DC Extra - Natural History Museum, Freer Gallery, Arboretum

Our previous visit to DC was during the government lockdown in January 2020, and many museums were closed. So we eagerly took advantage of this longer stay to visit as many museums as time allowed.

At the National Museum of Natural History, we explored the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals. The Hope Diamond was probably the most famous stone, but there were countless more that were larger and/or more beautiful.

At the Freer Gallery of Art, there was a special exhibit showcasing the work of Japanese painter Hokusai. I had always admired his distinctive "waves," and was surprised to learn about his love for Manga art and his passion for teaching other artists how to achieve his mastery.

Other highlights from the Freer included ancient treasures from India and China, and late 19th century works like the Peacock Room with dragons painted by James Whistler, and dreamy Japan-inspired paintings by Thomas Dewing with elaborate gold frames by his friend, architect Stanford White.

November was the perfect month to visit the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum, as the tiny, perfectly formed leaves of many bonsai trees were red, orange and gold. There were many impressively old trees, but the real stunner was the nearly 400-year-old white pine (green tree at center right) from Hiroshima, Japan. The tree and the family that had cared for it for six generations survived the nuclear bomb, and was gifted to the U.S. by that same family in 1976. To learn more, read the remarkable story.