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Visiting the Smithsonian Museum: 23 Helpful Tips

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Tackling the largest museum complex in the world can be a tall task, so here are 23 Smithsonian Museum tips to help you make the most out of your visit to the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC.

Despite what many people think, the Smithsonian isn’t a single museum. Rather, it is a collection of world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and a zoo. With 11 sites clustered around the National Mall and six other museums and the National Zoo elsewhere in the Washington, DC, area, the Smithsonian’s collection of knowledge centers serve as a treasure chest for visitors curious to learn more about the world. And w ith 1 40 million objects, works of art, and specimens, it’s no surprise that more than 30 million people visit the Smithsonian annually!

Fun Fact: In case the Smithsonian presence in Washington, DC, isn’t impressive enough, there are two additional museums located in New York City: Cooper Hewitt (the Smithsonian Design Museum) and the National Museum of the American Indian.

Sage Advice: Find the best place to stay in Washington DC based on your itinerary.

So how does one navigate the largest museum complex in the world? These Smithsonian museum tips will help!

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1. Go Mobile

Download Smithsonian Mobile to help you easily access maps, tours, podcasts, tips, photos, and more.

Sage Advice: The Smithsonian Institution has additional apps that you might find useful like the NMAAHC Mobile Stories app and the Smithsonian Channel app .

2. Or Go Old School

If you prefer paper, download a copy of the official Smithsonian Guide and Map . In addition to English, the Smithsonian Guide and Map is also available in 10 other languages. Visitors can pick up a Braille copy at the information desk of any Smithsonian museum.

Sage Advice: Get an overview of the Capital City with a guided tour of DC . For a unique experience, take a night tour , twilight tour , segway tour , or ghost tour !

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3. Visit Virtually

Before you head to Washington, DC, consider taking a virtual tour of the Smithsonian museums. When you browse exhibitions online, you’ll learn more about what you’ll see when you visit in person. The digital exhibition experience will also help you create and prioritize your “must see” list. Some virtual tours even let you experience past exhibits that are no longer available to visit in person.

Examples of virtual tours offered by the Smithsonian include:

The First Ladies Virtual Tour ,
America’s Presidents Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery,
Against All Odds: Rescue at the Chilean Mine , a past exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History, and
the Enid A. Haupt Garden outside the Smithsonian Castle

5. Open 364 Days a Year

Most Smithsonian Museums are open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, except Christmas Day (December 25th). But the Smithsonian Information Center opens at 8:30 am. Housed in the Smithsonian Institution Building (widely known as the Smithsonian Castle), this is a great first stop for your Smithsonian museum adventure. (See tip #9 to learn why.)

On the later side, the American Art Museum and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery are open from 11:30 am to 7:00 pm.

Sage Advice: For more to do and see after you’ve visited the Smithsonian museums, check out these tips on how to spend three days in Washington, DC .

Pile of US dollars in a variety of values

6. Keep the Change

There is no cost to visit any of the Smithsonian museums in DC. Yes, you read that correctly, Smithsonian museum admission is absolutely free! So enjoy all of the Smithsonian museums, galleries, and gardens — including the National Zoo — at no cost. Thank you, Mr. Smithson (and American taxpayers)!

However, it is important to note that some Smithsonian Museums in DC — like the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) — are so popular that they require a free timed-entry ticket to visit.

7. Avoid the Crowds

With approximately 30 million visitors each year, the Smithsonian museums can be busy even on slow days. For a less crowded experience, avoid visiting on the weekends, holidays, and during peak travel seasons like during the Cherry Blossom Festival in the spring.

Sage Advice: All Smithsonian museums are closed on Christmas Day, December 25th.

8. Make the Most of the Metro

One of the most important tips for visiting the Smithsonian museums is not to drive. The DC Metro is a fast, easy, and affordable way to get to the Smithsonian museums located on or near the National Mall. The Smithsonian metro station stop at 12th & Jefferson, SW, is just to the west of the Smithsonian Castle, the perfect place to begin your Smithsonian adventure. (See Tip #9.) This stop is available on the blue, orange, and silver lines.

If your itinerary includes visiting the Smithsonian museums on the east half of the National Mall, then the Archives Metro Station (on the green and yellow lines) or the L’Enfant Metro Station (on the green, yellow, orange, blue, and silver lines) may be more convenient.

Sage Advice: The Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley is another convenient way to get around Washington, DC. And, if you plan on visiting Arlington National Cemetery during your trip to Washington, DC, you can upgrade your ticket to include the cemetery and water taxi.

Related Article: The People and Places Behind Popular DC Metro Stations

9. Start at the Smithsonian Castle

Mentioned briefly in tip #5, the red sandstone building at 1000 Jefferson Dr, SW, that looks like a 12th-century Norman castle is known as, um, the Castle. This Smithsonian Institution building houses the Smithsonian Visitors Center and is the perfect place to begin your Smithsonian Institution experience.

James Smithson Crypt at Smithsonian Castle in Washington DC

Don’t miss James Smithson’s tomb just outside the north entrance of the Smithsonian Castle. After all, if it weren’t for James Smithson, there wouldn’t be a Smithsonian Institution. This is also the place to get a fantastic overview of the collections at each of the Smithsonian museums as well as chat with in-house experts to fine tune your Smithsonian plans.

10. Then Move On to What Matters Most to You

As with any travel, it’s okay to skip the things that don’t interest you. Who cares if the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is the most popular. If airplanes and moon rocks aren’t your thing, spend your time exploring what matters to you!

A "must do" list written on a yellow legal pad

11. Have a “Must See” List

Even after you focus on the museums, exhibits, and artifacts that matter most to you, you likely still won’t have enough time to do and see it all. A little advanced planning will help ensure you don’t inadvertently overlook Julia Child’s kitchen in the Museum of American History or the America’s Presidents Gallery at the National Portrait Gallery.

Related Article: Spend an Hour with America’s Presidents at the National Portrait Gallery

12. Start at the Top

As you visit each Smithsonian Museum, consider starting on the top floor and working your way down. While it may sound like a salmon swimming upstream, this technique is a proven way of avoiding crowds.

13. Pack Lightly

For a fast, easy trip through museum security, try to limit your possessions to a small purse or similarly-sized bag. Any large backpack will be subject to additional search by security.

Sage Advice: Some Smithsonian Museums have lockers and check rooms available for coats, backpacks, shopping bags, and carry-on-sized luggage. As an alternative, check out Vertoe for a secure luggage storage option near the Smithsonian museum you wish to visit.

14. Leave Your Selfie Stick Behind

While non-flash photography is generally allowed, visitors may not bring tripods , monopods, or selfie sticks into the Smithsonian Museums.

15. Can I Buy You a Drink?

Like any world-class museum, food and drink are not permitted in the Smithsonian museums. Sack lunches, water bottles , and snacks that are properly secured and stowed during your visit may be carried but not consumed except in designated areas. Remember that the cafes, cafeterias, coffee shops, and other dining facilities in the Smithsonian museums are for guests who have purchased an item there and not for food and drink brought in from the outside.

16. Step Lively

You’ll be expected to walk through a metal detector (or be hand-screened with an electronic wand) before entering nearly all Smithsonian museums. You should also expect to have your bag screened.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes when you visit the Smithsonian Museums in DC.

17. And Wear Comfortable Shoes

Of all the tips for visiting the Smithsonian museums, do not overlook the importance of wearing comfortable shoes ! Simply walking counter-clockwise from the Smithsonian Castle to the other Smithsonian museums located on the National Mall is a 2.5-mile undertaking. Add all of the miles you’ll walk exploring the exhibits, sculpture gardens, and other stops along the way, and you’ll likely walk a marathon.

Related Article: A Complete Guide to the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall

18. Take a Load Off

Visitors of all ages and activity levels can easily tire from a day exploring the Smithsonian museums. Give your feet a rest by relaxing in the Enid A. Haupt Garden or the Hirshhorn Museum’s Sculpture Garden. Or, you can take in an IMAX movie at the Air and Space Museum.

If younger children will be visiting the Smithsonian museums with you, please note that strollers are allowed in all museums, and a limited number of strollers are available for rent at the Smithsonian National Zoo.

Consider biking between Smithsonian Museums

19. Biking Between Museums

To move between museums without wearing yourself out, consider biking. There are several places to rent a bicycle near the National Mall, and most Smithsonian museums have designated bicycle racks for secure storage while you explore the collections inside.

20. A Brief Word About the First Amendment

Visitors are not allowed to carry placards, signs, or banners while on Smithsonian grounds. You are also forbidden from handing out ads, pamphlets, or flyers.

But there’s no ban on your favorite slogan t-shirt …

21. Use Your Inside Voice (and No Potty Mouth)

As with any museum, visitors are expected to use their inside voices and refrain from using abusive or obscene language.

A man with a handful of cigarettes and an e-cigarette in his hands

22. Do You Have a Light?

Whether you answered that question “yes” or “no,” you won’t need it when visiting the Smithsonian museums because you are not able to smoke cigarettes, cigars, or pipes in any Smithsonian building. You are also forbidden from using electronic cigarettes, vape pens, and similar devices.

23. Have You Seen My _____?

This is one of the most important tips for visiting the Smithsonian museums if you fear you’ve lost an item. Each museum’s security office will hold lost and found items for 24 hours before moving them to a central lost and found office. You can reach the central lost and found office at 202.633.5630.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Smithsonian Museums

Where is the smithsonian museum.

The Smithsonian is a collection of world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and a zoo. The majority of Smithsonian sites surround the National Mall in Washington, DC. But there are additional museums in Washington, DC, and two museums in New York City.

How many Smithsonian museums are there?

By now you know that the Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex (and not just one museum). But how many Smithsonian museums are there? There are 23 distinct properties that make up the Smithsonian Institution including museums, gardens, and even a zoo!

How many Smithsonian museums are there in DC?

Here is a complete list of the Smithsonian museums in Washington DC:

Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place, SE, Washington, DC
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC (temporarily closed)
Freer Gallery of Art, Jefferson Drive and 12th St., SW, Washington, DC
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Independence Ave. at 7th St., SW, Washington, DC
National Air and Space Museum, 655 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC (reopens October 14, 2022)
National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC
National Museum of African Art, 950 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
National Museum of American History, 1300 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC
National Museum of Natural History, 10th St. and Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC
National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave., NE, Washington, DC
National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets, NW, Washington, DC
Smithsonian Gardens: Enid A. Haupt Garden and Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle), 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW, Washington, DC

Which Smithsonian museum is the most popular?

Based on total visits in 2021, the National Museum of Natural History is the most popular Smithsonian museum. It’s followed by the National Zoo and National Museum of American History.

How big is the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History?

According to its published fact sheet, the National Museum of Natural History is 1.32 million square feet, with 325,000 square feet of public space and 146 million artifacts and specimens. About five million people visit in a typical year, eager to gaze at the impressive Hope Diamond, walk through the Butterfly Pavilion, examine fossils, and so much more!

When does the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum open?

The Air and Space Museum has been under renovation since 2018. It reopens on October 14, 2022, and free timed-entry passes are available starting September 14, 2022.

Are the Smithsonian museums free?

Yes! There is no cost to visit any of the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC. However, some museums — like the National Museum of African American History and Culture — require you to reserve a free pass to visit.

Sage Advice: If you’re interested in visiting the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, it’s currently the only Smithsonian museum that charges admission.

Do you need tickets for Smithsonian museums?

In Washington, DC, free timed-entry passes are required to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo.

Are the Smithsonian museums open?

Most Smithsonian museums are open daily from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and all museums and the National Zoo are closed on Christmas Day, December 25th.

However, times vary by museum, and some buildings and exhibits can be temporarily closed for renovations, so be sure to confirm opening days and hours when you plan your visit.

Are Smithsonian museums open on Thanksgiving?

As a general rule, yes. The only day the Smithsonian museums are consistently closed all year is Christmas Day.

Are Smithsonian museums open on Memorial Day?

Yep! Just don’t plan to visit the Smithsonian museums on Christmas, and be sure to check the hours of the specific museum you want to visit before you go.

Share Your Smithsonian Museum Tips

What about you? Have you visited one or more of the Smithsonian Museums? What did you enjoy most about your experience? Do you have any additional tips for someone planning a trip to the Smithsonian museums to share in the comments section below?

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43 thoughts on “Visiting the Smithsonian Museum: 23 Helpful Tips”

Love this comprehensive guide muséums. 23 Smithsonian museums. I love the tip on going virtualcfirst, have a must-see lust, not forgetting the castle, zndcstarting from the top!

These are great tips for visiting one of the largest museum complexes. I will use them when visiting the Smithsonian Museum because it is on my bucket list. It’s a simple idea to download Smithsonian Mobile App to have access to maps, tours, and tips. I will also take a virtual tour before the real visit, as it seems like a perfect idea. For sure, I will prepare a “Must See” list.

Yes, I absolutely agree! It is pretty amazing that James Smithson’s estate was left to a new nation he’d never met. How lucky for us!

One visit at a Smithsonian Museum and your life will never be the same again. Thanks for putting together all these wonderful tips! Cheers, Elna

It’s truly a national treasure!

