The National Building Museum is one of the District’s off-the-beaten-path institutions, a lesser-known gem but always a memorable experience. Its summer exhibit, the most memorable HIVE, generated the kind of kid-related marvel usually reserved for the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. This beehive mountain of vertical tubes of various sizes carried the gravitas of the organ at the National Cathedral, but it was still meant for fun. While the exhibit is just a memory now, along with all the rudimentary noisemakers that helped raise a sweet cacophony of joy—or at least until the kids got bored and moved on, but it’s another reminder of what a fine museum this gem is. And don’t forget to visit the gift shop, which is one of this town’s best. (Photo Credit: SMK)