Best Museums in Washington, D.C.

This art and history museum is known for its hand crafted items that were present in American culture prior to the Industrial Revolution. The museum is operated by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and contains period rooms which display artifacts such as furniture, silver, paintings, ceramics, and textiles. The museum offers guided tours six days a week and a toy attic where children can play with reproductions of historic toys.

The National Air and Space Museum contains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts. The museum was first founded in 1876 and welcomes about eight million people annually. The museum features 23 main exhibition galleries and sits in an ideal location with the Capitol Building just a few blocks away. The National Air and Space Museum caters to both children and adults, with amenities such as IMAX movies, planetarium shows, and flight simulators.

Sitting adjacent to the National Mall, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum provides context, research, and interpretation of the history of the Holocaust. The mission of the museum is to empower the citizens of the world to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its vast collection includes more than 12,000 artifacts and over 48 million pages of documentation as well as numerous photographs and videos. The museum also boasts teacher fellows in every state and international fellows from over 20 countries.

This two story museum boasts a collection of over 124 million objects as well as a green-dome and research facilities. The museum first opened in 1910, and is located on the National Mall in close proximity to numerous museums and monuments. The museum is dedicated to worldly explorations, with marine research facilities in Ft. Pierce, Florida and field stations in Belize, Alaska, and Kenya, and the museum also offers internships and fellowships to those looking to enter the field.

The main objective of the National Museum of American History is to collect and preserve significant artifacts that are symbolic of American history. Some of these items include the original Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln’s top hat. The museum hosts a myriad of public programs, including lectures, tours, demonstrations, and live theater experiences. The museum also offer music programs that are orchestrated by resident jazz and chamber ensembles.