You can add a dose of education to an event at these new (and newly improved) museums.
1. After a two-year, $85 million renovation, the National Museum of American History reopened in November. The museum’s look, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of New York, includes a fi ve-story atrium with a skylight and a new climate-controlled Star-Spangled Banner gallery. The Flag Hall, which includes a new third-story balcony, seats 350.
2. The much-anticipated Sant Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History opened in September. The museum’s newest and largest permanent exhibit, the 23,000-square-foot hall includes a 45-foot-long whale suspended from the four-story ceiling and can hold 350 guests for a reception or 70 guests for a seated event.
3. Enforcement In partnership with America’s Most Wanted host John Walsh, the National Museum of Crime & Punishment opened in May and features interactive presentations on topics including pirates, computer hackers, and serial killers. The three-story 28,000-square-foot museum is available for private events for as many as 500. A 500-square-foot rooftop terrace with views of the National Mall seats 180 or holds 250.