The National Museum Of African American History And Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a Smithsonian Institution museum established in 2003 by an Act of Congress.
Its the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, art, history, and culture.
This museum takes visitors on an incredible journey through 400 years of history from slavery to modern-day America. Visitors can explore 13 galleries with over 3600 artifacts highlighting African American achievements in society such as sports, music, and entertainment.
African American music history is explained through the Musical Crossroads exhibit, from the arrival of the first Africans until today.
The National Archives Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,488 reviews
Repository where the most important historical documents of the United States are held, such as the original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution and the 1297 version of the Magna Carta.
Reviewed By Noraatc – Sudbury, United States
Luckily, we were at the North Entrance early enough to beat school kids on their field trips and had a perfect chance to see all four pages of the US Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights as well as one of the best preserved copies of the Magna Carta donated to the Archives by David Rubenstein, the co-founder of the Carlyle Group. Thats one generous gift! We had been very fortunate to see another copy of the Magna Carta in Salisbury Cathedral in England.There are so many other fascinating documents reflecting various pages of our history, so depending on your personal interests, it might not be a short visit. TIP 1 : do arrive early – when we were leaving, there was a really long line at the entrance.TIP 2 : Not sure if two military helicopters on both sides of the facade are still there. At the time of our visit shortly after Veterans Day, the veterans were welcoming both kids and adults to get inside the helicopters and explore. Children were very excited to sit in the real helicopters, play with controls and chat with the veterans.
Smithsonians National Museum Of African Art
Explore the only national museum of African Art. Take in vibrant artwork from numerous African nations and cultures.
Ouroboros sculpture in the National Museum of African Art
| Museum Website | Cost: Free | Hours: Daily 10 AM to 5:30 PM
The National Museum of African Art is a gem in Washington DCs collection of museums. Its actually the only national museum devoted to African artwork. You can get to the museum by taking a pleasant walk through the Enid Haupt Garden.
The art collection consists of both modern and contemporary art from multiple African nations. They also hold plenty of educational and cultural events throughout the year. Admission to this Washington DC museum is free and theres no need to book a timed entry pass!
Its located on the National Mall between the Smithsonian Arts & Industries building and the Sackler Gallery of Art. Metro is the easiest way to get there since street parking fills up fast. Stop at the Smithsonian station or the Lenfant station to get there and take a quick walk.
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United States Botanic Garden
Stop and smell the rosesliterally! This is the only certified living plant museum in the nation. Take the chance to see endangered and rare plants on the National Mall.
| Museum Website | Cost: Free | Hours: Conservatory is open from 10 AM to 5 PM daily
Out of all the museums in the nation, this is the only living plant museum. And it is a gorgeous addition to any museum crawl. This giant greenhouse in the middle of Washington DC was opened in 2006 and is filled with species of tropical, desert, and subtropical plants. On a day with good weather, you can also take a stroll through the two outdoor gardens.
The most notable of these is the endangered corpse flower which blooms once every seven to nine years. There are other rare and endangered plants housed here as well as other plants you know and love.
In addition to the beautiful plants and flowers, there are also temporary exhibits and educational programs to teach the public how to care for certain plants and their importance to our ecosystems. An important to-do for any plant parent visiting the nations capital!
National Museum Of Women In The Arts
The elegant Renaissance Revival-style building in downtown D.C. is the perfect setting for the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the worlds only major museum devoted to womens contributions to the arts. Youll find the big hitters here, including Camille Claudel, Mary Cassatt, Georgia OKeeffe, Frida Kahlo, and lesser-known artists, including Lavinia Fontana, Rosa Bonheur, and Justine Kurland. In total, more than 5,500 works span the 16th century to modern day.
General Admission: $10. The museum is closed for a major renovation, with plans to reopen in fall 2023.
INSIDER TIPA lively calendar of events includes gallery talks, art workshops, and concerts.
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Thomas Jefferson Building Library Of Congress
Where are the books? Thats the first question everyone asks when entering the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill, the worlds largest library. Indeed, the Grand Hall resembles a veritable Italian-Renaissance palazzo rather than a library, with marble statues, mural mosaics, and architectural flourishes. You can peer down on the octagonal Main Reading Room, with 250 desks beneath a towering dome, while side galleries contain permanent and temporary exhibits pulling from the librarys vast collection. More than 39 million books are tucked away on approximately 838 miles of shelves.
General Admission: Free
INSIDER TIPThe Library of Congress, perched across the street from the Capitol, is surrounded by many noble marble buildings and flowery townhouses. Take a Capitol Hill Walk, best on a sunny spring day. General Admission: Free. Timed entry passes are required sign up here.
