Family fun at the Newseum – Kids get in free!

Only one museum in Washington offers everything from the Berlin Wall, Pulitzer Prize photographs, a 4-D theater and Elvis. It’s the Newseum. And through Labor Day, there’s one more great reason to visit — kids get in free. The Newseum’s summer “Family Fun Deal” waives the regular thirteen dollar admission for kids 18 and under. Find out why the Times of London called it one of the “world’s coolest museums.”

“This summer, we’re taking a great family experience and enhancing it with the Family Fun Deal,” said Joe Urschel, Newseum executive director and senior vice president. “The Newseum is a great place for families to experience history and share stories across the generations, and it’s also a lot of fun, with our Elvis exhibit, 4-D theater, interactives and more.”

“Family Fun Deal” tickets, like all Newseum tickets, are valid for two consecutive days.

In March, the Newseum opened “Elvis: His Groundbreaking, Hip-Shaking, Newsmaking Story,” an exhibit that includes rare artifacts on loan from Graceland. Other temporary exhibits now on display include “Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss,” “First Dogs: Presidential Pets in the White House,” and “Inside Tim Russert’s Office.” Popular permanent Newseum features include the 4-D film “I-Witness,” the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery, the Berlin Wall Gallery and the NBC News Interactive Newsroom.

The Newseum opened in April 2008 and offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology, interactives and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum takes visitors behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made.

The Newseum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

For additional information, go to http://www.thedistrict.com/newseum.cfm.

To reserve tickets in advance, click here.

J.D. Salinger Portrait Now on Display

The September 15, 1961 issue of Time magazine had this illustrated portrait of J.D. Salinger by Robert Vickrey on its cover. The National Portrait Gallery received this portrait in 1978 but has not displayed it publicly for over 30 years. Since the recent passing of the reclusive author, the Gallery has decided to hang the painting once again for all to see.

We have all the information you’ll need to plan your visit to the National Portrait Gallery.

No Pictures Please

The National Archives announced that filming, photographing, and videotaping by the public will be prohibited in all exhibition areas in the National Archives Building, beginning February 25, 2010. There is concern that the Charters of Freedom (the Declaration, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights) and other original documents on display were at risk from exposure to flash photography.

For the last 30 years, flash photography has been prohibited. Despite prominent signage and security guards reminding the public of this policy, the documents were subjected to approximately 50,000 flashes each year.

Visitors who want an image of the documents on display in the National Archives Experience may download them at no cost from www.archives.gov , visit the Resource Room adjacent to the Exhibition Hall for a free color copy, or visit the Archives Shop. Find more information on the National Archives.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sygyzy/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Save Some “Wa$hington$” at Historic Mount Vernon

Save some “Wa$hington$” at Historic Mount Vernon this winter season!  Visitors can save $3 per adult and $2 per child with the purchase of a Winter Savings Package, which includes admission and an audio tour plus 10% off at the Shops and a free small beverage with a purchase at the Food Court (requires package purchase). The adult Winter Savings Package is $18 and the youthWinter Savings Package is $11.  Visitors can take advantage of these savings through Visit.MountVernon.org or in person at the Ford Orientation Center. Better hurry though, this deal ends February 28.

Click here for more information on planning your visit to Mt. Vernon.

Photo credit: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

Elvis Sightings in Washington, DC

Elvis exhibit in Washington, DC

Elvis Presley is an entertainment phenomenon. Since his death in 1977, countless depictions of him have been created.

His image is more recognizable now than it was at the pinnacle of his career, and arguably, the face of Elvis is one of the most recognizable human images in history.

The National Portrait Gallery has collected the best images and put them on display in their “Echoes of Elvis” exhibit.

The exhibit runs from January 8 to August 29, 2010. Admission is free.