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Tours
Nebula Weekend Tours
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
Bob Craddock has been a Smithsonian geologist for 23 years and has written about the evidence for rainfall on early Mars, the origin of Phobos and Deimos, and the Apollo program. Join him on a guided tour of the space collection and other significant artifacts on display at the National Air and Space Museum. You’ll discover how Charles Lindbergh still lives on through the Spirit of St. Louis, the hidden stories that can be seen on the Apollo 11 command module and Friendship 7, and why some spacesuits and rockets look they way that they do.
Visit to the historic Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, focusing on the history of the Library and architecture of this 1897 structure. Afterwards, there will be a session at the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library, where many of the science fiction materials from those collections will be displayed. The tour will be 3 to 3 1/2 hours.
Smithsonian National Gallery of Art
Do you enjoy the Italian Renaissance or French Impressionism? Do you wonder why Winslow Homer is considered so great? The National Gallery of Art was opened in 1941 around paintings and works of sculpture donated by Andrew Mellon. Today the West Building houses thousands of pieces from the ancient world through the 19th century. Join us for a 1-hour introductory tour of the collection after which you will be free to wander and experience the extensive permanent collection and temporary exhibits.
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Tour and Visitor Center is a great place to learn all about U.S. paper currency. You can see millions of dollars being printed as you walk along the gallery overlooking the production floor! The free 40-minute experience includes an introductory film and gallery tour of the production process. The visitor center includes exhibits and currency products for sale.
Capital Segway These tours must be arranged by the individuals desiring to view the nation’s capitol city on a Segway.