George Washingtons Mount Vernon
Take a day trip to Mount Vernon, Virginia to experience the birthplace of Washington, D.C. luxury estates at George Washingtonâs old stomping grounds. Mount Vernon remains an incredible piece of 18th-century architecture only a 45-minute drive from the National Mall. The house is a monument to a fledgling nation as much as it is home to our first President. The mansion and outbuildings offer explorative, interactive tours that let you dive into a day in a founding fatherâs typical life. A farm, distillery, and the resting places of both George and Martha Washington make Mount Vernon a weekend destination filled with well-preserved history.
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Reserve Your Stay Near Washington Dc At The Hotel At Umd
Conveniently located near several major airports and interstates, and just four miles from the D.C. border, the Hotel at University of Maryland is the perfect home base for your visit. Easily hit each of these free museums in D.C. by catching the Metro at the College Park Station, located less than a mile from our front door.
When youre ready to wind down, you can enjoy our full-service amenities before kicking back in your luxurious guest room. Check out our Monumental D.C. Package and book your stay today!
National Museum Of African American History And Culture
The epic National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall opened in 2016 to great fanfare, immediately becoming one of the top Washington D.C. attractions. You start at the lowest level, in the depths of the earth, symbolizing the devastating journey formerly enslaved people took from Africa into a life of servitude. The exhibits spanning the Civil War, Restoration, Jim Crow era, the Civil Rights movement, and moredont shy away from the horrific realities, forcing visitors to examine some brutal truths of Americas very foundation. On the upper levels, African-American arts and culture are celebrated with original artifacts, including Louis Armstrongs trumpet and Marian Andersons red-orange silk dress, which she wore while singing at her famous Easter Sunday concert in 1939 at the Lincoln Memorial .
General Admission: free.
INSIDER TIPTimed passes are required for entry. Passes can be reserved online up to 30 days in advance reserve them here. Same-day timed-entry passes are released at 8 AM daily.
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National Air And Space Museum
Hours: 10am-5:30pm daily except Christmas| Cost: Free
Why You Should Go: From first flight to walking on the moon and beyond, the National Air and Space Museum is jam-packed with amazing exhibits and stories to keep everyone entertained for hours. See planes from the iconic Wright brothers, early war planes, and an unrivaled collection of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo artifacts. You can explore astronomy, science, technology, people, war and conflict, navigations, space, art, and world records and firsts. There really is so much do and see here, not to mention the IMAX and Planetarium, as well as numerous hands-on demonstrations.
The White House Visitor Center
With multiple interactive exhibits for kids and adults alike, the White House Visitor Center is home to a variety of activities.
Play a game where you have to guess who ordered various plates of food on display. Watch a film about the process of the presidency in the U.S., and read letters written to past presidents from children.
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Top 10 Museums In Washington Dc
Why the hell is the Spy Museum on here!?!?! That place is TERRIBAD.
Going once is more than enough.
I disagree. It’s a bit juvenile at times but has some nice exhibits about WWII spying and whatnot. The cost sucks, but otherwise…
For picking up hot tourist ass?
If it were free it would be ok, but yeah for $20 it isnt worth it.
The first part with the spytech is cool but too small to justify the purchase. The rest just sucks.
Natural History is still cool. Yes, it is dated and there is better, but it is still fun.
Airspace is a blast, but too crowded. Oh god is it crowded.
Spy Museum is cool in the first part where they show the real gadgets. However, it is a small portion of the museum. Once you get to the historic spying part it goes down hill. I could care less about the James Bond exhibit.
Ive heard Holocaust is an experience. Ive actually never made it there and always plan to but you know how it goes. You live in the city and never go anywhere.
The 10 Best Museums In Washington Dc
Washington DC has over 70 museums to visit and explore, each providing a unique experience. It’s impossible to see them all in one go, so we’ve compiled our list of top 10 must-see museums that you should make a point to visit on your next trip to our Nation’s capital.
Please note: Pricing, hours, and days of operation are subject to change, so make sure to check on each museum’s website for the most up-to-date information.
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Smithsonian National Postal Museum
A postal museum might not sound like the most exciting museum around, but this tribute to the U.S. Postal Service is particularly well done. Housed in the former Washington City Post Office, the Smithsonian National Postal Museums interactive exhibits look at the history of mail delivery, stamp collecting, direct marketing, and more. The stamp collection, comprising more than six million specimens, includes the stamp that delivered the Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian. A prop plane and antique railway car in the atrium remember mail delivery in the olden days.
General Admission: Free
INSIDER TIPThe Postal Museum has a famous puppy named Owney. Hes traveled all around the world, including meeting the Emperor of Japan. Youll find him in the museums atrium.
