Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
and start the hike at the top of the escalator by the brown Metro pole. GPS: N38
53.318' / W77 01.701'
The Hike
Begin at the Smithsonian Metro stop and turn right toward the Freer and Sackler Galleries. These
house Asian art and some American collections. Walk along the mall on the clay path. This portion of
the National Mall is home to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, held at the end of June. The festival fo-
cuses on three different cultures every year and highlights the various art forms of each one, including
dance, music, and cuisine. The red building on your right is the Smithsonian Castle, which houses the
offices of the institute. Farther along, in front of the original Smithsonian Museum, the Arts and Indus-
tries Building, is an old-fashioned carousel.
Continue on, then leave the path at the entrance to the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
The garden is below street level and features works of contemporary art situated around a small re-
flecting pool. Exit the garden at the far end and rejoin the clay path. Walk past the National Air and
Space Museum and, at 4th Street, turn right at the National Museum of the American Indian. This mu-
seum is the newest on the mall and has one of the best museum cafeterias. Foods from the many native
regions, in both North and South America, are available.
From the Museum of the American Indian, walk up to Independence Avenue. Turn left and walk to
1st Street and turn left. One of the oldest in the nation, the US Botanic Garden displays plants of his-
torical and environmental significance. Take a stroll through desert, rain forest, and lush foliage in the
different rooms. The gardens offer special programs including yoga, cooking classes, and plant educa-
tion classes.
Walk along 1st Street, right in front of the US Capitol. This is the west side of the building; as you
face it the House of Representatives is on the right and the Senate is on the left. The statue of Freedom
stands atop the dome. Walk along the Reflecting Pool, then turn left on Pennsylvania Avenue, left on
3rd Street, and right at Madison Drive, heading back down the mall.
Walk through the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden. This garden also features modern art,
including a giant typewriter eraser and a leaning stack of chairs. There is a pond in the middle of the
garden that, in winter, is used as a skating rink; the rest of the year, it has a fountain.
Follow the path past the National Museum of Natural History, where you can see the Hope Dia-
mond or catch a movie at the IMAX Theater. Just beyond is the National Museum of American His-
tory. This was once called “The Nation's Attic,” as it is where you can find objects of American cultur-
al history such as Julia Child's kitchen and Hank Aaron's baseball glove. The recently restored Amer-
ican flag that flew over Fort McHenry and inspired the “Star-Spangled Banner” is in the main hall.
From here, return to the trailhead and Metro stop.
