DC astounds me by the sheer number of museums it has – and how many are constantly opening, closing, showing new things, having something famous about to leave…there is so much culture and so much to learn in this city! Although DC’s free offerings can leave you spoiled (check out this page on the Smithsonians), don’t miss some of these other amazing museum options below.
Military peeps: make sure to check out Blue Star Museums for a bunch of museums that offer FREE admission from Memorial Day – Labor Day for active duty military and dependents.
Non-Smithsonian Museums
- African American Civil War Museum (history)
- American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center (modern art)
- Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center (Solomons, MD – art)
- ARTECHOUSE (interactive art)
- B+O Railroad Museum (Baltimore, MD – history / kids)
- Carlyle House Historic Park (Alexandria, VA – history)
- College Park Aviation Museum (College Park, MD – aviation / kids)
- Gadsby’s Tavern Museum (Alexandria, VA – history)
- George Washington’s Mount Vernon (Alexandria, VA – history)
- Glen Echo Park Aquarium (aquarium / kids)
- Glenstone Museum (Potomac, MD – modern art/ gardens)
- Heurich House Museum / The Brewmasters Castle (history / brewery / gardens)
- Hip Hop Museum (music)
- Honfleur Gallery (art)
- International Spy Museum (espionage)
- Larz Anderson House / Society of the Cincinnati (history)
- Museum of Crime and Punishment (criminology)
- Museum of the Bible (religion)
- National Aquarium (Baltimore, MD – aquarium / kids)
- National Building Museum (architecture / children)
- National Children’s Museum (kids)
- National Gallery of Art (art / sculpture garden)
- National Geographic Museum (science)
- National Law Enforcement Museum (law enforcement)
- National Museum of Health & Medicine (Silver Spring, MD – health)
- National Museum of Women in the Arts (women)
- Newseum – CLOSED 😦
- Planet Word (language arts)
- Port Discovery Children’s Museum (Baltimore, MD – science / kids)
- Stabler Leadbetter Apothecary Museum (Alexandria, VA – history)
- The Fridge (art gallery)
- The George Washington University Museum / The Textile Museum (textiles)
- The Kreeger Museum (modern art)
- The Mansion on O Street / O Street Museum (hotel / history / interior design / events)
- The Phillips Collection (art)
- Torpedo Factory Art Center (Alexandria, VA – art)
- Touchstone Gallery (art gallery)
- U. S. Dept of the Interior Museum (history)
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (history)
Here’s a map in case it’s helpful!
Jelly Side Up 