Museums Library
District of Columbia

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.

American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Washington, District of Columbia

Library

Read more about the American Folklife Center here: http://www.loc.gov/folklife/aboutafc.html

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.

Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS)
Washington, District of Columbia

Library, Specialized

Champion Lifelong Learning: Museums, libraries, and archives are unparalleled sources of educational, information, health, job, and cultural resources. IMLS supports these institutions’ work to open themselves up to all community members and visitors, bridging the gaps of distance, resources, or experience.

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.

Smithsonian American Art Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Art, Culture, General, Library

Thank you for your continued support while we were closed, and as we gradually re-open. We look forward to seeing you in the galleries beginning May 14. Stay safe and enjoy your visit.

Textile Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Art, Culture, General, History, Library, Specialized, University

The Textile Museum is joining with the George Washington University to become a cornerstone of a new museum scheduled to open in fall 2014 on GW’s main campus in Foggy Bottom. The affiliation positions The Textile Museum to educate the next generation of textile enthusiasts and expand on its rich tradition of art, education, scholarship, and fostering cultural understanding.

The Society of the Cincinnati - Anderson House
Washington, District of Columbia

History, Historic House, Library

The Society of the Cincinnati was founded in 1783 by officers of the Continental army and navy to promote the achievement of American independence. The Society acquired Anderson House in 1938 as a gift from Isabel Anderson, whose husband, Larz Anderson, had been a devoted member of the Society. The Society opened Anderson House as a historic house museum in 1939. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and made a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

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.

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!!

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.

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 the United States Navy
Washington, District of Columbia

General, History, Historic House, Library, Military, Science, Specialized

The National Museum of the US Navy hosts a wide variety of changing exhibits. Browse the online exhibits on the museum website to sample the experience before you visit!

Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History, Library, Specialized

The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center (SQCC) is open to the public M-F 10:00 - 4:00. Browse SQCC's exhibition space to learn more about the beauty and culture of the Sultanate of Oman. Check our website for information on special exhibitions, lectures, cultural events, and more! Visit our library, or borrow remotely through your library's ILL system.

The Newseum: The Interactive Museum of News
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History, Library, Specialized

The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits.

Woodrow Wilson House Museum
Washington, District of Columbia

Culture, History, Historic House, Library

The Woodrow Wilson House is the home to which President and Mrs. Wilson retired from the White House in 1921. President Wilson lived here until his death in 1924, and Mrs. (Edith) Wilson lived in the home until her death in 1961, at which time she bequeathed the home and its furnishings to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The house and gardens were designed by architect Waddy Butler Wood and completed in 1915. In 2013, the Woodrow Wilson House is celebrating its 50th year as a historic site museum.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

Milledgeville, Georgia

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

Wednesday, February 5 - Friday, February 7, 2025

Ina Dillard Russell Library Georgia College & State University

Milledgeville, Georgia

Hosted by: Georgia Association of Museums

The Whole Story Is The Meanin

“For the fiction writer himself the whole story is the meaning, because it is an experience, not an abstraction.”― Flannery O'Connor, Mystery and Manners: Occasional Pros

Join us in Milledgeville, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums conference as we explore the profound wisdom of Milledgeville author Flannery O'Connor’s words. In a world where narratives intersect and perspectives diverge, this theme invites proposals that delve into the essence of storytelling within museums and cultural institutions. Our work in the museum field requires us to look at stories from as many angles and perspectives as possible so that we might do our best to tell the “whole story.

Through thought-provoking discussions, interactive workshops, and engaging presentations, we will uncover the layers of meaning embedded within every artifact, exhibition, and historical account. Just as O’Connor masterfully crafted narratives that resonate with universal truths, museums hold the power to illuminate the whole story behind many objects, artworks, and cultural phenomena

We will examine how museums can embrace inclusivity, diversity, and authenticity in their storytelling practices. By acknowledging multiple perspectives and amplifying marginalized voices, we can enrich our understanding of the past and present, fostering empathy and connection within our communities.

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

Monday, February 17 - Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center

Gaithersburg, Maryland

Hosted by: Small Museum Association

The annual SMA conference attracts more than 300 museum professionals, board members, and volunteers from a wide variety of small museums. They attend sessions on topics ranging from collections and education to staffing and board issues.

We offer a large Museum Resource Hall and plenty of informal networking opportunities for you to talk with (and get ideas from!) other small museum professionals and volunteers

Theme for 2025: Make It Happen!!!

Is there an exhibit, program, or fundraiser that you've been talking about doing for years? Do you feel stuck because of procrastination, lack of board support, or insufficient funds? It's time to take action

At SMA 2025, small museum professionals will share their tips and tricks of how they made it happen!

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

Tuesday, February 18 - Saturday, February 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

Hosted by: California Association of Museums

CAM is hard at work planning for the 2025 conference, set to take place from February 18–22, 2025 in San Francisco. We look forward to highlighting best practices and innovative ideas from California's museum community

The California Association of Museums is excited to continue offering in-person programming for 2025. We will not be requiring proof of COVID vaccination/s, but highly encourage vaccination and boosters. For the health and safety of our colleagues, masks are also encouraged (but not required). Capacity and spaces will be thoughtfully considered in the planning of this event.

For more information, please email programs@calmuseums.org.

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

March 15 - 18, 2025

Blacksburg, Virginia

Virginia Association of Museum's 2025 Annual Conference!

Saturday, March 15 - Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The Inn at Virginia Tech

Blacksburg, Virginia

Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

September 10 - 13, 2025

Cincinnati, Ohio

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

Wednesday, September 10 - Saturday, September 13, 2025

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

Hosted by: American Association for State and Local History

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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