Washington Area Attractions
The tourism opportunities in and around Washington, DC are nearly boundless. We’ve collected some links to web sites which you might find useful for planning your trip to our capital city.
Museums and Galleries
- Smithsonian Institution (all free)
- National Museum of African Art
- National Air and Space Museum
- American Art Museum (currently closed for renovations)
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of the American Indian (new; opened on September 21, 2004)
- Anacostia Museum & Center for African American History and Culture
- Arts and Industries Building (changing and temporary exhibits; currently closed for renovations)
- Freer and Sackler Galleries (Asian art)
- Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (modern art)
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Portrait Gallery (currently closed for renovations)
- National Postal Museum
- National Gallery of Art (free)
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (free; advance tickets recommended)
- International Spy Museum (adults $13, seniors $12, children 5-18 $10, children 0-4 free; advance tickets recommended)
- Newseum (free; currently closed for renovations)
- National Geographic Explorer’s Hall (free)
- Folger Library (free)
D.C. City Museum(closed permanently)
Parks, Monuments, Memorials and Historic Sites
- National Zoological Park (free)
- U.S. Botanic Gardens (free)
- Freedom Park (free)
- Anacostia Park (free)
- National Arboretum (free)
- National Capital Parks (free; includes most famous memorials)
- Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens (free)
- Frederick Douglass National Historic Site (free)
- Arlington National Cemetery (free)
- Mount Vernon (adults $11, seniors $10.50, children 6-11 $5, children 0-5 free; gristmill and sightseeing cruises extra)
Federal Buildings and Institutions
- White House (free; party of ten or more people required; advance tickets from your Congressman required)
- Capitol Building (free; advance tickets from your Congressman required)
- Supreme Court of the United States (free)
- National Archives (free)
- Federal Bureau of Investigations (free; currently closed for renovations)
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing (free)
- Library of Congress (free)