Museums in Washington, D.C. to put on your 'must see' list

Washington is one of the most popular tourist destinations people come to visit in the United States. In 2023, the city welcomed almost 26 million people from all over the globe. They come to see the history, landmarks, and culture that the nation's capital city has to offer.

Usually, museums are on many visitor itineraries, and Washington, D.C. has several top-rated ones located throughout the city. Entry to many museums is free but others require admission fees.  Depending on your budget and what you want to see, you might want to plan your visit with a mix of both.

Smithsonian

The Smithsonian is comprised of 19 museums and galleries, most of which are located on or near the National Mall. All offer free admission. Depending on your time factor, it may be difficult to see all of them during a trip, but here are some of the top attractions:

The National Museum of American History highlights various aspects of American life. There are seriously some incredible exhibits in this museum showcasing American history, science, technology, pop culture, music and the arts, the U.S. military, and more. 

There is also the popular First Ladies' exhibit; this exhibit opened in the fall of 2011 and is scheduled to be displayed "indefinitely". You can also see the original American flag that inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner", and the red slippers Judy Garland wore in "The Wizard of Oz". An exhibit I find interesting is the Gunboat Philadelphia, sailed by Benedict Arnold and sunk in 1776; it was brought to New York's Lake Champlain's surface in the 1930s and is now housed downtown.

Dorothy's ruby red slippers

A visit to the Air & Space Museum is usually at the top of the list for visitors coming to D.C., especially those intrigued by aviation and space history. You can see everything from the Wright Brothers' first airplane to a moon rock and much in between. There is also an Imax Theatre in this museum. 

The National Museum of Natural History focuses on nature. Explore the various animals, reptiles, insects, and mammals that roam, or have roamed, the Earth. Journey through the land, sky, and sea. See the different plant species that grow around the world. Of course, a visit to the geology wing to see the Hope Diamond is a must. My personal fave is the Butterfly Pavilion.

The dinosaur exhibit should also be at the top of the list as well. After going through an extensive 5-year refurb, this wing of the museum reopened in 2019. A T-Rex on loan from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Found in Montana back in the late 1980s, the museum will house the dino fossils for 50 years. 

Hope Diamond

These are perhaps the most popular Smithsonian museums and most crowded, however, the others [see full list] are definitely worth exploring if your time is not limited. 

   

Ford's Theatre

This historic theatre, which is actually still a working theatre, is where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865. Run by the National Park Service, the landmark theatre is open to visitors, and park rangers are present to answer questions. Pictures and detailed information about the museum and its history can be found in this earlier blog post I wrote. Timed-entry tickets are required and are subject to availability and bookable online for a small fee. 

Newseum (CLOSED 2019)

The Newseum was a museum dedicated to "five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits."

Newseum decked out for the 2013 inauguration

 

Update: This museum closed in 2019 and I was glad to get the opportunity to visit just before its closure. It was definitely worth the visit! I'm sad it closed.

Compared to the others, it was a relatively new museum in the city and appeared to be a popular attraction. This is one on my "to-do" list as I haven't gotten a chance to go visit just yet (just too much to see around here!) 

International Spy Museum

A very popular tourist attraction, the International Spy Museum is said to be the only public one in the United States solely dedicated to espionage. Visitors can see artifacts used in missions and learn more about this secretive field. This museum also charges a fee and it is recommended that visitors reserve tickets in advance as they can sell out quickly during busy seasonal times. (Another one I can't believe I haven't visited yet! But it's on my list...)

National Archives

Want to see an original copy of the Declaration of Independence? Or the U.S. Constitution? How about one of the four copies of the Magna Carta? All this and more can be seen at the National Archives.  Entry is free, but wait times can be long, so you want to plan ahead of time for this one. It's definitely worth the visit. I've been there numerous times, most recently in winter 2024.

These are a handful of the many museums located in Washington, D.C. This list highlights the popular museums, but there are literally dozens of others. 

While the museums are enough to keep you busy during your trip, be sure and take the time to see the memorials and monuments on the National Mall. 

The Butterfly Pavilion located at the National Museum of Natural History is excellent

Planning tips: Visiting historic Ford’s Theatre

Ford's Theatre has a strong connection to U.S. history. This D.C. landmark is best known as being the location of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. On April 14, 1865, just as the Civil War had reached its end and the Union was preserved as one nation, John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln in the back of his head as a part of an elaborate and carefully planned out assassination.

Today, the theatre has been completely restored to its 1865 appearance. Ford's Theatre operates as both a historic site and a working theatre. 

Exterior of Ford's Theatre

There are two levels to the building. The bottom floor is a museum dedicated to President Lincoln. Inside these rooms are many original items relating to the April 1865 assassination, including actual artifacts connected to that tragic night, along with clothing worn by President and Mrs. Lincoln.

The upper level serves as the theatre where each season several high-quality shows are run; the theatre season typically begins in the fall and runs through late spring. However, there are other events in the off-season as well. Visitors are welcome daily to tour the building and learn an in-depth history of the theatre and President Lincoln's assassination.

 

History of Ford's Theatre

Ford's Theatre was opened by John T. Ford, a successful theatrical entrepreneur who hailed from Baltimore, Md. In 1861, Ford decided to bring his expertise and success to Washington, D.C. Initially, a musical theatre was located at the First Baptist Church on 10th Street but, unfortunately, a fire destroyed that location in 1862. The fire did not deter Ford's spirit and he took the task of raising funds for a new theatre. 

In February 1863 Ford laid the cornerstone for the new building at its current location on 10th Street. Performances commenced later that year and ran until April 14, 1865. This was the evening the President and Mrs. Lincoln attended a show at the theatre when the president was fatally shot by Booth.

President and Mrs. Lincoln were at a showing of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre the night the president was assassinated

The theatre closed immediately after Lincoln's assassination so an investigation could be done. Once this investigation was complete, the theatre was given permission to reopen, however, Ford received threats of arson if he reopened. Ultimately, the War Department (now the Department of Defense) decided to close the theatre completely. The building then became a government office building for many years.

 

Establishing a historic site

In 1932 the building was opened as a museum on the first floor and was run by the National Park Service. The theatre restoration to its 1865 appearance didn't come until much later. In 1960 Congress budgeted funding for this project. Finally, in 1968 the theatre was able to reopen and resume performances.

Today the interior of the theatre has been restored to how it looked on April 14, 1865, this is the box the President and Mrs. Lincoln were sitting in.