Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian Museums in Washington, DC are world class attractions with a variety of exhibits ranging from a 3.5 billion-year-old fossil to the Apollo lunar landing module. Visitors enjoy examining more than 137 million objects, including many irreplaceable historic artifacts, works of art, scientific specimens and cultural exhibits. Admission to all of the Smithsonian museums is free. With 19 museums and galleries, there truly is something for everyone. Guided tours, hands-on-activities and special programs are available. Although many of the museums are located within walking distance to each other on the National Mall, several of them are located in other parts of the city.
Following is a guide to help you plan your visit to the Smithsonian.
General Information:
The Smithsonian - Frequently Asked Questions A Map of the Smithsonian Museums Smithsonian Institution Photo Gallery 10 Things to Know About the Mall in Washington DC
Museums Located on the National Mall
Smithsonian Institution Building - 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC. The historic building, also known as the Castle, is a good place to start your tour of the museums. The Smithsonian Information Center is located here and you can find a map and schedule of events.
Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building - 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC. The original home of the National Museum is currently closed for renovations.
Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum - 7th and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. This impressive museum displays the largest collection of air and spacecraft in the world as well as smaller items like instruments, memorabilia, and clothing. Learn about the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight. IMAX films and planetarium shows are offered several times a day.
Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - Independence Ave. and 7th St. SW, Washington, DC. The modern and contemporary art exhibits include arts of traditional historical themes and collections addressing emotion, abstraction, politics, process, religion, and economics.
Smithsonian Freer Gallery - 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. The world-renowned collection highlights art from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, and the Near East. Paintings, ceramics, manuscripts, and sculptures are among the favorites of this museum. The Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Auditorium provides free programs relating to the collections of the Freer and Sackler galleries, including performances of Asian music and dance, films, lectures, chamber music, and dramatic presentations.
Smithsonian Sackler Gallery - 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. This unique building is connected underground to the Freer Gallery of Art. The Sackler collection includes Chinese bronzes, jades, paintings and lacquerware, ancient Near Eastern ceramics and metalware, and sculpture from Asia.
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art - 950 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. The collection includes ancient as well as contemporary works from Africa. There are special events, storytelling, demonstrations and children’s programs.
Smithsonian Natural History Museum - 10th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. At this family favorite museum you will see a variety of artifacts including an 80-foot dinosaur skeleton, a life size model of a blue whale, an enormous prehistoric white shark, and a 45- and-a-half carat jewel a known as the Hope Diamond. The Discovery Room is a great hands-on display for young children. Feel the skin of a crocodile, examine the jaws and teeth of different animals or try on clothes from around the globe.
Smithsonian American History Museum - 12th to 14th Sts. NW, Washington, DC. With more than 3 million artifacts of American history and culture, visitors learn about the nation's history from the War of Independence to the present day. At the heart of the museum, the Star- Spangled Banner—one of the most recognized symbols of the nation—has been given a new state-of-the-art gallery. New galleries such as the Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Hall of Invention, presenting “Invention at Play,” join old favorites including “The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden” and “America on the Move.”
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian - 4th St. and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC. The newest museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC showcases Native American objects from ancient pre-Columbian civilizations through the 21st century. Multimedia presentations, live performances and hands-on demonstrations will bring the Native American people’s history and culture to life.
Smithsonian International Gallery - 1100 Jefferson Drive, SW Washington, DC. Housed in the S. Dillon Ripley Center, this is the education and membership branch of the Smithsonian Associates and hosts a variety of traveling exhibits. The Smithsonian Discovery Theater and conference facilities are also located here.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture - Independence Ave. SW, Washington DC. The 300,000- square-foot museum is under construction and is expected to open in 2015. The museum has created a website to involve the public in planning a variety of exhibits and educational programs on topics such as slavery, post-Civil War reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights movement. What is the Smithsonian Institution?