The Smithsonian museum complex looks amazing, it sure sounds like an incredible experience.

I had no idea that the entrance to these museums is free and it’s certainly good to know about the free timed entry ticket for the ones in D.C. These museums are a treasure trove of exhibits – definitely chalking out a must-see list in advance is a great idea.

I love downloading apps or listening to podcasts before I go to museums so that I can create a list of the things I know I really I want to see. But then leave the rest of the visit to chance and just wander around.

That’s a good strategy. When I take the time to do that (which isn’t 100% of the time), I find my experiences are so much richer! There’s nothing worse than getting home and reading about X or Y that you missed!

I’ve only been to the Smithsonian museums once, but they sure are awesome. And your list of tips is so helpful. It can be overwhelming to visit them, so your advice to see come prepared and focus on what interest you is perfect.

I’m glad you found it helpful!

Great tips on visiting the Smithsonian Museums! I like the idea of taking the load off and watching an IMAX movie or taking the rental bikes. Thanks for sharing!

This is a new fact for me. I didn’t know Smithsonian museum is the world’s largest. Thanks for sharing these incredibly handy tips.

An extensive source of information.

A thorough list on this iconic building which I am yet to visit. When I do, I will take up your suggestion on biking between the buildings. Great job with the suggestions. Enjoyed reading this.

i had heard of the Smithsonian museum complex but never visited. It looks and sounds like an incredible experience. May be if I ever get back to USA I will pay a visit.

Even just one day zipping through a few of the Smithsonian museums is a great experience when you visit Washington DC.

This is the one place that I wish I would have taken the time to visit during my short weekend in Washington, but I did not have enough time. I was actually looking at an online course from the Smithsonian just yesterday 🙂

They have a lot of great online content, virtual tours, and more. While it’s an amazing experience to visit in person, those digital options are a great plan b!

My Dad was in the military and we were stationed in Virginia on two different occasions for a couple of years. My family are big explorers so we hit every Smithsonian and I absolutely loved them. I have only been back to a few a quick side trip added to business trips for conferences and events there, but now since I moved to North Carolina, DC is six hours away and the perfect weekend trip – my hubby and I plan on hitting up these museums as my hubby has never been to any!

I’m also a military brat, and done of the absolute best perks is the chance to live and explore so many great places around the world. As you know, DC is FULL of great things to see and do, and I bet you and Monsieur Misadventures will have a blast!

The Smithsonian Museum is one of those world class places I’ve been to, have read about yet have never got to experience. I love old style museums, we are thankfully spoilt for world class museums in the UK, so it’s always nice to see others which are on a par with the quality we have here. But also, I had no idea there were so many Smithsonian Museums.

And us lucky Yanks… Did you know that Mr. Smithson (the namesake of the Smithsonian Institute) was actually an Englishman who directed that his estate be used to create a museum complex for a country he never visited?

These tips are great, Smithsonian Museum is on my and my daughter bucket list. I will pin your post for our future trip

I’m glad you found them helpful. You’re sure to enjoy the Smithsonian museums when you visit!

I feel so silly that for YEARS, I didn’t realize that “The Smithsonian” was actually several museums! I always thought it was just one massive museum. Fortunately, a visit to DC cleared that misconception right up! Thanks for the post!

LOTS of people make that mistake! I think in part it’s because folks talking about The Smithsonian Institution as a singular concept. Aren’t the museums full of amazing treasures?

Absolutely! We only had a few hours to spend checking them out, and of course it was nowhere near enough time!

Thanks for the thorough write up! These tips will be super helpful when i eventually visit DC, love the biking idea 🙂

In addition to the Smithsonian museums, bikes are a great way to see all of the monuments. Hope you enjoy your visit to DC!

I was not ready during our last visit to the Smithsonian. First we got there later than planned. Then it took us an hour to find parking. Then it fizzled from there. We went to 2 museums and missed the 2 that I really wanted to see. I wish I had your guide 4 months ago. Thank you for the info.

Oh, no, what a horrible experience! Although, my hat is off to you that you braved DC by car. Even when I lived there (back when the years started with a “1” and “uber” only meant something to Germans) I was a big fan of the Metro. The museums are really amazing, so I hope you’ll get another go at them! <3

Great post on an amazing landmark! I had no idea the museum were free. I especially liked your tip on downloading the app to find your way. Also the tip of making a “must see list” of most wanted attractions.

Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad you liked it!

This was a fun read and has so many useful tips!

Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.

Great tips. I had no idea that the only day the museums weren’t open were on Christmas. I can think a few holidays that would be great days to visit with light visitors. Love this.

I know! I wished I lived closer to be able to seize those same opportunities!

So, my family is from Northern Virginia, and over the Christmas holiday I went up to visit my mom and we were talking about how I hadn’t been to any of the Smithsonian Museums since I was like 12! Hey don’t make that wow face, I am not that old yet so it wasn’t that long ago, well maybe! Anyways, I told Darcee, the next time we go up I really want to go back to several of the museums so I love your tips on Visiting the Smithsonian Museums. For example: ~ I had no idea they were free! ~ I LOVE the idea of starting at the top and working my way backwards! Never would have thought to try that! ~ Using the Metro in the DC, Virginia, Maryland areas is actually very easy compared to driving; Parking plus it saves you tons of $$ ~ The Bike thing is genius if you are doing a couple of museums in a day! I don’t mind walking but they can be kind of spread out!

It is amazing how much museum goodness you get for no admission fee at the Smithsonian Institute!

Love these practical tips for making the most of a visit to the Smithsonian Museums! Starting at the visitors center is great insight.

Oh my gosh – these are such helpful tips! I went to the Smithsonian Museums when I was a child but would love to go back. Thanks for sharing 😉

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Smithsonian Museum Tips for Washington, DC Visitors

Smithsonian museums are a core part of the Washington, DC visitor experience. Get the most out of these by following our eight top Smithsonian museum tips.

8 Tips for the Smithsonian and FREE museums in DC

1. Plan your Smithsonian visit in advance

There are so many Smithsonian museums and individual exhibits that it can feel overwhelming to navigate. It is really helpful to look at the websites for the Smithsonian museums in advance so that you can see what exhibits are going to be on display when you arrive. There are also smartphone apps for these museums that you can download and bookmark your favorite exhibits.

Another important Smithsonian museum tip is to check to see if you need a ticket for a particular museum or exhibit. Since it’s opening if you want to attend the National Museum of African American History and Culture you need a free timed ticket. Check out our blog post for specific details about getting one.

2. Don’t overdo it!

Since the Smithsonian museums in DC are completely free, visitors often try to cram in as many as they possibly can during their trip. This often leads to exhaustion. Think of it another way, if you went to a different city that didn’t have free museums, you wouldn’t go and buy a ticket to every single museum in town and then try to cram all of them in during your trip. You’d probably pick one, maybe two, of the museums that interest you the most and visit those. That’s the same strategy you should pursue in DC as well.

Smithsonian museums are free but they’re also huge, which means you’re going to do a lot of walking, which is physically draining. You’re also going to do a lot of reading, which is mentally draining. So, this is the reason for picking two or three museums for a one-week long trip or one to two museums for a weekend trip. And remember that while these museums are excellent educational opportunities, kids don’t have quite the same stamina or attention span as adults.

3. Go against the flow.

Because many of them are free, some Smithsonian museums can get very crowded. This is especially true for the big three museums: Air and Space , Natural History, and American History . These are some of the most visited museums in the entire world. You can use a few basic strategies to avoid the heaviest crowds. For example, if you’re visiting a museum when it first opens at 10:00 a.m. go straight to the exhibit that’s farthest away from the door. Most people naturally walk into a museum and then go straight to whatever exhibit is closest to them. You can go up in the elevator to say, the top floor, and start seeing the exhibits up there to get maybe an hour or two with fairly limited crowds.

4. Use the “back doors”

This is a Smithsonian museum tip that a lot of Washington DC locals have used for years. Most Smithsonian museums on the National Mall have two entrances. There is one facing the grassy park called the National Mall, and another facing either Independence or Constitution Avenues, depending on which side it’s on.

Tour buses only unload on the National Mall side and there is nothing worse than getting stuck behind a busload of 8th graders on a school field trip. Museum security is kind of like airport security where they will ruffle through your bag and make you walk through a metal detector. Going through the non-bus door doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have to wait in a line but it does reduce the risk that you’ll get stuck behind a huge group.

5. Leave the National Mall

Even though most Smithsonian museums in DC are located right on the National Mall, there are some other really great museums elsewhere in the city. A few blocks north of the Mall you’ll find the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian’s American Art Museum , two different museums that share the same building. The Portrait Gallery is exactly what the name suggests, a museum of portraits, including the very popular Hall of Presidents .

Across the street from the White House on the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue you’ll find the Renwick Gallery , which is an art museum that focuses on crafts and other decorative art, and it hosts a lot of cool rotating exhibits.

A personal favorite of ours is the National Postal Museum which is located right next to Union Station. A lot of people take for granted as a mail is kind of bland, but the Postal Museum is a really interesting look at American history through the lens of the postal service. And if you’re a stamp collector you’re going to love it here. They have some of the most amazing stamp collections in the entire world. And one of our favorite Smithsonian museum tips is you can buy stamps at the gift store here 7 days per week,so you don’t have to make a special errand to one of our post offices.

6. Seek out Good Food

The National Mall is not known for having great food. But don’t despair! One of the best Smithsonian museum tips around is to eat at the “culture” museums.

Every museum is going to have a little cafe. They’re fine, you’ll get fed, but you also probably won’t have a very memorable meal. The exception to this is at the Smithsonian American Indian Museum , which is highly recommend if you’re in the area or if you can get a ticket, the Sweet Home Cafe at the African American History and Culture Museum. Both of these “culture” museums use food as a way to immerse visitors in the experience.

And unless there’s some sort of fast food connoisseur, don’t eat at the McDonald’s at the Air and Space Museum. Nobody wants to pay museum prices for the same Big Mac you can get anywhere else in the world.

7. Take advantage of Highlight Tours

A lot of the Smithsonian museums offer free highlight tours a few times every day. These are led by trained and knowledgeable tour guides. If you think you might be interested in a museum, but aren’t quite sure about some of the exhibits, a highlight tour is a great way to get an overview. The one downside is that since these are free tours the group sizes can get fairly large. But, do not let it deter you from taking one.

8. Take advantage of extended hours

Most Smithsonian museums close at 5:30 p.m. every day, but there are a few exceptions. The Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum are open until 7 p.m. every day. In the summer select museums offer extended hours and stay open for two extra hours until 7:30 p.m on selected dates during the summer. If you’re going to take advantage of one of these Smithsonian museum tips, it is extremely important that you check the extended hours calendar on the Smithsonian website. This is to make sure that you know which dates are having extended hours for which museums.

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Your 2024 smithsonian pocket guide, amazing things happen here.

From our museums in Washington, DC and New York City, to our traveling exhibitions in venues closer to home, to our website and mobile apps, you will always find something worthwhile to discover and enjoy. This 2024 pocket guide offers a small sample of the thousands of things to see and do at the Smithsonian this year, all made possible thanks to the support of people like you.

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Tap to zoom, smithsonian museums located on or near the national mall in washington, dc, located elsewhere in washington, dc, and virginia, located in new york city, featured exhibitions.

In its new pose devouring a Triceratops, the Nation's T. rex is the centerpiece of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils—Deep Time .

The david h. koch hall of fossils - deep time.

June 8, 2019 - Permanent, National Museum of Natural History The new David H. Koch Hall of Fossils showcases the museum's unrivaled collection of 46 million fossils re-positioned in new, dramatic, more scientifically-accurate positions, and presents the most up-to-date scientific research on how life on Earth has evolved. Find out more » Take me there »

Freedom papers and handmade tin carrying box belonging to Joseph Trammell, 1852. Gift of Elaine E. Thompson

Slavery and freedom.

September 24, 2016 - Permanent, National Museum of African American History and Culture As the centerpiece of the museum, this exhibition explores the complex story of slavery and freedom, a story standing at the core of our national experience. Find out more » Take me there »

Photo: Joel Barlow

Many voices, one nation the great leap of faith.

Summer 2017 - Permanent, National Museum of American History At the heart of this nation lies a great search for balance between unity and pluralism. Many Voices: One Nation presents the five-hundred-year journey of how many distinct peoples and cultures met, mingled and created the culture of the United States. Find out more » Take me there »

Photo: Indian Chief motorcycle on loan from the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, Birmingham, Alabama. Photos by Matailong Du for the National Museum of the American Indian

January 18, 2018 – 2027, National Museum of the American Indian American Indian represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, yet names and images of Indians are everywhere: military weapons, town names, advertising and that holiday in November. American invites visitors to take a closer look, and to ask why. Find out more » Take me there »

James Baldwin by Beauford Delaney, pastel on paper, 1963. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. © Estate of Beauford Delaney by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire, Court Appointed Administrator; Courtesy of Michael Rosenfeld Gallery LLC, New York

This morning, this evening, so soon: james baldwin and the voices of queer resistance.

