COMPASS
America’s Historic East
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Capitalize on D.C.’s spectacular attractions
From a theater company and a historical home to a diverse set of attractions including the soon-to-open Museum of the Bible,
the NTA membership includes six suppliers in Washington, D.C., that provide a range of programs and experiences for groups.
Tour operators can contact Lindsay Hill of Destination DC at [email protected] or reach out to the NTA contacts at
the respective attractions for assistance with D.C. itineraries.
Hillwood Estate Museum & Gardens International Spy Museum
NTA contact: Isaac Evans
[email protected]
arenastage.org Meredith DeSantis
[email protected]
hillwoodmuseum.org Lori Scott
[email protected]
spymuseum.org
Since it was founded in 1950, Arena Stage
at the Mead Center for American Theater
has brought to the stage a wide array of
works. The organization’s intentional focus
on plays by American writers is revealed
through the many shows each season that
highlight contemporary issues and reflect
the nation’s diversity and challenges. Groups have no shortage of things to see
and do at this multifaceted attraction.
During visits to the estate and museum,
they can see hundreds of artifacts and
personal effects that belonged to owner
Marjorie Merriweather Post, as well as her
renowned art collection. They also can
explore 13 acres of gardens. Interactivity is the name of the game at
the world’s only museum dedicated solely
to global espionage and intelligence. In
addition to housing thousands of artifacts,
the museum offers immersive activities
and programs such as “Spy in the City”
and “Operation Spy” that require partici-
pants to use their detective skills.
LUND:
Arena Stage Museum of the Bible Newseum Smithsonian Institution
Kelly Martin
[email protected]
museumofthebible.org Roxana Rivera
[email protected]
newseum.org Karen Gardiner
[email protected]
si.edu/groupsales
Located two blocks from the National Mall
and three blocks from the U.S. Capitol,
this 430,000-square-foot attraction will
open this month. Hundreds of artifacts
and exhibits—spread across the Narrative
Floor, the History Floor and the Impact
Floor—will tell the stories of the Bible,
from Genesis through the New Testament. The attraction promotes, explains and
defends free expression and the five free-
doms of the First Amendment: religion,
speech, press, assembly and petition. An
ever-changing list of temporary exhib-
its—such as “1968: Civil Rights at 50,”
which debuts in January 2018—add to
Newseum’s vast permanent collection. The Smithsonian’s collection of attrac-
tions includes 11 museums and galleries
on the National Mall and six other muse-
ums and the National Zoo in the greater
Washington, D.C., area. Discounts are
available for groups of 10 or more for
paid exhibits, IMAX movies, meal pack-
ages and more.
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November 2017