MEDIA CONTACTS:
Angela Olson, [email protected]
The George Washington University
Chita Middleton, [email protected]
The Textile Museum
Washington, D.C.—Washingtonians and visitors to our nation’s capital are invited to discover and document the city’s exciting Dupont Circle-Kalorama neighborhood on the first weekend in June. Nine diverse museums of the Dupont Kalorama Museums Consortium will be opening their doors to the public free of charge during the 29th Annual Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend (Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3, 2012). This year’s theme, “Documenting Dupont,” encourages visitors to capture the many little details that make one of Washington, D.C.’s most beautiful neighborhoods unique, including its many museums.
While documenting the exteriors, step into the interiors to discover the Anderson House, Dumbarton House, Fondo del Sol Visual Arts Center, Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, National Geographic Museum (new for 2012), National Museum of American Jewish Military History,The Phillips Collection, The Textile Museum, and the Woodrow Wilson House , all open free of charge June 2 and 3, 2012. Dupont-Kalorama Museum Walk Weekend is an opportunity for locals to “travel in their own neighborhood,” and for visitors to explore DC’s “off-the-Mall” museums.
During the walk weekend, The Textile Museum will be putting on its annual Celebration of Textiles, as well as hosting three exciting exhibitions: Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep, Sourcing the Museum, and Woven Treasures of Japan’s Tawaraya Workshop.
A wide variety of exhibitions are also featured, such as Anderson House’s “The American Revolution at Sea.” New on the 2012 Museum Walk is the addition of the National Geographic Museum, hosting three exhibitions, including “Titanic: 100 Year Obsession.” Many sites are offering special programming, including The Phillips Collections’ Jazz ‘n Families Fun Day event, the Woodrow Wilson House’s Electric Car Rally, the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site’s panel discussion, musical performances, and book lecture, and the National Museum of American Jewish Military History’s Family Stories (see the full release for additional exhibition and programming details).
Museums will be partnering with local restaurants and businesses to offer specials and discounts to Walk Weekend participants throughout the neighborhood. A “Documenting Dupont” photo contest celebrating these neighborhood museums is being organized by Washington City Paper. Stay tuned to City Paper Events for more details about entry and prizes.
The 29th Annual Museum Walk Weekend media sponsor is Washington City Paper, and FotoDC is onboard as a promotional sponsor. Museum Walk Weekend is supported by Cultural Tourism DC.