two hours, two museums

the naturalist center
(the smithsonian institution)
741 miller drive SE, suite G-2
Leesburg, VA 20175
703.779.7725

 

Pros:
-a (small) taste of the Smithsonian without the hassle of venturing into DC
-helpful, enthusiastic volunteers, many with backgrounds in geology (talk to Helene if you can)
-free admission!
-small children's area in the front with puzzles, games, stuffed animals and hands-on learning activities
-great for those who want to draw still-life portraits of the specimens, which are surprisingly allowed to be handled


Cons:
-a fairly disorganized, classroom-like, single-room mishmash of jars, bones, and taxidermy
-many of the resource cabinets were locked
-somewhat irrelevant to those not using the reference library, scientific tools or specimen collections


If you're interested in geology or doing a biology project, this is a great place to start.  However, for the common person looking to fill up an afternoon at a museum, just make the trip into DC.

random flora and fauna of the naturalist center.

the loudoun museum
16 loudoun street SW
leesburg, VA 20175
703.777.7427

 

Pros:
-admission is a very reasonable $1/person (although you may think you overpaid)
-displays the most interesting map of Loudoun I've ever seen (dated to 1835!)
-amusing dress-up area in the children's area with 19th century period costumes for playtime


Cons:
-very, very small--basically, three connected rooms and a grossly underlit green hallway
-no placards under the exhibited items; rather, descriptions and dates are written in list form on the walls
-museum paraphernalia consists of a melange of typewriters through the years, various needlework patterns, and a variety of old musical instruments
-I found myself continually wondering, "What the heck does any of this crap have to do with Loudoun?"


If you're touring downtown Leesburg for the first time, I could see how a trip to the Loudoun Museum might round out an afternoon of shopping and dining.  Interested in learning more about Loudoun?  Talk to the Historical Society, or just go to the library instead.

the most amusing part of the Loudoun Museum.