Beltway RESOURCE BANK
Museums, Cultural Centers, & Historic Sites in the Greater Washington, DC Area
Academy Art Museum
106 South St., Easton, MD (410) 822-2787.
African American Civil War Memorial
1925 Vermont Ave. NW, U Street/Cardozo neighborhood, DC (202) 667-2667.African Art Museum of Maryland
5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia, MD (410) 730-7105Aldie Mill Historic Park
39401 John Mosby Hwy., Aldie, VA. (703) 327-9777. Early 19th c. waterwheel and grain mill.Alexandria Archeology Museum
105 N. Union St., Ste. 327, Old Town neighborhood, Alexandria, VA. Exhibits, hands-on laboratory, hosts Dig Days and a summer camp program. Housed inside the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
Alexandria Black History Museum
902 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA (703) 838-4356. Housed in the Robinson Library, founded during segregation to serve Alexandria's African-American library patrons. Exhibits, reading room, heritage park.American Red Cross Museum
1730 E Street, NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC. Exhibits on the history and mission of the Red Cross. Online exhibits only, but tours of the National Headquarters building are offered on request.American Visionary Art Museum
800 Key Hwy., Baltimore, MD (410) 244-1900. Visual art by self-taught artists from across the US.Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture
1901 Fort Place SE, Anacostia neighborhood, DC. (202) 287-3306. Smithsonian museum of African American history and culture. Exhibits, tours, special programs.Arlington Arts Center
3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA (703) 248-6800. Galleries exhibit rotating group and solo shows of contemporary art. Also houses artist studios and family workshops.Arlington Historical Museum
1805 S. Arlington Ridge Rd., Arlington, VA. (703) 892-4202. Exhibits tell the history of Arlington, from 16th c. Indian settlements along the Potomac River to the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon. Housed in a historic elementary school.Arlington House: Robert E. Lee Memorial
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA. (703) 235-1530. The Custis-Lee Mansion, a restored Greek Revival home built in 1802, with a formal garden, museum, and slave quarters. This was Robert E. Lee's home for 30 years and the place where he penned his resignation from the US Army at the start of the American Civil War. National Park Service site.Artisphere
1101 Wilson Blvd., Rosslyn neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (703) 875-1100. Multi-disciplinary arts center. Includes gallery, theater, and performance spaces.Art Museum of the Americas
201 18th St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 458-6016. Exhibits from throughout the Americas, plus an outstanding outdoor sculpture garden.Arts and Industries Building
900 Jefferson Dr. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 786-9196. The original Smithsonian museum (dating from 1881); houses the Discovery Theater. Currently CLOSED for renovation.
Arts Club of Washington
2017 I St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 331-7282. Non-profit organization housed in the historic James Monroe House. Sponsors public gallery exhibits, concerts, lectures, and readings.Babe Ruth Birthplace and Orioles Museum
216 Emory St., Baltimore, MD (410) 727-1539. 3,800 baseball artifacts, including ballpark equipment, trophies, furnishings, scrapbooks, and more.Ball-Sellers House
5620 3rd St. S., Arlington, VA (703) 379-2123. The oldest surviving house in Arlington County is a rare example of the dwelling and lifestyle of the ordinary citizen during the 1700s.Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum
901 Pratt St., Baltimore, MD (410) 752-2490. Railroad history, 20-minute rail rides, model trains.Baltimore Maritime Museum
Pier 3 at the Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD (410) 396-3453. Coast Guard and Navy history. Collection includes 3 historic vessels and the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse.Baltimore Museum of Art
North Charles Street and Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, MD. (410) 396-7100. Collections include Old Masters, American decorative arts, and the Cone Collection of Post-Impressionist and Early Modern Art.Baltimore Museum of Industry
1415 Key Hwy., Baltimore, MD. (410) 727-4808. Exhibits on the heritage and preservation of Maryland's industrial past.Banneker-Douglass Museum
84 Franklin St., Annapolis, MD (410) 216-6180. African American history museum housed in an historic AME church.Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave. NE, Brookland neighborhood, DC . Sculpture, mosaics, and paintings on devotional themes are displayed inside the basilica.Beall-Dawson House
103 W. Montgomery Ave., Rockville, MD. (301) 762-1492. Period rooms and changing exhibitions on the history of Montgomery County displayed in a 19th c. Federal-style townhouse.Belair Mansion and Stable
12207 Tulip Grove Dr., Bowie, MD. (301) 809-3089. Restored 1745 Georgian Palladian plantation home with gardens, and an early 20th c. thoroughbred racing museum.Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum
300 Oella Ave., Catonsville, MD (410) 887-1081. Park and museum on the site of the former home of the astronomer, mathematician, and abolitionist.