July 12, 2024 - April 20, 2025, National Portrait Gallery Baldwin, who considered himself "a witness, about literature, about his works, about America and about history," often spoke out against injustice. At a time when he and his queer contemporaries had to keep their sexuality at least partly hidden, they could fight openly for civil rights. Baldwin’s efforts to ensure the United States "kept the faith" often drew recognition, overshadowing those of other like-minded collaborators, such as Bayard Rustin and Lorraine Hansberry. A celebration of their various queer voices, this collective portrait of sorts offers an admiring corrective. Find out more » Take me there »

Blossom Time (detail) by Willard Metcalf

Blossom Time (detail), Willard Metcalf (1858-1925), United States, 1910, oil on canvas, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Gallery of Art Collection, Gift of Charles Lang Freer, F1915.27a-b

Shifting boundaries: perspectives on american landscapes.

July 13, 2024 - July 26, 2026, Freer Gallery of Art American painters Willard Metcalf, Dwight Tryon, Winslow Homer, and Abbott Thayer created profoundly beautiful views of the New England landscapes where they lived and worked. These paintings largely depict that environment as timeless and static. Shifting Boundaries looks at these works from a new angle by engaging a multiplicity of voices and viewpoints to explore what these paintings can tell us about changes to this region both past and present. As Shifting Boundaries reveals, the views these artists created of pasturelands in Massachusetts and of seascapes in Maine were transforming even as these artists recorded them. This reshaping of landscapes has only accelerated in the century since Metcalf, Tryon, Homer, and Thayer depicted them. Find out more » Take me there »

Absentee ballot request postcard, 1944

Voting by mail: civil war to covid-19.

August 24, 2024 - February 23, 2025, National Postal Museum The presidential election year is the appropriate time to reflect on past examples of national voting by mail. This exhibition includes objects from the National Postal Museum collection, including a mailed tally sheet from 1864 recording the votes of soldiers from Highland County, Ohio; an absentee ballot request postcard for an Alabama soldier during World War II; a 5-cent postage stamp reminding citizens to register and vote; and a complete absentee ballot kit and instruction sheet from the last presidential election in 2020. Find out more » Take me there »

Iskandar and the talking tree (detail), folio from the Great Mongol Shahnama (Book of kings), Iran, probably Tabriz, Ilkhanid dynasty, ca. 1330, ink, color, and gold on paper, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1935.23

An epic of kings: the great mongol shahnama.

August 31, 2024 - January 5, 2025, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Monumental in size and boldly illustrated, the Great Mongol Shahnama is the most celebrated of all medieval Persian manuscripts. Considered Iran’s national epic, the Shahnama (Book of kings) was completed by the poet Firdawsi in 1010. The copy known as the Great Mongol Shahnama was produced three hundred years later, likely commissioned by ruler Abu Sa'id of the Ilkhanid dynasty, a branch of the Mongol Empire. Between the manuscript’s covers, art, power, and history intertwined. An Epic of Kings offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see twenty-five folios from this now dismantled manuscript. It is also the first exhibition to present paintings from the Great Mongol Shahnama alongside contemporaneous works from China, the Mediterranean, and the Latin West. Experience this unique historical moment of cultural exchange across Eurasia—where commodities, people, and ideas circulated like never before—with Iran at its center. Find out more » Take me there »

CLOSING SOON

Alma Thomas, The Eclipse, 1970, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 1978.40.3

Composing color: paintings by alma thomas.

September 15, 2023 - August 4, 2024, Smithsonian American Art Museum Alma Thomas is a singular figure in the story of twentieth-century American art. She developed her exuberant form of abstract painting late in life, after retiring from a long career as a schoolteacher. Blossoming in the mid-1960s, her vibrant, rhythmic art transcended established genres, incorporating elements of gestural abstraction and color field painting. She created a style distinctly her own, characterized by the dazzling interplay of pattern and hue. At a deeply politicized moment in American life, Thomas's abiding sources of inspiration were nature, the cosmos, and music. "Through color," she stated, "I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man." Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas draws on these extensive holdings to offer an intimate view of Thomas’s evolving practice during her most prolific period, 1959 to 1978. New research into her materials and techniques show how Thomas continued to innovate until the end of her life, at times changing her methods to adapt to her declining physical ability due to arthritis. As the luminous works in the exhibition reveal, Thomas’s astounding creative drive and mastery of color remained constant through her final years. Find out more » Take me there »

Es Devlin, “Forest of Us.” Photo by Andrea Mora. Image courtesy of Es Devlin, 2023.

An atlas of es devlin.

November 18, 2023 - August 11, 2024, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum The genre-defying British contemporary artist and designer Es Devlin is globally renowned for her large-scale, illuminated installations and sculptures for performances. Her wide-ranging practice, which began in small-scale theater, has been experienced by millions in some of the world’s most prominent museums, galleries, opera houses, arena, and stadia. Her highly collaborative work is at once deeply personal and inherently collective. Devlin views the audience as a temporary society and invites public participation in communal works to encourage profound cognitive shifts. For her first monographic museum exhibition, Devlin has installed her 30-year archive across the third floor of the museum. An Atlas of Es Devlin features over 300 sketches, paintings, illuminated paper cuts, and projection-mapped rotating miniature sculptures that form the seeds of some of the most iconic, cultural congregations of music, poetry, art, and activism in recent times. Find out more » Take me there »

The Infinite Possibilities section of the Afrofuturism exhibition features the costume for Black Panther worn by Chadwick Boseman (Gift of Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Company, © Marvel).

Afrofuturism: a history of black futures.

March 24, 2023 - August 18, 2024, National Museum of African American History and Culture Investigating Afrofuturist expression through art, music, activism and more, this exhibition explores and reveals Afrofuturism’s historic and poignant engagement with African American history and popular culture. From the enslaved looking to the cosmos for freedom to popular sci-fi stories inspiring Black astronauts, to the musical influence of Sun Ra, OutKast, Janelle Monae, P-Funk and more, this exhibition covers the broad and impactful spectrum of Afrofuturism. A highlight of the exhibition is the Black Panther hero costume worn by the late Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther is the first superhero of African descent to appear in mainstream American comics, and the film itself is the first major cinematic production based on the character. Find out more » Take me there »

Julie Packard by Hope Gangloff Acrylic on Canvas, 2019. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; funded by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Board of Trustees. Copyright Hope Gangloff

Forces of nature: voices that shaped environmentalism.

October 20, 2023 - September 2, 2024, National Portrait Gallery Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism presents some of the key people—scientists, politicians, activists, writers, and artists—whose work has influenced attitudes toward the environment in the United States from the late 19th century until today. The exhibition traces a history of the movement from turn-of-the-20th-century conservationism to mid-20th-century environmentalism and its backlash to present-day action on environmental justice, biodiversity, and climate. Drawing mainly from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection, Forces of Nature: Voices that Shaped Environmentalism features more than 25 portraits of people who made an enduring impact on public perceptions of the natural world, including well-known figures Rachel Carson, George Washington Carver, Maya Lin, Henry David Thoreau, and Edward O. Wilson. The exhibition will bring together portraiture, visual biography and, when possible, the sitters’ own words to probe this important—and complicated—history. Find out more » Take me there »

WHERE TO EAT

Mitsitam Café

National Museum of the American Indian This cafe features Native foods found throughout the Western Hemisphere, including the Northern Woodlands, South America, the Northwest Coast, Meso America and the Great Plains. Find out more » Take me there »

Sweet Home Café

National Museum of African American History and Culture Sweet Home Café showcases the rich culture and history of the African American people with traditional, authentic offerings as well as present-day food traditions. * Access to the museum is limited and entry pass may be required Find out more » Take me there »

Castle Café

Smithsonian Castle An assortment of fresh baked goods, gelato and fresh fruit makes the Castle Café the perfect place for a quick snack. The café also offers a seasonal selection of sandwiches, salads, and soups. Find out more » Take me there »

Dolcezza at the Hirshhorn

Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden Located in the courtyard of the museum, Dolcezza offers locally sourced and handcrafted gelato, specialty espresso drinks, and gourmet pastries in a stunning contemporary setting designed by world-renowned artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Find out more » Take me there »

TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS

March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28, 1963. Courtesy of National Archives

Voices and votes: democracy in america.

National Women's Hall of Fame and Museum, Seneca Falls, New York

July 12, 2024 - August 23, 2024 When American revolutionaries waged a war for independence they took a leap of faith that sent ripple effects across generations. They embraced a radical idea of establishing a government that entrusted the power of the nation not in a monarchy, but in its citizens. That great leap sparked questions that continue to impact Americans: who has the right to vote, what are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, and whose voices will be heard? Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be a springboard for discussions about those very questions and how they are reflected in local stories. Find out more » See tour schedule »

Courtesy Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Jean Blackwell Hutson Research and Reference Division, New York Public Library.

The negro motorist green book.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio

July 13, 2024 - October 13, 2024 In 1936, Victor Hugo Green, a Harlem postman, began publishing a guide for African American travelers modeled after a similar publication for Jewish travelers. The Green Book , as it was known, was an instant success providing black travelers of the era with information on hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other facilities where they would be welcomed. In the era of Jim Crow and "sundown towns," this knowledge was not just helpful--it could be lifesaving. The Green Book ceased publication in 1967, and the guidebook that for years had offered "travel without embarrassment" was lost to history. The Smithsonian Institution is bringing this story to life with the exhibition, featuring an immersive look at the harsh reality of travel for blacks in mid-century America and the vibrant parallel world of African American-friendly businesses that supported this travel. Find out more » See tour schedule »

Downtown Lanesboro, Minnesota - photo by Heather Shelton

Crossroads: change in rural america.

Overland Trail Museum, Sterling, Coloradoh

August 5, 2024 - September 14, 2024 In 1900, about 40% of Americans lived in rural areas, By 2010, less than 18% of the U.S. population lived in rural areas. In just over a century, massive economic and social changes moved millions of Americans into urban areas. Yet, only 10% of the U.S. landmass is considered urban. Crossroads: Change in Rural America offers small towns a chance to look at their own paths to highlight the changes that affected their fortunes over the past century. The exhibition will prompt discussions about what happened when America’s rural population became a minority of the country’s population and the ripple effects that occurred. Find out more » See tour schedule »

Rugged Lunar Highs and Lows. This large cliff, part of the wall of Antoniadi crater, rises 4 kilometers (2.5 miles). Some lunar mountains rise more than twice that height. Courtesy of NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University.

A new moon rises.

Discovery Center of Springfield, Springfield, Missouri August 10, 2024 - August 10, 2026 The Moon is not the same place as when astronauts last stepped foot on it. A New Moon Rises features amazing, large-scale, high-resolution photographs of the lunar surface taken between 2009 and 2015 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC). These images provide unique visual data to help answer our questions about the Moon's formation, its continuing geological evolution, and its relationship to Earth and the solar system. A New Moon Rises will include over 50 photographs, three videos, one interactive, and files to produce seven additional images, five 3-D models of craters, labels and environmental wall vinyl. Find out more » See tour schedule »

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The Ultimate Guide to the Smithsonian Museums

“Can we visit the Smithsonian?” It’s a common question I get asked when people visit me from other states. But the Smithsonian isn’t just a single place that you can visit in a day! The Smithsonian Institution includes 21 museums plus the National Zoo making it the largest museum, education, and research complex in the world. Most of the museums are on the National Mall in Washington, DC plus two in New York City and one in Chantilly, VA. So, it’s going to require some time to visit everything! That said, the Smithsonian museums are a great way to spend any kind of day in the city. They are perfect for first-time tourists, locals, and escaping any kind of harsh weather.

If you are visiting DC or guiding out-of-town friends, remember that bucket list item to “visit the Smithsonian” might take a little more planning for someone who didn’t realize how big it is. This guide will break down the 21 museums and give you a sense of what you’ll see when you visit.

Visit the Smithsonian Museums on the National Mall

Smithsonian gardens.

Independence Ave SW
L’Enfant and Smithsonian
Recommended time: 1 to 2 hours
No tickets required

The Smithsonian Gardens are behind the Smithsonian Institution Building, affectionally referred to as The Castle. The Castle is a great place to start your trip as it is home to the Smithsonian Visitor Center. While you are there, make sure you take photos of The Castle and visit the garden in the back. You’ll find the Enid A. Haupt Garden, Moongate Garden, and Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden. The gardens change with the seasons and make great backgrounds for photos year-round.

The gardens are walkable from 2 metro stops: Smithsonian & Federal Triangle (orange, blue, silver) and L’Enfant Plaza (green, yellow, orange, blue, silver). Open daily except Christmas.

National Museum of Natural History

10th Street and Constitution Ave NW
Free ($8 for the Butterfly Pavillion)
Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Archives
Recommended time: 2 to 4 hours

The National Museum of Natural History is one of the most recognizable of the Smithsonian museums due to the large African Elephant in the lobby. You’ll find larger-than-life exhibits, including the Hall of Fossils (lots of dinosaurs), Ocean Hall, and the Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals (including the Hope Diamond). Plus, don’t miss the smaller natural world with the Insect Zoo and Butterfly Pavilion.

