Summer at the Museum(s)

As one of the few (maybe the only?) WAIP fellows to work at a museum, I’d like to offer some advice to future WAIPers who want to take advantage of the amazing DC museum scene.

First, get off the Mall. There are some great things to see there, of course, but in my opinion some of the less centrally located museums (especially the non-Smithsonian ones) are too often overlooked.

If you want to see the super-popular Smithsonian museums (such as Air & Space and American History), plan your visit time strategically. Weekends and holidays are often packed (especially in the summer).

Get a tour if you can! Many museums offer free tours or gallery talks on specific days. Check their online calendars to see what programming they’re doing.

Try to plan out when you’re going to visit different places--it’s easy to get overwhelmed and forget to do something on your original list, and your WAIP semester will undoubtedly end before you know it.

Use your lunch break. Or the half-hour when you finish work early, or the hour before a late study tour: since many museums in DC are free, you can see them a little bit at a time (and fit more things into your busy schedule!).

Finally, take pictures!! (If it’s allowed, of course.) Whether for the WAIP instagram or your personal use, you’ll want to remember this semester forever.

Have fun!

-Kait Gilioli