After touring Ford’s Theater, we stopped at the Petersen House across the street. It does not cost anything to visit the house, and it is a good way to round out the visit. This famous house is where Abraham Lincoln was taken after John Wilkes Booth’s assassination attempt, and where he eventually succumbed to his injuries. It was an interesting place to take our children as it brought them an understanding of the time and place that they had learned about in history class. The building is small, and the stairs to get inside steep. If you have a small child with a stroller, you will have to leave the strolled outside as there is no room for it in the house. There is also no disabled access. It is not a necessity, and your trip will be none the worse for missing this house, but if you have the chance, you should take a minute to visit.

I had never before visited Ford’s Theater, and I was pleasantly surprised. My daughters are both very interested in Abraham Lincoln, and as a family, we have visited several note-worthy spots where they learned a lot about his story. By far, this was the most detailed and informative place that we have yet seen. I was expecting a short visit to simply see the infamous balcony, but there was so much more. Upon entering, you first visit the museum that chronicles his entire life, even going so far as to give biographies of his father and mother. There are many pieces of memorabilia that you won’t see anywhere else, including items that were in his rooms at the White House, letters written by his hand and personal photographs that give insight into his life. In another part of the museum, the assassination plot is painstakingly detailed and even more memorabilia is on display. When you are finished walking through this area, you will take a staircase up to the balcony of Ford’s Theater where you can truly feel immersed in history. During your visit, you can sit in one of the chairs and imagine being there on that fateful night. My children (6 and 9) were enthralled with the museum and the theater. Younger children will probably be less patient, but there are a lot of exhibits that may get their attention. There is, for an additional fee, an audio tour that you can take that will give you a more directed course throughout the museum, but we opted not to take it and had a wonderfully interesting and educational experience. I recommend following up your visit with a stop at the Petersen house across the street.

How often have you thought about the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, or Bill of Rights? How about the Magna Carta? Whether or not you realize it, these documents affect your life every day. Seeing them up close is something that every American should do if given the chance. Beyond that, the National Archives is not just about stodgy old parchments. Inside, there is much more to do. Documentary films play all day in the theater, introducing visitors to the Archives and examining the history of the Charters of Freedom. An ever-changing exhibit in the gallery details through photos and documents different moments in our history. The Public Vaults are interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to step beyond the walls of the museum and into the records that it holds, from Presidential documents to draft cards and immigration records. The Rotunda not only contains the Charters of Freedom but several paintings that beg your attention as well as inspiring architecture. I recommend that everyone take the time to visit this National Treasure. Set aside at least 2 hours to experience everything the Archives have to offer. During busy times, there will be a line in the Rotunda that will take quite a few minutes to move through. We spent 40 minutes in there alone, not to mention the time spent in the other areas of the Archives. Strollers are more than welcome and the entire building seemed to have adequate disabled access.

To experience this museum fully, you must be able to give it your full attention, and that is not easy to do with small children. There is a lot of reading to be done and the feeling there is very solemn, neither of which is easily done with a small child in tow. Also, the museum takes several hours to traverse, and there are no exhibits within that will appeal to younger guests. That having been said, it is definitely a place that I am glad to have experienced. I learned many things that I was never aware of before and I have a greater appreciation for what the victims of the Holocaust, and the survivors thereof, experienced and endured. Not only does this museum honor the victims of the holocaust, it also calls to action all visitors to stop/prevent genocide where it still happens today. This is a very rewarding place to visit, and for older children who have studied WWII and the Holocaust, this is something you should experience. You will leave this building feeling solemn and sad, and I recommend that each parent really consider if their child is ready for this kind of experience. No holds are barred in the representation of the experience of the Holocaust and it may be too graphic for some visitors.

Let someone else do the driving, and skip all the hassles of traveling the city with the Metro. For a small fee, you can forget all about traffic, driving all over town to find a parking spot, and parking fees. There is no more congestion when you ride the Metro, and it can save you money you would otherwise waste on parking garages or meters. Contrary to the public belief that the Metro is dirty, crime-ridden, or otherwise dangerous, I can tell you that my first ride was nothing but smooth, convenient and trouble free. It can take you all over the city, and you won’t have to worry about a thing. Simply plot out your trip on the color-coded map and pay attention the stops and you are on your way. Strollers are welcome, and though you have to fold them up on the actual ride, the cars are usually roomy enough to accommodate them without any fuss.