The Smithsonian National Museum of American History features the landmark transportation exhibition “America on the Move.” 18 multimedia dioramas, each re-creating a specific time and place using artifacts, images, and sound, demonstrate how road and rail transportation shaped America, from before 1876 to 2000.
Choices
At the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, must-see exhibits include the massive Southern Railway No. 1401, a 280-ton passenger locomotive built in 1926; Jupiter, a Baldwin-built narrow gauge 4-4-0; and a 19th-century streetcar. The museum also displays John Bull, one of the oldest surviving steam locomotives in North America. This 1831 English-made locomotive is displayed on a vintage iron truss bridge that once served the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad.
When to go
The museum is open every day of the year except Christmas Day. Admission is free and no tickets are required. Spring sees the renowned cherry trees in bloom at the nearby Tidal Basin. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a huge outdoor exposition of living cultural heritage, takes place each year around Independence Day on the National Mall.
Good to know
All visitors are screened through metal detectors upon entry. The fewer items you bring along to the museum, the faster your entry.
Worth doing
Explore the National Mall, where you can visit the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and several war memorials.
Don’t miss
Listen to the re-created conversation between the fireman and engineer of Southern Railway No. 1401 as they discuss their upcoming run. Take a full-immersion multimedia journey around Chicago’s famous loop as it was in 1959 aboard L car 6719.
Getting there
Public transportation is the best option. The Metrorail subway offers convenient access to the museum from its Smithsonian and Federal Triangle stations. A DC Circulator bus loops around the museums.
Location: 1300 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Phone: 202-633-1000
Website: americanhistory.si.edu
E-mail: info@si.edu