Brookside Gardens
1800 Glenallen Ave., Wheaton, MD. (301) 949-8230. 35-acre garden. Special programs include the "Wings of Fancy" live butterfly show, the "Garden of Lights" holiday display, and horticulture classes.Bureau of Engraving and Printing
14th and C Streets SW, just off the National Mall, DC . Exhibits on the creation and history of US currency.Carlyle House
121 N. Fairfax St., Old Town neighborhood, Alexandria, VA (703) 549-2997. The grandest mansion in Alexandria when it was built in 1753, this house was used by General Edward Braddock as a headquarters during the French and Indian War.Carroll County Farm Museum
500 S. Center St., Westminster, MD (800) 654-4645. Original 19th c. farm structures include a farmhouse, smokehouse, saddlery and one-room schoolhouse.The Castle
1000 Jefferson Drive SW, National Mall, DC. Information center for the Smithsonian Institution, housed in the original museum building on the National Mall.Cherry Hill Farmhouse
312 Park Ave., Falls Church, VA (703) 248-5171. Mid-19th c. Greek Revival farmhouse.Clara Barton National Historic Site
5801 Oxford Rd., Glen Echo, MD (301) 492-6245. The first headquarters of the American Red Cross and the home of Barton until her death in 1912. National Park Service site.Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run
6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean,VA (703) 442-7557. Working colonial-era farm with guides in period dress.College Park Aviation Museum
1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr., College Park, MD. (301) 864-602. The world's oldest continuously operating airport.Colvin Run Mill Historic Site
10017 Colvin Run Rd., Great Falls, VA (703) 759-2771. 19th c. working gristmill plus miller's house, blacksmith shop, and general store.Corcoran Gallery of Art
500 17th St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 639-1700. American art, both historic and contemporary. DC's first art museum.Darnall's Chance Museum
14800 Gov. Oden Bowie Dr., Upper Marlboro, MD (301) 952-8010. Exhibits on the history and culture of Prince George's County.
Daughters of the American Revolution Museum
1776 D St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 879-3241. Exhibits American decorative arts prior to 1840, including 33 period rooms.
DEA Museum
700 Army Navy Dr., Crystal City neighborhood, Arlington, VA. (202) 307-3463. Traces the history of drug abuse, illegal drugs, and federal law enforcement in the US.Decatur House Museum
748 Jackson Place NW, Lafyette Square neighborhood, DC (202) 842-0920. Historic house museum on Lafayette Square designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1818.Dennis & Phillip Ratner Museum
10001 Old Georgetown Rd., Bethesda, MD. (301) 897-1518. Paintings, drawings, and sculpture by DC artist Phillip Ratner.Department of the Treasury
15th & Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Lafayette Square neighborhood, DC (202) 622-0896 . Fine and decorative arts in the collection of the Executive Branch of the US government. Public tours by appointment only.
District of Columbia Arts Center
2438 18th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC (202) 462-7833. Non-profit center supporting emerging visual and theatre artists. 750 square foot gallery, 50 seat black box theater. Also hosts a monthly poetry series.District of Columbia Jewish Community Center, Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery
1529 16th St. NW, Logan Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 518-9400 . Rotating visual art exhibits by or about Jewish people. The DCJCC also hosts films, plays, concerts, and special events.Dumbarton House
2715 Q St. NW, Georgetown neighborhood, DC (202) 337-2288. 1800 home filled with Federal period furnishings. Headquarters of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America.Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collections
1703 32nd St. NW, Georgetown neighborhood, DC (202) 339-6400. Collections of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art. Owned by Harvard University. Also home to one of the best formal gardens in the region.
