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Top Museums in Washington DC, DC
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Museums
109
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39
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32
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26
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23
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5
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3
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We found
109 results
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Museums
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
12,205 reviews
#1 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Great museum full of wonderful exhibits on dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, gems and minerals, early Human artifacts and ancestry, animals and insects (including taxidermy specimens and fossils),
mummies
, and..."
"Can’t beat this free iconic
museum
… Don’t miss the Mummy display and of course that awesome Hope diamond, along with all the other natural gigantic Gem stones… In fact I don’t know how we missed that section the f..."
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See 35 Experiences
National Air and Space Museum
23,306 reviews
#2 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"For those art, science, history lovers fallow my advice visit Washington DC in the United States and be part of the Smithsonian
Museums
from natural science, airspace, aviation, maritime, railroad, art of war, fin..."
"This museum was awesome as was our tour guide Glennyce who was very knowledgeable of all aspects of our country's
aviation history
from the Wright Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk to our ongoing space exploration of..."
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See 37 Experiences
National Gallery of Art
9,190 reviews
#3 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"An amazing collection of American and European art (for an art museum showcasing art from other societies, cultures, countries, you'll have to go to one of DC's other
museums
): Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch, Ger..."
"It's one of the best art museums in DC and I enjoyed every second as I discovered all those fantastic portraits and sculptures that have originated in Europe and America from different
centuries
."
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See 19 Experiences
National Museum of African American History and Culture
3,478 reviews
#4 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Having visited other sobering locations – Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Hitler’s Historical
Museum
in Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, Vietnam Military History
Museum
in Ho Chi Minh, Aboriginal inter..."
"... are playing; -Eat a lunch at the Sweet Home Café for a varied menu offering; -Shop at the wonderful
gift shop
for unique items; -Do observe the fantastic architecture of the building and the symbolism involved..."
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See 15 Experiences
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
11,151 reviews
#5 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Great
museum
and it’s free!! Wonderful videos !! Easy to navigate !! Great gift shop and staff !! Wonderful information .. and heart wrenching artifacts !!"
"... many of the European memorials and sites dedicated to the Holocaust, I was a little apprehensive about how this American version was going represented, but hats off to them..... very good and "balanced"
memorial
."
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National Portrait Gallery
3,501 reviews
#6 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"There is so much to see- from traditional portraits and art from early Americana and international influences to more modern "Pop" art, interpretive portraits, dioramas,
folk art
, and immersive installations."
"We toured this wonderful
museum
when in DC and you really need days to see it all!! Fantastic exhibits...three or four floors of pictures and paintings...Americana, Presidents, statues, sooooo much and so wonderful!!"
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Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
1,251 reviews
#7 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"The greenhouse filled with fragrant orchids was beautiful, the extensive collection of French &
Russian art
(including Faberge eggs and glittering necklaces) was fabulous, and the manicured gardens were beautiful!"
"Visiting Marjorie Merrywether Post’s estate in DC is a look into the past with amazing collections of antique furnishings, masses of
porcelain
, A i tings including Catherine the Great and the last czar and czarina..."
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Newseum
8,751 reviews
#8 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Loved this beautifully designed, vibrant, dynamic
museum
with wonderful views of the Capitol, thought-provoking exhibits, and plenty to keep youngsters engaged."
"The interactive areas are fun and entertaining, the photos of the year are humbling and awe inspiring but its the 500 year
history
of the media that is the most fascinating."
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Anderson House
157 reviews
#9 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"The fabulous
Gilded Age
"Winter Home" mansion is amazing in itself and the tour guide conveys lots of fun and interesting information along the tour."
"We toured the house on a Sunday afternoon recently and enjoyed seeing both the opulent house and the collection of artwork and historic artifacts related to the Anderson family and the
society
."
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Ford's Theatre
4,278 reviews
#10 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"The museum and park sevice tours are open to the public, tickets based on donations (at the visitors choice), and provide a combination of self guided museum tour and a
ranger talk
about the last day of Lincoln's..."
"There is the magic of Lincoln's persona, of course, but also the fact that the
museum
provides excellent exhibits and an approach to learning about the period of the Civil War that leaves everything to visitors to..."
