WHAT: National Museum of the Marine Corps.

Washington is a city of memorials to war heroes, but beyond the Beltway, near Quantico Marine Base in Virginia, is another tribute to brave Americans. The stunning building, interactive exhibits and cost (it's free!) rival anything that Washington has to offer. Its 210-foot spire replicates the 60-degree angle at which the U.S. flag was planted on Iwo Jima in World War II.

WHAT TO SEE: The "Making Marines" exhibit includes a booth in which a drill sergeant yells in your ear, a bar with instructions on how to do a proper pull-up and a heavy backpack to try on. That is just prep. The rest of the tour proves that basic training is the easiest part of being a Marine.

The World War II exhibit helps visitors understand what landing on Iwo Jima was like. Visitors step into a small, dim room that resembles the hull of a ship. A commander explains the importance of the mission, and then a door opens onto a reproduction of a Higgins boat, ready to land on the Japanese island.

Original footage from Iwo Jima plays on a panoramic screen around the boat. Marines' voices can be heard reciting prayers, and then come the sounds of pings — bullets striking the metal of the ship.

Creating a sense of history is what the museum does best. Visitors to the Korean War displays look in on Marines on the American side of the 38th parallel as they camp in the cold. The room is chilly. "In actuality, it was like 40 below zero," docent Jack Stewart explains.

In the Vietnam War section, you feel the sweltering heat and see enormous (stuffed) rats. A Marine is heard talking about his time in a claustrophobic Vietnamese solitary confinement box, too small to stand in and too narrow to sit, just like the one on display.

The museum also includes a remarkable collection of artifacts, including the flags that were flown at Iwo Jima.

GETTING THERE: The National Museum of the Marine Corps, 18900 Jefferson Davis Highway, Triangle, Va., is about 45 minutes from Washington.

It's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Christmas. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking; be ready to show your driver's license at the base gate. Free docent-led tours start at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.; no registration required. A cafeteria and restaurant are on the second floor. 877-635-1775; www.usmcmuseum.org.