National Capital Radio and Television Museum, Bowie

This museum is an authentic treasure. It's well worth the effort to visit this small, "out of the way" location. The building is full of vintage radio and television equipment from the 1920s through modern day. Everything is in pristine condition and presented in interesting groupings. Our docent, Mr. David Greene, I believe, guided us through the displays spanning the history of radio and telegraph communications from its inception to today's technology. The treasures include ham radio and commercial radio as well as the earliest television sets of the 1950s. I had no idea there was such a thing as a mechanical television. Our docent regaled us with information and descriptions of early radios to include consumer trends and how the various manufacturers marketed their new technology. You will likely see relics from your own past and fondly remember your earliest experience with radio and TV equipment long forgotten but beautifully preserved here. You may find one visit is not enough to fully appreciate it.

Tiny, unassuming and definitely lo-fi, this place (a converted house) is no Smithsonian but for old school radio and television enthusiasts it's a kind of heaven and definitely worth a side trip when northeast of DC. Spend an hour perusing old microphones, TV sets and call-letter paraphernalia. Absolutely a place for nerds .. but wonderfully detailed and fascinating for those who love this stuff. The fellows who run the museum are kind, well-informed and generous with their time and insights.