List of museums in Washington, D.C.

This list of museums in Washington, D.C. encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are university and non-profit art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included. The present list numbers 82 museums.

Museums

Name Image Sponsoring Institution Type Summary African American Civil War Memorial Museum National Mall and Memorial Parks African American history History of the African American soldiers and sailors who fought for the Union in the United States Civil War American University Museum American University Art Regional, national, and international contemporary art Anacostia Community Museum Smithsonian Institution African American history Local history and culture Anderson House Society of the Cincinnati Historic house Early 1900s palatial residence with period furnishings, Society artifacts, portraits, armaments, and personal artifacts of Revolutionary War soldiers Art Museum of the Americas Organization of American States Art Museum for modern and contemporary Latin American and Caribbean art Arts and Industries Building Smithsonian Institution History/Science A national space to explore ideas and questions about the futureBelmont–Paul Women's Equality National MonumentNational Park ServiceHistoric house – HistoryU.S. women's suffrage and equal-rights movements Charles Sumner School Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives History One of the first public school buildings erected for the education of Washington's black community Chinese American Museum DC Independent American History History, culture, arts, accomplishments, and contributions of Chinese AmericansClara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum Independent HistoryRestored building that served as Clara Barton's Civil War apartment and later the Missing Soldiers Office (run by Barton)DACOR Bacon HouseDACORHistoric houseEarly 19th century historic residence. It has been adapted from a historic home into a private club and office space by Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired (DACOR) and the DACOR–Bacon House Foundation. DAR Museum Daughters of the American Revolution Art Features 30 period rooms of decorative arts including furniture, silver, paintings, ceramics, textiles, toys, quilts Decatur House White House Historical Association Historic house Early 19th-century house with exhibits about the White House Dumbarton House The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America Historic houseEarly 19th century period house and headquarters Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection Dumbarton Oaks Library Exhibits of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art and European masterpieces from its collections Folger Shakespeare Library Independent Library Exhibits from its collections about William Shakespeare Ford's Theatre National Historic Site National Park Service History Site of assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, includes theater presentation, Lincoln museum, and Petersen House where he was taken Frederick Douglass National Historic Site National Park Service Historic house Home and estate of Frederick Douglass, one of the most prominent African Americans of the 19th century General Federation of Women's Clubs Headquarters General Federation of Women's Clubs Historic house Tours of the social clubhouse headquarters, changing exhibits of art, photographs and artifacts from its collections George Washington University Art Galleries George Washington University Art Two galleries, includes painting, sculpture, and photographs, ranging from rare historic pieces to Washingtoniana and Americana to modern art Georgetown University Art Galleries Georgetown University Art Located in the Walsh building and around the Georgetown campus German-American Heritage Museum of the USA German-American Heritage Foundation of the USA Ethnic German American German-American history and culture, housed in a Victorian townhouse Go-Go MuseumIndependent Music Dedicated to Go-Go music, a variety of funk music developed in Washington D.C. Heurich House Museum Independent Historic house Gilded Age mansion with early household innovations Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens Independent Decorative arts Estate and gardens of Marjorie Merriweather Post, rooms decorated with her collections of 18th- and 19th-century French art, china and art treasures from Imperial Russia Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Smithsonian Institution Art Contemporary and modern art Historical Society of Washington, D.C. Independent History, Library Exhibits of the city's history from its collectionsHouse of the TempleAncient and Accepted Scottish Rite of FreemasonryMasonicMasonic principles of personal, social and intellectual freedom, artifacts of American history, Masonic regalia and memorabilia Howard University Gallery of Art Howard University Art Located in Childers Hall, home of the Fine Arts Division of the College of Arts and Sciences Interior Museum United States Department of the Interior History Activities of the agencies of the United States Department of the Interior, including the National Park Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and United States Geological Survey International Spy MuseumIndependent History Espionage history, artifacts, famous figuresItalian American MuseumCasa Italiana Sociocultural CenterHistoryCollection of art, artifacts, and oral histories depicting the lives of Italian-American immigrants Kreeger Museum Independent Art 19th- and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by internationally known artists, works by local Washington artists, traditional west and central African art L. Ron Hubbard House Church of Scientology Historic house Residence of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard from 1955 until 1959 Library of Congress Library of Congress Library Exhibits from its collections in American history, culture and art Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum Independent Ethnic – Jewish history History of the local Jewish community; preserves the oldest synagogue building in the Washington, D.C., area; operated by the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington Lincoln Memorial National Park Service History Includes displays about the building of the Memorial and some of Lincoln's phrases Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site National Park Service Historic house Home of educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune Meridian House Meridian International Center Art Exhibitions of paintings, photographs, sculptures, videos, and crafts that reflect various aspects of American culture to encourage foreign understanding Museum of the Bible National Christian Foundation ReligiousDocuments the narrative, history and impact of the Bible Museum of the Palestinian PeopleHistoryExhibits Palestinian artifacts, artwork, and history National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian Institution Aerospace History and science of aviation and spaceflight, as well as planetary science and terrestrial geology and geophysics National Archives National Archives and Records Administration Archives / History Exhibits from its collections including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and a copy of the 1297 Magna Carta confirmed by Edward I National Bonsai and Penjing Museum National Bonsai Foundation Natural history Located on the campus of the United States National Arboretum, Bonsai and Penjing botanical specimens and displays National Building Museum Independent Architecture Exhibits about architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning National Children's Museum Independent Children'sServes children up to age 12 and their families through interactive exhibits exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math. National Deaf Life Museum Gallaudet University Culture/history Permanent and rotating exhibits chronicling deaf culture and history National Gallery of Art Independent Art Paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, sculpture, medals, and decorative arts that trace the development of Western Art from the Middle Ages to the present National Geographic Museum National Geographic Society Natural history Operated by the National Geographic Society, changing exhibits of photography, natural history, culture and history National Guard Memorial Museum National Guard (United States) Military History of the National Guard of the United States from the Revolutionary War era to post-9/11 eraNational Law Enforcement MuseumNational Law Enforcement Officers Memorial FundHistory/