This museum is great for all ages, but it is also a particularly good place to start if you are traveling with children. There is so much to see, and a lot of it is interactive. Because of the sheer size of many exhibits, it’s easy to keep short attention spans interested and fill an entire afternoon. At the same time, because the exhibits are fairly easy to pop in and out of, this museum is great if you have a short amount of time. For extra fun, check out the Butterfly Pavillion with live butterflies. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, and tickets are $8/adult or free on Tuesday. Plan for 2-4 hours.

The Museum of Natural History is easily walkable from three metro stops: Smithsonian or Federal Triangle (orange, blue, silver) and Archives (green, yellow). Open daily except Christmas Day. Timed tickets are not required.

National Museum of American History

1300 Constitution Ave NW
Recommended time: 1 to 4 hours

Many of the Smithsonian museums cover aspects of our country’s history, but the Museum of American History is a great place to start. This museum usually features a variety of rotating exhibits to cover as much history as possible throughout the year.

Ongoing exhibits include American Democracy, The First Ladies, Food: Transforming The American Table, and The Star Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem. The Museum of American History is great for all ages but might be better for kids and teens with some context for history through school. This is another large museum you can get lost in for hours or just hit a few highlights if you are short on time.

National Museums of African American History and Culture

1400 Constitution Ave NW
Smithsonian, Federal Triangle
Recommended time: 4 to 6 hours
Tickets required

The Museum of African American History and Culture opened in 2016 and remains among the most popular Smithsonian museums. You can easily spend an entire day exploring this museum. Generally, the museum covers early American history on the lower flowers and works its way up to the present day. If you only have a few hours, I recommend selecting a few museum sections, including the two lower floors or the pop culture exhibits on the top floor. You’ll find everything covering slavery and freedom, sports, pop culture, visual arts, and more. The lower floors do a great job of winding you through the history, but this makes it difficult for a short trip. If you have less than 2 hours, save this museum for another day or just plan to visit a few exhibits on the upper floors.

Timed tickets are required to visit the Museum of African American History. They are available for groups up to 6 people 30 days in advance on a rolling basis. The museum is walkable from 2 metro stops: Smithsonian and Federal Triangle (orange, blue, silver). Open daily except Christmas.

National Museum of African Art

950 Independence Ave SW

The National Museum of African Art features both traditional and contemporary art representing the entire continent. Current ongoing exhibits include Currents: Water in African Art and Visionary: Viewpoints of Africa’s Arts. This is a great museum to stop at if you are short on time but want to see a museum during your time on the National Mall. Not only is the museum on the smaller side but it tends to be less crowded. Even if you only have an hour or so, you’ll have room to spend as much time as you’d like with each piece.

The museum is walkable from 2 metro stops: Smithsonian (orange, blue, silver) and L’Enfant Plaza (green, yellow, orange, blue, silver). Open daily except Christmas.

National Museum of Asian Art

1050 Independence Ave SW

The National Museum of Asian Art includes the Freer Gallery of Art and the Slacker Gallery. The art collections across both galleries include more than 45,000 objects from the present day, dating back to Neolithic times. You’ll find pieces from China, Japan, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, and the Islamic World. It is also home to the world’s largest collection of works by James McNeill Whistler. Walking tours are available at 1:00 pm from Thursday to Sunday.

This museum is also smaller than some of the other Smithsonian museums and can still be appreciated if you are short on time. Or pair it with the National Museum of African Art right next door for a longer day of art appreciation.

Hirshhorn Museum

7th Street and Independence Ave SW
Recommended time: 1 to 3 hours
Tickets required for select exhibits

The Hirshhorn Museum features modern and contemporary art. You can visit anytime, but some of the more popular temporary exhibits require timed passes. Always check the website before you go to see what is on display. Also, don’t miss the sculpture garden right outside the museum with sculpture and water features. You can also visit the notable cafe with coffee and small snacks.

The Air and Space Museum

600 Independence Ave SW
Free but there is an extra cost for the planetarium

The Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, was recently renovated in 2022 and features a variety of exhibitions from The Wright Brothers, the first trip to the moon, and the exploration of other planets. This museum requires free timed passes to visit, released in 6-week blocks. While the exhibits at the museum are free, you may want to consider a planetarium show which is $9 per adult. (The planetarium is closed until March 10, 2024 for renovations.)

National Museums of the American Indian

4th Street SW
L’Enfant, Smithsonian, Federal Center
Recommended time: 2 to 3 hours

The National Museum of the American Indian is home to one of the most expansive collections of Native artifacts. Like the African American History Museum, this museum has a wide variety of exhibitions covering both the extensive history of the American Indians and their impact today. One of my favorite exhibits is the powerful Americans exhibit highlighting Native American images used in pop culture. Connecting rooms dive deeper into the truth behind 3 widely known but frequently misunderstood historical events including the story of Pocahontas, the Trail of Tears, and the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Mitsitam Cafe is known to have some of the most interesting options among the museum cafes on the National Mall. The menu is divided into different regions with dishes representing native tribes across the continent.

The museum is walkable from 2 metro stops: Smithsonian & Federal Triangle (orange, blue, silver) and L’Enfant Plaza (green, yellow, orange, blue, silver). Open daily except Christmas.

Renwick Gallery

1661 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Farragut West and Farragut North

The Renwick Gallery is very close to the White House and is set a little farther away from the rest of the museums on the National Mall. This gallery is a branch of the American Art Museums that focuses primarily on contemporary art. It is on the smaller side but is highly visual with regularly rotating exhibits. Art lovers of all ages will find these exhibits fun and engaging.

Smithsonian Museums in Downtown DC

Portrait gallery.

8th Street and G Street NW
Gallery Place – Chinatown

The Portrait Gallery is the only place you can see all the Presidential Portraits outside of the White House. Wandering through the progression of US Presidents not only highlights snapshots of American history but also highlights pop culture and art trends used to portray each one. Additionally, you’ll find paintings and photographs of notable people from various points in history. While portraits of early Americans are often limited to the wealthy and powerful, The Portrait Gallery is actively working to ensure all Americans’ stories are represented.

The Portrait Gallery is connected to the American Art Museum by a large covered courtyard. You can easily experience both in the same afternoon. Outside food is allowed, so you can grab a bite from a nearby restaurant to enjoy in the courtyard. The courtyard also has Wi-Fi and is a lovely place to spend a “work from home” day.

The museum is walkable to the Gallery Place – Chinatown metro stop (green, yellow, red). Open daily except Christmas.

The American Art Museum

The American Art Museum is home to one the largest and most inclusive collections of American art in the world. Collections include photography, paintings, sculpture, and more representing artists from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. Currently, you can see a special exhibit from self-taught American artists. Because it is located so close to the Portrait Gallery, visitors get to see both artistic interpretations of both the American people as well as American life and culture in the same afternoon.

Be sure to spend some time in the courtyard that connects the Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum (mentioned above).

The museum is walkable from the Chinatown metro stop (green, yellow, red). Open daily except Christmas.

Smithsonian Museums Outside Downtown DC

Anacostia community museum.

1901 Fort Pl SE

The Anacostia Community Museum is a space in the Anacostia neighborhood that is committed to telling the overlooked stories of the city. Exhibits are meant to shed a positive light on the stories of people making the most impact toward creating a more equitable future for all. Highlighted issues include social, economic, and environmental opportunities for growth.

The museum is about a 30-minute walk from the Anacostia metro stop (green). Open daily except Christmas.

National Postal Museum

2 Massachusetts Ave NE
Union Station

The National Postal Museum is committed to the preservation and study of postal history. Dive into postal history with a massive collection of stamps and a special look at baseball through the lens of postal history. Visitors can also learn about what happens once a letter is dropped in the mail and how letters, magazines, and packages have traveled for the past 200 years.

The museum is walkable from the Union Station metro stop (red). Open daily except Christmas.

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy Chantilly, VA
Free but parking is $15
Parking on site

The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located outside the city in Chantilly, Virginia. It is an extension of the Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. The Udvar-Hazy Center is worth a trip for all aviation lovers to see bigger aircrafts including Space Shuttle Discovery. While the planetarium remains closed in DC, don’t miss the IMAX theatre at the Chantilly location. Shows include topics like the moon landing, deep sea exploration, and aircraft carrier history. The theatre also features special showings of popular mainstream movies.

The Udvar-Hazy Center is not metro accessible but has plenty of on-site parking. The museum is free like the rest of the Smithsonian museums but plan to pay $15/car. Open daily except Christmas.

National Zoo

3001 Connecticut Ave NW
Free but bring money for snacks
Cleveland Park and Woodley Park
Recommended time: 2 to 5 hours

The National Zoo in Washington, DC is free but requires timed tickets to visit. In the warmer months, the best time to visit the zoo is in the morning before the animals get too hot. There are also many food stalls available and daily animal demos.

While many of the food stands are closed during the winter, the colder months are an under-rated time to visit. The zoo is not very crowded and you can warm up in a little of the indoor exhibits including the Small Mammal House and Reptile Discovery House.

The National Zoo is easily walkable in a day but sometimes feels like it’s uphill both ways. If you have small children, it’s important to keep their physical limits (and yours if you are pushing a stroller!) in mind.

While the zoo offers plenty of snacks, consider grabbing lunch nearby at restaurants like Duke’s Counter or Open City.

The National Zoo is walkable from 2 metro stops: Woodley Park and Cleveland Park (both red). Open daily except Christmas.

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A Visitor's Guide to the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC

A Guide to All of the Museums in Washington DC

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

Frequently Asked Questions
A Map of the Smithsonian Museums
10 Things to Know About the Mall in Washington DC

Museums Located on the National Mall

Smithsonian Institution Building - 1000 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, D.C. 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 and Space Museum - Jefferson Drive, between 4 th Street and 7 th Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 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.
Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden - Independence Ave. and 7th St. SW, Washington, D.C. 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 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 karat 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 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, D.C. 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 2016. 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.

Don't miss the other Smithsonian Museums that are located off of the Mall:

National Zoo - Rock Creek Park , Washington, DC. The National Zoo is a part of the Smithsonian Institution with more than 435 different species of animals. Open year-round, the world-class property offers the opportunity to view and learn about favorites including giant pandas, elephants, tigers, cheetahs, sea lions and much more. The Smithsonian Biology Conservation Institute , the Zoo's conservation, and research center, located in Front Royal, Virginia, is a breeding preserve for rare and endangered species.
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum - 1901 Fort Place SE, Washington, DC. This small museum focuses on African American culture. Exhibits rotate and feature regional and national topics.
Smithsonian National Postal Museum - 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, DC. The museum displays the largest stamp collection in the world and examines the development of the postal system using interactive displays. This museum is located under Washington's old Main Post Office near Union Station.
Smithsonian Renwick Gallery - 70 9th St. NW, Washington, DC. The building was the original site of the Corcoran Gallery and is furnished with American crafts and contemporary arts from the 19th to 21st centuries. The museum features unique works of art in an impressive setting across the street from the White House.
National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum - 8th and F Streets NW., Washington, DC. This restored historic building in the Penn Quarter neighborhood of downtown Washington, DC, houses two museums in one building. The National Portrait Gallery presents six permanent exhibitions of nearly 20,000 works ranges from paintings and sculpture to photographs and drawings. The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the home of the largest collection of American art in the world including more than 41,000 artworks, spanning more than three centuries.
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center - 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly, VA. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum opened a companion facility on the property of Washington Dulles International Airport to showcase additional aircraft, spacecraft, and other artifacts. The museum has an IMAX Theater , flight simulators, a museum store, guided tours, and educational programs.

The Smithsonian: 12 Can’t-Miss Sights For History Lovers

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Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., offers so much to see and do that incorporating a visit to the Smithsonian might seem overwhelming. After all, the Smithsonian isn’t a single museum. Rather, it’s a collection of 19 museums, galleries, gardens, and a zoo, making it the world’s largest museum complex.

How do you know which exhibits to focus on when you visit the capital city? If you’re a history lover, you can start with the following iconic exhibits.

Pro Tip: Nicknamed America’s Treasure Chest, the Smithsonian’s collections include more than 156 million artifacts and works of art. However, only a small percentage — about 2 percent — is on display at any given time. So be sure to visit the Smithsonian’s website before you go to ensure that the object you wish to see is on display (or to select an alternative from that era in history).

James Smithson’s Crypt

Smithsonian institution building (the castle).

Begin your adventures at the Smithsonian with a stop at the Smithsonian Institution Building , also known as the Smithsonian Castle. Not only does the red sandstone building house the Smithsonian Visitor Center, but it is also the final resting place of James Smithson. An English chemist and lifelong learner who never married or had children, Smithson left his estate to a nation he never visited to form what would become the Smithsonian Institution.

The Treaties between the U.S. and American Indian Nations.

Sage Scott / EverydayWanderer.com

Treaties Between The United States And American Indian Nations

National museum of the american indian.

For centuries before the first European set foot on North America, nearly 600 distinct Native American tribes called this land home. Over the years, as settlers usurped Native American lands and chipped away at their way of life, more than 370 treaties were ratified between Europeans and Native Americans.

This exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian features a rotating display of eight treaties. To preserve the fragile documents for future generations, each treaty can only be displayed for about six months before being returned to the archives.

As you visit the museum, be sure to take note of the unique structure. Not only did a team of Native Americans design the five-story museum, but Native Americans also manage its daily operations. From the seasonal Native American-inspired menu in the museum’s cafe to the displays throughout the museum, the experience is quite different from those offered by museums of European and Euro-American culture.

Star-Spangled Banner (Great Garrison Flag)

National museum of american history.

Chances are you’ve heard how the “broad stripes and bright stars” of the American flag raised above Fort McHenry during the War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to pen our national anthem. But have you seen the original? On display at the National Museum of American History, the 15-star banner is missing at least eight feet of fabric due to deterioration and patriotic Americans who snipped pieces as keepsakes.

Declaration Of Sentiments Table

The Declaration of Independence states that each of us possesses the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But the truth is that American women were treated as second-class citizens for many years. Fed up with the inequality, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott drafted a declaration of rights specifically for American women in 1848. And the table where the Declaration of Sentiments was signed is on display at the Smithsonian.

The microphone FDR used for his Fireside Chats.

Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 2.0 )

‘Fireside Chat’ Microphone

Before social media, the Internet, and television shaped communication in America, there was radio. And it was through this “new” medium that President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the American public as he led the nation through some of its biggest challenges, including the Great Depression and World War II. The 32nd president used the NBC microphone on display at the Smithsonian to broadcast 30 “fireside chats” during his presidency.

Entrenching Tool From World War I

The world’s first truly global conflict, World War I was known for trench warfare . Along the Western Front, young men dug long, narrow trenches between warring Germany and the Allied Powers of France, Belgium, and the Netherlands; there, they’d hunker down for weeks at a time. The entrenching tools used to dig miles of trenches were less than 2 feet long.

Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit Of St. Louis

National air and space museum.

When I think of the history of flight in America, the Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and Charles Lindbergh come to mind. In his silver, single-engine plane (named for the folks who financed the custom-built craft), legendary aviator Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly nonstop from New York to Paris in 1927. Today, the trendsetting aircraft is prominently displayed in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.

The Mobile Quarantine Facility from the Apollo 11 Landing.

Wikimedia Commons ( CC BY-SA 4.0 )

Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) From The Apollo 11 Landing

Steven f. udvar-hazy center.

About 40 minutes west of Washington, D.C., near Dulles International Airport, the 760,000-square-foot Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center contains a variety of additional air-related artifacts beyond those at the National Air and Space Museum. And whether you witnessed the historic moon landing in real time on television or learned about it after the fact, you’ll likely recall the Apollo 11 astronauts peering out of the back of the MQF as they were welcomed home by President Richard Nixon.

Rosa Parks’s Dress

National museum of african american history and culture (nmaahc).

During her commute home in 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat to a white man. At the time of her arrest, the seamstress was stitching a long-sleeved, shawl-collar floral print dress that you can see at the NMAAHC.

Pro Tip: While there is no admission fee to visit any of the Smithsonian museums, galleries, or gardens, timed-entry tickets are currently required to visit the NMAAHC.

Apple Macintosh Personal Computer

Launched via an Orwellian commercial that aired at the Super Bowl XVIII, the Apple Macintosh revolutionized personal computing by being the first home computer with a built-in screen and mouse. The Mac’s graphical user interface (GUI) allowed users to click, drag, and drop instead of typing out commands. Computers have advanced tremendously since the mid 1980s, so don’t miss this first-generation Apple computer when you visit the Smithsonian.

Julia Child’s Kitchen

Whether you remember it from her television show, The French Chef , or from the end of the award-winning movie Julie & Julia , you won’t want to miss Julia Child’s kitchen at the National Museum of American History. Built with higher-than-standard countertops to accommodate the chef’s height, the kitchen was moved from Child’s home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the Smithsonian in 2001.

Portraits Of Barack And Michelle Obama

National portrait gallery.

Although an official portrait of each president is hung in the National Portrait Gallery at the end of their term, President Barack Obama made history by being the first black American elected to the highest office. It was also the first time that a black artist was commissioned to paint an official presidential portrait.

While it’s in the 20th-Century Americans exhibit instead of the America’s Presidents gallery , First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait by Amy Sherald is also a first — the first portrait of a First Lady painted by a black artist.

The portrait of President Obama in the National Portrait Gallery.

Tips For A Fantastic Visit To The Smithsonian

The Smithsonian welcomes nearly 30 million visitors per year , so you’re likely to experience a crowd when you visit. Consider starting your tour on the top floor and working your way down.
The Smithsonian is an inclusive attraction and provides detailed information about accessibility on its website.
Whether you visit one exhibit, one museum, or multiple Smithsonian buildings, be prepared to do a lot of walking. In addition to wearing comfortable shoes, take a load off by relaxing in the Hirshhorn Museum’s sculpture garden or by watching a movie at the Air and Space Museum.

Bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time, Sage Scott is addicted to travel. From her nomadic upbringing in a military family to her personal and professional travels as an adult, Sage has visited all 50 states, lived abroad twice, and explored nearly 30 other countries.

Now settled in America’s Heartland, Sage writes with a midlife traveler’s perspective from Kansas City — the Midwestern cowtown affectionately called the Paris of the Plains and the undisputed Barbecue Capital of the World — and is always in search of new experiences whether in her hometown or halfway around the world.

Open seven days a week.

10:00 a.m - 5:30 p.m., including holidays with the exception of December 25th when we are closed to the public.

10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20560

Visitors may enter from the National Mall on Madison Drive or Constitution Ave.

Admission is FREE.

Tickets are not required

Guidelines for Visiting

The Smithsonian is implementing COVID-19 safety measures based on guidance from the CDC and local governments. The latest guidelines are available at si.edu/visit/tips .

When is the museum open? The National Museum of Natural History is seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except December 25.

Are passes necessary to enter the museum? No, passes are not needed to enter the museum.

Will there be security screening? For everyone’s safety, all visitors are required to go through screening during the security process. Please visit the Smithsonian’s security information page for more information on prohibited items.

All visitors are required to walk through a metal detector. Those unable to go through the metal detector will be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel.

We encourage visitors to limit the number of personal belongings and bags brought into the museum as they may be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items brought will increase your speed through security checkpoints and help us all maintain a safe social distance. Please note that we do not offer coat, bag, or locker storage at this time.

Will the museum cafés and retail shops be open?

The Atrium Café is open from 11:30am-3:30pm and the Ocean Terrace Café is open 11:30am-4:00pm. The Family Store, Gallery Store, and Gems and Minerals Store are open from 10am-5:30pm.

Is there a coat or bag check at the museum? We have limited locker storage available for small bags and items. Visitors are encouraged to travel as lightly as possible and refrain from bringing large bags and packs for the best museum experience.

Are there family-friendly restrooms? A restroom designated for family use is located on the 1st floor of the museum, off of the Sant Ocean Hall.

Can I bring my stroller, scooter, walker, wheelchair or any type of mobility device? The museum is accessible to visitors using strollers, scooters, walkers, wheelchairs, and mobility devices. There are elevators available to visitors on every floor of the museum.

Are wheelchairs available? A very limited number of manual wheelchairs are available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis for use while visiting the museum. You are encouraged to bring a wheelchair with you due to limited availability.

How do I contact the museum with questions? For more information about visiting the museum, please email [email protected] .

Masks are not currently required to visit. While not required, all visitors who feel more comfortable wearing a face mask during their visit are encouraged to do so.

Our current health and safety measures are based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local governments. These measures may change in response to changing CDC COVID-19 Community Levels, so we encourage visitors to regularly check our website before their visit for the latest guidelines.

Museum Address The museum is located on Madison Dr. NW, between 9th St NW and 12 St NW ( Google Map ). Visitors may enter on Madison Ave. or at 10th St. NW & Constitution Ave. NW.

Metro The closest Metro stations to the museum are the Federal Triangle Metro station, located on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines; the Archives/Navy Memorial station on the Green and Yellow lines; and the Metro Center station on the Red line. View a map of the closest Metro stations .

Parking There are no Smithsonian Institution public parking facilities on the National Mall. There are a number of nearby commercial lots and garages which may have available parking. If you must drive, please see parking options . For additional information on bus parking, contact the National Park Service Mall Operations Office at 202-426-6841 .

For More: Visit our Getting Here and Parking Page .

The National Museum of Natural History is committed to providing inclusive experiences for all audiences. Please contact 202-633-3611 or send an email [email protected] for access services. For more information visit the Accessibility Information page .

Entrance All museum entrances and exits are accessible.

Parking The Smithsonian does not provide parking, but there are designated accessible spaces around the National Mall.

Service Animals Service dogs specially trained to assist a person with a disability are welcome in the museum.

Information for Visitors in a Wheelchair

All of the museum's exhibitions are accessible by wheelchair, and all public floors of the museum can be reached by elevator.
All theaters include wheelchair locations and companion seats.
All food service areas are accessible by wheelchair with no steps, turnstiles, or other potential obstructions
All museum restrooms are accessible to those with mobility disabilities or in wheelchairs. Family/companion care restrooms are located on the First Floor off the Rotunda via the Sant Ocean Hall.

Information for Visitors Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Video presentations within exhibitions are open captioned.
Induction loops are installed at the Rotunda Visitor Information Desk and the Worldwide Theater in the Hall of Human Origins.
Assisted Listening Devices are available upon request for programs in Baird Auditorium and Q?rius Theater.
Sign language interpretation or real-time captioning (CART) are available for public programs with a two week advanced notice. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail [email protected] .

Information for Visitors Who Are Blind or Partially Sighted

Tactile objects are provided for all visitors at designated points throughout the museum. A full list of tactile objects can be found at the Information Desks in large print and braille.
Verbally-described tours with tactile elements designed for visitors with visual disabilities are available with a two-week advanced notice. Subject to volunteer availability. To request this service, please call (202) 633-5238 or e-mail [email protected] .
Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/deep-time-audio-description/id1465972882?ls=1
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.si.natualhistory.deeptime

Information for Visitors with Developmental, Learning & Sensory Disabilities

Calendar of Events This calendar of events highlights some of the programs and activities that will be happening at the museum.

For More: Visit Our Accessibility Information Page

We are committed to visitor safety and have security measures in place to keep you and Museum objects protected. When you arrive at the Museum you can expect a full security screening similar to what you might experience at the airport, except you can keep your shoes and belts on.

Items Not Permitted in the Museum

Firearms / ammunition
Knives (including pen, pocket or "Swiss Army"-style knives)
Aerosol cans (including pepper spray and Mace)
Tools (screwdrivers, awls, etc.)
Placards, signs, or banners
Pets (except service animals)
Wagons (collapsible and fixed wheel)

Items You Are Prohibited from Using Inside the Museum

Selfie sticks
E-cigarettes
Skateboards / scooters

Items Permitted in the Museum

Mobility aids (canes, walkers, etc.)
Service animals (not emotional support animals)
Bottled water

Check the Smithsonian's security policy for the most up-to-date information.

The museum's Security Office is located on the Ground Floor in the north (Constitution Avenue) lobby next to the elevators.

Ocean Terrace Café Open 11:30am – 2:00pm Location: First Floor Make-your-own Grain Bowls at the Ocean Terrace Café with fresh greens and nutritious toppings. In addition, we feature fresh sandwiches, desserts, snacks, and beverages.

Atrium Café Open 11:00am – 3:00pm Location: Ground Floor National Museum of Natural History: Featuring butcher craft burgers, grill items, a chef’s market table featuring seasonal menus, made-in-house Focaccia hot melts, desserts, and beverages.

Shopping Selected merchandise items in our shops are now available for purchase online at the Smithsonian Store .

For inquiries about our museum stores, please contact the NMNH Store Management Team at 202.633.2060.

Gem and Mineral Store Location: Second Floor Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Gallery Store Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Family Store Location: Ground Floor, Evans Gallery Open 10:00am – 5:30pm

Dinos and More Store Location: First Floor, near the Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals Open hours vary

Natural History Express Kiosk Location: Second Floor, near Cellphone: Unseen Connections Open hours vary

Bag Lunches Seating for bagged lunches is not currently available. Bagged lunches must be stowed away at all times while visiting the museum and must be eaten outside of the museum. The museum has no refrigerated storage for lunches.

Nursing Station The museum now has a dedicated public nursing room. Located in the Constitution Avenue Lobby, the public nursing room allows our visitors to nurse in private and is close to the restrooms and health unit.

Pets Pets (except service animals) are not permitted in the museum. Emotional support animals are not permitted in the museum.

Photography The Smithsonian permits still and video photography for noncommercial use only in its museums and exhibitions, unless otherwise posted. For the safety of our visitors and collections, the use of tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks is not permitted at any time. Working members of the media who need to use a tripod or monopod must obtain permission from the museum’s Press Office and must be escorted by a museum staff member while in the building.

Notice: Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by the Smithsonian for educational and promotional uses, including for posting on the Smithsonian’s and other public websites.

