The 21 Best Museums in Washington DC to Visit Anytime
The nation’s capital holds many of the top cultural attractions in the country. You will definitely want to visit the best museums in Washington DC during your stay. Fortunately, many of the top museums are located around the National Mall and are free to enter.
There are dozens of museums to choose from, here are 21 of the best museums to discover in Washington DC. This list moves clockwise around the National Mall.
Read on to discover each museum so you can get the most out of your time in the capital.
And if you’re looking for a free museum, you’re in luck! Most of the museums on this list are free, and prices are included in the description.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free timed entry passes are required.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture holds compelling exhibits and over 40,000 artifacts across its ten floors.
This is the only national museum dedicated to the history of the African American experience. Exhibits are arranged according to the themes of History, Culture, and Community. Together, they tell the story of history and events across several centuries leading to the present day.
National Museum of American History
Website | Address | Hours: Open daily. Admission is free, no ticket or reservation required
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History houses over 1.7 million artifacts and a collection of exhibits that tell the story of the United States of America.
From exhibits on entertainment during the Great Depression to the history of American sweatshops, there is a lot of ground to cover here.
The museum is a great choice for history enthusiasts. Walking through the halls is like walking through the centuries and pivotal events that have shaped the country.
National Museum of Natural History
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum offers immersive exhibits that let you get lost in the wonders of the natural world. The museum holds two stories of exhibits including the Bone Hall and Hall of Mammals.
If you’ve ever wanted to dive into the history of ancient human evolution and see ancient species, this is going to be a great museum for you. It is also a fun venue for kids because the displays are fascinating and interactive throughout.
National Archives Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required. Reservation tickets recommended between March and Labor Day.
The National Archives Museum is home to the most important founding documents of the United States of America. The museum’s collection includes the original Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights to name a few. There are five exhibit galleries to explore, but be sure to catch a glimpse of the historical documents while you are here. This is one of the top museums in Washington DC if you’re a history buff.
National Gallery of Art
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The National Gallery of Art holds over 3,000 works of art across its East and West buildings and sculpture garden. You can immerse yourself in both American sand European classic art or contemporary, art, or both.
There are displays from Dorothy Lang’s Great Depression Era photography to contemporary works by native American artists. If you visit from November through March you can also visit the iconic ice rink in the sculpture garden.
National Portrait Gallery
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The National Portrait Gallery gives a look into United States history through the people, places, and events that have shaped it. I’d say this is a must-see for history and museum lovers, it is one of my favorites.
The exhibits are woven together to share the storyline of America from the precolonial period to present day so it is also a great choice for art enthusiasts looking for a good mix of history and art.
America’s Presidents is the must-see permanent exhibit here. This is the only complete collection of presidential portraits available to the public outside of the White House’s collection.
National Postal Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
Okay, hear me out. The National Postal Museum is really interesting. I bet you’ve never spent much time thinking about the history of America’s postal system, but it is fascinating.
This museum holds eleven exhibits telling the colorful history of the American postal system. From the early days of delivering mail on the Pony Express to an enormous stamp collection, this is a lighthearted museum that will give you a lot of fun facts to take away.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is housed alongside the National Portrait Gallery in the old Patent Office Building. It is home to American art forms from the colonial period to the present day.
A few of the ongoing exhibits include Experience America, Galleries for Modern and Contemporary Art, and Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies.
Library of Congress
Website | Address | Hours: Open Tuesday through Saturday. Free admission. Timed tickets are only required for the Thomas Jefferson Building.
Sure, the Library of Congress isn’t what you’d call a typical museum. However, it holds a number of fascinating exhibits in addition to being the largest library collection in the United States. For example, it is home to Thomas Jefferson’s original book collection that is now on display.
Not to mention, the building’s architecture is simply stunning. If you’re looking for a calm, beautiful atmosphere and a handful of exhibits you can explore at a leisurely pace, this might be a great pick for you.
National Building Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 6 days a week, closed Tuesdays. Free for National Building Museum members, paid for all others. Tickets are $10/per adult, $7/per youth/students/seniors with valid ID.
The National Building Museum caters to a broad age range, so it can be a good choice for families. The Play Work Build exhibit is interactive for children, while the House and Home exhibit features photographs, video, and models that encompass what it means to build a home in America.
National Museum of the American Indian
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The National Museum of the American Indian provides a look into America’s indigenous cultures from the Pacific to the Atlantic. The exhibits walk through the history, culture, and art of native cultures.
Ongoing exhibits include Americas and Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake, with rotating exhibits to round out the collection. The museum’s beautiful exhibits of Native American arts and culture provide for an enlightening walk through parts of America’s history that at times are overlooked.
National Air and Space Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, timed-tickets required.
The National Air and Space Museum is a top choice for museum goers. The incredibly popular space museum features eight immersive galleries including The Wright Brothers & The Invention of The Aerial Age and Destination Moon.
Actual planes are suspended from the enormous ceiling and galleries are divided across two floors. The expansive exhibits are incredibly engaging and informative at the same time.
Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden offers modern and contemporary American art throughout its seven exhibit halls and outdoor sculpture garden.
The museum’s impressive collection includes over 21,000 individual pieces of art. Known as one of the most important collections of both 20th century art and contemporary art from living artists, this is a fantastic place to visit to understand the art breathing life to current American culture.