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
17th and Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Lafayeete Square neighborhood, DC. (202) 395-5895. Saturday tours of the restored building are available by advance reservation.Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum
2711 Maryland Ave., Ellicott City, MD (410) 461-1945. Oldest surviving rail station in the US, restored to its 1887 appearance, with exhibits on the history of transport and travel in 19th c. America.Fairfax Museum
10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA. (703) 385-8414. American Indian, Colonial, Civil War, and other objects tell the history of Fairfax County.Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Builindg, 935 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Federal Triangle neighborhood, DC (202) 324-3447 . Exhibits on some of the FBI's most famous cases. One-hour tours also include a look at the FBI lab and a firearms demonstration by a Special Agent. NOTE: Tours were suspended after 9-11; no date has been set for re-opening. Check for availability.
Federal Reserve
20th St. NW between C St. and Constitution Ave., Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 452-3778 . Guided tours of the Eccles Building highlight architecture, art, and interior design.Fondo del Sol
2112 R St. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 483-2777. Dedicated to presenting, promoting, and preserving the cultural heritage and arts of the Americas.Ford's Theatre and Petersen House
10th St. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC (202) 426-6924 . Working historic theater and museum, site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Administered by the National Park Service.Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site
4301 W. Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA (703) 838-4848 . The best preserved of the ring of Union forts and batteries built during the Civil War to protect the capital. Exhibits, tours, lectures.Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
Jefferson Drive at 12th St. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-2700. Smithsonian museums of Asian art. Don't miss Whistler's Peacock Room.
Friendship Firehouse Museum
1855 firehouse in historic Alexandria.Gadsby's Tavern Museum
134 Royal St., Old Town neighborhood, Alexandria, VA. 1785 tavern and 1792 hotel. Famous patrons included George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and the Marquis de Lafayette. Tours offered of bedchambers, dining rooms and elegant ballrooms.
George Washington Masonic Temple
101 Callahan Dr., Alexandria, VA. (703) 683-2007. Permanent exhibit of the George Washington collection.George Washington's River Farm
American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Blvd. Dr., Alexandria, VA. (703) 768-5700. 25-acre property showcasing American home gardening and environmentally responsible practices.George Washington University Art Gallery
Media and Public Affairs Blg., 805 21st St. NW, 2nd floor, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 994-1525 . Educational visual art gallery. Rotating exhibits, permanent collection.Goddard Space Flight Center
8800 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, MD (301) 286-9041. Exhibits on NASA research and discoveries.
Great Blacks in Wax Museum
1601-03 E. North Ave., Baltimore, MD. (410) 563-3404. 3,000 years of African American history in wax.Greenbelt Museum
15 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD 20770 (301) 507-6582. Exhibits in an International-style house furnished with artifacts from the 1930s and 1940s tell the story of Greenbelt, a National Historic Landmark planned community designed and built by the Federal Government during the Great Depression.Green Spring Gardens
4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria, VA. (703) 642-5173. 27-acre public garden, includes the National Witch Hazel Collection.Gum Springs Museum
8100 Fordson Rd., Alexandria, VA (703) 799-1198. Exhibits on an 18th c. community for freed slaves.Heurich House Museum
1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC. (202) 429-1894. This late Victorian mansion was built from 1892-94 by a German brewer and real estate investor.Hillwood Museum and Gardens
4155 Linnean Ave. NW, Georgetown neighborhood, DC (202) 686-5807 . The former home of Marjorie Merriwether Post contains the most comprehensive collection of 18th and 19th century Russian imperial art outside Russia; 18th century decorative arts; and a 25-acre estate with pleasure gardens and special displays of azaleas and orchids.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-2700. Smithsonian Institution museum of modern and contemporary art.Historical Electronics Museum
1745 W. Nursery Rd., Linthicum, MD (410) 765-0230. Displays on radar, telegraphs, submarine sonar, weather satellites, and defense electronics.Historical Society of Washington, DC
801 K Street NW, Mount Vernon Square neighborhood, DC. (202) 383-1800. Exhibitions on the city's history, plus an excellent research library, housed in the former Carnegie Library.Howard University Gallery of Art
