Looking for a good museum?

The Newseum

Blog post by Matt Rist

Have you seen all of the Smithsonians? Are you interested in Journalism or the media? The Newseum is a must-see destination for D.C. residents and tourists alike. The 250,000 square foot museum opened its doors in Summer 2008 and is known for its innovative use of technology. At 555 Pennsylvania Avenue, the huge structure is just blocks away from the Capitol Building. The buildings modern design makes it a highlight of the block. One look up at the 74-foot high marble engraving of the First Amendment outside the museum is enough to draw in even the most uninformed tourist.

The museum is a brainchild of the Freedom Forum, which was established by the founder of USA Today in order to promote media history and freedom of press in the U.S. and abroad. For tourists or residents too busy to go into the museum, the view from the street is still magnificent. The first thing you will notice as you walk by or into the Newseum is the glass wall of newspapers that rest outside the museum. Each day, staff members at the Newseum post copies of the front pages of daily newspapers across the country and the world. From crises to human interest pieces, members of the community can take a look at what’s going on in the world.

You might be overwhelmed by the seven floors of exhibits, a film theater, gift shops and a rooftop terrace with hands-down one of the best views in the District. One step out onto the top-level terrace and you have a view of the Capitol on one hand and the Washington monument on the other. It’s picture perfect. If you head over to the theater, you can see the 4-dimensional film including sights, sounds and shaking that’s reminiscent of a Disney adventure.

Many of the galleries house permanent exhibits including a history of the media exhibition, a 9/11 memorial and a large section dedicated to the fall of the Berlin Wall. The 9/11 exhibit is one of the most memorable of the entire museum, featuring a moving documentary, a wall of front pages from the day as well as a piece from the radio tower that was at the top of one of the towers. The exposition on the Berlin Wall features an actual piece of the Wall. It is especially poignant to walk around the wall and notice that one side (the East Side) is without any blemishes while the West Side features graffiti and signs of a more liberalized culture.

And the Newseum is more than just a museum—it’s a fully functional Television studio. The upper level is home to ABC’s “This Week” hosted by Christianne Amanpour. The Newseum offers hourly tours during regular hours of the studio, but unfortunately it’s very difficult to sit in on the live show as tickets are not generally available to the public. 555 Pennsylvania is also home to the Knight Studio, where a number of productions are filmed including a C-Span program.