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History Museums in Washington DC

THE 10 BEST Washington DC History Museums

History Museums in Washington DC

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What travelers are saying

  • Amber M
    Dallas, TX5 contributions
    Modern venue, somber atmosphere
    Excellent collection and presentation of this event. Modern venue. Somber atmosphere. Even the pre-teen liked it. Highly recommend!!!
    Review of: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
    Written February 11, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • GreenMountainGirls
    Montpelier, VT202 contributions
    Must See
    So excellent. Allow plenty of time. Plan to take it slowly. Make sure to get reservations for a time-entry ticket well ahead of time. Go at 10:00 for smaller crowds. And be prepared to be moved. We didn't see the whole museum but spent three hours walking through the entire history section. Even if you think you know all this history, it's a powerful experience to see how they have put it all together with so many perspectives and voices that have been forgotten or ignored or buried. Beautifully done museum, well worth the visit. Regarding food, we'd heard good things about the cafe but we were there on a crowded weekend so we chose not to wait in the very long line for the cafe and went elsewhere instead. We did notice a ton of food carts outside the museum!
    Review of: National Museum of African American History and Culture
    Written March 11, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ssmarc
    Wheaton, IL60 contributions
    Excellent Place to Visit
    I am not an avid l art lover but this place is amazing. Like all the Smithsonian's, it is free and it was not crowded at all. The place is huge and has thousands of paintings. I am not sure they do guided tours but I would recommend that if available. You can spend as much or little time as you want. To see most everything it would take at least a half a day. If you are tight for time make sure to see the President portrait gallery. Also, the inside courtyard is very nice and it is enclosed. You can take a rest and get some drinks and snacks there.
    Review of: National Portrait Gallery
    Written February 25, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • HokieGator
    4 contributions
    Wonderful Show and Interesting Museum
    We went for the opening of A Christmas Carol and it was worth every penny. Be sure to get there early and spend time exploring the museum located in the basement. A very detailed story of the lead-up and follow-up of what happened there. You definitely feel like you've gone back in time when you watch a show there. I'm so glad they left so much unchanged. You can really feel what it would have been like to be there back in the 1800s. Sitting across from where Lincoln was shot was humbling.
    Be aware that this is restored to the way it was originally. This means tight seats and isles, lots of stairs, and some obstructed views. The seats were not comfortable and I would recommend sitting on the front row of the balcony so you don't have to look over people's heads. We sat on the front row and I felt bad about the people sitting behind us having to keep adjusting to see around us.
    The intermission is short and the line to get snacks is very long. We pre-ordered our hot chocolate and even with that, there was barely enough time to drink it by the time we had to go back in.
    The show itself was amazing. Great actors and very well done!
    This is a must-do when in DC.
    Review of: Ford's Theatre
    Written March 5, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • CabanaWoman
    Shreveport, LA195 contributions
    Good time for history buffs.
    There is an amazing amount of information in the exhibits for such a young country. This is a well-laid out museum that covers most facets of American History.
    Review of: National Museum of American History
    Written March 18, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • goingoutside2015
    Wayland, MA17 contributions
    Illustrated Presidential history
    We visited the National Protrait Gallery within this impressive musuem, but will return to see the rest of its treasures.
    We took our time with the only full collection outside the White House of portraits of all U.S. Presidents, reading the notes next to each painting. Worth a visit for the art of portraiture alone (artists include Norman Rockwell, Robert Anderson, Margaret Lindsay Williams, Kehinde Wiley), it was a broad learning experience for three generations visiting together.
    Review of: Smithsonian American Art Museum
    Written March 14, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • SeeYosemite
    San Francisco, CA63 contributions
    A brief history of Indians in the US
    A must see museum when visiting the US capital. I was impressed with the sheer number of treaties that the US government had with the Indian tribes. One quote stuck though: “there were many promises made but only one was kept. They promised to take the land and they did.” Not judging what happened but there is definitely some learning there.
    Review of: National Museum of the American Indian
    Written February 24, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Robin B
    Phoenix, AZ1,303 contributions
    Steeped in history
