Reviews of National Capital Radio & Television Museum (Museum)

Mike A

Great geeky place tracing the development of so many entertainment and communications things we take for granted today. Both technical and entertainment aspects of radio, tv and phones are on display. If you show up at most any time you'll probably get a personalized tour.

diolinda ekonomo

Docent very knowledgable. Parking is right in front of Museum bldg. Gorgeous collection of antique radios and TVs. For sale working/repaired antique radios. Museum is within reasonable distance from Bowie Town Center.

Aaron

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. We had an enjoyable visit!

Roslyn Snyder

we had fun it was very informative

LaTosha Greene

Very small but nice museum

Mm Maxwell

I am biased because my husband volunteers at this museum. It is only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and it is a tiny museum in a farmhouse. It teeters on the verge of being a cabinet of curiosities because the walls have many 20th century radios and later televisions. The volunteers, who give tours, are typically people who used to work in radio or studied it. They are very passionate, but you will either get a tour about the technical aspects of the medium OR the cultural impact. It is great for all ages and children will learn something simply by being exposed to this early technology. The museum welcomes scouts, home groups, seniors and homeschoolers. There are a few hands on exhibits.

Philip Levy

Wonderful small museum of radio from the 1920s onward. Also covers television. Working and display models and interesting bits of history. Guides give lots of interesting details. Really brings back memories if you lived in the 20's through 80's. An hour covers a good visit. Not open many hours so plan accordingly. Free admission with voluntary donation box. Lots of science stuff, too.

Tony Joy

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.

Renee Moore

A hidden gem with great employees. Went down memory lane

David Wolf

A great place to learn about the history of radio and television, and see what came before cell phones.

Steve Loudermilk

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.

David Rossetti

Great museum.

Cate Krage

Lots of information in a tiny little space.

Alan Dickey

If you are interested in the history of radio and television equipment and technology, then this is the place for you! With plenty of examples of equipment and a docent who explains what you are seeing, this museum provides an excellent opportunity to learn about radio and television. We really enjoyed our tour guide and tour!

Sue Kidd

An interesting tour, hubby really liked it.

Genevieve Richter

Where locally can you see the birth of communication such as Radio and TV. The staff who volunteer are knowledgeable and friendly.

Sarah Wood

Really interesting, the guy giving our tour was really knowledgeable, and answered any queations we had.

Charlie KB3ZVN

Lots of Art Deco style items! Simply beautiful. Make sure you ask to tour the ham shack!

Adrian Turner

A lot of good history here.

Tom Collins

I went with a good friend and ending up spending the whole afternoon there. The exhibits are wonderful. This is a gem of a museum. The people that run it are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. Anyone interested in the history of radio and TV will enjoy this. I must caution visitors that this is not quick in and out. Be prepared to spend some time. It is a lot of fun

Pat Davidson

The tour was great and the museum had a great story

David Amistadi

Provides a wonderful view of the history of radio and TV broadcasting. Don't let the outside fool you. The building was a former general store and home, but the inside was absolutely stuffed with amazing artifacts from old time crystal radios up to and including cellular telephones. We had a wonderful guide who gave us a in depth room by room tour. Allow a couple of hours for the complete tour.

Jay Fisc

What a hidden gem! If you are in the area I highly recommend it. From the outside of the building you would have no idea how cool of a museum it is. We were given a really great person tour by Lou. He was very nice and enthusiastic. You will learn so much about the history of radios and Tvs. They are very hands on and have many old electronics that you can interact with!! The museum is FREE but I recommend chipping in a little as a donation since they are doing such a great job!!

Jessica Oby

Small yet informative. Well-presented, clean.

Zachariah Deaver

Small museum that shows history of radio and television. Extremely knowledgable staff and worth the trip.

Jim Wallace

The new Amateur Radio Station K3RTV is now on-the-air and available for viewing and demonstration. 73, JIM-N3ADF Station Manager.

Michelle Foster

We visited this on our way home to Delaware from DC. It was a great little museum! It is packed with all kinds of fun things. The staff was very friendly and taught us a lot. They really know the history of the items. There were things to see I have never seen before. Definitely worth a stop if you are curious about the history of radios and TV!

John Copley

Absolutely great. Very interesting collection and great guides.

Margaret Wills

A charming, small museum (and I love small museums in general) We were there several years ago, and remember an especially good experience because one of the volunteers gave us a tour, and provided a thought-provoking historical context to all the interesting (and sometimes beautifully crafted) objects gathered there. He conveyed that long before the Web, radio seemed like a miracle, bringing voices and music and information out of the air. (He was a farm-boy out on the plains of depression-era Midwest). Large museums, such as the nearby Smithsonian line-up, are impressive. But they exert a pressure to keep moving on, while a small museum like this is logistically an easy afternoon outing, that allows time to ponder and discuss and really look at what's offered. More people should know about this place.