9. Roll in Dough at The Bureau of Engraving and Printing
No, they won’t exactly let you roll in, touch or take any money here, but it is interesting (and free!) to tour of the moneymaking machines that supply America’s currency. In this quick tour you’ll learn about the evolution of money and see sheets and sheets of bills rolling off the presses. Apparently it’s not considered “real” money until it’s handed over to the Federal Reserve.
10. Gaze at the Masters at the National Gallery of Art
This treasure trove of art and sculpture is where you’ll find America’s only Da Vinci painting, Ginevra de’Benci. There’s also Gaugin’s Self Portrait, Vermeer’s A Lady Writing a Letter and an extensive array of Italian Renaissance, Impressionis and 20th century masterpieces from artists like Botticelli, Titian, Raphael, Rembrandt, Rodin and Degas. Located in the National Mall, many people assume the National Gallery is part of the Smithsonian, but it’s not. It is, however, free to enter just like the many impressive Smithsonian galleries throughout DC (including the Sackler, Hirshhorn and National Museum of African Art). You can certainly get your fill of artistic culture in this town.