2455 6th St. NW, Pleasant Plains neighborhood, DC (202) 806-7070. Educational visual art gallery.Howard University Museum, Moorland Spingarn Research Center
500 Howard Pl. NW, Pleasant Plains neighborhood, DC (202) 806-7239. Photos, art, and documents on African American life and culture.Inter-American Development Bank Cultural Center
1300 New York Ave. NW, Metro Center neighborhood, DC . Rotating exhibitions from the Americas.Interior Museum
1849 C St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 208-4743. Exhibits on park lands, Native American culture, and the American West include a stuffed bison head and bald eagle, some terrific dioramas dating to the 1930s, and a gem and mineral collection. Also sponsors an Indian Craft shop. Tours of the building's New Deal murals and sculpture can be arranged by advance appointment.International Monetary Fund
720 19th St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC . Permanent and rotating exhibits on art and the economy.International Spy Museum
800 F St. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC (202) EYE-SPY-U. "Reveals the stories of real spies from biblical times through today."Jewish Museum of Maryland
15 Lloyd St., Baltimore, MD (410) 732-6400Katzen Arts Center
American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, American University Park neighborhood, DC. (202) 885-1300. Rotating exhibits of contemporary art.Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
Anacostia Ave. and Douglas St. SE, Anacostia neighborhood, DC (202) 426-6905. 700 acres devoted to the propagation and display of aquatic plants, begun by a Civil War veteran. Administered by the National Park Service. Try to visit in August, when the lotuses are in bloom.Koshland Science Museum
500 5th St. NW, Judiciary Square neighborhood, DC. (202) 334-1542. A science museum geared toward adults, operated by the National Academy of Sciences.The Kreeger Museum
2401 Foxhall Rd. NW, Foxhall neighborhood, DC (202) 337-3050. American and European painting and sculpture from the 1850s to the 1970s, plus traditional works of art from west and central Africa. Housed in a Philip Johnson mansion. Group tours only.Laurel Museum
817 Main St., Laurel, MD (301) 725-7975. History museum about the town of Laurel, in an1840s mill workers' house.Lee-Fendall House Museum
614 Oronoco St., Old Town neighborhood, Alexandria, VA (703) 548-1789. Occupied by the Lee family from 1785 to 1903, the home has been restored to its early Victorian elegance.Lillian and Albert Small Jewish Museum and the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington
701 3rd Street NW, Chinatown neighborhood, DC (202) 789-0900. Museum of Washington Jewish history from the mid-19th century to the present day, housed in an 1876 historic synagogue. Open by appointment only.Loudoun Museum
14-16 Loudoun St. SW, Leesburg, VA. (703) 777-7427. American Indian, Revolutionary War, Civil War, and local history objects tell the history of Loudoun County.The Lyceum
201 S. Washington St., Alexandria, VA. Alexandria's history museum contains art and artifacts from colonial times to the present.Madame Tussaud's
1025 F St. NW, Metro Center neighborhood, DC. (888) WAX-INDC. Re-creations of political and entertainment figures in wax.
Manassas Museum
9101 Prince William St., Manassas, VA. (703) 368-1873. American Indian, Colonial, railroad, Civil War, and local history objects tell the history of Manassas.Mansion at Strathmore
10701 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD (301) 581-5200. Gallery and sculpture garden, concert hall. Gallery focuses on work from local artists.Marietta House Museum
5626 Bell Station Rd., Glenn Dale, MD (301) 464-5291. Federal home of US Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Duvall. The house is furnished to reflect 3 generations of Duvall occupancy between 1815 and 1902.Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts
801 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD (410) 263-5544. Rotating exhibits of contemporary arts in the galleries. Also hosts classes and performances.Maryland Historical Society
201 W. Monument St., Baltimore, MD. (410) 685-3750. State history museum.Maryland Science Center
601 Light St., Baltimore, MD (410) 685-5225The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore
Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD (410) 366-LION.Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
1318 Vermont Ave. NW, Shaw neighborhood, DC (202) 673-2402. Former national headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women from 1943 to 1966, named for Bethune, the noted educator, organizer, and political activist. Library and exhibits, run by the National Park Service.Maryland Institute College of Art
1300 Mount Royal Ave., Baltimore, MD (410) 225-2300. Rotating exhibits of contemporary art in the gallery.McLean Project for the Arts
McLean Community Center, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA (703) 790-1953. Rotating exhibits of contemporary art in the gallery; also hosts classes and performances.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna, VA (703) 255-3631x301. 95-acre garden dedicated to native plant diversity. Large ornamental collections surround three lakes.
