museum

“FUTURES” is the Smithsonian’s first major building-wide exploration of the future and will temporarily reopen the Smithsonian’s oldest museum for the first time in nearly two decades.”

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by Tim Brown

From a press release:

“The historic Arts and Industries Building (AIB), America’s first National Museum, will open its groundbreaking new museum experience “FUTURES” Saturday, Nov. 20.  On view through July 6, 2022, “FUTURES” is the Smithsonian’s first major building-wide exploration of the future and will temporarily reopen the Smithsonian’s oldest museum for the first time in nearly two decades.

The part-exhibition, part-festival will celebrate the Smithsonian’s 175th anniversary with more than 150 awe-inspiring objects, ideas, prototypes and installations that fuse art, technology, design and history to help visitors imagine many possible futures on the horizon. (more…)

“National Building Museum announces exhibition of World Trade Center photographs by Camilo José Vergara to commemorate 9/11”

By Prince Of Petworth


“View east across the Hudson River from Exchange Place, Jersey City, New Jersey; July 4, 1978. Courtesy National Building Museum, © Camilo José Vergara.”

From a press release:

“As the United States approaches the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the National Building Museum announces the new exhibition The Towers of the WTC: 51 Years of Photographs by Camilo José Vergara. Located in the Museum’s second-floor galleries, the exhibition will open on September 4, 2021, and be available through March 6, 2022. (more…)

“Smithsonian to Require All Visitors to Wear Masks Indoors”

By Prince Of Petworth

From a press release:

“Starting Friday, July 30, the Smithsonian will require all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a mask in its museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors will not be required to wear a mask in outdoor areas at the National Zoo and the Smithsonian’s outdoor gardens but must wear a mask to visit indoor areas, including restrooms. (more…)

“Smithsonian To Phase Out Timed-Entry Passes and Extend Hours Starting July 20” (with two big exceptions)

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by angela n.

From a press release:

“Starting Tuesday, July 20, the Smithsonian will no longer require timed-entry passes to visit most of its museums. However, free passes will still be required to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo. In addition, museums on the National Mall will return to their pre-pandemic hours, which for most museums is 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (more…)

“Hokusai’s Breathtaking and Rarely Seen Wave Painting Will Go on View This Month” at the Freer Gallery of Art

By Prince Of Petworth


courtesy National Museum of Asian Art

“Dear PoPville,

Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai may be best known for his iconic woodblock print, “Great Wave off Kanagawa,” (which as you know has been frequently imitated and parodied – including on the side of this Georgetown house) yet few are familiar with another work–a breathtaking painting titled “Breaking Waves”–that was created 15 years later at the height of his career. Now that rarely seen painting, the culmination of Hokusai’s lifelong effort to capture the sea, will go on view when the Freer Gallery of Art (Jefferson Drive at 12th St. S.W.) reopens on Friday, July 16.”

Full release: (more…)

Now at the Hillwood Museum: “Roaring Twenties: The Life and Style of Marjorie Merriweather Post”

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Hillwood museum:

“June 12th 2021 to January 9th 2022

Explore the Jazz Age fashion, decorative art, jewelry, and design that made Marjorie Merriweather Post one of the most influential women of the 1920s.

Hillwood founder Marjorie Merriweather Post was an iconic tastemaker during the era known as the Roaring Twenties. One hundred years later, Hillwood celebrates Post’s influence on the period with a special exhibition focused on her impeccable attire, impressive art collection, and sumptuous design. (more…)

“Today the National Building Museum announces its 2021 Summer Block Party: Inside Out.”

By Prince Of Petworth


“Equilateral Network on the Museum’s West Lawn. Courtesy Lisa Marie Thalhammer.”

From the National Building Museum:

“Today the National Building Museum announced its 2021 Summer Block Party, Inside Out. Where previous years have showcased massive, immersive, crowd-inducing installations in the Great Hall, this year’s iteration features a handful of smaller projects and public programs both within the Museum and on the West Lawn that are better suited to this early post-pandemic era of smaller gatherings and social distancing, including a wooden maze filled with books, a hand-built cathedral truss, public programs, and, thanks to a partnership with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), interactive lawn art and outdoor movies. (more…)

Phari’s Photos – The Arts and Industries Building

By Prince Of Petworth

Photos and words by @Pharipedia. Phari is one of my favorite photographers who contributes to our Instagram. He’s volunteered to share a bit more with us from his adventures around town. Phari lives on Capitol Hill.

“This Fall, in celebration of 175th anniversary of the Smithsonian, the Arts and Industries Building will reopen for the first time in two decades with an exhibition called “FUTURES.” Built in 1881 as the National Museum, it is where people viewed the newly invented telephone and Thomas Edison demonstrated the lightbulb for the first time.”

View More Stories