A bit of a hike from DC, this cozy free museum is a must for history and technology buffs…read more Located, appropriately enough, right next to the heavily secured National Security Agency. Plan on taking an hour, maybe an hour and a half, to leisurely examine the exhibits. Docents are available to answer your questions. I found the exhibits amazing. Walking away from visiting NCM, I have to marvel at how smart and clever humans are. Encryption started way back. The Egyptians were known to encrypt messages. Thomas Jefferson encrypted his sensitive letters. Napoleon was a big fan of encryption. The mechanical encryption devices on display, from World War I on, are fascinating to see with all their bells and whistles.

Brought a group of High School students here for a field trip. The museum is free so you can't beat…read morethe price. We had a guided tour. It was very interesting to see all of the history and learn about the science behind all of the exhibits. Some have a little interactive portion as well. The tour lasted about a hour. After it was done the students looked around on their own for a few. Not a bad way to spend a day away from school while still learning something.

You cannot and should not spend a week in Laurel without stopping by the Laurel Museum. The hours…read moreare limited to a few days a week for a few hours at a time, but the museum, located in a refurbished historic house in the heart of Laurel's historic district, should not be missed. They feature one exhibit at a time in the main exhibition area (currently one on the Laurel Leader newspaper, the last one was based off of the popular local Lost Laurel blog) and downstairs have a children's educational play area and a gift shop. The workers are always incredibly knowledgeable on the exhibits and full of tons of Laurel tidbits. The museum won't just be appreciated by Laurel residents or former residents, it's great for anyone interested in history and how small towns have continued to evolve and thrive throughout the changing landscape of our nation. (whew, apologies for that dramatic sentence) Either way, the Laurel Museum deserves your patronage. Add it to your next walk down Main Street :)

Such a charming museum- has a kids area for hands-on activities, as well as historic exhibits…read more Admission is free. Museum staff is really nice!

Very nice little but packed museum in Lutherville! I loved learning about the history of fire…read morerescue and all the tools, gadgets and trucks they used to use. The museum also gave insight into how the fire men used to live at the stations. Very interesting stuff. They also give you a free poster! Recommend!

WOW What an experience this has to be one of the best fire apparatus collections I've been to. You…read morecan tell they take great pride in the museum!!!

Amazing Museum really! TS the instructor is so passionate, and detailed about every masterpiece…read moreinside the museum! Definitely a great place to recommend for all of you!!!!!

From the owner: The Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center (PGAAMCC) was founded in order to…read morecelebrate and inspire the community through the cultivation, preservation and presentation of the cultural and artistic contributions of African Americans in Prince George's County, Maryland. Our programs teach youth and our patrons the unique African American history of Prince George's County and the profound impact that Prince George's County has had on the United States as a whole. We offer: - Education Outreach and Programing (Museum in a Box, Culture Keepers and Early Keepers) - Public Programing - Events (Unwind Wednesday) - Exhibitions

Spot is pretty cute and not "huge". Overall very…read moreentertaining for toddlers and kids but can't say it's anything amazing but worth the money 100%. The lady at the front desk made me want to drop a star but can't say it's the owners fault. Reason being is she was very dry and quick with the rules I couldn't catch anything she was saying because she was so dry. Didn't seem like she wanted to be there but whatever that interactions like a second. It's basically a bunch of stations like shopping , doctors office, a slide, and so on. Like I said pretty cute.

Play Street Museum is a franchise that specializes in kids' play areas that encourages imaginative…read moreplay and fun settings. The one in Severna Park is one of my favorites to take the kiddos because it has a great mix of interactive toys and buildings. Just to name a few: - an area for crafts - one of those motorized air funnels that you can put a scarf in - ice cream store - grocery store - doctor's office - vets office - a recycling truck with slots to sort different recyclables - a play house with kitchen stuff - pretend firetruck and firehouse with hose and slide You can also opt into extra add ons that allow you to participate in crafts you can take home (think DIY activities like slime). I like that there's only a finite number of spaces for time slots so it never gets too crowded. You should check their website before going just in case they're sold out (I believe they do allow walk ins though). They also have punch cards for a slightly discounted rate. It's usually around $18 for a single visit, but comes out to like $15 a visit with a punch card at the time of this post. I would totally recommend for little ones, but they may start to get bored for any ages 5 or older.

So, I had no idea this place existed, and I only learned about it thru a free activity booklet for…read morekids. There was a planes and trains event. There was a huge train setup with several battery operated trains and villages. My kind was quiet and interested for about two hours! Who doesn't love a mommy break? Ha! Also, they had other activities for the kids, like coloring and blocks. During a normal visit, there are flight simulators, planes and helicopters that the kids can "fly." There are wonderful exhibits, and the staff were so amazing. This was an awesome day. If the kid is into trains again next year, I will be back!

This is such a cute museum! For just five dollars, you get access to a wealth of information on not…read moreonly the Wright Brother's aviation efforts but the history of College Park's own airport- did you know it was the first in the United States? It's also the location of the military's first flight training! So cool. Definitely stop by if you live nearby.

If you are visiting or passing through this is well worth a visit, even if not a train/railroad…read morehistory enthusiast. The docent (James) was super friendly and eager to show you everything that this small, but well maintained piece of rail history has to see. He walked us through the three main exhibits which are made up of the main building, the tower & best maintained Caboose that I have ever seen. James provided knowledge that I was lacking and I have visited a few train museums. What this one lacks in size it definitely makes up in the presentation, preserved history and friendly enthusiasm. We left knowing more than we did before visiting, and definitely enjoyed the stop. So glad they did all that they did to ensure this was done & maintained. Definitely visit !!!

The Huntington Railroad Museum (also known as the Bowie Railroad Station Museum ) presents a look…read moreat Bowie, Maryland, through its railway heritage. The museum consists of three buildings, an interlocking tower, a combination passenger and freight station, and a waiting shelter. All three buildings were once functionally located nearby, but have been moved off of the railway right-of-way and restored. The station contains displays on the operation of the tower and the history of the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad and how, allying with the Pennsylvania Railroad, it came to be the competitor with the Baltimore & Ohio for rail traffic from Washington, DC to the Northeast. Displays also describe life in the town of Huntington, later the city of Bowie. There is a small O-gage train layout. The docent was eager to show visitors around the property. I really enjoyed going up in the tower (signal box). It still provides a vantage point up and down the Amtrak Northeast Corridor line. Much of the equipment used to control and switch trains passing throuhg the junction is in place. (Bowie Junction is now remotely controlled from Philadelphia.) The vintage wooden waiting shelter was in use by commuters until 1989 when a new station opened nearby. There is a wooden Norfolk & Western caboose, too. Not a railroad that came here, but what is railroad museum without a caboose? It's used for events and birthday parties. There is no admission, but donations are accepted.