Wi-Fi The museum provides free Wi-Fi access; choose the "si-visitor" network on your device. No password necessary. This is a public, unsecured network.

Smoking Smoking is prohibited in all Smithsonian facilities. This includes e-cigarettes.

Please see the "Prepare for Security" section above for items that are not permitted inside the museum.

A blue and black Blue Morpho butterfly and two red, orange, and black monarch butterflies

Butterfly Pavilion

Must-do experiences.

Two visitors standing in front of the case holding the Hope Diamond, holding up their smart phones to take a picture of it.

Today at the Museum

A Smithsonian educator and scientist observe a fossil.

Visit the Museum from Home

Additional resources.

Five teenagers sitting around a table that is covered with paper. Some of the teens are holding magic markers. A disassembled cellphone is on the table and there is writing on the paper near the cellphone parts.

Download Museum Map

Navigate your way around all three floors of the museum.

Detail of the museum map showing the Ocean Hall and Rotunda.

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Ultimate Guide To Visiting The Smithsonian Tips

Growing up in Virginia, I ended up visiting the Smithsonian Institution a lot (like for every class trip, after-school trip, and weekend trip – y’all, Northern Virginia schools only have one go-to field trip idea).

I lived in a small(ish) town in NOVA , went to school roughly fifteen minutes from DC, and was a museum geek.

So (unsurprisingly) in elementary school and middle school, when my mum was done with work, we’d visit the Smithsonian together. And by the time high school rolled around, I practically lived at the Smithsonian ( I used to pretend to be a tour guide at the National Museum of Natural History – a cringe-worthy part of my life I’m trying to forget ).

But I hands-down love the Smithsonian Institution . Every time I go back, I immediately feel at home.

I’ve been to all twenty complexes, including the two in New York, and to every one of them at least a dozen or so times.

In this guide, I’m going to be spilling all my top tips for visiting the Smithsonian!

Table of Contents

Smithsonian Travel Guide

The Smithsonian Institution is a cluster of museums and research buildings on the East Coast.

Each year, roughly 28 million people visit the Smithsonian, making it one of the most popular cultural centers in the United States.

How Do You Get To The Smithsonian?

It’s really hard to find good parking near the Smithsonian ( especially for the museums by The Mall ).

Although D.C. follows an easy to understand grid system, driving in-and-around the city is not my favorite thing on the planet. Metered parking is expensive ( unless you are planning on visiting the Anacostia Community Museum ).

Parking at the National Zoo itself is $25 ( yikes )!

As a result, my favorite way to travel around D.C. is by metro.

You’ll need a metro pass ( which you can purchase at the station ). The metro stops by the main museums on the blue, green, orange, and yellow lines. I usually hop off the metro at the closest stop and walk from there.

Complete List Of Smithsonian Buildings

African American Museum
African Art Museum
Air And Space Museum
Air And Space Museums Udvar-Hazy ( Virginia )

American Art Museum

American History Museum

American Indian Museum

American Indian Museum Heye Center (New York)
Anacostia Community Museum
Archives Of American Art
Cooper Hewitt ( New York )

Freer Gallery Of Art

Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden

National Zoo

Natural History Museum
Portrait Gallery
Postal Museum
Renwick Gallery
S. Dillon Ripley Center
Sackler Gallery
Smithsonian Castle & Gardens

Top 10 Smithsonian Museums To Visit

Over the years, I’ve definitely developed a soft spot for certain museums. Here are my personal favorites ( in no particular order ).

Smithsonian National Museum Of African Art

The African Art Museum is easy to miss. It’s right behind The Castle in a small square building topped by a blue dome. Inside is traditional African art – classic wooden statues that play on proportions, oil paintings that manipulate mood, vivid colored works cut to extravagant detail.

The museum is small so if you want a slower-paced visit ( where you don’t feel rushed to see everything ), this is one of my top picks!

National Museum Of Natural History

By far my favorite museum in the Smithsonian Collection is the National Museum of Natural History.

You’ll need an entire day ( or two ) to see this museum ( it is h-u-g-e ). And the exhibits vary from historic to art-focused to straight-up insect pavillions.

Travel Tip: You can take a virtual tour of the National Museum Of Natural History.

The interior of the American Art Museum feels like a time warp – extremely modern and charming at the same time.

Museums get a bad rap for being old, stuffy buildings, but the American Art Museum really slashes that stereotype. It’s incredibly photogenic .

P.S. One of my favorite oil paintings of all time, “Cape Cod Morning” by Edward Hopper is on the South Wing of the first floor. Despite the cheerful colors, it is stark and slightly broody, which is why I love it.

P.P.S. The National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum are in the same building (so you can visit both whilst there).

My mum used to work five minutes ( by foot ) from the Freer Gallery Of Art so this is the Smithsonian Museum I ended up visiting the most ( so I’m a little biased when I say it is one of my favorites ).

Freer focuses on Asian Art . And the best exhibit ( though, they’re all good ) is the Peacock Room – an entire wall colored jade, shelves of bright vases, gold paneling.

The American Indian Museum is my favorite museum architecturally . The building is beige and built to look like a ripple. The curved walls are layered like waves. It’s all-things modern, but the thin blocked windows are reminiscent of the distinctive Pueblo adobe-home style.

P.S. This museum has the best gift shop out of all the Smithsonian complexes ( the gift shop feels like an exhibit unto itself ).

American Museum Of National History

This is one of the lesser-visited Smithsonian Museums ( lots of tourists get it mixed up with the Natural History Museum and skip it, thinking they’ve already visited) .

The American Museum of National History is home to the star-spangled banner, but there are lots of other exhibits ( about everything from food during war times to women’s history stories ) that are worth seeing.

While I’ve stopped visiting zoos ( for environmental reasons ), I loved visiting the National Zoo as a kid ( so much so that it still warrants a mention ).

From the Cheetah Conservation Station to the Think Tank to Amazonia , there are so many animals here ( I actually wrote a book when I was eight based on what I observed at this zoo. It was just as terrible as you’d expect and I’m so incredibly grateful it remains unpublished, collecting dust in my parent’s house ).

National Museum Of African American History

Smithsonian African American History Museum at sunrise

This museum was under construction while I lived in Virginia so I only got a chance to see it during my most recent trip to the Northeast ( a few days after visiting Philadelphia ).

And it’s now one of my favorites. To make the most of your visit, hit up the history exhibits first ( before heading to the L-level community galleries ).

10 Travel Tips For Visiting The Smithsonian

Although you can’t bring food into the museums, you can bring bottled water ( which I highly recommend because the museums are gigantic and you’ll be walking a lot ).
You’ll want to plan for a max of two museums a day ( just to take in the whole experience ).
And you don’t have to visit every museum! Just visit the ones you are truly interested in ( it took me a full year to see them all as a quasi-local so if you only have a weekend, don’t stress out ).
The Hope Diamond is the Natural History Museum’s premier display and it gets off-the-walls crowded ( so head there first, when the museum opens at 10 AM, then make your way around the rest of the floors ).
The National Postal Museum is a bit further away so it gets very few visitors, but it’s also one of the coolest museums to visit if you love stamp collecting ( they sell gorgeous stamps in their gift shop too ).
A few of the museums have IMAX theatres. With the exception of the Udvar Hazy Museum ( hint ), these get really crowded ( to guarantee good seats, try to select a documentary-style movie versus big-budget screenplay ).
Street food right outside the museum is much cheaper ( and better ) than what’s served inside.
The best time to visit is early in the week ( Mondays, Tuesdays ) in the fall, winter, or spring.
Empty your pockets before the screening ( and try to pack light ) to streamline the security process.
The National Gallery of Art has a gelato bar. You can thank me later ( just kidding. but seriously, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do ).

Did you find this guide to visiting the Smithsonian (plus Smithsonian tips) useful? Let me know your top Smithsonian tips for visiting the Smithsonian in the comments below!

Editor-In-Chief

Anshula grew up with a love of stories and places. Thirty-five states and 100 bookstores later, she's made her hobbit home in Middle Tennessee. Her Tookish side still takes over and leaves her chasing window seats, literary destinations, adventure books, sunrise coffee, and indie bookshops. She's appeared as a travel source on HuffPost, Reader's Digest, and MSN.

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35 comments.

Quite a tour. Thank you for sharing it.

Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed it!

Awesome post! I haven’t gotten to the smithsonian yet, but will save this post for future-lots of good tips!

Thanks! I used to live near DC, so I ended up visiting quite a bit 🙂

Love this! I had no idea there were so many different parts of the Smithsonian.

Oh, yes! There are actually several other parts – the Postal Museum and the American History Museum, just to name two, but they never had a huge impact on me, so I left them out of the list.

This will be on my list of places to see now! Thanks for the tips 🙂

Yay! I’m so glad you found my guide to the Smithsonian useful 🙂

First of all, I love your writing! Very fun to read. And I went to the Smithsonian several years ago but didn’t have enough time to go through all the museums. I definitely want to go back!

Thank you so much! I’m excited to know that you’ve visited some of the museums as well! Which ones did you visit?

This is a great post! I live in the DC area and absolutely love going to the Smithsonian(s). This post is what I aspire to right about! Lovely writing voice, too! Subscribing. 🙂

Thank you! That means so much to me! What is your favourite Smithsonian institution? P.S. I think it’s amazing that Dave Grohl inspires you to write 🙂

Thank you! I think my favorite is a toss up between the Zoo and the Air & Space Museum. Both are so great, but so different!

Yes! My personal favourite is the Zoo, but I love the Air & Space Museum as well (it’s the most visited for a very good reason).

Hi Anshula! Love this post!I really like you pics of the beautiful flowers and national zoo.Very helpful guide and great tips.

Thank you so much! I’m glad that you found it helpful!

Great post! Bookmarking for future travels 🙂

Wow! I had no idea on the history. Fab tips Anshula 🙂

Thank you so much! The history is kind of swept under for the most part. No ones like to admit that Smithson pretty much just donated money to upset his father, but I’ve always found it fascinating.

I would love to get there soon! It’s been on my list for awhile now! Awesome info! This will definitely be useful whenever I go 🙂

Thank you so much! I’m so happy that you found my little guide useful 🙂

Great post! We love all things Smithsonian! It inspired my daughter so much that she has decided to become an archaeologists. On a side note: I’m totally jealous of those hydrangeas!

That’s amazing! PS: I wish I had Smithsonian-level hydrangeas too.

I’ve never been to the Smithsonian but I have always heard some incredible things. I’ll be sure to check it out the next time I’m in Washington!

The Smithsonian is wonderful! It is definitely a Washington bucket list item!

Love the infograph. Such a great idea. The botanical gardens look amazing! I could spend a day there!

I’m so glad you liked the infograph! The Botanical Gardens are indeed amazing (I’ve been there six times already and I still want to go back)!

Really great guide to the Smithsonian! Makes me really want to go! My favourite museum might be the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum). I went there when I was a kid, and I remember I loved it so much. It was huge and had so much in it!!

I’ve never been to the Royal Ontario Museum, but I just googled ROM and it looks architecturally astounding! That geometry is crazy! I’m definitely adding it to my bucket list!

i’ve always wanted to go! it’s on my list for soon.

You should go if you’re in D.C.! Visiting the Smithsonian is a great way to spend a day or two or three 😉 Every time I revisit, I manage to find something new.

Oh, we’ve spent only 4 days in Washington, D.C., but loved the Smithsonian so much! Te castle is so beautiful and we ended up spending 1,5 days of our 4 in the Natural History Museum alone. We have to go back one day, it’s so much to see there. And your pics about the botanical gardens are quite tempting… 😀

There is so much to cover in the Natural History Museum. I still don’t feel like I’ve covered it all (and this is coming from a girl who spent fourteen days there). Yes! Definitely see the botanical gardens the next time you go. Did you visit any other institutions on the other three days? What else did you see?

Haha, we believe you! We mostly visited the attractions of the National Mall during our stay in DC and honestly, we haven’t really planned to spend much time in any of the Smithsonian museums, but we just couldn’t resist the temptation in the end. But we did it right. 😀 We briefly visited the National Museum of American History, too, but that was really just a couple of hours before closure.

What are you looking for?

Tips for Visiting the Smithsonians in Washington DC

It’s hard to visit Washington DC without visiting at least one Smithsonian Museum. But what if you want to do them all? Can you do it on a weekend? Or do you need a full week?

There were a few museums that blew me away, while others, I quickly found a few Smithsonians that I probably could have skipped altogether. Here is your guide to the Smithsonians in Washington DC.

A Guide to Visiting the Smithsonians in Washington DC

The Smithsonian Institutions is the world’s largest museum complex, housing over 145 million artifacts and works of art. One of the nation’s most popular attractions, the Smithsonian is a collection of 19 museums, research centers, and galleries, with 24 satellite facilities.

Although many of the museums in D.C. can be visited for free, many require tickets, so be sure to plan ahead of your visit. The largest concentrations of museums in on the Mall in Washington DC.

General Tips

The Smithsonian Institute gives a long list of tips to get you through security faster and have a better experience. I put them to the test and found out that they don’t all pan out. So let’s break them down a bit.

