite of teenagers. The food and Julia Child galleries are a delight for anyone who cooks. Elsewhere, the transportation hall's locomotives and early automobiles appeal to anyone who likes machines, and the galleries on money and on American democracy give useful context before a Capitol tour. The museum also runs live demonstrations and performances on some days, from cooking to historical reenactments, which are listed on its calendar and are a good way to give children a break from reading labels.

Visit craft: arrive near opening and go straight to the Star-Spangled Banner before the crowds build, then the third floor's pop culture galleries, then lunch. Midweek in fall and winter is the quietest season. Check the museum's site or ask at the information desk which galleries are open, since rotations are common in a building this size. Young children will be happiest in Wonderplace and Spark!Lab, which open later and close earlier than the main museum.

Practicals: Constitution Avenue between 12th and 14th Streets NW, with entrances on Constitution Avenue (first floor) and Madison Drive on the Mall (second floor). The nearest Metro stops are Federal Triangle and Smithsonian. Open daily except December 25. There are cafes inside. Pair it with Natural History next door, the Washington Monument across the street, or the African American History museum just to the west.