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Smithsonian American Art Museum
1,543 reviews
#11 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"A great and extensive collection of American art coupled with the National Portrait Gallery makes this
museum
a must visit while in D.C. the Presidential Portrait Gallery is a definite stop as is the special Civil..."
"Although these galleries don’t get the same attention as all the other Smithsonian museums on the
National Mall
, they are a must see! Excellent layout to match an excellent collection."
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National Law Enforcement Museum
153 reviews
#12 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"My husband and I decided to visit the
museum
since it was very new We found it very interesting We enjoyed the interactive exhibits We spent about 2 hours which was plenty of time to see it all Kids would love it"
"This is a very interesting museum with lots of
interactive displays
which are good for teenagers and adults alike, they also have items which are good for young children too."
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Dumbarton Oaks
321 reviews
#13 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"We had a great time at Dumbarton Oaks
Museum
in Georgetown, DC! Huge collections of Byzantine and early central american artifacts."
"Beautiful
small museum
collection inside and spectacular grounds and gardens in the late Spring."
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Museum of the Bible
1,041 reviews
#14 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"The 3rd floor has walk through
stories
from the Old Testament in the Hebrew Bible Experience as well as an amazing World of Jesus of Nazareth where visitors can walk through a re-created village typical of the tim..."
"The
Museum
is highly interactive and has some cool features including a game area for kids, a really awesome walkthrough of the Old Testament (must do!), visiting a town in Galilee, many archeological finds includ..."
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Renwick Gallery
1,118 reviews
#15 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Some amazing installations are created by artists of eclectic backgrounds for Burning Man, some of whose works are featured indoors at the Smithsonian Renwick
Museum
, a major
museum
in Washington, DC where they ta..."
"Some is interactive, some thought provoking, some fun, other parts inspiring (Burning Man exhibit), but all pieces are true
works of art
and incredible craftsmanship."
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Smithsonian Institution Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
719 reviews
#16 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"From wooden Japanese warrior
statues
to a charming monkey sculpture, to an entire reconstructed dining room decorated with peacock designs by James Whistler; there are amazing exhibits around every corner."
"The Asian artifacts,
ceramics
, screens are first class but for me the Whistler paintings and those of Sargent, Dewing and others as well made for a wonderful "impressionist like" experience."
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National Postal Museum
1,115 reviews
#17 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"... to start a collection!] - Very large - Under the radar - Family friendly - Great for an entire afternoon Whenever friends and family ask me what to do in DC, I will now always recommend this
museum
near the top."
"... a brilliant collection of stamps in pull out trays, special "gem" stamps such as the Inverted Jenny and other such famous stamps, exhibits on how the mail is delivered and the
history
of the postal service."
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The President Woodrow Wilson House
219 reviews
#18 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Each visit includes an hour-long
guided tour
by a knowledgeable and engaging guide who answers questions about any aspect of Wilson, his presidency and retirement years, also about his wife Edith Galt Wilson, and..."
"Following a brief introductory video, an extremely knowledgeable
docent
from the National Trust for Historic Preservation led me on a tour of the house."
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The Phillips Collection
1,390 reviews
#19 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Loved every
gallery
, specially the Mark Rothko room, the Jacob Lawrence & Norman Lewis displays of African American migrations and many many very famous artworks by Van Gogh, Picasso, Kandinsky, Klee, El Greco, Re..."
"Located in the wonderful Dupont Circle area and away from the crowded press of the
museums
along the Mall, the Phillips is a house museum in the best sense of the term with an amazing collection of contemporary ar..."
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The National Archives Museum
3,488 reviews
#20 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Of course, in the rotunda, you have the must-see original founding documents (Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights), but there is so much more to the
museum
... much of which drives home th..."
"The National Archives'
Rotunda
for the Charters of Freedom, where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are, is kept dim to help preserve the founding documents."
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DAR Museum
228 reviews
#21 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"As this wonderfully informative museum and event space is located away from most other
museums
, you will discover this magnificent, space and library of geneology, on the West side of the Executive grounds, 17th S..."
"There is a "storage"
museum
with items neatly displayed, a GORGEOUS library (I'm a bibliophile, so I was in heaven), and rooms donated by each state representing a period in history."
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See 1 Experience
Rock Creek Park
281 reviews
#22 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"I have been to Washington many times and have driven through and over
parts
of Rock Creek Park almost every time given its proximity to where most of my friends and relatives live along Connecticut Avenue."
