List of museums in Washington, D.C.


This list of museums in Washington, D.C. encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are university and non-profit art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included.

Museums

NameImageSmithsonianTypeSummary/Website
African American Civil War Memorial MuseumAfrican American historyOperated by the National Mall and Memorial Parks, history of the African American soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union in the United States Civil War
American University MuseumArtPart of American University, regional, national, and international contemporary art
Anacostia Community MuseumSmithsonian InstitutionAfrican American historyLocal history and culture
Anderson HouseHistoric houseHeadquarters of the Society of the Cincinnati, early 1900s palatial residence with period furnishings, Society artifacts, portraits, armaments, and personal artifacts of Revolutionary War soldiers
Art Museum of the AmericasArtFounded by the Organization of American States as a museum for modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art
Charles Sumner SchoolHistoryOne of the first public school buildings erected for the education of Washington's black community
Clara Barton Missing Soldiers OfficeHistory, apartment where Clara Barton lived throughout the Civil War that was her home base for her work as the "angel of the battlefield." After the war, she ran the Missing Soldiers Office out of this apartment. Barton and her staff received approximately 66,000 letters from families looking for their lost loved ones. They were able to locate approximately 23,000 missing men.
DAR MuseumArtOwned by Daughters of the American Revolution, features 30 period rooms of decorative arts including furniture, silver, paintings, ceramics, textiles, toys, quilts
Decatur HouseHistoric houseEarly 19th-century house with exhibits about the White House. Currently closed for tours.
Dumbarton HouseHistoric houseEarly 19th century period house, headquarters of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America
Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and CollectionLibraryExhibits of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art and European masterpieces from its collections
Folger Shakespeare LibraryLibraryExhibits from its collections about William Shakespeare
Ford's Theatre National Historic SiteHistorySite of assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, includes theater presentation, Lincoln museum, and Petersen House where he was taken
Freer Gallery of ArtSmithsonianArtAsian art including East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Islamic world, the ancient Near East, and ancient Egypt, as well as a significant collection of American art
Frederick Douglass National Historic SiteHistoric houseHome and estate of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African Americans of the 19th century
General Federation of Women's Clubs HeadquartersHistoric houseTours of the social clubhouse headquarters, changing exhibits of art, photographs and artifacts from its collections
George Washington University Art GalleriesArtTwo galleries, includes painting, sculpture, and photographs, ranging from rare historic pieces to Washingtoniana and Americana to modern art
Georgetown University Art GalleriesArtLocated in the Walsh building and around the Georgetown campus
German-American Heritage Museum of the USAEthnic German AmericanGerman-American history and culture, operated by the German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA in a Victorian townhouse
Heurich House MuseumHistoric houseGilded Age mansion with early household innovations
Hillwood Estate, Museum & GardensDecorative artsEstate and gardens of Marjorie Merriweather Post, rooms decorated with her collections of 18th- and 19th-century French art, china and art treasures from Imperial Russia
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenSmithsonianArtContemporary and modern art
Historical Society of Washington, D.C.History, LibraryExhibits of the city's history from its collections
Howard University Gallery of ArtArtLocated in Childers Hall, home of the Fine Arts Division of the College of Arts and Sciences
Interior MuseumHistoryActivities of the agencies of the United States Department of the Interior, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Geological Survey
International Spy MuseumHistoryEspionage history, artifacts, famous figures
Kreeger MuseumArt19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by internationally known artists, works by local Washington artists, traditional west and central African art
Laogai MuseumPrisonConfronts the tragic legacy of China’s Laogai system of forced labor prisons
L. Ron Hubbard HouseHistoric houseResidence of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard from 1955 until 1959
Library of CongressLibraryExhibits from its collections in American history, culture and art
Lillian & Albert Small Jewish MuseumEthnic – Jewish historyHistory of the local Jewish community; preserves the oldest synagogue building in the Washington, D.C., area; operated by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
Lincoln MemorialHistoryIncludes displays about the building of the Memorial and some of Lincoln's phrases
Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.Wax museumWax figures of media celebrities, Presidents, political figures, historical figures, sports stars and more
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic SiteHistoric houseHome of educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune
Meridian International CenterArtExhibitions of paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, and crafts that reflect various aspects of American culture to encourage foreign understanding
