Washington DC, the capital of USA, is known to house a large number of attractive museums and art galleries. These appealing museums accommodate the capital’s finest art and historic creations, which make them a must-see attraction for every traveler. Visitors can choose from the several publicly funded museums as well as free museums in Washington DC. Here’s a list of top 10 museums in Washington that you should visit on your trip to the US.
Top 10 Museums In Washington DC
A detailed guide of Washington DC museums is given below. Please visit these museums early in the morning because they can get extremely crowded in the evening:
1. National Museum of American History
More than 3 millions artifacts displaying the rich cultural history of the capital is displayed in this National Museum of American History. Several national treasures such as the First Lady’s dresses, Julia Child’s Kitchen and many others can be seen and admired here. This is one of the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC.
Location: 1300, Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Must Read: 10 Best Places To Visit in New York For A Fine Cultural Experience
Looking To Book An International Holiday?
Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.
2. National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of Natural History is a part of the Smithsonian Institution and is famous for the varied form of creative artifacts displayed here, which attracts every kind of tourists. Here, there are multiple halls displaying different and unique art. The kids especially have a great time marveling at the dinosaur exhibits. The highlights of this museum are the Family Hall of Mammals and the Sant Ocean Hall.
Location: 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Suggested Read: This Largest Zoo In The USA Is The Best Place To Be For Treating The Wildlife Lover In You!
3. National Air and Space Museum
This spectacular space museum in Washington DC gives the visitors the experience of viewing the air and space travel closely. There are totally 22 galleries here displaying more than hundreds of artifacts. Some original models are also displayed here for the viewers like the original Wright 1903 Flyer and the original Command Module of Apollo 11. The popular exhibits displayed in this science museum in Washington DC include How Things Fly, Golden Age of Flight, Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall, The Wright Brother and the Invasion of the Aerial Age. The planetarium at this NASA museum in Washington DC is great for visitors of all ages.
Location: 600 Independence Ave SW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
4. Museum of the Bible
The Bible Museum in Washington DC offers a remarkable experience for every visitor. A narrative history of the great Bible is displayed in this museum. It houses three permanent galleries which display the exquisite exhibits. One can even witness the temporary exhibits on a rotating slate, which has something new to offer every day. By buying the tickets, one gets to experience the best of the museum through its main galleries and exhibitions.
Location: 400 4th St SW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 1480/-
Suggested Read: 15 Best Beaches In USA That Will Awaken Your Inner Water Baby In No Time!
5. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
People from every nook and corner of the world visit this world-famous place to witness the interactive experience offered by the wax statues of world-famous people. A unique experience is offered by the Presidential Gallery here which houses the wax statues of 44 US Presidents. This wax museum in Washington DC even exhibits the wax statues of many of the famous celebrities of the world like Jennifer Lopez, Babe Ruth, Jimmy Fallon, and many others.
Location: 1001 F St NW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 6 PM
Entry Fee: INR 1800/-
6. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
This is a memorial museum dedicated to the millions of Jews who died in Germany during the Nazi regime at the time of World War II. The exhibits displayed here narrate a horrific story of the genocide which resulted due to unnecessary hatred and prejudice. Most of the exhibits are not allowed to be viewed by the young kids, but there is a separate section which displays the narrative story of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young child. This Jewish museum in Washington DC is suitable only for visitors above the age of 8 years.
Location: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl SW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5:20 PM
Suggested Read: 12 Most Luxurious Villas in USA For Your Next Family Vacation
Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!
Real travel stories. Real stays. Handy tips to help you make the right choice.
7. Newseum
Newseum is a spectacular building of 6 floors which has the interactive display and tracking of news from 16th century to date. The Pulitzer Prize Gallery is a must-visit area of this museum which displays the award-winning pictures which were captured since the 1940s till date. There are totally 15 theatres accommodated by this unique museum. It also houses an interactive and immersive 4D experience where one can easily spend hours together watching the recorded footage of the many prominent events which occurred in the history.
Location: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC
Newseum Washington DC museum hours: 9 AM – 5 PM
Entry Fee: INR 1900/-
8. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
This magnificent museum cum garden displays modern yet contemporary art in the most beautiful way. This Smithsonian museum is one of the popular free museums in Washington DC, which is located in a uniquely shaped building, which resembles a drum. At the lower level lobby, one can buy many unique gifts for their family and friends back at home.
Location: Independence Ave SW & 7th St. SW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
Suggested Read: 8 Best Resorts In Alaska To Unwind At Your Own Pace Amidst Nature!
9. National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art occupies is one of the best museums in Washington DC, with displays sprawling across the two connected buildings. These two connected buildings are referred to as the East Wing and the West Wing of the art gallery. Several hundreds of artworks are displayed here from some of the most famous creators and artists of all times like Leonardo Da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, Raphael, Henri Matisse, John Singleton Copley and many others. This museum also houses a magnificent sculpture garden which hosts the performances from “Jazz in the Garden” which is popular worldwide.
Location: 6th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
10. National Museum of African American History and Culture
This national Smithsonian museum is one of the newest museums in USA. This large and vast museum covers up to 400,000 square foot of area, which has more than 37,000 interesting artefacts being displayed. Some of the famous exhibits over here include Rosa Park’s dress, WWII plane used by Tuskegee Airmen, and Nat Turner’s Bible. As soon as this museum opened up, it has become quite famous among the tourists as well as the locals.
Location: 1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington DC
Timings: 10 AM – 5:30 PM
Further Read: 10 Best USA Hotels For A Relaxing American Vacation
The Smithsonian museums are the most popular and informative museums in Washington DC. Our list of museums in Washington DC includes some of the must-visit places in the capital. Book a trip to USA at the earliest and experience the marvellous art and architecture of the wonderful capital, Washington DC.
Looking To Book A Holiday Package?
Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.
