Explore the intersection of light, technology and sound at ARTECHOUSE.
Courtesy of ARTECHOUSE
Whether you’re a fan of classical music, rock, electronica, or go-go (the genre born in Washington), a museum in the capital that’s committed to preserving and celebrating the history of your favorite sound. Explore renowned collections, check out must-see artifacts, and lesser-known cultural attractions like the O Museum at The Mansion and The People’s Archive. Read on to learn about seven museums and archives in Washington, D. C. , where you can delve deeper into music’s influence on American history.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Courtesy of washington. org
If your Washington itinerary can include a music-focused museum, either the National Museum of African American History and Culture. While the eye-catching bronze-colored exterior is postcard-worthy, the interior will further dazzle any music lover. The existing exhibition, Musical Crossroads, explores how African-American music has played a central role in American music across genres and history, from vintage rock to vintage rock. Iconic pieces like Chuck Berry’s Cadillac, Sammy Davis Jr. ‘s tap shoes, Jimi Hendrix’s Afghan vest, and Public Enemy’s S1W uniform highlight the profound influence of black music on the culture of the United States and beyond.
During your visit, also keep an eye out for occasions focused on transition music. Through January 2025, the Spirit in the Dark exhibition explores Black faith in music, activism, and popular culture.
Looking nearby? Visit the Washington Hotel for a rooftop bar overlooking the Washington Monument.
The National Museum of American History’s large collection of 1. 7 million artifacts and its ongoing exhibits offer many opportunities for visitors. America’s Listening delves into the history of recorded sound, MusicHerStory explores the role of women in music and social movements, and Treasures and Trouble be offers an intimate look at blues music. Entertainment Nation documents the careers of notable musicians such as Selena, Prince, Frank Sinatra, and Cyndi Lauper. Highlights of the collection also include Prince’s Yellow Cloud electric guitar, Grandmaster Flash turntable, and Freddy’s Fab Five boombox. , Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet and John Coltrane’s saxophone.
Among the hotel’s many restaurants, jazz lovers head to the LeRoy Neiman Jazz Café to order donuts with chocolate sauce while enjoying photographs and music from the museum’s collection.
Located just 1. 5 blocks from the National Museum of American History, the JW Marriott Washington, D. C. It offers easy access to the city’s main sights.
More of an auditory-visual delight than a classic museum, ARTECHOUSE’s flagship exhibition rotates several times a year. Focusing on light, technology, and electronic sound, this interactive gallery offers a platform for progressive artists to share their knowledge based on technology and gender. Visions.
ARTECHOUSE is also one of the few spaces in the museum that is open late (until 9 p. m. ). m. de Monday through Friday and 10 p. m. on weekends). To complete the sensory experience, an on-site bar offers beer, wine, cocktails, and mocktails.
Known for its exquisite spa, Salamander is an oasis sixty yards from ARTECHOUSE in the Southwest Waterfront neighborhood.
The eclectic O Museum at The Mansion, “a sanctuary for those seeking artistic inspiration,” offers an offbeat experience with an impressive collection of musical memorabilia. Housed in five interconnected homes on Dupont Circle, the museum is a maximalist experience in themed rooms, more than 80 secret doors and a collection of 70 guitars signed by music greats such as Bruce Springsteen, Bono and Bob Dylan. Secret door tours are also available.
The fun doesn’t have to stop there: the Mansion is also a boutique hotel. Book the Graceland Suite, which features an Elvis pinball machine, or the Lennon Room, painted to look like a yellow submarine, for an unforgettable experience.
Another trendy lodging option: Dupont Circle is just a short walk from historic Dupont Circle.
Find out what makes a song a hit at Planet Word, the world’s first voice-activated museum.
Courtesy of washington. org
Opened in 2020 at the historic Franklin School, Planet Word is an interactive language art experience and the world’s first voice-activated museum. Find out what makes a song a hit or share its story in the fully equipped recording booth. Admission is free (suggested donation is $15), but it’s to book a pass online.
The museum is also home to the Immigrant Food restaurant, which offers brunch, lunch, and dinner menus featuring the flavors of chef Ben Murray.
The Eaton DC Hotel offers music with in-room record players, yoga R
Home to several special music collections, the People’s Archives is the center of the district’s local history. The D. C. Punk Archive, focused on punk and related local music from 1976 to the present, includes photographs, sound and video recordings, as well as ephemera depicting Washington’s influential punk. scene.
The Go-Go Archive is fully committed to DC’s signature funk-influenced sound. Known for its heavy bass, catchy percussion, and call-and-response, the genre, which originated in Washington, is the “official” music of the city. Photographs, books, magazines, records, cassettes, CDs and DVDs fill the archives.
More than 900 orchestral performances by Hans Kindler, founder of the National Symphony Orchestra, in the Kindler collections, can be used (for free) through orchestras in the region. For the collections of the People’s Archives, make an appointment online.
Discover the Grand Hyatt Washington to relax two blocks from the MLK Jr. Memorial Library.
Opening in mid-summer 2024 in the historic town of Anacostia, the highly anticipated Go-Go Museum and Café is committed to all things takeout. DC’s beloved genre is obviously the District, a local fusion of funk, soul, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms. and blues. Originally pioneered through the legendary Chuck Brown in the 1970s, D. C. it remains so embedded in the city’s cultural identity that in 2020, go-go was declared the official music of Washington.
Exhibits at the new museum will hint at his West African roots and explore his connection to hip-hop. Designed as a networking hub to exercise the next generation of musicians, the museum will also feature a recording studio and event space. The history of Go-go is also featured on the café’s menu: expect an exciting combination of flavors from West Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. If you can’t wait until the summer, the Go-Go Museum Mobile, a 28-passenger bus with a hydraulic-powered stage, will continue to make an appearance in the District.
The Cambria Hotel Washington D. C. Navy Yard Riverfront is a short walk downriver to the Anacostia neighborhood.
For more information on how to revel in music in DC, washington. org.
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