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What to do and see in Washington DC, District of Columbia (DC): The Best History Museums
Washington DC is a hub for American politics and history. Attracting as many school field trips as it does travelers the district offers a peek into the country’s democratic origin. There are plenty of free museums to take advantage of but the real draw here is the memorials and monuments dedicated to great American leaders. Spend some contemplative time at the Reflecting Pool within the National Mall, among the most patriotic places in the country.
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1. National Museum of African American History and Culture
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,476 reviews
Reviewed By HopesandDreams - Virginia, United States
Having visited other sobering locations – Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Hitler’s Historical Museum in Munich, Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, Vietnam Military History Museum in Ho Chi Minh, Aboriginal interest in Sydney, etc. . . .. . . . . one compares and contrast and ponders what is in the hearts and minds of some. This is a truly well presented, creative, EXCELLENT Museum, especially for overall cultural appreciation and understanding. At this Museum, as with others, the hearts must be of stone or the minds must be tight of those who are not moved by the exhibits, regardless of background or culture. Visited on a slow (still crowded) Thanksgiving Day. 1) Yes, it is difficult to see some exhibits, as by design, it is CROWDED, dark and a tight squeeze. 2) Yes, you may miss something as the walking patterns are not aligned in any one direction in some areas. 3) Yes, the Sweet Shop food is soulful and expensive and not to everyone’s taste. (I enjoyed it!) 4) Yes, there are things that are not perfect and can be critiqued and improved but overall……. So much history and information. . . Overwhelming! Difficult to absorb everything in one 7 hour day visit. Get early timed passes to ensure your 10:00 AM opening time entry and plan to be there until 5:00 pm close as this is, at least, a whole day activity. Start at the bottom floor and work your way up (an intentional, creative design) for true historical progression. HIGHLY RECOMMEND FOR ALL!
2. National Museum of American History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,954 reviews
One of the Smithsonian museums along the Mall, this one has more than 3 million artifacts in its collection—from gowns to locomotives—that reflect and preserve a record of America’s past.
Reviewed By ghazel1231 - Tampa, United States
The Natural History Museum and the Air and Space Museum usually end up at the top of the must-visits in Washington, but the American History Museum tells a much better story of America. The American flag from Ft McHenry (the inspiration for our national anthem), Judy Garland's ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, the gowns of the first ladies, the histories of each of the Presidents and all of our wars - they're all here, in a well-organized, easily followed lay out.
3. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 11,153 reviews
A living memorial to the Holocaust, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum inspires citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Tickets are only needed from March 1 to August 31 to visit the Museum's Permanent Exhibition, which tells the history of the Holocaust from 1933 to 1945. Exhibitions Include: Permanent Exhibition: The Holocaust Spanning three floors, the self-guided Permanent Exhibition presents a narrative history of the Holocaust and features historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Personal objects and the concluding eyewitness testimonies highlight the stories of individuals. Recommended for ages 11 or older. The Portal: A Real-Time Conversation with People Forced to Flee Persecution The Shared Studios Portal allows you to have a face-to-face conversation with someone in another part of the world-as if you are standing in the same room. Through this installation, visitors will be able to converse in real time with displaced persons or refugees in Iraq, Jordan, and Germany Remember the Children: Daniel's Story Representing the experiences of many Jewish children during the Nazi era, "Daniel" narrates through his diary the history of the Holocaust in ways that children can understand. Recreated environments present life in a middle-class German home, in a Jewish ghetto in occupied Poland, and finally at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The exhibition is explicit without being graphic. Recommended for ages 8 or older. Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust Some Were Neighbors: Collaboration & Complicity in the Holocaust addresses one of the central questions about the Holocaust: How was it possible? The central role of Hitler and other Nazi Party leaders is indisputable. Less well understood is these perpetrators' dependence on countless others for the execution of Nazi racial policies. Within Nazi Germany and across German-dominated Europe, circles of collaboration and complicity rippled throughout governments and societies wherever victims of persecution and mass murder lived.
Reviewed By tikvah48
This museum has become one of the most popular in Washington DC. With the rise of anti-semitism and white supremacy in the US, the Holocaust Museum takes on a more important meaning. This is a museum of America's conscience and visitors should not miss the current exhibit about America and its response to the Holocaust. Those who are family members of victims and survivors can access the museum database to search for family information. Executive Director Sara Bloomfield has doe an outstanding job creating a must see- eye opening and thought provoking experience.
4. National Museum of African Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Part of the Smithsonian Institution that concentrates on crafts and objects from the sub-Saharan region of Africa.
Reviewed By BobN06 - Avondale, United States
First visit to this museum despite being in DC numerous times. Found the museum content to be of excellent quality and well laid out. Could have spent more time here.
5. Ford's Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,278 reviews
The site of the April 14, 1865, assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, Ford's Theatre is a working theatre, historical monument, world-class museum and learning center. The theatre produces musicals and plays reflecting the unique, diverse character of American life. With its inspiring theatrical productions, live historic interpretation, and rich collection of artifacts, Ford’s is the premier destination in the nation’s capital to explore and celebrate the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. A daytime visit can include the museum, theatre, Petersen House (the house where Lincoln died) and Aftermath Exhibits at the Center for Education and Leadership. Advance tickets are required (convenience fee). From September to May, Ford’s presents evening and matinee productions of renowned plays, vibrant musicals, and newly commissioned works that captivate and entertain while examining political and social issues related to Lincoln’s life and legacy.
