Newseum

The Newseum is one of Washington, DC's newest museums and attractions. It's a museum of--News. The story of news and current events past and present and how journalists covered those stories and bring news stories to you today.

The Newseum is large. Exhibits are on seven levels. Permanent exhibits include a display of Pulitzer Prize winning photographs, the Berlin Wall, 9/11, today's newspaper front pages from every state and around the world, the development of broadcast and now Internet journalism, and freedom of the press. The lower level has gallery space space for changing exhibits.

The Newseum bills itself as the "world's most interactive museum." Visitors have the ability to get close to every exhibit, interactively investigate a news story, and even appear as a TV newscaster.

A dining area, called "The Food Section," is provided in the lower level.

Adults will be interested in learning details about major news stories they remember. Photographers will enjoy the photos, photojournalism displays, and variety of cameras on exhibit. Children will be taken with the many hands-on exhibits making the Newseum a great family destination.

The terrace on top level provides the most spectacular view of the United States Capitol and Pennsylvania Avenue that can be seen from a public building.

Adult admission at this writing was $20. (Check for frequent family discount promotions.)

I've been to the Newseum three times now, once in it's previous location in Virginia and twice while at it's current prime location on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and the Capitol, next to the Canadian Embassy. It's so detailed and so interactive that I feel I could go back again and see things that I haven't yet seen. Last time I went they had the communication tower from the World Trade Center, the cabin in which the Unibomber lived, the FBI replica of the Chevy Caprice from which the DC Sniper took his shots (quite overwhelming for those of us who are from here, and lived through that nightmare), a guard tower and complete sections of the Berlin Wall, a pickup truck that was shot up in Bosnia, a wall of journalists who gave their lives for their jobs, an entire section dedicated to the FBI's interesting relationship to the media, amongst other artifacts of recent and not so recent media history. They've since added a section on the hunt for John Wilkes Booth (based on the facinating book "Manhunt"), Woodstock, and sports media and photography. I will forewarn that the Newseum will likely appeal to Americans far more than folks from other countries, as it is largely based on the US Media. That is not to say that someone from outside of the US wouldn't have a good time, but it is geared internally.

And if this weren't enough, the food court and associated resturaunt are incredible, being set up by Wolfgang Puck.