Washington, DC is a haven for museum enthusiasts, boasting an array of remarkable institutions that offer diverse and captivating experiences. From the National Museum of Women in the Arts to the International Spy Museum and many more, each museum tells a unique story and showcases a wealth of art, history, and culture.
The National Museum of Women in the Arts stands out as the world’s first museum dedicated solely to championing women in the arts. Its extensive collection features over 6,000 works dating from the 16th century to the present, with works by renowned artists like Mary Cassatt, Alma Woodsey Thomas, and Amy Sherald. One of its notable highlights is the only painting by Frida Kahlo in DC, “Self-Portrait Dedicated to Leon Trotsky.” Admission for adults is $16, while seniors 70 and older and DC residents pay $13, and those under 21, members, visitors with disabilities, and personal care attendants are admitted free. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday to Sunday, with extended hours on the third Wednesday of the month until 8 pm. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
The Rubell Museum in the Southwest Waterfront is a renowned contemporary art space that opened in 2022 in a former historically Black public school building. Current exhibitions showcase works by artists like Franco-Senegalese artist Alexandre Diop, as well as the “Singular Views: 25 Artists” collection from the Rubells’ own. DC-based Grace Street Coffee Roasters has an on-site outpost, serving coffee, cold brew, tea, and pastries. On Saturday and Sunday, adult admission is $15, seniors are $12, and students and youth are $10, while Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, admission is a pay-as-you-wish donation. DC residents with ID have free entry, as do military and veterans with ID and EBT card holders, who can bring in three additional guests. ADA visitors also get free admission with one additional guest. The museum is open from 11 am to 5 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday and from 10 am to 6 pm on Friday and Saturday.
The National Building Museum in Judiciary Square is a private nonprofit institution that showcases history in architecture, engineering, urban planning, and construction. Current exhibitions explore projects by Frank Lloyd Wright, iconic architecture built from Lego bricks, and the impact of Brutalism on Washington, D.C. Admission for non-members is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, students, and children age 3 and above, and free for children under 3. The museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm Thursday through Monday and is closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly is a suburban outpost of the National Air and Space Museum housed in two massive airplane hangars. It features 161 aircrafts, 160 major space objects, and 2,500 other aviation- and space-related artifacts. Highlights include the Space Shuttle Discovery, a Blackbird SR-71, Air France Concorde, and the Enola Gay. Parking is $15 (free for vehicles entering after 4 pm), and the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, except on Christmas.
The Planet Word Museum in McPherson Square teaches visitors about the power of language through immersive and interactive activities. After exploring the exhibits, guests can enjoy casual international dishes at Immigrant Food on the lower level. Admission is free, but there is a suggested donation of $15 per person. Reservations for up to 15 timed-entry passes are required, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday.
The National Museum of Asian Art on the National Mall is composed of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, with a staggering 45,000 artifacts and artworks from various regions. Exhibits include the Peacock Room relocated from Frederick Leyland’s London Mansion and the stunning Tibetan Buddhist shrine room and Japanese prints. Admission is free, and the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, except on Christmas.
The National Gallery of Art on the National Mall is one of the largest museums in the country, with the neoclassical West Building housing works from the medieval period to the late 19th century and the modern and contemporary East Building featuring art by Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and others. Admission is free, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily.
The National Museum of American History on the National Mall is a place to immerse oneself in American history, from the display of the Star Spangled Banner that inspired Francis Scott Key’s poem to Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves and an Alexander Graham Bell telephone. Admission is free, and the museum is open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, except on Christmas.
The International Spy Museum in L’Enfant Plaza allows visitors to channel their inner secret agent with exhibits on spy techniques and history. The museum’s current digs are larger, featuring the history of real-life intelligence operations and an official exhibition of 17 vehicles used in the James Bond movies. Ticket prices vary depending on the day, and advance timed tickets are recommended. The museum is open from 9 am to 7 pm on Monday, 9 am to 6 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and from 9 am to 8 pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on the National Mall is a favorite among modern art and sculpture enthusiasts. In honor of its 50th-anniversary season, there are rotating works from 1860–1960 on display, along with works by Georgia O’Keefe, Francis Bacon, and Laurie Anderson. The Sculpture Garden is currently closed for renovations until late 2024 or early 2025. Admission is free, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily.
The National Portrait Gallery in Gallery Place features portraits of every US president and includes current exhibits like photographs from Hollywood’s Golden Age by George Hurrell. Oprah Winfrey’s official portrait is on display until mid-December, and a life-size painting of Abraham Lincoln will hang until the end of 2027. Admission is free, and the museum is open from 11:30 am to 7 pm daily, except on Christmas.
The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall has classic floors filled with exhibits on early flight, the Wright brothers’ impact on aviation, American commercial flight history, and the Destination Moon exhibit. To see most of the collection’s aircraft and space objects, a visit to the Stephen R. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is recommended. Admission is free, but time-entry tickets are required, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily, except on Christmas.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall is a popular museum with music, sports, and pop-culture memorabilia, as well as powerful reminders of slavery and the civil rights movement. After exploring the museum, guests can enjoy fried chicken, pulled pork, or collard greens at the on-site Sweet Home Cafe. The building, designed in a triple inverted pyramid shape inspired by the Yoruba caryatid, has 3,600 cast aluminum panels resembling decorative ironwork in the American South. Admission is free, but advanced online ticket reservations are required, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm, except on Mondays when it opens at noon.
The National Archives Museum on the National Mall is primarily a library for historical documents and records, but getting a close-up look at the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights is special. Admission is free, and the public gallery is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily. Self-guided, timed-entry reservations are suggested during busy months, offered every 15 minutes from 10 am to 4:30 pm daily.
The National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall pays homage to the country’s diverse indigenous population with current exhibitions celebrating Native American narrative art, examining treaties, and honoring Native Americans in the US Armed Forces. The award-winning Mitsitam Cafe serves Native American cuisine from the Great Plains to the Northwest Coast. Admission is free, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily, except on Christmas.
The Phillips Collection in Dupont Circle is known as “America’s First Museum of Modern Art” and displays nearly 3,000 works by French Impressionists and other masters. The onsite Bread Furst Cafe uses local, seasonal, and organic ingredients for soups, sandwiches, and salads. Required timed admission tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for visitors 62 or older, $10 for students and educators, and free for military with valid ID and visitors 18 and under. Those under 2 don’t need to reserve timed tickets, and the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesday through Sunday.
The United States Holocaust Museum in L’Enfant Plaza is a difficult but important museum that takes visitors through the events leading up to and during the Holocaust. There is also a section on Americans in the Holocaust with firsthand accounts and experiences. For children eight and older, “Daniel’s Story” recounts the Holocaust through the eyes of one child. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance online with a $1 fee, and a limited number of same-day tickets are available. The museum is open from 10 am to 5:30 pm daily, except on Yom Kippur and Christmas.
Travis Mitchell, a DC-based food and drink writer, has had his stories appear in various outlets. He is originally from New Hampshire and studied journalism at American University. Follow his travels and eating adventures on Twitter at @travisjmitchell and Instagram at @_travisjmitchell.
