Disney in Washington D.C.

[jessfriends]

Are there any Disney or Muppet exhibits in any of the museums in Washington D.C.? I tried to do a search but I didn't find much. I will be traveling there next month for work and planned to go to some museums when I had free time.

 

[Lucky]

This is old but I think most of the items mentioned here are still at the Smithsonian's American History Museum.

http://americanhistory.si.edu/press/releases/disneyland-comes-washington

 

[jessfriends]

I think I remembered hearing about something Disney being in a Smithsonian museum awhile ago but I couldn't recall the specifics. I will actually be at that museum for a party so I hope it's still there there to see.

Thanks!

 

[Redsky89]

I grew up outside of DC. In the American History Museum they have Kermit last time I was there. Can't remember any Disney stuff but wouldn't be surprised if they did have something Disney there.

 

[englanddg]

There is some Disney / Muppet stuff in American History. There is more than Kermit. Miss Piggie, Oscar, Bert, Rowlf, the Swedish Chef, Red Fraggle, Boober Fraggle, Bert, Earnie, Elmo, Fozzie, the Count, Grover, and many others are there.

There's a Dumbo from Disneyland on display there, as well as one of the mouseketeer hats worn by one of hte original mousketeers. A Lion King mask from the broadway musical is on display, as well as sheet music from Pinocchio, and a laser disc (which I actually own) of Fantasia. There is no real "exhibit" about Disney, but if you keep your eyes peeled, there's references all over the place.

There is also a small display of Disneyworld memorabilia next to the TSA exhibit (no, I'm not kidding, that really exists) in Air and Space.

 

[prberk]

You will love the Smithsonian Museums. They line the National Mall (the large public space from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, behind which is another long walk including the reflecting pool famously seen in "Forrest Gump" and ending with the Lincoln Memorial, which itself has an easy-to-miss museum in its base, featuring info on the Memorial and the civil rights March on Washington). The newest memorial, the World War II Memorial, is between the Washington Monument and the reflecting pool.

If you have never been before, prepare to have more things to see than you have time for, if you are only there for work.

The Smithsonian's Museum of American History is as much a "pop culure" museum as it is a museum of "real" American history. You will find a lot of fun things there (like Fonzie's jacket and Archie Bunker's chair and Julia Child's kitchen set), but you will also find some amazing items that were truly central to turning points in American history (like the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner"). Check it out and let us know what you find.

My other small piece of advice is to check out some things, if you have time, that are a few blocks off the mall. You will find the Holocost Museum arrestingly stark, and the Ford's Theatre (next to Hard Rock Café) is interesting to see -- where Lincoln was shot, and the National Portrait Gallery is a few blocks north of the mall. Tourist shops will have tourist-friendly maps that will point all of these spots out to you.

Anyway, let us know what you see!