The Smithsonian Associates

I have been a member of the Smithsonian Associates for over 25 years. I utilize my membership primary to go on one day bus trips, especially their history related trips. I have seen the cost of bus trips go from $ 35 to now as much as $ 150. I could easily give them four stars and perhaps they get four stars for content because many of the bus trips and evening lectures and concerts are very interesting and not found anywhere else. For instance, this term they are offering a multi-​day behind the scenes trip to Oak Ridge National Labs, and no one around offers a great opportunity like that. But to charge $ 150 or more for a one day bus trip is way out of line, thus I am deducting a star (or even two) for high cost. Overnight trips can run $ 300-​$ 600 or more. The escorts/​tour guides vary from outstanding (like the legend Ed Bearss) to very good or OK, some just like to hear themselves talk. The regular lectures or famous guests that come to talk are often interesting, but even those lectures have begun to cost $ 30 or more. That’s quite a bit for a two hour lecture. I think sometimes the Smithsonian is resting on its laurels, some trips and some talks and trips have not been that good and they could have been so much better. Also, they used to meet in front of the castle and you could park free all day on the street or in the NASM garage. Since 9/​11, parking is at a hotel garage and it costs $ 5 or so, a bargain for all day, but still, not free and the location is a little out of the way.
I say be selective and pick and choose what is unusual and is not found anywhere else. Go to events that are not offered by your local county group. I have taken many bus trips sponsored by local county senior groups that have been excellent and they cost a fraction of what the Smithsonian Associates charge. Yet, if you do belong to the Associates, you get the monthly catalog and a sizeable discount on events or trips offered. I will say I have seen a decrease on the variety of bus trips offered the past few years. I think the Smithsonian’s funding has been cut, and thus they are offering mostly trips that have some connection to their collections. That’s too bad. They used to offer many trips that were just «fun» (such as going to fall festivals) that did not necessarily offer an «educational» bent but now, everything seems to be for educational and academic value. Also, note that if you call them to reserve a ticket to a trip or event, there is a small service charge which is not there if you book online.

I have been a member for a few years and have taken some great classes and attended some great lectures. The diversity offered is to attract different people. I especially enjoyed the talks on forensic science, comparative religion, and many more. The «Bootleggers» evening was particularly fun. The art classes have all been super – mosaics, ceramics, encaustics, paper making, and many more. I participated in a mosaics tour around the metro area and that was amazing. Fortunately, I have never encountered the «creepy» guard and after reading that woman’s review, I agree with her that the SA should have been more responsive and more timely in their response, and not just «copped out.»

As an avid supporter of the Smithsonian, I contribute regularly and joined the Resident Associate Program in one of the mid-​tier levels last year. My checks have been cashed promptly, but it took four or five months to get my initial membership processed just to start to get the catalogue of events and I never received a membership card to get discounts, even after speaking to Vesna Gjaja (Membership Director). Essentially the perk of this program is to be able to buy tickets for a number of general interest events or seminars. Some samples from the current month’s programming including — The Hole Truth (The History of the Doughnut) for $ 30, Proof — The Science of Booze for $ 30, and a lecture by Paul Rymer, Celebrity Taxidermist for $ 42. Enjoy!

I took classes here for a couple of sessions. The classes ranged from extraordinary to a total waste of time. However, I ran into a problem with the administration. I signed up for three classes in the summer of 2012. I had taken classes in at least two previous sessions and had enjoyed them, and never had any problems. However, early in the summer session I had a run in with the security guard. He insisted on searching every inch of my small 6×8×2 inch purse, even the side flaps that could hold nothing. It was peculiar because he gave only a cursory search of my main large bag that had lots of large pockets that could actually contain whatever he was supposedly searching for. I’ve lived in DC for several years. I’m used to having my bag searched upon entering federal buildings, courthouses, pretty much public areas of any type in dc. But this was something else. This wasn’t a search for potentially prohibited items. This was far more thorough than that and it made me uncomfortable. I wrote an email complaining to the Smithsonian Associates. I received no response, but I did not have a problem for the next couple of weeks — I received the same random back check that I had always received previously there that is the standard bag check in DC.
However, after a couple of weeks, I got the security guard with the apparent purse fetish again, and it was very uncomfortable. Although the guy before me with a large bag was passed through with the most cursory of reviews, and again my main large bag received a cursory review, with the guard stopping for a moment to just stare, the creepy security guard again focused on my purse. I opened the main compartment, and although it is so small that you can see everything at first glance, he poked around in it with his plastic stick. Then he insisted I open the flat side flaps again. I was very uncomfortable with this demand to search every flap of my purse, which clearly can hold nothing but an ID, and I declined to open them for him. I was not permitted to enter the building.
I again emailed the Smithsonian Associates, telling them that I had been denied access to the classes and asking for a refund for the remaining classes in the session. Several weeks had passed, and the classes were over before they bothered to respond. Their response was that they had conducted an investigation (which had not included talking to me or looking at the purse to see how absurd the guard’s request was), that the building was a federal building, that they did not control security, and that they would NOT refund my money. Because I was taking three classes, I was out hundreds of dollars worth of classes.
They are entitled to enact any security measures they want. But when I signed up for three classes, I had encountered no problems in previous sessions and had no way of knowing that I would have to deal with a creepy security guard who clearly wasn’t looking for anything in particular, and insisted on checking purse pockets that clearly couldn’t hold anything and were smaller than a coat pocket. If they are going to have inconsistent security measures, they should be willing to refund fees when the measures cross the line.
There are a lot of places in DC that offer art classes. So I found a different one.