Photo Essay: The Newseum

The latest addition to Washington DC's long list of attractions is the Newseum, which opened in April. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue, the seven-story, 250,000-square-foot building is all about the news. The visitor will find numerous exhibits devoted to both the past and present, and scattered throughout the building are relics of history--the Berlin Wall, a shot-up correspondent's car, the radio antenna that once stood atop one of the Twin Towers in New York.

Perhaps the most moving section of the Newseum is the first floor wing housing a gallery of Pulitzer prize winning photographs. Even after gazing at only the first photo or two, visitors turn silent. Soon many are in tears, overwhelmed by the heights of joy and, even more, the numbing horror conveyed through the images. Lengthy captions are included with select photographs, introducing the visitor to the photographer--and sometimes to the toll a photograph took on the one who captured it.

For the experienced traveler, two or three hours in the Newseum will churn up memories of places you've been in the past, reminding you of some of the deeper reasons to travel, and of the common humanity shared with others around the globe.

In a city where most museums are free, the Newseum isn't cheap--$20. If the cost is prohibitive, scores of the day's frontpages from around the world are displayed free outside the building.