The Smithsonian is a museum and research complex, comprised of 19 museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park. The total number of objects, works of art and specimens at the Smithsonian is estimated at nearly 137 million. The collections range from insects and meteorites to locomotives and spacecraft. The scope of artifacts is staggering—from a magnificent collection of ancient Chinese bronzes to the Star-Spangled Banner; from a 3.5 billion-year-old fossil to the Apollo lunar landing module; from the ruby slippers featured in "The Wizard of Oz" to presidential paintings and memorabilia. Through a long-term loan program, the Smithsonian shares its vast collections and expertise with more than 161 affiliate museums around the country.
Where is the Smithsonian Museum?
The Smithsonian is a federal institution with multiple museums scattered throughout Washington, DC. Ten of the museums are located from 3rd to 14th Streets between Constitution and Independence Avenues, within a radius of about one mile. See a map.
The Smithsonian Visitor Center is located in the Castle at 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC. It is located in the center of the National Mall, just a short walk from the Smithsonian Metro Station.
For a complete list of the museums, see A Guide to All of the Smithsonian Museums.
Getting to the Smithsonian: The use of public transportation is highly recommended. Parking is extremely limited and traffic is often heavy near Washington DC’s most popular attractions. Metrorail, is conveniently located near many Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo. The DC Circulator Bus offers a quick and convenient service around the downtown area.
What are the admission fees and hours?
Admission is free. The museums are open 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. seven days a week, every day throughout the year, except for Christmas Day. During the summer months, hours are extended until 7 p.m. at the Air and Space Museum, Museum of Natural History, Museum of American History and American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery.
What are the most popular Smithsonian Museums for kids?
National Museum of Natural History National Air and Space Museum National Museum of American History National Zoo
What special activities are there for kids?
Check the daily calendar of events The Carousel on the National Mall, near the Arts and Industries Building, is open year-round, weather permitting. Discovery Theater offers live theatrical performances for children. IMAX Theaters project films on a five-story-high screen with six-channel digital surround sound. The Einstein Planetarium gives you the sensation of zooming across the skies and through the galaxy.
Where should we eat while visiting the Smithsonian?
The museum cafe's are expensive and often crowded, but are the most convenient place to eat lunch. You can bring a picnic and eat on the grassy areas on the National Mall. For just a few dollars you can buy a hotdog and a soda from a street vendor. For more information, see a guide to Restaurants and Dining on the National Mall.
What security measures do the Smithsonian Museums take?
The Smithsonian's buildings conduct a thorough hand-check of all bags, briefcases, purses, and containers. At most of the museums visitors are required to walk through a metal detector and bags are scanned through x-ray machines. The Smithsonian suggests that visitors bring only a small purse or "fanny-pack"-style bag. Large daypacks, backpacks or luggage will be subject to a lengthy search. Items not permitted include knives, firearms, screwdrivers, scissors, nail files, corkscrews, pepper spray, etc.
Are the Smithsonian Museums handicapped accessible?
Washington, DC is one of the most disabled accessible cities in the world. Accessibility of all of the Smithsonian buildings is not without flaws, but the Institution continues to work to improve its deficiencies. The museums and the Zoo have wheelchairs that can be borrowed, free of charge, for use within each facility. Getting from one museum to another is a challenge for the disabled. Renting a motorized scooter is highly recommended. Read more about disabled access in Washington DC Pre-arranged tours can be scheduled for the hearing and visually impaired. Read more about tours.
How was the Smithsonian established and who was James Smithson?
The Smithsonian was established in 1846 by an Act of Congress with funds donated by James Smithson (1765-1829), a British scientist who left his estate to the United States to found “at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” Read a biography of James Smithson
How is the Smithsonian funded?
The Institution is about 70 percent federally funded. In fiscal year 2008, the federal appropriation was approximately $682 million. The remainder of the funding comes from contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals and revenues from Smithsonian Enterprises (gift shops, restaurants, IMAX theaters, etc.).
How are artifacts added to the Smithsonian Collections?
Most artifacts are donated to the Smithsonian by individuals, private collectors and federal agencies such as NASA, the U.S. Postal Service, the Department of the Interior, the Defense Department, the U.S. Treasury and the Library of Congress. Thousands of items are also acquired through field expeditions, bequests, purchases, exchanges with other museums and organizations, and, in the case of living plants and animals, by birth and propagation.