National Museum of African Art
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
National Museum of African Art is a collection of seven powerful exhibits across two floors. African art, culture, and history are the main themes.
Create to Free Yourselves: Abraham Lincoln and the History of Freeing Slaves in America and From the Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya with Ayana V. Jackson are a couple examples of the moving exhibits here. The museum is dedicated to the preservation, study, and collection of African art.
Smithsonian Castle
Website | Address | Hours: Closed for in-person visits, online history and displays are open.
The Smithsonian Castle is the Smithsonian Institute’s first, and oldest building that finished construction in 1855. The building is currently undergoing its first ever renovation in the last 50 years, which began in February 2023 and is likely to continue until 2028.
However, the castle is still striking to see from the outside, so it is worth including on this list. And, since it is directly on the National Mall lawn, you can stop by as you head to a neighboring museum.
You can still tour the museum online or attend a Castle Talk to learn about the fascinating history of the Smithsonian museums and the castle.
The National Museum of Asian Art
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The National Museum of Asian Art encompasses art from past centuries leading up to today. With ten ongoing displays there is a lot to discover.
You can explore Asia’s history through displays like China and the Silk Road, Rediscovering Korea’s Past, and Afterlife: Ancient Chinese Jades. It is also home to important collections of work from the American Aesthetic Movement that took place in the 19th and 20th centuries.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, timed tickets are only required for the museum’s permanent exhibits. You can still attend the other exhibits without a timed ticket, however I recommend getting a timed ticket so you can experience the entire museum.
The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of the most moving museums I’ve visited, and one of the best museums in Washington DC. There are six separate exhibits that encompass the period of the Holocaust and specific elements of its history.
This is a must-see museum, but be emotionally prepared when you enter. Maybe schedule time to debrief and decompress after you visit, and don’t pack your day too full immediately after you plan to stop here.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The Abraham Lincoln Memorial holds a small, ground level museum exhibit to the left of the staircase leading up to the main plaza. The single exhibit is a visual and written walk through the history of the Lincoln Memorial as a meeting point for historic American events.
The memorial’s role in history has earned it the nickname America’s Front Lawn. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. gave his pivotal “I Have a Dream” speech here during the Civil Rights Movement.
The small museum does a solid job of sharing its history through short stories and photographs. If you want to change up the types of museums you are visiting, here’s your chance to stroll around the nearby Reflecting Pool and still enjoy a museum stop along the way.
International Spy Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Entry is paid and varies slightly by day. Expect to pay around $30 per person.
The International Spy Museum includes four stories of immersive, interactive experiences. I’d heard this spy museum caters more to families and I think that is accurate.
The exhibit The Spying That Shaped History shares about spies across America’s history. The other displays incorporate history, interactive elements, and imagination.
If you’re looking for a high energy museum this can be a good bet. If you want something calmer, I’d recommend other museums on the National Mall.
The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Art Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
The Renwick Gallery holds a collection of craft and decorative art. The museum building features beautiful architecture, from its stunning red staircase to the sparkling chandelier.
The art housed here is from the 19th through 21st century and was interestingly the first art museum in Washington DC.
The George Washington Museum & The Textile Museum
Website | Address | Hours: Open Tuesday – Sunday. Free admission for all, recommended $8 donation for non-members.
Rotating collections of Washitoniana and textiles from around the world. View textile displays downstairs and head upstairs for materials of historical significance from the Albert H. Small Washitoniana collection.
The Smithsonian Institute
You may have noticed most of the museums on this list are within the family of Smithsonian museums. The Smithsonian Institute is the world’s largest research, education, and museum complex that comprises over 20 museums and the National Zoo.
The institute was founded by its namesake in 1846 and endeavors on its mission to “increase and diffuse knowledge”. Smithsonian museums are all free, which is absolutely wonderful.
Packing Tips for Exploring The Best Museums in Washington DC
Museums may have different rules about what is allowed to be carried inside. Be sure to pack water and snacks, but be prepared to stow your backpack in case the museum has bag size limits.
Some museums do not allow food or drinks, though most feature their own cafe with food, snacks, and hot and cold beverages. Usually the museum will have a themed gift shop inside.
There are also a ton of food trucks outside the museums on the National Mall. These are useful for quick bites like burgers or fries, and desserts.
Other Activities Around The National Mall
Since the most popular Smithsonian museums are located around the National Mall, you can explore other historic sites and activities in the surrounding area without traveling far.
To see my top recommendations for places to visit in Washington DC, check out The Perfect Washington DC 4 Day Itinerary.
Arriving at the National Mall
There are many ways to reach the best museums, including by car, bike, and Metrorail.
The Smithsonian Station is one of the closest Metrorail stations that brings you directly to the heart of the National Mall. You can also go to Union Station, which is the most historic Metrorail stop, and then walk over to the National Mall through the Lower Senate Park.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the roundup of the 21 best museums in Washington DC to visit anytime.
While this is my top list of the best museums to visit, there are many other noteworthy museums within Washington DC located farther out from the National Mall.
Most of the museums are open daily and many of them are free. The most popular museums can tend to have lines during busy seasons, so I recommend booking timed tickets to ensure you’re not stuck waiting to enter anywhere.
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