Recreational Activities for Seniors in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., capital city of the United States, offers many recreational activities for seniors. It has museums such as the National Museum of American History and the International Spy Museum. It has institutions that even the most knowledgeable of seniors can learn from, such as the National Theater or the National Gallery of Art. A senior may also visit a senior center in or around Washington, for exercise or simply to enjoy the company of other seniors.
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National Museum of American History
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The National Museum of American History opened in 1964 as the Museum of History and Technology, remaining as such until the change to its present name in 1980. Open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day except Christmas Day, the Museum receives more than four million visitors every year. It has more than three million artifacts, among them the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln's top hat. It has exhibitions on many aspects of American culture and history, from the War of Independence to recent times. It also has an Archives Center with many documents, photographs and other works representing American history.
National Gallery of Art
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The National Gallery of Art was created by Congress in 1937 to accept Andrew W. Mellon's donations of paintings and works of sculpture. These formed the nucleus from which its collections have grown. In 1978, the East Building was opened to accommodate the Gallery's growing collections. It also houses its administrative offices, research center and library. In 1999, an outdoor sculpture garden was opened next to the West Building, providing a setting for modern and contemporary sculptures. The Gallery now has so many paintings, works on paper, sculptures, photographs and decorative arts, it would take a lifetime to see them all. Maps and plans for must-see works have been designed to make it easier for those with limited time.
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Holiday Park Senior Center
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This multiservice senior center, less than 30 minutes from Washington D.C., is Montgomery County's largest, with about 500 adults over the age of 55 serviced daily. Drop-in and registration-required programs are offered. Activities include dance, musical performances, short trips, exercise sessions and lectures. The center has a snack bar, lobby, lounge, gift shop, library, conference room for meetings and lectures, and a dining room that can serve 100 meals at a time. Fitness classes are held in an exercise area with treadmill, exercise bikes and elliptical cross-trainers. Exercise classes include Tai Chi, yoga and aerobics. A health clinic has a registered nurse on duty Monday through Thursday. Other services include a legal aid bureau, post office and notary services.
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