Washington, DC: What Museums To Visit

A Rich Heritage

If you end up spending any time in Washington, DC you’re going to want to do some sightseeing. One of the most museum-dense cities in the world, Washington offers a wide array of different options for those looking to explore the country’s rich heritage. Most of them are located close to the main tourist area within easy walking distance of each other, and best of all, a huge number of them offer free admission. Let’s look at DC’s best museums.

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National Museum Of Natural History

Near the National Mall, this museum is great for families, offering special exhibits displaying fossils, gems, and other geological wonders. The famous Hope Diamond resides here. There is also a butterfly pavilion filled with the colorful fluttering insects along with wonderful tropical plants. As part of the Smithsonian, admission is free and the museum is open every day of the year except Christmas.

Panoramic view of the Rotunda at the National Museum of Natural History National Museum of Natural History, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Air And Space Museum

The entire history of air travel is contained within the walls of this amazing museum, and what a wonderful history it is. You can examine the Wright Brothers’ original plane, the command module used by astronauts in the Apollo 11 moon landing, and everything in between. Situated near the National Mall, the museum is open every day except Christmas. Admission is free.

National Air And Space Museum Entrance Jawed Karim, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Museum Of African American History And Culture

This striking building near the National Mall opened in 2016 with a ceremony and speech given by President Obama. Its 10 stories are devoted to sharing African American culture, struggles, and accomplishments. With tens of thousands of artifacts, the museum is a must-see for those interested in Black history. Open every day except Christmas and Martin Luther King Day. Admission is free but on a timed-entry pass, so book ahead.

The exterior of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Gallery Of Art

This sprawling museum consists of two wings; one with European works dating from the 13th century onward, and the other with more contemporary pieces. There’s so much there, you may want to book an entire day. Situated on the National Mall, the Gallery is open seven days a week with free admission.

Main facade of the National Gallery of Art Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Museum Of American History

Another fixture on the National Mall, the American History Museum has three stories devoted to a lot of the technical progress of the country. Exhibits about train travel, and a gunboat preserved from the Revolutionary War era are only a couple of its objects of fascination. Another affiliate of the Smithsonian, the museum is open every day except Christmas and admission is free.

North facade entrance of the Museum Of American History Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Museum Of The American Indian

The Native peoples of North America are showcased in all their limitless diversity in this museum on the National Mall that also offers a cafeteria specializing in Indigenous peoples’ cuisine. The building itself is designed to resemble a windswept desert rock formation—you can’t miss it! Open daily with free admission.

Interior of the National Museum of the American Indian Alina Zienowicz, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hirshhorn Museum Of Art And Sculpture

The Hirshhorn is a must-see for those who want to absorb and savor 20th century art. The list of works in the collection includes Picasso, Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and many other modern greats. The sculpture garden offers further fascination in an open-air setting. It's on the National Mall, just west of the Air and Space Museum, and open daily with free admission.

Hirshhorn Museum Viewed from the South ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

This impeccably preserved mansion estate decorated in the style of 18th-century France is located in the Forest Hills neighborhood northwest of the city. With Faberge eggs, one of the country’s top orchid collections, and an impressive collection of French artwork. This museum is not open every day and does charge admission. It’s accessible by car and public transit with a half-hour walk, so plan accordingly.

French Parterre at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens Gryffindor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

United States Memorial Holocaust Museum

If you’re in a more contemplative mood, you can visit this museum and learn more about one of humanity’s worst calamities. Note that the main exhibit is not suitable for children but that there is a separate children’s exhibit. The museum holds 900 artifacts including victims’ belongings; video presentations show survivor testimony and more. Off the National Mall near the Washington Monument, admission is free with a timed-entry ticket.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Interior AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Phillips Collection

The first modern art museum in the United States, this collection offers a wide array of modern and impressionist art. The site has been praised for its smaller size and intimacy than many of the bigger complexes. The museum is not on the Mall but near Dupont Circle in Washington. It’s closed on Mondays.

The Phillips Collection, America's first museum of modern art APK, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

International Spy Museum

This unusual museum is devoted to the history of espionage going back to the beginnings of human civilization. With 1,000 artifacts on public display, highlights include a German WWII Enigma coding machine, and pieces of the wreckage of the U-2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union. A short distance from the National Mall, tickets are in the $30 dollar range with student and child discounts.

International Spy Museum at L'Enfant Plaza Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Smithsonian Museum Of Asian Art

This is maybe the most impressive of DC’s many art museums, with 46,000 pieces showcasing art from the Far East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Islamic world. The collection dates from the dawn of history to the present. That should keep anyone entertained for an entire day! Open daily with free admission.

Freer Gallery Of Art - National Museum Of Asian Art ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Building Museum

The splendor of this museum and its huge Greek-columned structure is a fitting place to display the history of buildings, architecture, and household goods. A short walk north of the National Mall complex, the exhibits are housed in the Great Hall, allowing visitors to peer upward at the building’s soaring interior. Open Thursdays to Mondays with tickets starting at $10.