Museum of Cultures and Heritages of America – MOCHAArtContemporary and heritage artwork exhibitions, focus on culturally diverse, old and newer native born artists, and immigrant artists
Museum of the BibleReligioushttps://www.museumofthebible.org/. Documents the narrative, history and impact of the Bible.
National Deaf Life Museum at Gallaudet UniversityCulture/historyPermanent and rotating exhibits chronicling deaf culture and history
O Street Museum FoundationArtThe collection rotates and changes daily and includes art, music, architecture, memorabilia, manuscripts, sculpture and other items that promote exploration of the creative process.
National Air and Space MuseumSmithsonianAerospaceHistory and science of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics
National ArchivesArchives / HistoryExhibits from its collections including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I
National Bonsai and Penjing MuseumNatural historyLocated on the campus of the United States National Arboretum, Bonsai and Penjing botanical specimens and displays
National Building MuseumArchitectureExhibits about architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning
National Children's MuseumChildren's
National Gallery of ArtArtPaintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, medals, and decorative arts that trace the development of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the present
National Geographic MuseumNatural historyOperated by the National Geographic Society, changing exhibits of photography, natural history, culture and history
National Guard Memorial MuseumMilitaryHistory of the National Guard of the United States from the Revolutionary War era to post-9/11 era
National Museum of African American History and CultureSmithsonianEthnic – African AmericanNational museum devoted to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Opened September 24, 2016.
National Museum of African ArtSmithsonianArtAfrican art and culture, includes paintings, musical instruments, sculpture, jewelry, regalia, textiles, pottery
National Museum of American HistorySmithsonianHistoryAmerican social, political, cultural, scientific and military history
National Museum of the American IndianSmithsonianEthnic – Native AmericanLife, languages, literature, history and arts of the Native Americans of the Western Hemisphere
National Museum of American Jewish Military HistoryEthnic – Jewish – Military – HistoryJewish Americans who served in the armed forces
National Museum of Natural HistorySmithsonianNatural historyGalleries include paleontology, geology, mammals, human origins, insects, ocean life, gems and minerals, Western, African and Korean cultures
National Museum of Women in the ArtsArtWomen’s achievements in the visual, performing and literary arts
National Portrait GallerySmithsonianArt – HistoryImages and history of famous individual Americans
National Postal MuseumSmithsonianPhilatelyHistory of the United States Postal Service and of mail service around the world
NewseumMediaInteractive museum of news and journalism
The Octagon HouseHistoric houseEarly 19th-century townhouse
Old Stone HouseHistoric houseMid 18th century period house
Phillips CollectionArtAmerican and European impressionist and modern art
President Lincoln's Cottage at the Soldiers' HomeHistoric houseCottage retreat of President Abraham Lincoln and other Presidents
Renwick GallerySmithsonianDecorative artsAmerican craft and decorative arts from the 19th century to the 21st century
Arthur M. Sackler GallerySmithsonianArtInclude Chinese, Indian, Korean and Japanese paintings, photography, contemporary ceramics from China, 19th- and 20th-century Japanese prints, contemporary Japanese pottery, Persian and Islamic paintings and manuscripts
Saint John Paul II National ShrineReligionLife and papacy of Pope John Paul II and the history of Catholic heritage in North America
Salve Regina GalleryArtPart of Catholic University of America
Scottish Rite Temple and Supreme Council LibraryMasonicMasonic principles of personal, social and intellectual freedom, artifacts of American history, Masonic regalia and memorabilia
S. Dillon Ripley CenterSmithsonianExhibitionExhibits of art, photography
Sewall–Belmont House and MuseumHistoric house – HistoryU.S. women's suffrage and equal-rights movements
Smithsonian American Art MuseumSmithsonianArtAmerican art that covers all regions and art movements found in the United States
Textile MuseumTextilesTextiles from around the world including rugs, clothing, located at George Washington University
Tudor PlaceHistoric houseMansion with European and American decorative arts including American silver, porcelain, furniture, glassware, sculpture, portraits, prints, and textiles
United States CapitolGovernmentTours of the building
United States Capitol Visitor CenterHistoryHistory of the U.S. Capitol and Congress
United States Holocaust Memorial MuseumHistoryHistory of the Holocaust in Europe
U.S. Navy MuseumMaritime – MilitaryHistory of the U.S. Navy from the American Revolution to the present, naval artifacts, models, documents and fine art
Washington MonumentHistory
White HouseHistoric houseOfficial state residence of the President of the United States, tours by advance reservation
The Wilderness Society GalleryPhotographyExhibits from its collections, including photos by Ansel Adams
Woman's National Democratic Club MuseumHistoric house, political memorabilia, artwork, and photographs in the Whittemore House, headquarters of the Woman's National Democratic Club
Woodrow Wilson HouseHistoric houseHome of President Woodrow Wilson after he left office

Defunct museums