When looking at D.C. museums online, places like the Newseum and Smithsonian Natural History get way more limelight than anywhere else.

I did stumble across a write-up of the Hirshhorn modern art gallery, but filed it away under “things the little sister will probably not be interested in.”

I was well and truly surprised, then, as we walked past their outdoor sculpture garden and SHE started badgering ME into going inside for a look around!

Its modern art, all weird and beautiful and sometimes quite engaged and other more of a “Wow! Huh?”.

What it certainly is, however, is a great break from the more historically-themed D.C. highlights and a great way to spend a few hours.

Like all of the D.C. Smithsonian galleries, the Hirshhorn is free to the public and open most days of the year.