Skip the backpack to get through security quicker

That’s because there are usually a dozen or more people in front of you all with bags. In some cases having the bag may make it easier to go through security, especially if you forget to pull a dime out of your pocket and then set off the alarm. But since they don’t have a line for people without bags, it doesn’t help.

The trick is to have as few pockets as possible and very little inside.

Each museum has different security protocols. Sometimes your bag will go through an x-ray and other times you’ll have someone poke through it… literally.

To ensure things go quick, bring the bare minimum to the museum. Have as few pockets on your bag as possible.

Avoiding the Crowds By Skipping Peak Times

The Smithsonian Institute recommends avoiding visiting on weekends, holidays, during the National Cherry Blossom Holiday Festival and Winter Break. Arriving early on weekends and late on weekdays. For the most part, they are spot on.

During the week, the crowds are manageable. In the morning the museums will be flooded with younger kids and teenagers on field trips. That’s why they recommend going later in the day.

The sweet spot really is from 4-5:30. You can get through the museum in that amount of time, as long as you don’t linger.

If you have to do it on the weekend, get there early. I’m talking about being one of those people lined up waiting for the place to open.

From then, go straight to the top. By the time you get to the bottom, there will be crowds, but at least you’ll have the top floor to yourself.

Pro Tip for Planning Your Visit

Most people are in Washington DC for a set amount of time and can’t always be there just during the sweet spot for low traffic.

That’s why you should prioritize your visit to the Smithsonians based on their traffic levels. This will give you a better idea of how popular they are.

Try and arrange your itinerary around so you are on the most popular museums during the week and you’ll have a better experience overall.

In 2019, here are the most popular Smithsonian Museums: National Museums of Natural History – 4.2 Million National Air and Space Museum – 3.2 Million National Museums of American History – 2.8 Million African American History and Culture – 2 Million American Art Museum – 2 Million National Zoo – 1.8 Million National Portate Gallery – 1.7 Million National Museum of the American Indian – 960 Thousand *Data from the Smithsonian News desk. 2020 data the museum were not opened consistently to gauge traffic levels.

Can I bring a Camera?

The Smithsonian museums love it when you bring your camera. Feel free to share and hashtag your pics. There are a few things that they do not want you to photograph, like the Star-Spangled Banner flag.

It’s too fragile and can’t handle flashes. They don’t want to risk someone having it going off, so no pictures at all. If there is something that you can’t take pictures of, you’ll see plenty of signs and usually staff nearby reminding you that there is no photography.

What about Strollers?

Visiting the Smithsonians with young kids can be challenging. A limited number of strollers are allowed in the building. With the crowds and trying to navigate inside, I recommend leaving them at home if possible.

A few locations, like the Museum of Natural History, rely mainly on stairs, where others use escalators. They all have elevators for those that need them, but who wants to wait for them if you don’t have to.

How Long Do You Need?

Give yourself 1-3 hours per museum depending on your level of interest. It’s possible to see 3-4 in one day. It will be an exhausting day, but feasible.

If it’s 4:30 and you’re trying to decide if you can get into another one, you can. At around 5:15, they’ll start warning you they will be closing before they officially kick everyone out.

Do We Need to Buy Tickets?

The Smithsonians are all free to visit. The Museum of African America History and Culture & the National Zoo in DC requires timed entry ticket.

It’s still free but harder to come to because of its popularity. There are also some same-day online passes and walk-up passes available too.

Visiting the Smithsonians Museums in DC

National air and space museum.

The power of what humans can do is unreal. The museum is filled with lots of fun artifacts, including spaceships, lunar landers, space suits, and original aircraft.

Add ons inside include things like simulators and shows about our galaxy for a fee. But it is still one of my favorite museums to visit.

You don’t need as much time on this one because of the size of the artifacts. A lot of the things were prototypes, as the original lunar modules were left on the moon.

The museum was going through some changes while I was there, getting new displays ready so a portion of the building was blocked off.

My biggest complaint was that some rooms were hot while others had air conditioning. I also found limited places to sit. On a 90 degree day, while you’ve been walking non-stop, it was noticeable.

The National Air and Space Museum is a Must See Museum.

National Museums of Natural History

The National Museums of Natural History was on my list for a long time. Inside it is filled with bones from all different creatures, including Dinasores.

It has precious jewels and gems like the hope diamond and Marie Antoinette’s Diamond Earrings. They had multiple Mummys on display and other random things.

The place was nuts when we visited, making it hard to get up close to anything. Beyond that, it felt like dumping ground where they put things that didn’t have a good category.

I was disappointed the other animals on display were only of their skeletons. I would have liked to see the fur and depiction of what it would have looked like. I also felt that charging $7.50 admission to a butterfly garden was a little steep.

The National Museum of Natural History is one you can skip .

National Museums of American History

The National Museums of American History holds some of America’s most iconic treasures. You’ll find things like Dorthey’s Ruby Red Slippers from the Wizard of Oz and Captain America’s Shield from the Marvel Comic Movies.

Almost every First Lady’s Inaugural Dresses are displayed along with China from the White House Collection. This is something you don’t get to see on the White House Tour .

Not everything has a pop culture reference though. Things like a life jacket from the Titanic are on display. There is a representation from every war.

Memorabilia that is at the Vietnam Memorial is picked up every night and included in the museum’s display. But the most shocking artifact was some steel beam leftover from the World Trade Center.

My personal favorites were getting to see the Star-Spangled Banner. The Flag is 30 x 42 feet. It was made by Mary Pickersgill and inspired our National Anthem.

The flag is hidden behind a glass wall. Because of its condition, they won’t let guests take pictures. My other favorite piece was the microphone that FDR used for his fireside chats.

The National Museum of American History is a Must See Museum.

The National Zoo

The only place to see pandas in the US is the National Zoo. Surprisingly, the Smithsonians also cover living animals and not just artifacts. They just left the San Diego Zoo to return back to China.

I thought it was a good zoo overall, but small. There was a nice mix of different animals, including Lions and Tigers and Bears. Except the Tigers were hiding when we were there.

The panda enclosures were a lot of fun to see. They had multiple enclosures and vantage points at all of them. Getting there at 9am and making them a priority, allowed us to see them when they were most active and eating.

A few criticisms of the place. 95% of the zoo was all outdoors on a hill. You start at the top and work your way back up. There were brief sections indoors for the animals.

Some buildings like the Amazon didn’t open until 10 am. If you are using Uber to get there, make sure to select the front entrance.

The GPS coordinates the app took our driver was to a back entrance. Thankfully our driver re-routed us to the front making it easier to get picked up.

Visit the National Zoo if you have time or pandas are on your list.

National Museum of the American Indian

One of the newest museums to hit the scene is the National Museum of the American Indian. American Indian includes everything in North and South America, which threw me off a little.

They had artifacts from lots of different tribes all ranging in different climates. It was interesting to see their way of life.

There was also a section completely relating to their influence on America and how they shaped the cultures. Peace Pipes, Treaties, and other things are on display. They also delved into how they shaped pop culture with Sitting Bull, comics, magazine depictions, and Indian Motorcycles.

This was the best of all the Museums for me and the least crowded. Everything was on the top two floors of the building. They also had great air-conditioning.

The National Museum of the American Indian is a must see for all Americans.

Other Things to Note

Things to note about the Smithsonians is that they have so many different artifacts hiding away. They do a great job of mixing in the artifacts with informational displays. But the balance is skewed towards informational displays. I would have liked to see more stuff.

Especially knowing how much they have. The Dorthy’s Ruby Red Slippers, for example, have a wing of the museum all to themselves. On busy days, they may need that much space.

But I would love to have seen more collectibles in the room. I also noticed on a lot of signs they were reproductions or models of the originals. When I go to a museum, I want to see the real thing.

I also didn’t get a chance to visit the African American History and Culture Museum. It is in high demand and not something we planned for initially on our visit.

There are a few other Museums including 9 different art galleries and the Postal Museum that we didn’t have time for either. I prioritized seeing the Van Goghs that are housed at the National Gallery of Art. If I have time, I would love to have done them all.

The last time I was in Washington DC visiting the Smithsonians was over 10 years ago. Walking into the Smithsonian it was completely different.

They are constantly working on remodeling, fixing, and changing out the exhibits. It’s a great feature that keeps people coming back. It also means that you may find yourself blocked off from portions of the museum like we were for the Air and Space Museum.

Use Public Transportation to Get there

The majority of the Smithsonian’s are all right next to each other or withing a few buildings of each other on Mall. If you need to get around, I recommend borrowing a Bike in DC . They will help you get clear across the mall, or to the offsite museums.

We used the Bikes for the our DIY Monuments tour and it was amazing !

Are Visiting the Smithsonians Worth It?

Yes! Yes! and Yes! I may be a little critical of visiting the Smithsonians but that’s only because most people have limited time while they are in DC. I know their potential and some live up the hype.

I think they do a great job of displaying our history. It’s hard not to leave without finding something completely new and exciting.

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Minnesota native and Midwest travel expert Jennifer provides insider tips and budget-friendly trip ideas for families looking to explore the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Through her travel blog DayTripper28, she draws on first-hand experience to recommend the best hidden gems, outdoor adventures, road trips, and weekend getaways around Minnesota and the Midwest. With her passion for uncovering local flavors and culture along the backroads, Jennifer shares affordable itineraries for creating memorable experiences across the region.

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Nine Mythical Places Archaeologists Think May Have Actually Existed

Historical evidence is helping to pinpoint the exact locations of fabled sites, from King Arthur’s castle to Solomon’s Temple

Shoshi Parks

History Correspondent

History is haunted by mythical lands. From the homes of legendary kings to the earthly abodes of gods and monsters, civilizations have always dreamed of extraordinary places hiding in plain sight.

But while it’s unlikely that either Atlantis or Shangri-La was real, there may be more truth to some myths than anyone realized. A growing body of archaeological research suggests certain places—the Minotaur’s maze from Greek mythology; Vinland, the first North American Viking settlement mentioned in the Norse sagas; Solomon’s Temple described in the Bible; and others—could have been more than just fables.

From western Turkey to Jerusalem and coastal England to the Colombian Andes, evidence indicates that these nine mythical places may have actually existed.

Troy, Turkey

Troy, the city at the heart of Homer’s Iliad and Virgil’s Aeneid , is one of the most legendary sites of classical Greek mythology . Fantastical details are woven into the tales—the interference of the gods in the Trojan War, the half-divine heritage of the Spartan hero Achilles, the apocryphal gift of a wooden horse filled with Greek soldiers—but archaeologists believe some aspects of the stories were true. “I believe the Trojan War was a historical event,” says Rüstem Aslan, director of excavations at Troy in present-day Turkey, just “not the kind that Homer described.” Close to 150 years of excavations at the site have revealed that, not only was it occupied for 4,000 years, but also during the Late Bronze Age (when Homer’s Trojan War allegedly took place) “the Trojans suddenly began preparing for an insurgence from the outside,” says Aslan.

While researchers are still looking for proof of the battle that raged beyond the city’s walls for ten long years, Aslan does not doubt that it’s there, buried under 65 feet of alluvium , which built up alongside the shifting Scamander (now known as Karamenderes) River nearby. It’s the mouth of that river that makes Troy so important in the first place. “Troy is settled again and again because if you control the harbor, you control the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas,” he says.

Troy, however, isn’t the only mythological site discovered in the region’s archaeological record. Apollon Smintheion (an imposing temple built for the god Apollo on top of a settlement from the sixth century B.C.E.), Antandros (an ancient shipbuilding settlement) and the sacred forests of Mount Ida are all historical sites that archaeologists have found to correspond to places mentioned in the Iliad and Aeneid. Together, they make up Turkey’s Aeneas Route , a tourist corridor following the epic journey taken by Aeneas, the father of Rome, after escaping Troy’s sacking by the Greeks.

Gorham’s Cave (Medusa’s Cave), Gibraltar

To ancient mariners, Gorham’s Cave , a natural cavern at the base of the Pillars of Hercules in the Strait of Gibraltar, was the edge of the known world. But a 2021 study in PLOS One suggests that the subterranean site may have played an even greater role in Greek mythology. Deep inside the cave, archaeologists found fragments from the head of a large, ceramic Gorgon dating to around the sixth century B.C.E. The Gorgons were three monstrous sisters who terrorized Greek sailors by turning them to stone with a single look. Legend places their lair, in which the hero Perseus beheaded the most evil of the siblings, the snake-haired Medusa, while she slept, near the Rock of Gibraltar.

Other Medusa figures have been located in the region, but this is the first to be discovered inside a cave. Combining archaeological evidence with historical accounts, geography and myth, researchers have concluded that Gorham’s Cave was likely the spiritual site that early seafarers believed to have been the home of the Gorgons, and the site of Medusa’s defeat. Visitors can examine the cave’s entrance on biweekly summer tours offered at the British territory of Gibraltar’s Gorham’s Cave Complex World Heritage Site , a stunning limestone ridge off the southern tip of Spain.