Meridian International Center
1624 Crescent Pl. NW, Columbia Heights neighborhood, DC (202) 939-5568. Non-profit gallery exhibits art from around the world. Also hosts concerts and outreach programs. Housed in the White-Meyer Mansion.Mexican Cultural Institute
2829 16th St. NW, Adams Morgan neighborhood, DC (202) 728-1628.Montpelier Mansion
Route 197 and Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD (301) 953-1376 . Built in the 1780s, this Georgian-style estate is a National Historic Landmark site. The mansion hosts rotating exhibits in the gallery, performances, and classes.Mount Vernon
George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon, VA (703) 780-2000. Estate and gardens of the nation's first president from 1759 to 1799. Mansion, gardens, Washington's Tomb, museum, and a working farm on 45 acres.
National Academies
Keck Center, 500 5th St. NW and 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC. Exhibits on science and the arts, and other programs open to the public.National Air and Space Museum
6th St. and Independence Ave. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-1552. Smithsonian museum of the history, science, and technology of aviation and space flight. Collections include 1903 Wright flyer, the "Spirit of St. Louis," the Apollo 11 Space Module, and a lunar rock. Also: Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly.
National Aquarium
US Dept. of Commerce, Room B-037, 14th And Constitution Ave. NW, Federal Triangle neighborhood, DC (202) 482-2825. The oldest aquarium in the nation, with over 1,200 creatures from all over the world in 80 tanks.National Aquarium in Baltimore
Pier 3, 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD (410) 576-3800National Arboretum
3501 New York Ave. NE, Langdon/Gateway neighborhood, DC. Extensive grounds include the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, azalea collections, herb garden, native plant collections, the national grove of state trees, and 22 sandstone columns that once held up the east portico of the US Capitol.National Archives
Constitution Ave. between 7th and 9th Sts. NW, National Mall, DC (202) 482-2825 . Exhibiting the original Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, and more. Hosts geneology classes, film series, book talks. Also manages presidential library collections in 7 different states.
National Building Museum
401 F St. NW, Judiciary Square neighborhood, DC (202) 272-2448. Musem of architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning, located in the former Pension building, whose Great Hall features the tallest Corinthian columns in the world.National Capital Trolley Museum
1313 Bonifant Rd., Colesville, MD (301) 384-6088. Collection of 17 streetcars from around the world, including one visitors can ride.
National Colonial Farm
3400 Bryan Point Rd., Accokeek, MD (301) 283-2113 . 18th c. tobacco farm with period buildings and livestock.National Cryptologic Museum
The history of code making and code breaking. Run by the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, MD.National Firearms Museum
11250 Waples Mill Rd., Fairfax, VA (703) 267-1600. The evolution and history of guns in the US. Administered by the National Rifle Association.National Gallery of Art
4th St. at Constitution Ave. NW, National Mall, DC (202) 737-4215. Painting, sculpture, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present. East and West buildings. Also runs an outdoor sculpture garden.
National Geographic Society's Explorers Hall
1145 17th St. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 857-7689. "Past and current expeditions come to life."
National Mall and Memorial Parks
National Park Service site on the DC memorials.National Museum of African Art
950 Independence Ave. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-4600. Smithsonian museum of ancient and contemporary visual arts of the African continent.