The National Building Museum's Great Hall Paul Morigi, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Museum Of Women In The Arts

This impressive art museum holds 4,500 works by women artists, including names you may have heard of and many that you haven’t. Making up the shortfall of women artists in other museums, the venue is a fascinating world of discovery. It’s located in a different part of the city but within easy access by car or public transit. The museum is closed on Mondays.

National Museum Of Women In The Arts AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Museum Of African Art

The astonishing world of African art and artists comes to life in this museum that contains 7,000 pieces mostly focused on art from the sub-Saharan region of Africa. The museum acquired another collection in 2005 representing art styles from many other African cultures as well. Near the National Mall, the museum is with the Smithsonian; entry is free, and it’s open every day.

National Museum of African Art Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Renwick Gallery Of The Smithsonian American Art Museum

Interested in interactive art pieces and larger works and installations? Check out the Renwick Gallery. Dedicated to art, craft, and design, the museum’s unusual pieces, such as the Wonder exhibition, have occasionally lit up social media. This museum is a short distance from the White House along Pennsylvania Avenue. It's open every day, no ticket required.

Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

The home of the great Frederick Douglass is in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington. Now part of the National Park Service, the house is where Douglass lived the last period of his life, and did some of his best writing. Not a vast museum full of artifacts, but a quiet place to appreciate the spirit of one of the nation’s most enduring figures. The Douglass home is a 10-minute walk from the Anacostia Metro Station.

Frederick Douglass House in Washington Walter Smalling, Wikimedia Commons

Planet Word

This unusual museum is a celebration of languages, language learning, and words in all their limitless varieties. With all kinds of word puzzles, riddles, and other interactive activities, the museum is a popular family outing. Planet Word is a couple of blocks from the National Museum of the Arts, and an easy walk from the National Mall area. Free admission, closed Tuesdays.

Front view of the Franklin School APK, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Children’s Museum

This museum is geared toward fun educational activities for kids with a focus on science and technology. The venue opened on its current site near the White House and National Mall in 2020. A three-story climbing structure and slide is the museum’s centerpiece. Closed Tuesdays, tickets are $18.95 per person.

Front view of National Children's Museum ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Portrait Gallery

More than 21,000 portraits reside in this remarkable museum, depicting people from every era of American history. The collection includes an impressive array of early photography among its other treasures. Located a few blocks east of the White House, the gallery is part of the Smithsonian Institution—it’s open every day and admission is free.

South (F Street) entrance to the National Portrait Gallery / Smithsonian American Art Museum Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Postal Museum

Take a trip back through time and witness how the US mail service has evolved since colonial times. When you’re done exploring the different transportation themes, you can pore over the colossal stamp collection, itself a testament to the nation’s history. It's across the street from Union Station, with free admission, and open every day.

The Postal Square Building at 2 Massachusetts Avenue AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

President Lincoln’s Cottage

If you’re one of those who regard Abe Lincoln as America’s greatest president, you’ll want to investigate this cottage north of the downtown core. It was here, away from the noise of the White House, that Lincoln made some of his most important decisions. It's open daily. Check the cottage’s website for tour prices and times.

Abraham Lincoln's Summer Cottage Carol M. Highsmith, Wikimedia Commons

Heurich House Museum

German-American immigrant Christian Heuer was a very wealthy brewer in the 1890s when he had this mansion built. Fitted with electric lights, speaking tubes, and a burglar alarm, the home was a technological marvel for its age. You can finish off your tour with a visit to the museum’s beer garden. It's located two blocks south of Dupont Circle. Check the museum website for opening hours.

Front View of the Heurich House Museum Kurt Kaiser, Wikimedia Commons

United States Botanic Garden

If you want to leave the stuffy confines and spend a day relaxing outdoors, the United States Botanic Garden hosts more than 3,000 varieties of plants from around the world. Specialties include Mediterranean and Hawaiian species along with sections dedicated to medicinal plants as well. At the Mall’s eastern end near the Capitol, the Garden is open every day to visitors.

Botanic Garden Conservatory Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Octagon Museum

Before the Pentagon, there was the Octagon. This stately brick mansion was the temporary residence of President Madison after the British army set the White House ablaze. Currently serving as the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects, the building is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the country. Just west of the White House, the place is great for a shorter excursion. Check for tour times and availability.

Front view of The Octagon House ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

National Bonsai Museum

This free public museum is run by the National Bonsai Foundation and is located on the grounds of the US National Arboretum, east of the mall complex. If you’re looking for a quieter activity, come and admire the more than 60 bonsai specimens preserved and cared for in this oasis of tranquility.

Entrance to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Ragesoss, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Museum-Goer’s Feast

You’ve probably guessed by now that Washington is one of the greatest cities for museums in the country. No matter your age or background, there’s likely going to be something on our list that interests you. The museums under the Smithsonian umbrella are especially remarkable for their content; their free admission and year-round access are a privilege not to be missed! Don’t forget that prices and operating hours change over time—sometimes museums close for periods of time for renovation or repairs. Always plan ahead.

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum Interior Cliff, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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