Everyone knows that one of the best things about living in Washington DC is that so many of the attractions are free. We spent a humid Saturday exploring the photography exhibits at the National Geographic Museum,  just a stone’s throw from Dupont Circle.

There are two great exhibits going on at the Museum right now. The first, Lions and Leopards, is a collection of photos from Dereck and Beverly Joubert, an extraordinary couple who have dedicated their lives to studying and saving Africa’s big cats. The footage that they’ve collected on the animals is truly outstanding – lions taking down an elephant, an adolescent leopard sparing a baby baboon, and (of course) many cute cubs.

The show also presents details about  the Jouberts’ life out in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, where  they reside in makeshift tents most of the year. If you’ve ever been sucked into a show on the Discovery Channel, you’ll want to see this.

While you’re there, walk over the second Geographic building to see Kodachrome Culture: The American Tourist in Europe. These are photos from the 1950s and 60s by National Geographic photographers, back when color photography was just starting to appear in the magazine. National Geographic has been credited with starting the “Red Shirt School of Photography,” where subjects were chosen based on bright clothing that made them stand out among the scenery.

Just up the street from National Geography, we passed the Charles Sumner School, one of the first public schools built for Washington’s African-American community (and for many years, the headquarters of the segregated school system). We noticed that a free photography exhibit was going on, so we went in. Some nice photos from members of the African American Photographers Association in DC.  The building also houses the archives for the DC school system.  

Finally, as we walked up Connecticut Avenue to get some sushi at Uni, we noticed a horse trailer pulling around Dupont Circle. Only this horse looked mad enough to spit. Sure enough, it was a camel, pacing around the trailer. It drew quite a bit of attention from people on the street before the light changed. Now that’s something you don’t see in most American cities too often! 

National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street NW. Lions & Leopards runs through Oct. 4. Kodachrome ends Sept. 7.

 -Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives, 1201 17th Street NW. Both museums are a short walk from either the Farragut North, Farragut West or Dupont Circle Metro stops.

 Got a favorite DC exhibit going on now? Tell me below!