National Museum of American Art
8th and G Streets NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC. Collections of American painting, sculpture, folk art, and more. Housed in the former Pension Building, beautifully restored.National Museum of American History
14th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-2700. Historic artifacts that explore the roots of American culture from the Revolutionary period to the Information Age. Part of the Smithsonian Institution.
National Museum of the American Indian
Independence Ave., between 3rd and 4th Sts. SW, National Mall, DC (202) 633-1000 . Art, artifacts, media displays, and gardens tell the history and culture of American Indians, past and present. Part of the Smithsonian Institution.National Museum of American Jewish Military History
1811 R St. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 265-6280. Documents Jewish men and women in the US armed forces, under the auspices of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA.National Museum of Civil War Medicine
48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, MD. (301) 695-1864. Medical equipment, photographs, camp re-creations and memorabilia from Civil War hospitals.National Museum of Crime and Punishment
575 7th St. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC. (202) 393-1099. The history of crime and punishment, from pirates, Wild West outlaws, serial killers and gangsters, to white-collar computer hackers. Includes an "America's Most Wanted" studio.National Museum of Dentistry
31 S. Greene St. (at Lombard), Baltimore, MD. (410) 706-0600. 40,000 artifacts relating to dentistry, including antique dental tools, famous dentures (including George Washington's), photos of circus "iron jaw" performers, tooth fairy memorabilia, toothbrushes from 6,000 years ago to the present, and silkscreen prints by Andy Warhol of St. Apollonia, the patron saint of dentistry.National Museum of Health & Medicine
2500 Linden Lane, Forest Glen neighborhood, Silver Spring, MD (301) 319-3300. Collection includes leeches, microscopes from the 1600s, kidney stones, a brain in formaldehyde, the bullet that took Abraham Lincoln's life, and more.National Museum of Language
7100 Baltimore Ave., College Park, MD (301) 864-7071. Exhibits on world languages.
National Museum of Natural History
Constitution Ave. at 10th St. NW, National Mall, DC (202) 357-2700. Smithsonian museum "dedicated to understanding the natural world and our place in it."
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC (202) 783-5000 . The only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to recognizing the contribution of women artists.
National Portrait Gallery
F St. at 8th St. NW, Gallery Place neighborhood, DC (202) 275-1738. Collection of portraiture in all media, housed in the beautifully-renovated former Pension Building.
National Postal Museum
2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Union Station neighborhood, DC (202) 357-2991. Exhibits on moving the mail, the art of cards and letters, stamps and philately. Part of the Smithsonian Institution.
National Zoological Park
3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Woodley Park neighborhood, DC (202) 673-4717. "We study, celebrate, and help protect the diversity of animals and their habitats." Collection includes Chinese pandas, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers, orangutans, and more. Part of the Smithsonian Institution.
Naval Heritage Center
US Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Archives neighborhood, DC. (202) 737-2300. Ship models, artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia.The Navy Museum
Washington Navy Yard, 11th and O Streets SE, DC. (202) 433-6897. Preserves and interprets Navy history. Also runs an Art Gallery with paintings and sculpture on naval themes. In addition, visitors to the Navy Yard can tour the USS Barry.
The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Archives neighborhood, DC (888) 639-7386. Exhibits on the media, including Pulitzer-Prize winning photos.
The Octagon, Museum of the American Architectural Foundation
1799 New York Ave. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC (202) 638-3221. Historic house museum designed in 1899 by William Thornton (the first architect of the US Capitol) for the Taylor family. One of the earliest residences in the nation's capitol and an outstanding example of Federal period architecture; exhibit space continues next door in the AIA Blg.The Old Guard Museum
249 Sheridan Ave., Fort Myer, Arlington, VA (703) 696-6670. The Old Guard is the Army's ceremonial unit and escort to the US President. The museum honors their history.
Old Post Office Tower
Pennsylvania Ave. and 12th St. NW, Federal Triangle neighborhood, DC. Tours of the tower offer magnificent vistas over the city. Administered by the National Park Service.The Old Stone House
3051 M St. NW, Georgetown neighborhood, DC (202) 426-6851. Historic house museum and garden; one of the oldest houses in DC. National Park Service site.Oxon Hill Farm
6411 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, MD (301) 839-1176. 512-acre working 19th c. farm, administered by the National Park Service.