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See 1 Experience
National Museum of Women in the Arts
368 reviews
#23 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"On the ground floor “
Women Artists
of the Dutch Golden Age”, a stunning jewel box of a show, featuring names to conjure with: Judith Leyster, Clara Peeters, Rachel Ruysch, Maria Sibylla Merian, Maria Schalken, Ann..."
"The
museum
has interesting exhibitions of art by women in the US as well as exhibitions of art by women in other countries It also has an amazing collection of artist books Also, viewing the very interesting tempo..."
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President Lincoln's Cottage
544 reviews
#24 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Lincoln spent about 14 months of his presidency living here and commuting 3 miles by horseback to the White House.. Kevin,
our tour guide
, was excellent and you really get into Abraham Lincoln the man..Well worth it."
"However, Asia, our fabulous tour guide, was extremely well-informed, encouraged interesting conversation between
visitors
, kept us thoroughly engaged, and made it a really memorable trip."
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See 2 Experiences
National Museum of American History
4,955 reviews
#25 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"From the revolutionary war, to WW2 to Korea and Vietnam - the
museum
was phenomenal in terms of original artefacts, paintings as well as information and videos."
"We also saw the
artifacts
and logistics of the Battle of Little Big Horn, the history of one house over several generations, and enjoyed looking at the implements of life from pioneer days."
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National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
567 reviews
#26 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"the Fabulous National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is worth a visit in any season, i've been there in the summer with the
fountain
in full display and all the flowering plants and trees in full bloom."
"You could easily miss the Sculpture Garden while walking from one
museum
to the next, but you shouldn't, some amazing pieces of art that you can wander around and experience, well worth the pit-atop."
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Petersen Boarding House
183 reviews
#27 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"The house tour is greatly enhanced by the addition of a
museum
where there is a very extensive display of Lincoln’s death and burial, as well as the capture of John Wilkes Booth."
"It’s a beautiful collection of historical
artifacts
and tells a side of history most know a little about."
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See 4 Experiences
National Museum of African Art
243 reviews
#28 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"I’m from London England and enjoy traveling the states leading many different types of History and cultures along the way and seeing amazing thing this African Art
Museum
is surely one of them, a true Hidden Gem I..."
"This museum, together with the Sackler Gallery, the Hirshhorn Museum, the
Freer Gallery
, the American Indian Museum and the Postal Museum, is, in my opinion, one of the least attended museums in Washington DC and..."
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United States Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center
194 reviews
#29 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"Opposite the Archives building you can locate the Navy
memorial
, its a neat design, some fountains and embossed scenes on the side of a great design honouring some very important people, well worth a visit."
"Solemn tribute to the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and the Merchant Marine servicemen is located right across the street from the National
Archives
building."
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International Spy Museum
5,383 reviews
#30 of 109 Museums in Washington DC
"We visited this
museum
and 5 Smithsonian museums - Natural History, American History, Air and Space, National Portrait Gallery, and National Gallery of Art - my two kids loved this one the most."
"(Take this into consideration when reading some negative reviews) All in all a fascinating visit, with plenty of interaction and places to sit when need be (short
films
, etc) Some spots of flow were a bit confusin..."
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Frequently Asked Questions about Washington DC
What are the best places for museums in Washington DC?
These places are best for museums in Washington DC:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Gallery of Art
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
National Air and Space Museum
See more museums in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Washington DC for kids and families?
These are the best places for kid-friendly museums in Washington DC:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Ford's Theatre
National Law Enforcement Museum
See more museums for kids in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Washington DC for couples?
These are the best places for couples seeking museums in Washington DC:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
National Gallery of Art
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
National Portrait Gallery
See more museums for couples in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Washington DC for groups?
These are the best places for groups seeking museums in Washington DC:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of African American History and Culture
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
See more museums for groups in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Washington DC for travellers on a budget?
These are the best places for budget-friendly museums in Washington DC:
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Air and Space Museum
National Gallery of Art
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The President Woodrow Wilson House
See more budget-friendly museums in Washington DC on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the most romantic museums in Washington DC?
These are the most romantic places for museums in Washington DC:
National Gallery of Art
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
The Phillips Collection
See more romantic museums in Washington DC on Tripadvisor