National Museum Of African Art
A trip to D.C. is not complete without a visit to the National Museum of African Art. This world-renowned museum is home to a vast collection of African art, ranging from ancient sculptures to modern paintings.
With so much to see, you could easily spend an entire day here exploring all the different galleries. Trust us, its worth the visit!
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The Smithsonian American Art Museum
The Smithsonian American Art Museum celebrates American artists from the colonial era to the present. It was created by an act of Congress on August 18, 1846, under the leadership of James Smithson.
The museums collections are comprised of more than 3 million objects and over 1,600 artworks with 4,500 paintings, sketches and sculptures. The museum also has over 140-period rooms that represent domestic life from the early 1600s to 1915.
The collections include works by many renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell and Edgar Degas.
SAAMs Renwick Gallery branches out from it and the two together hold one of the worlds most comprehensive collections of art from the American colonial period to the present day.
Using engaging and reflective interactive tours and live video conferences, students are introduced to American history through American art.
National Museum Of Natural History
Located right on the National Mall, the 1.5 million square foot National Museum of Natural History is the place to visit if youre interested in anything animal, vegetable, or mineral. Fossils, skeletons, rocks, and all sorts of anthropological artifacts are housed in this enormous facility. In addition to the packed galleries, the Museum also houses an IMAX theatre, which screens large scale films on topics like dinosaurs, National Parks, the world beneath surface of the ocean, and many more. Its Smithsonian affiliated, so while general admission is free, tickets for both IMAX movies and the Butterfly Pavilion cost a nominal fee.
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Smithsonian American Art Museum/smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
You get two museums in one at this celebration of American art, occupying the glorious Greek Revival Old Patent Office in Penn Quarter. Smithsonians American Art Museum exults more than three centuries of art, serving as an unparalleled record of the American experience. Works range from Early America to Western Art to Impressionism to Modernism and include photography, modern folk and self-taught art, African American Art, Latino art, and video games. Highlights include the worlds largest collection of New Deal art, a fine collection of American impressionism , and Albert Bierstadts celebratory Western landscapes. Youll find the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside the White House at the adjoining Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, but these arent necessarily their official portraits. Some are staged others are just fun. Look for Grover Clevelands portrait in French Impressionist style, Bill Clintons abstract portrayal by Chuck Close, and the most recent, the hugely symbolic portraits of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, respectively.
INSIDER TIPThe museums Kogod Courtyard, with a canopy by Norman Foster, a snack bar, and free WiFi, is a favorite hang-out spot.
General Admission: Free
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
OK, so this is not a traditional DC museum. We are including it anyway because really, what kid doesnt love a zoo.
The Smithsonian National Zoo is best known for its panda exhibit, which is part of an international breeding program. In 2019, the zoo sent its last panda cub, Bao Bao, back to China to breed, joining his sister Bei Bei in a program that helps diversify the panda population and grow their numbers.
Have no fear mom Mei Xiang and dad Tian Tian are still in the panda exhibit. We are all anxiously awaiting to see if Mei Xiang has a new cub.
The zoo is also home to elephants, apes, reptiles, and mammals from across the globe. Make sure you head to the Kids Farm for hands-on activities with the animals and vegetable gardens. There is also a playground here if your kids need to jump and climb for a bit. You will pass the historic carousel on your way. Yes, you can stop for a spin around, for a fee.
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The George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Conspiracy theorists may or may not be disappointed when they visit the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
Theres definitely lots to see in the little cubby holes around the installation, and the large statue of George Washington himself is particularly impressive. And while there certainly is a fair amount of masonic imagery hidden around the place , snoopers arent likely to find many earth-shattering secrets.
Still, if you like a little bit of mystery and intrigue with your art history, this is one memorial youll definitely want to check out.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial is located in Alexandria, just outside of DC. The design is actually based on the ancient Lighthouse of Alexandria. Theres a fact to impress your friends with!
White House Visitor Center
Rest assured, even if you dont have tickets to visit the White House, one of the top Washington D.C. attractions, you still can have a White House experienceat the White House Visitor Centers fun, hands-on museum on Pennsylvania Avenue. Exhibits present the history of the Executive Mansion, behind-the-scenes stories , and a touchscreen tour of the White House. Youll learn what it takes to move one President out and one President in on moving day favorite presidential snacks and personal insights from past presidents on what it means to live in Americas most famous residence.
General Admission: Free.
INSIDER TIPAcross the street stands the venerable Willard Intercontinental, one of the best hotels in Washington D.C. with a ton of history. Open for 200 years and counting, its lobby is said to have inspired the term lobbyist, for the people who came to plead their cases to President Grant as he relaxed there with a cigar.
General Admission: Free
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