Chances are you’ll never meet a celebrity or a professional athlete, much less a present or former U.S. president. But you can at least see what it feels like to stand next them at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Washington.
WHAT YOU SEE: The museum features a large, if not the largest, collection of presidents, including George Washington, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. You’ll also see actors, like Brad Pitt and George Clooney, famous news reporters like Dan Rather and Katie Couric, and athletes like Gilbert Arenas and Tiger Woods. And each statue, which the museum allows visitors to touch, has a placard with interesting facts about the person. For example, did you know George Washington only had one tooth when he was inaugurated? The self-guided tour takes an hour or more to complete, depending on the crowds and whether you’re the type that reads every placard.
GOOD FOR KIDS: Definitely a great Washington attraction for kids. They’ll certainly learn a lot in the President’s Gallery and enjoy seeing some of the famous actors and athletes. And finally they’ll be allowed to touch something.
GIFT SHOP: The museum has a small gift shop near the exit with things like presidential bobble heads for $21, fake Academy Awards between $10 and $15, as well as snacks and drinks.
WHERE: 1001 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20004. Close to the corner of 10th and F Streets, NW)
HOURS OF OPERATION: Open daily from 10 AM to 8 PM. The museum will open earlier and stay open later during peak hours.
COST: Adults are $21, children ages 3-12 are $16 and seniors age 60 and older are $19. Children under age 2 are free. The museum offers a 15 percent discount if you buy the tickets online.
PARKING: The museum does not offer parking but there are several paid parking garages nearby.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: The closest Metro stop is Metro Center, which serves the Red, Blue and Orange lines. Gallery Place/Chinatown is also nearby and it serves the Red, Yellow and Green lines.
WEBSITE/TELEPHONE NUMBER: http://www.madametussaudsdc.com; 888-WAX-IN-DC or 202-942-7300
WHAT’S CLOSE BY: The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Smithsonian American Art Museum, International Spy Museum, Ford’s Theatre and National Museum of Women in the Arts
