This article is part of FT Globetrotter’s new guide to Washington DC
The vibe in Washington keeps shifting with each administration, and the Smithsonian’s army of museums sometimes struggles to maintain its independence. But despite the controversies, the enduring miracle of the capital is just how dense it is with art — and, at a time of escalating ticket prices everywhere else, how many of its institutions are free.
In one energetic morning on the Mall, you can hop from vintage jets to Chinese scrolls, Lakota quilts, presidential portraits and old masters — and then return for more, day after day, all without spending a dime. This concentration of superb, mostly government-owned collections makes real the promise of a truly democratic American culture, and it gets me every time.
Here is a scavenger hunt of my top 10 artworks, rooms and quiet corners in DC, across its great museums.
Note: we’ve made a Google Maps list of Ariella’s favourite works. Save it for when you next need it. (On your phone, click “Save list”. You can access it anytime in the “You” section in your Google Maps.)
