Browse Museums

African American Civil War Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, General, History, Library, Military, Specialized

Slavery to Freedom: Civil War to Civil Rights The Museum's permanent exhibition portrays the extraordinary African American struggle for freedom in the United States.

Anacostia Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History

Decatur House Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

General, History, Historic House

Decatur House Museum in Washington, DC is one of more than 15,400 museums in the MuseumsUSA directory. Find an exciting museum to visit where you live or vacation today.

Dumbarton House
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History, Historic House, Library

This winter we are renovating the modern and preserving the historic parts of Dumbarton House. To accomplish this we will close the museum at the end of November and remain closed until the springtime. //// We are so excited for all these new changes and we hope you're excited to see the results! We'll have more information on our closing, opening, and what you can expect to see when this long-overdue project is finished. Please visit our website for details or give us a call!!

Frederick Douglas Home
Washington, District of Columbia

History

Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
Washington, District of Columbia

Church, History, Historical Society

We are the region's foremost destination and source for American Jewish history. We engage and inspire adults and children through our exhibitions, landmark historic synagogue, public programs, and educational initiatives. We collect, preserve, and share material culture that documents the story of the Jewish community in the Washington, D.C., region as a lens through which broader national and international history may be explored.

Lincoln Memorial Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

History

National Air And Space Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Children's, Culture, History, Library, Military, Planetarium, Science, Specialized

The Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum maintains the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world. It is also a vital center for research into the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics.

National Museum of African American History and Culture
Washington, District of Columbia

Anthropology, Art, Children's, Culture, History, Library, Military, Park, Science, Specialized

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will reopen on May 14. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website.

National Museum of Crime & Punishment
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History, Science, Specialized

Where else can you explore the history of crime and punishment, experience driving and shooting simulators, and learn the real CSI procedures? At the National Museum of Crime & Punishment you explore all this and more.

AMA | Art Museum of the Americas
Washington, District of Columbia

Art, Culture, General, History, Library, Specialized

The history of the permanent collection of the Art Museum of the Americas has roots in the former Visual Arts Unit of the Organization of American States. Under this unit, the first donation of art was received in 1949, a gift of painting by Brazilian artist Candido Portinari. In 1957 the OAS Permanent Council conferred institutional backing to the collection by establishing a modest Purchase Fund to support the acquisition of art for a collection that was to reflect the contemporary art of the member nations of the OAS to form an enduring cultural resource.

Blair House
Washington, District of Columbia

History

Diplomatic Reception Rooms Dept. of State
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History

The Department of State's Diplomatic Reception Rooms are one of the greatest mirrors of America's remarkable cultural accomplishments in fine and decorative arts of the 18th and 19th centuries. Here, visiting Chiefs of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers, as well as other distinguished foreign and American guests are entertained officially. The Rooms opened in 1961. Then they were very much like the rest of this modern State Department building, with wall-to-wall carpeting on concrete floors, brown panelled walls such as those found in offices, and unattractive acoustical ceilings. The exterior walls of the entire eighth floor (where the Diplomatic Rooms are located) were floor-to-ceiling plate glass with exposed steel beams.

Ford's Theatre (Lincoln Museum)
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, General, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library

Ford’s Theatre Museum combines a remarkable collection of historic artifacts with a variety of interactive exhibits to tell the story of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. Using environmental recreations, videos and three-dimensional figures, the museum transports visitors to 19th-century Washington, where they can follow Lincoln from his arrival in Washington in 1861. Exhibits explore Lincoln’s Presidential cabinet, what life was like in the Lincoln White House, various Civil War milestones and generals, Lincoln’s great speeches and the Assassination conspiracy. The collection of artifacts includes the deringer that John Wilkes Booth used, as well as a replica of the coat that President Lincoln wore the night he was shot.

Heritage Preservation
Washington, District of Columbia

Children's, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Specialized

Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs, and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage.

Lillian and Albert Small Jewish Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

History

Madame Tussauds Washington D.C.
Washington, District of Columbia

Art, Culture, History, Specialized

Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in Washington, D.C. with branches in a number of major cities. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud. Madame Tussauds is a major tourist attraction, displaying waxworks of historical and political figures, film stars, sports stars and more.

National Archives Foundation
washington, District of Columbia

Culture, General, History, Library, Specialized

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy.

National Museum of American History
Washington, District of Columbia

Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Church, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Military

Start your visit at the Nina and Ivan Selin Welcome Center for information to help you plan your day at the Museum. Here you can find out what programs are happening that day or pick up a map. If you have a specific question or need assistance, ask one of our friendly visitor services staff.

National Museum of the American Indian
Washington, District of Columbia

History

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

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