Sometimes you just need a relaxing day on the town without the screeching of alternative radio music over the loudspeakers in the club or the crush of crowds at a shopping mall. Other times you need to do a bit of research and the books you've been reading just aren't giving you the proper feel for the subject. At these times you need to visit a museum. Those of you who enjoy learning and make frequent use of museums will be pleased to know that Arlington is home to many interesting museums which host a variety of unique sculptures, artwork and much more.
History
History is one of the most popular subjects for museums worldwide. This is especially true in Arlington, Virginia, which is part of the original Jamestown colony, one of the first to be established in the United States. Arlington's history stretches from early farming settlements to the production of cast iron keels for Civil War ironclads to its present position as an addendum to the National Capitol. This history is charted through the exhibits of the Arlington Historical Museum. More specialized history pertaining to famed Confederate General Robert E. Lee is showcased at Arlington House, the General's former residence.
Many of the older houses in Arlington have also been turned into museums rather than being torn down and replaced with faux painting schools or shopping malls. Ball-Sellers house is one of these, a preserved log cabin that is the oldest house in Arlington. The Arlington National Cemetery is also a sort of outdoor museum. It spans our nation's military service history from the Revolutionary War to the present day conflict in Iraq through engraved headstones and memorials. Other history museums include: the Civil War Trust and the Museum of America's Foundation
Art
Though Arlington once had an outdoor art museum and sculpture garden in Freedom Park, most of the exhibits have been relocated. There are several galleries now, such as the Metropolitan Gallery, but no museums. Today Arlington residents wanting to get a taste of the arts, whether it be through old master paintings or new hand-made aquarium decorations, must go across the river to Washington, D.C. There you will find the Kreeger Museum, the National Gallery, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Smithsonian Museum's art collection, and the Hishorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Culture
Virginia was once a slave state, which means that Arlington and its environs have a special place in the history of African Americans in this country. Follow the journey of their culture from slavery to segregation to freedom at the Black Heritage Museum of Arlington. See also the culture of the peoples who existed in this area before us at the Native American Library and Museum. Government is also one of Arlington's cultural roots, which you can see at the DEA Museum and the Women in Military Service Memorial and Museum. The DEA museum is particularly interesting, showcasing drugs and the things that are traded for them, like weapons and scrap gold rings.
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