Washington DC has a plethora of museums. There are the big players, like the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, or the National Archives, but what about the lesser known museums? There are plenty of hidden gems you can find in DC, as well as in Maryland and Virginia. Since it’s winter, we will only be covering indoor museums out of kindness.

Planet Word
The first, lesser known museum is Planet Word, which is untraditional but fascinating. It is located inside an old school on 13th street in Downtown DC, closest to the McPherson Square Metro stop. The museum might be the only one that dedicates itself to the celebration of words and language, hence the name, Planet Word. The docents recommend starting from the third floor and working your way down through the unique exhibits. They cover topics such as various languages, the origins of words, and how language is used to create literature, songs, humor and advertisements. The “Word Wall” is an absolute must-see feature when you are at the museum. You’ll understand once you see it. As someone who has been to the museum at least five times, I can confidently say that it’s one of those places you can’t really experience until you see it yourself.

National Building Museum
Another museum to check out is the National Building Museum, perfect to visit whether you find architecture interesting or not. It’s located in the historic Pension Building on F street in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, right across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro stop. When you enter the building, you are surrounded by a view of the Great Hall held up by eight extremely tall Corinthians columns. As advertised in the name, the National Building Museum strives to educate people about the world that we chose to build and design. The exhibits vary greatly and can focus on a variety of subjects like architecture, landscaping, and engineering. Admission is 10 dollars for adults and seven dollars for youths and seniors. All in all, the National Building Museum provides a unique, in-depth examination on how and why we, as a society, create our buildings and our surroundings the way that we do.

National Museum of the United States Army
If you are willing to drive the extra distance, then the National Army Museum is a place that I would definitely check out, especially for history buffs. The museum is surprisingly extensive with a massive exhibit of all of the major United States wars. The exhibits are extremely engaging with realistic looking soldier figures, screens with old broadcasts, and even tanks used to accompany the signs you can read. Feel free to watch the film shown in the army theater which features a 300 degree screen and sensory elements which make you feel like you are out there on the battlefield. The museum is in Fort Belvoir, about half an hour away from north Arlington. The trip is certainly worth it, especially with free admission and parking.

Visiting a nearby museum is a great way to learn something new, support the community and break up the tough day to day cycle of the winter. If you are interested in visiting a museum soon, then the three listed above are great options that not that many people know about.