In Washington, museums can be divided into two categories: those that are "on the Mall" and those that aren't. "The Mall" is D.C.-speak for the strip of land that runs between the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. It's along this Mall that many of Washington's famed marches and protests are held, as well as the legendary Fourth of July fireworks display. The Mall is also home to the Smithsonian Institution, an impressive complex of museums, galleries, and research facilities. The museums that are on the Mall are all free and open to the public. There are some great attractions here for children, but tourists who venture off the Mall will be rewarded as well. We'll outline a few of both.

On the Mall

National Museum of Natural History
As you walk into the Museum of Natural History, the elephant in the main rotunda welcomes you in to one of the largest and most impressive ensembles of natural relics on Earth. Your children will probably want to make a mad dash to the Dinosaur Hall, where they'll be treated to an amazing collection of full dinosaur skeletons, with animals ranging from the huge Diplodocus, to the spiny Stegosaurus, to the soaring Pterodactyl (which hangs from the ceiling). You should also take the awe-inspiring walk down the hall of evolution, where you'll see ancient fossils and other natural treasures that tell the history of life on our planet. Upstairs, your children will enjoy the Insect Zoo, where live demonstrations frequently take place. Make sure to check out the beehive (don't worry-it's safely behind glass), where the bees can fly in and out of the museum through a glass tube in the wall. In the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, starry-eyed children can gaze upon the infamous Hope Diamond as well an array of glittery gems. If it's a nice day, step outside into the new butterfly garden, which is divided into four distinct habitats. The garden is located on the Ninth-Street side of the building.

National Museum of American History
This museum contains such hallmarks of Americana as the original Star Spangled Banner, the ruby slippers that Dorothy wore in The Wizard of Oz, Archie Bunker's chair, and the Fonz's jacket. Highlights include a realistic replica of a nineteenth-century country store/post office, and a grand collection of musical instruments, which includes a working player piano (you can select which tunes it plays), an exhibit on the history of the harmonica, and a beautiful display of stringed instruments. If your child is an engineer-in-the-making, visit the Electricity Hall, which traces the history of electricity from Franklin's kite to the present-day, and the Railroad Hall, with its locomotives that date back to as early as 1850. There is also a hands-on science center where children and adults can take intelligence tests, separate food dyes in beverages, and test water for pollutants the way scientists did in the 1890s. When you get tired, sit in the foyer and watch the earth move, as evidenced by the swinging (and mesmerizing) J. Foucault Pendulum.

National Air & Space Museum
Young children may not understand the historical significance underlying the actual 1903 Wright Flyer or Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis, but many will be excited by touching the actual moon rock that sits in the lobby or walking through Skylab. This Smithsonian museum is the world's most visited museum. Most exhibits cover the history of aviation and space exploration, with many actual aircraft and satellites on display--these are the real things, not models! For a special treat, make sure to buy some Astronaut ice cream in the gift shop. After you make your way through the museum, catch a show in the Albert Einstein Planetarium or in the seven-story-wide, five-story-tall IMAX theatre. You can buy tickets to these shows at the museum, but try to buy them early because they sometimes sell out during peak tourist months. (Note: The Air & Space Museum is currently under renovation. Although they are keeping the museum open, you might want to call ahead of time to make sure that your favorite exhibit is still accessible.)

Off the Mall

Capital Children's Museum
This great option for younger children is located away from the Mall, in Northeast D.C. The exhibits in this museum encourage children to interact with their environment, and during the course of their visit here, children will have the opportunity to employ all five of their senses to learn more about the world around them. Among the permanent exhibits, children will experience what it's like to be a child in Japan by walking down a crowded street where they are able to visit an electronics shop, a kimono maker, and a vegetable market. They can wander by a Mayan pyramid and make and taste hot chocolate and tortillas in the Mexico exhibit. For the science-minded, there's the CMA Chemical Science Center, where you can watch live laboratory demonstrations and conduct your own experiments. Children will have fun playing in the Cityscapes exhibit, where they can drive a metro bus and slide down a fire pole. Another exhibit gives children the opportunity to create their own cartoon character and animation, as well as operate an old-fashioned animation machine.

National Zoological Park
Okay, so the zoo isn't technically a museum, but since it is operated by the Smithsonian and is educational and fun, we felt that it qualified. Situated in a beautiful, wooded area by Rock Creek Park, the National Zoo was established in 1889 by Congress. Like the other Smithsonian museums, it's absolutely free. Here, you'll find an amazing array of animals and habitats, including penguins, tigers, tamarind monkeys, giraffes, komodo dragons, and seals. Public feeding and training occurs daily, and these demonstrations include pandas, sea lions, elephants, and marabou storks. Zoo highlights include Amazonia, an indoor recreated tropical rainforest and river, complete with wildlife. Another highlight is the Invertebrate Exhibit, where you'll find octopus, coral, and leaf-cutter ants. In this exhibit, you can participate in several hands-on displays, and look through a series of microscopes to check out some of the zoo's smaller wildlife. The zoo is hilly, so remember to wear comfortable shoes. If you call in advance, you can reserve your family a free guided tour.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
This is not a museum for younger children; due to the nature of its content, parents should use their discretion about bringing children under the age of 12. This worthwhile, educational, and important museum tells the story of the Holocaust through a collection of artifacts, films, videos, photos, and oral histories. Since its inception, this museum has quickly become one of the most visited museums in the city. It is only a short distance from the Mall. The exhibit entitled: "Remember the Children: Daniel's Story" is especially poignant for children. This moving exhibition recounts the history of the Holocaust from the perspective of a young boy growing up in Nazi Germany.•