I have an upcoming trip to DC with my son...

This fall I will make my second trip to DC in the last 4 years. The school where my kids go take the 5th and 6th graders to DC every other year. The parents have an opportunity to go as chaperones. My wife and I went when my daughter's 6th grade class went. That trip was a whirlwind trip that I half remember. It some point my wife, daughter and I had about a 2 hour window in which we cold do what we wanted, so we went to the air and space museum.

This time around my wife is not going and I hear that our time window to do what we want has expanded. You know what that means...right?

@green18 and @cpm9ball get your minds out of the gutter...and think numismatics!

I'm hoping to visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History and view the National Numismatic Collection display.

I'm sure there are folks here who have visited this display, any advice, anything you'd do differently to maximize your time when visiting the display?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I resent that! The last time my mind was in a D.C. gutter was a very long time ago. I've been in SW Florida gutters since 1978.

Chris

 

I guess if you have to be in the gutters of somewhere, its better that its in SW Florida...color me jealous.

 

Bureau of Engraving and Printing
U.S. Department of the Treasury?
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/tours.html

 

Unless it has changed over the last few years, time isn't much of an issue. While there are some great rarities not to be missed, the display is quite small.

 

Yeah, 99.99% of the collection is locked away in the vaults. Pictures I've seen of the display area makes it look about the size of a walk in closet.

 

Yup, that is about it. If there are more than a few people there is no room to move.

 

Yea last time I went it was pretty small. I was actually surprised to find it haha.

 

I resemble that remark........

 

One of the other things I'm thinking about is trying to make it to the Mint Branch office (not sure the exact term) but I was told by whomever maintains the facebook page for the Mint there's a quarter exchange there....can't quit find the info I had on it...but I'll prolly try to pick up a roll of what ever they're handing out at the time.

 

When you folks travel, do you take buses or the train?

 

we take bus...do a straight thru drive. Its about horrible...but its a good time once we get there.

 

I was there about 3 years ago. The coin display is well worth seeing but it is not very large. I'm very glad we saw it. The BEP is also worth the time. See it too. I'm pretty sure you have to sign up for a tour well in advance though. We didn't get to the Mint branch.

 

I'm in DC Daily ,if you like I'll try and pick up some information to attractions around town as well as a detailed area map. That way you can plan ahead to better use your free time. There are bike rentals just about everywhere so you can make better time than walking or taking a taxi. Most of the attractions are around the Mall.
But the Mall is pretty huge. You may also try Google any events that may be going on during your visit.
As different festivals tend to make getting around town even harder than normal . ...if there is a normal lol.

 

that'd cool, a detailed map of the mall would be good. Let me know what u find I'd pay postage.

 

Ok will do . ..

 

That's what she said...

 

DP...

 

@phankins11, my wife and I are taking our kids to D.C. today for a "fun trip". We're planning on hitting the Smithsonian and (hopefully for my sake) the BEP.

Want us to scout anything out for you while we're there?

 

@phankins11 , I was just in DC last week. The Lincoln Memorial was very cool. It was my favorite. The Korean Memorial is also very cool. IMO, much better than the Vietnam Memorial. When visiting the "Mall", be prepared to walk a lot. Things look close, but I walked from 1/2 mile north of the White House (my hotel), to the Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, WWII Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument and then back to the hotel. It was a lot of walking.

There is a very cool statue of John Paul Jones in the Mall. It's tucked away on it's own little island. It's too bad really. It's off the normal trail, but a cool statue. He was the first captain to get the Brits to surrender to a US Naval Ship carrying the Stars and Stripes.

I also went to 2 of the Smithsonian buildings. The Money Display in the Museum of US History was underwhelming. It's small, poorly lit and not very well documented. I did enjoy this building overall. They are going to open a new US Money display in the near future.

DO NOT EAT the hotdogs offered by the food trucks! I had a "polish" sausage and I can't remember when I had a worse meal. The only redeeming factor was the mustard!

Maps of the mall are readily available. I was on business, but had some free time on Sunday afternoon (mall walk) and Wednesday morning (Smithsonian) before my flight. It's inspiring. Although I found the grounds to need some TLC.