July 4th – DC Modern Hidden Treasures Walktour and fireworks at National Mall

# 1. July 4th – DC Modern Hidden Treasures Walktour

· Our July 4th walk begins at the bold and beautiful Hirshhorn Museum.
From there, we’ll visit the hidden brutalist masterpiece by Marcel Breuer, continue to the iconic Arena Stage, and explore a striking modernist residential complex on 4th Street (name coming soon!).
Then we’ll reach The Wharf — DC’s revitalized waterfront — for a lunch break, either picnic-style or by the water at one of the many restaurants.
Afterward, we’ll walk back toward the National Mall to enjoy the city’s grand fireworks display.

· It’s an easy 5 km walk with plenty of stops, shade, and surprises along the way.

· Note: Out-of-town events will be available only to active members who have attended at least two of our local DC events.

# 2. EVENT DESCREPTION

2.1. Hirshhorn Museum

· The Hirshhorn is one of the most daring, avant-garde, and yet strangely overlooked museums in Washington, DC.
Beyond its bold architecture, it houses powerful works by Käthe Kollwitz, Pablo Picasso, and Jackson Pollock — and also features pieces by Francis Bacon, Willem de Kooning, Barbara Hepworth, Mark Rothko, and Yoko Ono (conceptual artist, peace activist, and wife of John Lennon).

2.2. Marcel Breuer Giant Brutal Masterpice

· After about 1.5 km of walking, we’ll arrive at a brutalist masterpiece by legendary modernist architect Marcel Breuer — the Housing and Urban Development headquarters.
· If you’re a serious photographer, this is your heaven — all sharp angles, deep shadows, and raw concrete poetry.

2.3. Arena Stage

· Next, we arrive at Arena Stage — not just a theater, but a modernist temple of performance and glass.
· Designed by Bing Thom, this building wraps three historic theater spaces in a flowing, transparent skin, symbolizing openness and artistic experimentation.
We’ll pause here to admire how architecture and drama quite literally reflect one another.

2.4. Brutalist 4th St SW

· We’ll walk along 4th Street SW — home to a quietly radiant collection of modernist and brutalist residential complexes.
· Tucked away from the tourist path, these mid-century gems still stand with quiet dignity and bold geometry.

2.5. The Warf

· By Around 6:30 PM, we’ll arrive at The Wharf — DC’s lively waterfront.
· We’ll spend the next two hours here, relaxing, chatting, and enjoying dinner — whether it’s a quiet picnic on the boardwalk or a lively bite at one of the riverside restaurants.
· Bring your own meal or grab something fresh nearby — it’s your evening to savor.
· We’ll regroup around 8:30 PM and head back toward the National Mall for the grand finale.

# 3. Fire works

· Around 8:30 PM, we’ll begin our walk back toward the Washington Monument.
· On the way, we’ll pass through 10th Street SW, walking right past the striking new International Spy Museum — its sharp, futuristic façade a fitting contrast to our day of hidden mid-century gems.
· After about 1.5 km of easy walking, we’ll arrive just in time for the fireworks — and yes, the base of the Washington Monument is one of the best places in the city to watch the sky light up.
· As the sky explodes in light and color, we’ll stand together — strangers no more — with tired feet, full hearts, and maybe just a little more love for this strange, beautiful city.

3.1. REGISTERATION

· Sadly, after too many people confirmed and didn’t show up — even after double-confirming —we had to choose between charging a small fee or shutting the group down.
We think we chose the right path.
Your contributions help sustain and improve future amazing events.

· Participation requires a $15 registration fee.
payable via Zelle , Cash app , Venmo to 571-748-9258 (Armin Ettehadi)
PayPal (coming soon )
· Please include your full name and the event name when sending payment.
Example: John Smith / Modernist DC Returns

· You'd like to show extra support, a voluntary $20 contribution is deeply appreciated and helps fund future events.

3.2. WHEN AND WHERE TO MEET ?

· Address:
National Gallery of Art – East Building
4th Street & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565

We’ll gather at 3:00 PM sharp, right across from the Hirshhorn Museum, at the intersection of 7th Street and Jefferson Drive SW.

Look for a few friendly faces, a modernist vibe — and probably someone holding a sketchbook or camera.

· How to get there :

· Orange, Silver, and Blue Lines:
Use Smithsonian Station, then walk 0.5 km (0.3 miles) to east.

· Green and Yellow Lines:
Use L'Enfant Plaza, then walk 0.4 km (0.2 miles).

· Red Line:
Use Gallery Pl-Chinatown, then walk 1.3 km (0.75 miles) to South

· Dirving and Parking
We stongly recommend not driving to the event.
Due to the 4th of July event, there may be road closures and heavy traffic near the National Mall.
Parking will be extremely limited and likely unavailable.

3.3. CHILDREN

· Bring the kids! From ages 1 to 101 (and beyond!), they’re more than welcome.
My two assistant hosts — ages 9 and 7 — will be joining us, and I’ll do my best to make the experience fun, exciting, and engaging for our younger friends.

· In this dark age of television, social media, celebrity culture, and video game domination over young minds, it’s more vital than ever to give children real-life, sensory-rich, and soulful experiences in art, nature, and community.
· Children and teens under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult participant, and may join for free.

3.4. GUESTS

· Bringing a friend, a curious cousin, or someone who just loves art and sunshine?
Guests are welcome — as long as they’re accompanied by a registered participant,
they can join for free and enjoy the day with us.

3.5. PETS

· While we love animals, please do not bring pets to this event —
· it’s an indoor museum tour followed by a public gathering on the Mall, and not suited for our furry

3.6. PHOTOGRAPHY

· If you're a photography nerd, this is your playground.
Between bold modernist art and the air show, the visual opportunities are endless.

· Even if you're not a photography buff but want a few gorgeous shots with iconic artworks and architecture — this event is for you.

3.7. DERSS CODE AND VIBE

· No need to dress up — casual is perfect, and comfort is key.
We’ll be walking a lot, both indoors and outdoors, so wear comfortable shoes that can handle city pavement and museum floors.

· Bring a hat and sunglasses for the Sculpture Garden and Mall picnic. And if rain is in the forecast, a compact umbrella might save your day.

· This isn’t a fashion show — but if your outfit makes you feel like a modernist icon, we won’t stop you.
And hey — be prepared to be framed with a Jackson Pollock background.
It’ll be such a great honor... for him!

3.8. EMERGENCY CONTACTS

· Armin Ettehadi : 571-748-9258