DC Day: Building Museum

The National Building Museum is a super awesome way to spend a morning. There is a big, pretty main hall with a fountain and huge pillars. The main hall is free, and most everything else costs a few bucks. Currently there's an indoor mini-golf course which I thought looked pretty cool. There are various exhibits. There's a cute room full of building-related toys. To my own surprise, I have only been a few times. The first time we went, Theo was barely a year old and the Building Zone was free. http://lizer.blogspot.com/2008/02/wherein-i-wonder-why-we-always-live-in.html We went once or twice more when Ida was a baby. Now it's a few bucks and you can only stay 45 minutes at a time, from the hour until quarter to the next hour. But I think that makes sense and it's much nicer and tidier than before.

I would recommend arriving a little early, around 9:30 when the street parking first opens up, so that you can easily find a spot. You can walk around the police officers' memorial across the street and directly above the Judiciary Square metro station. Or check out the courthouse. Or just loiter. The security guard might let you sneak in a little early. We went inside at about 5 til and there was already a line for the Building Zone.

This is the only picture I got in the Building Zone. There are so many fun toys in there. Magna-Tiles, oversize Legos, cars and trucks, a playhouse with windows that open and shut.

And once your 45 minutes is up, you can play hide and seek in the main hall. As long as you close your eyes, no one can see you. Even if they're sitting on you.