Tintagel Castle (King Arthur’s Castle), England

Since writer Geoffrey of Monmouth described Tintagel Castle as the place of King Arthur ’s conception, the dramatic 13th-century fortress on the rocky coast of Cornwall, England, has been associated with his legend. But until recently, no one knew that beneath the castle’s ruins lay an even older settlement with features that could correspond to the legendary leader. We have “very strong evidence that it was an exceptional place where goods and luxury commodities were arriving from the Mediterranean world in great numbers,” says archaeologist Jacky Nowakowski, project lead for the Tintagel Castle Archaeological Research Project . Though the team can’t say for sure who ruled the earlier site, King Arthur “fits the profile in terms of what we’d expect at this critical time in British history of the fifth and sixth century,” she explains.

What Nowakowski does know for certain is that, whether he was actually there or not, King Arthur has “ very much become a part of the story ” handed down over generations around Tintagel. Even the castle built there by Richard of Cornwall around 1203 C.E. was constructed, in part, to draw a connection between his authority and the legendary king. Interestingly, though, Arthur’s myth is not the only one to which Tintagel is connected. “There’s also the story of Tristan and Isolde ,” says Nowakowski, a Celtic legend retold in the 12th century as a story of forbidden love in which the knight Tristan falls for the princess Isolde even though she is set to marry King Mark of Cornwall. “If you look across Cornwall, there are several places you can pinpoint that are associated with King Mark, Tristan and Isolde. The story was popularly circulating around Europe at the same time as King Arthur’s, but it’s not attached to Tintagel in the same way. I think that’s partly to do with the success of Victorian writers and painters [who associated Tintagel] with the ruins of King Arthur’s castle.”

L'Anse Aux Meadows (Vinland), Newfoundland

Replicas of Norse houses at L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

For years, explorers searched for evidence of Vinland , a far-off place of lush meadows, teeming salmon and wild grapes described in the 13th-century Greenlanders’ Saga . If the legend was true, the seaside site briefly settled by Viking Leif Erikson and his crew around 1000 C.E. would be the first place “discovered” by Europeans in the New World, preceding Christopher Columbus by almost 500 years. So, when evidence of Norse-designed sod-walled buildings on the far north coast of Newfoundland, Canada, were uncovered in the 1960s , archaeologists were hopeful that the site was the one.

The identification of other European artifacts—a bronze cloak pin, a spindle whorl, a gilded fragment of brass—along with a place for smelting and working iron soon followed, convincing scholars that the site on which they’d stumbled was the fabled Vinland. Archaeologists today continue to study the long-held secrets at what’s now called L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site ; the site includes reconstructions of the original dwellings where the Vikings lived on-and-off for about 20 years .

Lake Guatavita (El Dorado), Colombia

Spanish conquistadors first described a mythical South American kingdom of unfathomable riches ruled by El Rey Dorado, a chief whose initiation rites included covering himself in gold dust and ceremonially dropping treasure into the center of a sacred lake in 1541 . In the centuries that followed, explorers searched feverishly for the kingdom of “El Dorado” throughout Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil, but to no avail. Eventually, they gave up hope of finding the site. Juan Pablo Quintero-Guzmán, archaeologist and curator at Colombia’s Museum of Gold , says that doesn’t mean there isn’t truth to the story. “All lakes in the Muisca territory were places of offering,” he says. “It is possible that rituals similar to those of El Dorado were carried out in some of them, but I believe that Lake Guatavita was, for some time during the Muisca period [600 to 1600 C.E.], the place where this ritual was carried out with the greatest impact.”

Over the past 400 years, numerous artifacts have been pulled from Lake Guatavita—from tumbaga (an alloy of gold and copper), emeralds and human-like clay vessels to hair, cotton and animal skulls. In his research , Quintero-Guzmán has found evidence that rituals were taking place at the water’s edge, at what “could have been a temple, a ceremonial site intended for making prestigious offerings,” he says. While the findings do not definitively prove that Lake Guatavita was the site spoken of by the conquistadors, “it does not contradict the possibility that the legendary El Dorado ceremony was carried out here,” either, says Quintero-Guzmán. For now, at least, the Muisca chiefdom of Guatavita, once a prestigious ceremonial pilgrimage site known for the skill of its goldsmiths, is the most likely origin of the myth.

Ain Dara (Solomon’s Temple), Syria

In 2018 , armed conflict destroyed Ain Dara, a 3,000-year-old temple in northwestern Syria that some archaeologists identified as the biblical Solomon’s Temple in the 1980s. The ancient site shared more features with the temple described in the Book of Kings than any uncovered before or since , including walls carved in reliefs of lions and cherubs, a courtyard paved in flagstones, a monumental staircase guarded by sphinxes and a multistory hallway. Even its location on a raised platform overlooking a city echoes the temple’s depiction in the Bible. Although the bombing and plundering of the site prevents archaeologists from finding more evidence of its legendary status, some of its most important artifacts can still be seen at the National Museum of Aleppo .

Kastelli (Minotaur’s Labyrinth), Greece

Aerial view of mysterious archaeological site on Crete

While building a new airport on the island of Crete this summer, workers uncovered something unexpected . With its central circular building surrounded by eight stone rings intersected by walls, the site resembled the style of tomb constructed by the Minoan civilization around 2000 to 1700 B.C.E. But to anyone familiar with Greek mythology, the spot evoked something else, too: the Minotaur’s labyrinth.

The Minotaur, a ferocious creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man, was trapped in a maze built by the Greek architect Daedalus. Every seven years, Athens sacrificed seven young men and seven young women to the monster until Theseus, a prince of the city, volunteered to kill him. Tracing his route with a ball of thread, Theseus found his way through the labyrinth, murdered the beast, rescued his not-yet-sacrificed victims, then followed the thread back out to safety.

Although archaeologists have yet to thoroughly study Kastelli, its architectural similarities to the mythical maze, combined with evidence of ceremonial offerings and communal feasting found at the site, may suggest that it was part of the story’s origin. The site is not open to the public, but Knossos , the ancient palace previously believed to be the site of the Minotaur’s labyrinth , is.

Steinkjer, Norway

Although the Norse sagas tell of an ancient trading center that was, for a brief period, the largest in the Viking world, no one knew where, or even if, it really existed. Then, in 2013, archaeologists found some intriguing evidence . In archaeological investigations conducted before expanding Norway’s main highway near Steinkjer in Nord-Trondelag County, researchers uncovered two separate boat graves associated with a wide variety of high-status trade goods, including a silver button, a set of balance scales, imported jewelry and amber beads. The findings add to the area’s unusually rich archaeological record, which includes 22 examples of a special trade-related Viking-age sword. Taken together, the bevy of artifacts suggest that Steinkjer was the major trading city described in the Norse sagas—and that its center was likely where its modern church stands today.

Pool of Siloam, Jerusalem

In the New Testament’s Gospel of John, Jesus returns the power of sight to a blind man at the Pool of Siloam in Jerusalem. Christians searched for the site for centuries before repair work on a water pipe south of the Temple Mount in 2004 revealed two ancient stone steps. In the archaeological investigations that followed, researchers discovered a 2,700-year-old, 225-foot-long trapezoidal pool, which they believe to be the site where Jesus allegedly conducted his miracle. In addition to being an important part of early Jerusalem’s water system, the architectural feature was also likely a ritual bath used by visiting pilgrims. Careful excavation and restoration work over the past 20 years have preserved the ancient Pool of Siloam, which opened to the public last year as part of the City of David National Park .

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Shoshi Parks | READ MORE

Shoshi Parks is an anthropologist and freelance writer whose work on history, travel, food and the natural world has appeared in Atlas Obscura , Afar , NPR and a variety of other outlets. She lives in California's Bay Area.

The Smithsonian saw the most visits in 2023 since before the pandemic. See which museum tops the list

Because the smithsonian is free, and doesn't sell tickets that they can tally up, the institution has a unique way of counting visits, by maggie more • published january 13, 2024 • updated on january 13, 2024 at 4:06 pm.

Every year, the Smithsonian Institution counts daily visits to each of its 20 museums, and makes that tally available to the general public.

In 2023, there were a grand total of 17.7 million visits to the Smithsonians -- the most visits since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic began.

📺 Watch News4 now: Stream NBC4 newscasts for free right here, right now.

Because the Smithsonian is free, and doesn't sell tickets that they can tally up, the institution has a unique way of counting visits.

Security officers use hand clickers to tally each person entering a given museum -- or, in some cases leaving. Their count can include staff members, people who left a museum and returned in the same day, or people who visited one museum earlier and are stopping by another.

"For these reasons, we always refer to the numbers below as "visits" rather than "visitors," the Smithsonian says on its website . Numbers are also rounded "to the nearest thousand or tenth of a million (M), depending on volume."

The natural world was popular in 2023: National Museum of Natural History saw the most visits by far, at 4.4 million.

Following up in second place was the National Museum of American History, which saw 2.1 million visits in 2023.

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The National Zoo and the National Air and Space Museum were tied for third place among the Smithsonians, each seeing 1.9 million visits over the course of the year.

Here are all the Smithsonian museums, listed from most visits to least visits in 2023:

National Museum of Natural History: 4,400,000 visits
National Museum of American History: 2,100,000
National Air and Space Museum: 1,900,000
National Zoo: 1,900,000
National Museum of African American History and Culture: 1,600,000
National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center: 1,200,000
Smithsonian American Art Museum (With the Renwick Gallery): 1,100,000
National Portrait Gallery: 885,094
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: 714,684
National Museum of the American Indian (Washington, D.C.): 704,074
Freer Gallery of Art: 333,598
National Museum of the American Indian Heye Center (New York City): 329,231
Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum: 281,035
Arthur M. Sackler Gallery: 189,819
National Postal Museum: 170,013
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum: 152,591
National Museum of African Art: 130,569
Smithsonian Institution Building, "The Castle": 58,623
Arts and Industries Building: 31,180
Anacostia Community Museum: 15,516

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Smithsonian to phase out timed-entry passes and extend hours starting july 20.

Starting Tuesday, July 20, the Smithsonian will no longer require timed-entry passes to visit most of its museums. However, free passes will still be required to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo. In addition, museums on the National Mall will return to their pre-pandemic hours, which for most museums is 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The Smithsonian, which closed in March 2020 and again in late November 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, first implemented the use of timed-entry passes at most museums as part of a gradual reopening plan to manage reduced-capacity levels and allow for adequate social distancing. Starting July 20, the Smithsonian will return to pre-COVID-19 capacity numbers at its museums and the Zoo.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which has required free timed-entry passes since it opened in 2016, will continue to require passes. In addition, the National Zoo will continue to use free passes as a way to manage its normal capacity limits (not restricted due to COVID-19). However, starting Tuesday, July 20, the Zoo will no longer require additional passes to visit the giant pandas. Visitors will just need a pass to enter the Zoo. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City, which typically charges for entry, will continue to require tickets but will offer free tickets through Oct. 31. All other Smithsonian museums will stop using timed-entry passes.

Several Smithsonian museums are scheduled to reopen this summer for the first time since March 2020. These locations will not use free timed-entry passes when they open, including the National Museum of African Art and the National Museum of Asian Art’s Freer Gallery, both opening Friday, July 16.

Reopening Schedule

Friday, July 16 National Museum of African Art National Museum of Asian Art’s Freer Gallery

Friday, July 30 National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Building (the “Castle”)

Friday, Aug. 6 Anacostia Community Museum

Friday, Aug. 20 Hirshhorn Museum (Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden remains open)

Friday, Aug. 27 National Postal Museum

Visiting the Smithsonian

Visitors will need timed-entry passes to visit through Monday, July 19. Starting Tuesday, July 20, visitors can walk up to most Smithsonian museums without passes, just as they did before March 2020.

Advanced timed-entry passes issued for July 20–Aug. 15 will be canceled at all locations except the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo and will not be scanned at entry. July 20 and onward all visitors, including those who previously reserved passes, will enter Smithsonian museums as walk-up visitors. Visitors to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo should continue to reserve free timed-entry passes in advance of their visit at si.edu/visit .

Safety Measures

To protect the health of visitors and staff, the Smithsonian continues to implement safety measures based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other sources, including:

Requesting that all visitors who are sick or do not feel well stay home.
Requiring all visitors ages 2 and older who are not fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to wear a face covering during their visit.
Providing hand-sanitizing stations for visitors and conducting enhanced cleaning throughout all facilities.

Some museum cafes, exhibits, galleries, interactives, theaters, retail stores or indoor spaces may be closed or operating at a limited capacity. Detailed information for visitors is available on the museum websites.

Museum Hours and Information

Many museums are currently operating at reduced hours. Starting July 20, all museums on the National Mall will return to their pre-Covid-19 hours of 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The Smithsonian Institution Building (the “Castle”) will open at its normal hours of 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Museums currently operating on a five-days-a-week schedule will continue to do so. A full list of museum days and hours is available online at si.edu/visit .

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Prohibited Conduct. Visitation policies at the Smithsonian Institution are designed to protect visitors and staff as well as secure and preserve the collections, facilities, and historic buildings entrusted to the Smithsonian's care. Carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed on the premises.
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