Palisades Museum of Prehistory
Promotes the awareness, careful collection, and preservation of prehistoric artifacts on non-governmental lands in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington, DC.Patuxent Rural Museums
1600 Croom Airport Rd., Upper Marlboro, MD (301) 627-6074. Patuxent River Park, the Duvall Tool Museum, the Tobacco Farming Museum, a model Sears house, log cabin, and more.The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 387-2151. America's first museum of modern art, open since 1921.
Pierce Mill
Rock Creek Park at Park Road, DC (202) 426-6908. Historic grist mill on Rock Creek, administered by the National Park Service.Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
3900 Harewood Rd. NE, Brookland neighborhood, DC (202) 635-5400. Permanent and rotating exhibits, interactive gallery, cafe, Polish heritage room, and children's gallery, dedicated to exploring the "role of faith in the new millenium."Poplar Hill on His Lordship's Kindness
7606 Woodyard Rd., Clinton, MD (301) 856-0358. A Georgian mansion completed in 1787, with original outbuildings and a carriage collection. This National Historic Landmark site was home to a US Senator, a US Ambassador, and local Justices.Port Discovery
35 Market Place, Baltimore, MD (410) 727-8120. Children's interactive museum.President Lincoln's Cottage and Soldier's Home National Monument
Eagle Gate, Rock Creek Church Rd. and Upshur Street NW, Petworth neighborhood, DC (202) 829-0436. Lincoln's summer White House, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.Radio and Television Museum
2608 Mitchellville Rd., Bowie, MD. (301) 390-1020 or (301) 809-3088. Vintage radios and TVs and related memorabilia.Ratcliffe-Allison House and Kitty Pozer Garden
10386 Main St., Fairfax, VA (703) 385-8414. Fairfax city's oldest residence was built in 1812.Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture
830 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD (410) 333-1138. State museum of the African diaspora.Renwick Gallery
17th St. at Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Lafayette Square neighborhood, DC (202) 357-2700. Smithsonian museum of American fine crafts from the 19th to the 21st century.Ripley Center
Smithsonian Institution, 1100 Jefferson Dr. SW, National Mall, DC. (202) 633-1000.
Riverside, the Calvert Mansion
4811 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park, MD (301) 864-0420. An early 1800s mansion that was home to the Calvert family.Rock Creek Nature Center
5200 Glover Rd. NW, DC (202) 426-6829. Exhibits, films, and hands-on activities, sponsored by the National Park Service.Sandy Spring Museum
17901 Bentley Rd., Sandy Spring, MD (301) 774-0022. Exhibits on the history of Sandy Spring, settled by Quakers in the 1720s.
Sewall-Belmont House
144 Constitution Ave. NE, Capitol Hill neighborhood, DC (202) 546-1210. Historic 1799 headquarters of the National Women's Party. One of the premier women's history sites in the US, the house contains exhibits on suffrage and equal rights.The Society of the Cincinnati Museum at Anderson House
2118 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 785-2040. 1905 Beaux Arts mansion with period furniture. Also houses a collection of objects related to the American Revolution.The Squished Penny Museum
Online museum whose aim is to "capture and convey to the fun-oriented public the spirit and history behind the creation and collection of squished pennies throughout the world."Sotterly Plantation
44300 Sotterly Lane, Hollywood, MD (301) 373-2280. Historic house museum.Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
105-107 S. Fairfax St., Old Town, Alexandria, VA (703) 746-3852.Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly, VA. (202) 357-2700. Over 80 aircraft and dozens of space artifacts on display. Part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.Sully Historic Site
3601 Sully Rd., Chantilly, VA (703) 437-1794. The 1794 home of northern Virginia's first congressman Richard Bland Lee, his family and slaves. House, gardens, slave quarters, and the original 18th c. kitchen-laundry, smokehouse, and stone dairy.Supreme Court of the United States
East Capitol and First Streets NE, Capitol Hill neighborhood, DC (202) 479-3030Surratt House Museum
9118 Brandywine Rd., Clinton, MD (301) 868-1121. Period rooms in a 1852 middle-class house, which served as a hostelry and post office as well as a private home. The house came to fame when the Surratt family became involved with John Wilkes Booth in the plot against President Lincoln.The Textile Museum
2320 S St. NW, Dupont Circle neighborhood, DC (202) 667-0441. Fiber arts from around the world. Exhibits, library, learning center, family days, and more.
