This article covers everything you need to know about the 21 best museums in Washington DC.
The nation’s capital is home to the most incredible cultural attractions in the country. When you visit, you’ll definitely want to schedule time to explore the top museums and exhibits.
Fortunately, many of the best museums are free to enter, and located right around the National Mall in the heart of the city.
This curated list of 21 best museums to discover in Washington DC moves clockwise around the National Mall so you can cover a lot of ground.
Let’s dive in.
Top Museums in Washington DC
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 is home to compelling exhibits and over 40,000 artifacts across ten floors.
And, it 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. You can easily spend a couple hours exploring.
The museum is a great choice for history enthusiasts.
Walking through the halls is like walking through the centuries and pivotal events that shaped the country.
National Museum of Natural History
Website | Address | Hours: Open 7 days a week. Free admission, no ticket required.
This is one of my absolute favorite museums in DC.
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.
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, but there are many more.
In total, there are five galleries to explore. I’d recommend prioritizing a visit to the hall with the Constitution while you are here.
This is definitely one of the top museums in Washington DC to see 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, and it quickly became one of my favorites along the National Mall.
The exhibits are woven together to share the storyline of America from the precolonial period to present day, making it a great choice for art enthusiasts looking for a good mix of both 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.
This iconic museum 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.
The Library of Congress isn’t what you’d call a typical museum, and that makes it a perfect way to mix things up when you visit the National Mall.
This incredible building 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 in glass covered book cases.
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 is a great pick.
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 American 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.
When you walk in, you’ll see actual planes suspended from the enormous ceiling, and enormous galleries divided across two floors.
I’d recommend this museums since the 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.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to go inside for a few more years. The building is undergoing its first renovation in the last 50 years, which began in 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.
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.
I’d heard this spy museum caters more to families and I think that is accurate.
The International Spy Museum includes four stories of fascinating immersive, interactive experiences.
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.
But 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.
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.
This museum is home to 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.
About 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.
What to Bring for a Day at Washington DC Museums
Museums may have different rules about what is allowed to be carried inside.
Definitely pack water and snacks, just prepared to stow your backpack at the entrance in case a 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.
There are also a ton of food trucks outside the museums on the National Mall for quick bites like burgers or fries, and desserts.
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.
Pro Travel Tip: This Washington DC 4 Day Itinerary is perfect for helping you plan your dream trip to the US Capital.
How to Get to the National Mall
There are many ways to reach the best museums in DC, including by car, bike, and Metrorail.
If you’re taking the Metrorail, the Smithsonian Station is one of the closest stations bringing 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.
Pro Travel Tip: Planning your trip to DC? This list covers all the best airports to pick when you fly into Washington DC.
Best Museums in Washington DC: Final Thoughts
This article was all about the 21 best museums in Washington DC to visit anytime.
Beyond this list, the Capital is home to incredible noteworthy museums located farther out from the National Mall.
Regardless of which museums you visit, always remember that booking timed tickets is the best way to make sure you’re not stuck in line upon entry.