Reviewed By V3583ELjennifers
I have been to DC many times but not taken the opportunity to visit Ford's Theater before now. The museum and park sevice tours are open to the public, tickets based on donations (at the visitors choice), and provide a combination of self guided museum tour and a ranger talk about the last day of Lincoln's life. The tour includes a visit to the house where Lincoln died, and a center for education exhibit on Lincoln's legacy. Take the time to see this site.
6. The President Woodrow Wilson House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 219 reviews
The Woodrow Wilson House is open! We welcome visitors back for a variety of Covid friendly activities and for private events including weddings and corporate receptions, seven days a week. Don’t miss your chance to visit the Suffrage Outside exhibition, the only fully outdoor history exhibit in DC, on display in the Wilson House garden through November 30th. Reserve your visiting time on our website www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org. Also available are two walking tours: "If these walls could talk! A Waddy Wood Walking Tour" and the "Kalorama Audio Tour". Once you’ve downloaded the map, take the tour at your leisure. The giftshop and bathroom are open during business hours.
7. National Portrait Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,498 reviews
Visitors can view the portraits of all the U.S. presidents.
Reviewed By rossf976 - Fargo, United States
You intended to visit the much-hyped International Spy Museum, only to discover the entrance mobbed with tourists and the $22.95/adult a bit above budget. So you glance across the street to a hulking Greek Revival style building apparently ignored by the mobs. Better take a closer look. You’ve stumbled onto the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, unencumbered by the multitudes and…free. These two art galleries in the sprawling ex-U.S. patent office tend to be missed perhaps because the building is several blocks off Smithsonian central on the National Mall. Some people who have visited Washington over the years also may remember its location in a once-dubious neighborhood surrounded by pimps and addicts. Well, that was then. Now the area between F and G streets has been cleaned up and this museum ought to move to everyone’s A list. It’s become one of the city’s top art museums. The portrait gallery features American history as told through the presidents, George Washington to Barack Obama. That newest portrait is so popular staff had to set up ropes to control the line. The American art gallery side houses a vast collection of just about any kind of work you want to see, from Renaissance art (European but with a connection to the New World) to contemporary abstracts. Pottery, sculpture, folk art, glass-walled conservation demo room, charming covered courtyard—well, it’s clearly too much for the limited space. In fact, some of the art has been squeezed together top to bottom hanging from back-to-back boards on the nearly-ignored third level. Don’t miss that. The building itself features grand staircases, marble floors and dramatic skylights, architecture alone is worth a look. That it barely survived a tear-down plan during the philistine ‘50s makes it all the more amazing. To see everything requires several hours. But what the heck—come back again later. After all, it’s free. And mob-less. One possible concern: it doesn’t open until almost lunch time, 11:30 a.m. But it stays open until 7 p.m.
8. Smithsonian American Art Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,543 reviews
The Smithsonian American Art Museum shares its collections, programs, and exhibitions in two locations in Washington, DC. SAAM’s main building is located at the heart of a vibrant downtown cultural district.
Reviewed By oliviayoung99 - Columbus, United States
I absolutely LOVED this museum, and could have stayed here for an entire day! The art they have on display is absolutely amazing and truly unique! The best piece in my opinion is the Electronic Superhighway: Continental USA-- completely amazing and different, I could have stayed and stared at it for hours! The portrait museum that's attached is equally outstanding-- between the two one could easily spend a solid day or two looking at everything. This is probably my favorite Smithsonian, and I guarantee that there is something here for everybody to enjoy!
9. African American Civil War Memorial & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 102 reviews
The African-American Civil War Museum and Memorial was created to tell the story and pay tribute to African-Americans who fought in the Civil War.
Reviewed By tommV860PI - Seattle, United States
It is my understanding that the memorial and museum fulfilled a lifelong dream of Dr. Frank Smith, Jr., a four-term member of the D.C. district council, who oversaw the dedication of the African American Civil War Memorial in July 1998, to honor African Americans who fought for freedom as "USTC" (United States "Colored" Troops). Both are a wonderful tribute to those troops. The museum is as others suggest not huge or overwhelming yet chock-full of interesting and oft-times moving information and displays. While I was there a docent gave an informative and emotional talk that was great. Do not miss the memorial -- it's across the street from the entrance to the museum. It is a small but potent and memorable tribute to the USCT. If you want to get off the beaten path of the Mall, and learn something while paying tribute to American heroes, go here. (My photos are "OK' but don't capture the power of the statutes, and there was NO way I could bring to life the plaques listing the names of the 200,000 (yes, two hundred thousand) USCT who served, so I didn't include those.) (P.S. It's hard to decide how much time to recommend. I chose 1-2 hours because like many/most museums if you try to ingest everything it can be a bit overwhelming -- you literally could spend days if you read everything. So 1-2 or 2-3 depending on YOU.)
10. DAR Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
The DAR Museum looks at the American experience through objects and art of the American home from the Colonial Era to the early 20th century. Visitors can tour 31 period rooms, learn about the history of American furnishings through a fun interactive area, and research their family history in the library.
Reviewed By Kittygal - Los Angeles, United States
I'd made a note of this spot so I could visit on my next trip. So glad I did! There's a small museum of interesting period items, plus rooms furnished period style from states where members come from. Everything from the President Monroe French chairs scandal to a replica of a room where Paul Revere came to warn minutemen of the British invasion, a chandelier reportedly stood under by the Marquise du Lafayette, to a multiculturally inspired room from my home state of California. The research library is available to visitors and is in the Library of Congress style...beautiful! I spent two hours here, quite happily exploring. If you love history, stop by!
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