Torpedo Factory Art Center
105 N. Union St., Old Town neighborhood, Alexandria, VA. 165 artists in 83 working studios and 6 galleries housed in a former munitions factory in Old Town Alexandria.Tudor Place Museum and Gardens
1644 31st St. NW, Georgetown neighborhood, DC (202) 965-0400. 1816 neoclassical mansion and 5.5 acre garden, built by Martha Washington's granddaughter. Displays 6 generations of family furnishings.University of Maryland Driskell Center
Cole Student Activities Blg., College Park, MD (301) 314-2615.University of Maryland University College
Marriott Inn & Conference Center, 2501 E. University Blvd., Adelphi, MD (301) 985-7300. Rotating exhibits in the galleries by artists with strong Maryland ties.
US Botanic Garden
1st St. SW between Maryland Ave. and C St., National Mall, DC (202) 225-8333 . Conservatory and adjacent Bartholdi Park. Oldest botanic gardens in North America. Tropical, subtropical, and arid collections.
US Capitol
East Capitol St. and First St. NW, Capitol Hill neighborhood, DC (202) 225-6827. Tours on the architecture, art, and function of the seat of US government and one of the most widely recognized buildings in the world. New visitor center.US Government Printing Office
732 N. Capitol St. NW, Union Station neighborhood, DC. (202) 512-0000.US Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl. SW, just off the National Mall, DC (202) 488-0400. America's national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history. Exhibits, memorial, teacher resources, films, concerts, book signings, Days of Remembrance, and more.
US Naval Observatory
Massachusetts Avenue at 34th St. NW, Glover Park neighborhood, DC. Tours of the observatory offered to groups on a limited basis.US Navy Museum
Washington Navy Yard, Building 76, 805 Kidder Breese SE, DC. (202) 433-6897. Exhibits on navy history; advance reservations required.US State Department Diplomatic Reception Rooms
2201 C St. NW, Foggy Bottom neighborhood, DC. Guided tours of art, furniture, and interior design.The Walters Art Museum
600 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD. (410) 547-9000. Eyptian, Greek, and Roman antiquities, Byzantine silver, medieval armor, Faberge eggs, and 16th through 19th c. paintings and sculpture. Also Asian art at Hackerman House.Washington County Museum of Fine Arts
91 Key St., Hagerstown, MD (301) 739-5727Washington National Cathedral
Massachusetts and Wisconsin Avenues NW, DC. Sculpture, mosaics, and the best gargoyles in the city. Also hosts concerts, lectures, and other programs, and has extensive gardens.The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Lafayette Park neighborhood, DC (202) 208-1631 or (202) 456-7041. Tours of the history, art, and architecture of the home of the US President. Designed in 1792 by James Hoban, the house was first occupied in 1800 by President John Adams. State rooms are open to the public; tickets available at the Visitor's Center at 15th & E Streets NW, beginning at 7:30 am.William Paca House and Garden
186 Prince George St., Annapolis, MD (410) 267-7619. 18th c. Georgian mansion and garden, built by a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Woodlawn Mansion and Frank Lloyd Wright's Pope-Leighey House
9000 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, VA (703) 780-4000. Woodlawn is an 1805 Federal-era mansion. On the same property, the 1940 Pope-Leighey house is a Usonian home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.Woodrow Wilson House
2340 S St. NW, Dupont Circle/Kalorama neighborhood, DC (202) 387-4062. Presidential museum of Wilson's former home (occupied after he left the White House in 1921).
Literary Museums in the Region can be found HERE.