Visit the National Geographic Museum in Downtown Washington DC

I have been a member of the senior's center at Montgomery County since last couple of years. This center provides all types of recreational facilities to all the seniors above the age of 55 years. The regular field trips to interesting locations are arranged twice every month at a very nominal rate. I had an opportunity to go forl one such field trip to National Geographic Museum, situated at 17 and M streets, NW, in Washington DC downtown. In spite of staying for around 4 years in the USA, I had not seen this world famous museum.

Our bus started from the senior's center in Montgomery at around 9 am. We were around 20 people in all in the trip. Our journey was on the most scenic roads leading through all the foreign embassies on the Massachusetts Avenue. We could see all the glimpses of the fabulous downtown of Washington DC while riding in a very comfortable bus. We reached at the National Geographic Museum at around 10 am and entered the main foyer of the Museum. There is no entrance fee for this Museum. The first and the most important Museum gallery here is Face to Face with Frogs. There are around 380 specimens of various types of living frogs in all types of colors and varieties. It takes around an hour to completely see this fabulous Museum. There are many video stations across the Museum that continuously plays various films on development of frogs and their habitat. The brief history of each specimen is written on each frame giving all the viewers the most detailed information. One may not know but it is said that the frogs make around 800 types of various sounds. Some of these sounds can be heard here at this Museum. Can you believe that one specific type of frog is the most poisonous animal in the world, even more poisonous than the most poisonous snakes? This special specie of frog is kept here at this Museum. These frogs are very tiny in size and each frog has enough poison to kill 20000 mice and 10 fully grown up human beings. Even touching closely to such frog can result in to instantaneous death. We were all really amazed to see such rare types of collection of frogs under one roof. This frogs Museum is on display till May 11, 2008. The theme of the Museum is changed every month so that the visitors can get exposure to various types of animals.

As soon as you come out of this frog's Museum, you will be amazed to see the trash people. These are the statues of people made from the trash cans of coke and other cold drinks. The statues look so real that one cannot think that they are made from the trash. There are around 60 statues of trash people here in the open compound. Then, you make entry to the other Museum, which is called Visions of China. Many historical photographs pertaining to Chinese society and the customs are kept here for view. This Museum is very interesting as many facts on the food items consumed by each American in his life time are presented here. For example, each American consumes around 43000 cans of carbonated drinks in their life time. Many such interesting statistics are shown here at the Museum. These facts are worth writing down and can be the eye opener for all of us to follow the dieting plan. Once you complete seeing this China Museum, you must take a complete round of the entire National Geographic Building to see various fantastic photographs gallery, which is known as A camera, Two Kids, and a Camel. There are total around 36 such gorgeous photos to be viewed. The continuous film and the commentary are also played at each photograph pertaining to its history and importance. There is also a big auditorium hall, known as Grosvenor Auditorium. The selected movies are played here at specific times. Generally, such movies are shown on every Tuesday at noon. There is also a gift shop located inside the Museum for the shopping of some gift articles. The Museum remains open from 9 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday and 10 am to 5 pm on Sundays.

Many of us may not have seen this fantastic Museum as there are many other important sites to be seen at Washington DC downtown. However, I would strongly urge all my AC friends to visit this Museum at least once to come closer to the world of animals.