So far after reading past posts, it seems flying into Reagan is most convenient... the conference I'm attending has rates at the Fairmont on M, so I'll most likely stay there. The Smithsonian is closed for renovations so with just one evening.. a friend mentioned that there are tour boats that show the monuments at night and that it makes for a beautiful evening. My friend however, isn't a Fodorite and she had no details for me. Anyone have more detailed information for which tour company is best?

The night I'll be there is Thursday, July 12.

Thanks!

"The Smithsonian is closed for renovation"

The Museum of American History is closed for renovations. The Smithsonian has at least nine other museums in DC, as well as the National Gallery of Art, a non-Smithsonian museuw which is on the Mall.

While there are night tour boats, you can't really "see" the monuments. There are night BUS tours which allows you to see the monuments at night and they are well worth investigating.

If I remember correctly, the Smithsonian closes around 5:30, maybe 6:00.

MikeT... I know there are many parts to the Smithsonian... but the the Pop Culture one... is closed also, according to the website, until spring 2008. And it looks like most of the others do exctend their summer hours until 7:30 PM.

Thanks to each of you.

Natural History is open until 7:30pm until Labor Day. The Archives is open until 7:00pm until Labor Day if you want to see the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc.

On Wednesday night through the end of June the Army Old Guard does a Military Tattoo at the Sylvan Theater (NW corner of the Washington Monument grounds). The show is, yes, great PR for the military, but quite a show. It will be canceled if there is a threat of thunderstorms. FREE

There are also military band concerts in different locations in DC during the week during the summer. FREE. Google for when you are going and you will find them.

The Kennedy Center has FREE performances at The Millenium Stage every night at 6:00pm. Most of the performances last about 45 minutes to an hour.

The White House, Lincoln Memorial and The Capitol are the monuments most suited to viewing at night because the lighting is good. There has been a problem with the lighting at the Jefferson Memorial the past couple of weeks. The World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial and Vietnam Wall are also lit, but it can be hard to see the details and names on the Vietnam Wall. If it is a rainy night, I do not recommend the traditional "Monuments at Night" experience, but nice if the weather cooperates.

By the way, I am a tour guide here and I just did one of those Monument night tours last night in the middle of a thunderstorm. I did the best I could, but it was not an ideal situation.