    This cottage is where President Lincoln came during the summer months of 1862, 1863 and 1864. The cottage is located on the grounds of a veteran’s retirement home. There is a parking lot (which I could never verify from the website) and a very nice visitor center/gift shop. The staff was friendly and helpful. The reason for the four-star rating is our docent wasn’t that great. The house itself is steeped in history and despite having no furniture, it has a lot of stories to tell. I just wish they would have been told a little better with a little more enthusiasm and detail.
    Review of: President Lincoln's Cottage
    Written September 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jonah E
    1 contribution
    So. Much. Fun.
    So. Much. Fun. There was so much activity’s to do and have fun with. I recommend being over 16 and doing the driver simulation it’s kinda cool.
    Review of: National Law Enforcement Museum
    Written January 14, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • MissSherlock
    Jacksonville, Illinois, United States35 contributions
    10/10 Would Revisit
    Absolutely fantastic. Free admission. The exhibits are exhaustive and very, very interesting. Very large building. Allow plenty of time to spend here if you are a history fanatic. Beautiful, well curated collection. Highly recommend.
    Review of: DAR Museum
    Written June 25, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Moose Lake Doodle
    Nashotah, WI130 contributions
    Opulent and Interesting!
    A wonderful museum to stop in and tour while exploring the Embassy Row area. There was an exhibition about medical care and practices treating military soldiers during the Revolutionary War-very interesting! The exhibitions change periodically. No dogs allowed and masks are required during the free tour. The space is available for weddings, too-what a fantastic venue!
    Review of: Anderson House
    Written September 21, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Dave B
    Corby Glen, UK13 contributions
    Well worthwhile
    Being interested in 19th crntury Smerican politics, this was a very good opportunity to visit the home of one of the most well-know ex- presidents.
    After a brief introduction we were given a guided tour of all four floors of this impressive property.
    Our guide was very knowledgeble and made the tour very worthwhile.
    Review of: The President Woodrow Wilson House
    Written October 19, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Allen L
    Woodbury2 contributions
    Interesting and eclectic
    Interesting and eclectic collections. More like a series of small museums all housed in a magnificent building with its own history. I am a retired city planner and my wife was employed in the housing development industry. We found interesting displays that were new to us on building materials, building photography, Notre Dame, collaboration for medical facility design in Africa and a place for children to build and experiment.
    Review of: National Building Museum
    Written December 14, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • worktotravel14
    Trenton, NJ2,061 contributions
    An art class and a celebration of Africa
    This museum does much to celebrate and elevate the diversity of Africa. Half underground, half above ground, this is a treasure trove. We happened to arrive just as a free art class was starting at the museum. The art class was led by a local artist and was derived to find inspiration in the Heroes exhibit which talked about the principles of African heroism and profiled the human, the historic, and the mythical as heroes in African society. In many cases, the point was the collective heroism that African nations and cultures draw upon and how that is infused in to Black culture more generally. The class was beautiful and left us with principles and an encouragement of seeing differently and drawing through art.

    During our time there we also enjoyed time in the permanent collection where we found that the museum has now taken on the principle of returning art that was gained through plunder and where they can verify that origin story. It is always the right time to make things right and I gained a great deal of respect for that action. I hope it's one that continues, even if it compromises the museum's collections.

    Perhaps the highlight was Ike Ude's portraits of Nollywood stars and the way in which they examined their celebrity, the industry, their various traits and the glamour of the business. It truly felt like a celebration of the one of the biggest film industry in the world, which is now raising the bar and quality of other African countries.

    I could have spent a few more hours here, but moved on (in service to the art) in the Hirshorn. Can't wait to check out what is next.
    Review of: National Museum of African Art
    Written January 7, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Stéphanie R
    Quebec City, Canada12 contributions
    Essential museum!!!
    We left this museum really impressed. The perfect amount of information and the way the subject is covered makes this visit essential to your next trip in Washington. A must if you want to understand the black community ‘s reality.
    Review of: African American Civil War Memorial Museum
    Written August 13, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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