If you go to Washington DC for one thing, go for the museums. If you don’t usually have museums on your itinerary when you visit a big city in the US, make sure to change that when you go to Washington DC. One of the most incredible things about the majority of the major museums in Washington DC is that they are free! From the Smithsonian museums to the Holocaust museum to the National Gallery of Art. I will admit that when we travel it is usually to get into the mountains. The quiet and solitude is something we search out, but sometimes we love going to the big city. Usually this means exploring anything outdoors or their food scene. This was different.

Once we finally decided to go and had our tickets booked, my planning mind started researching all the museums we could go to. With 41 free museums and attractions to choose from you will have plenty to see!

The Best Museums in Washington DC

Of course we didn’t get to them all, but we got to the top ones that we wanted to see and we highly suggest them! After the first, they are in no particular order. It really comes down to figuring out what you are really interested in seeing and learning about and then finding that museum. Because there is definitely a museum for it. Each has different requirements to get in. From timed reservations, general reservations and just walking in through a metal detector.

1. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The first museum we have listed is one that I think every person should experience. A museum that affected the world and a time that should not be forgotten or allowed to happen again. It was eye opening, emotional and very informative.

There are three floors of exhibits, pictures, videos and replicas.

You learn how Nazi Germany was formed, the start of the ghettos and concentration camps, to the war and aftermath. You learn about the heroes, who risked their lives for others and for their people. Heroes who fought to the end of madness.

The famous exhibit of the shoes and belongings was not there but a picture of the hair of all the victims was a lot to take in.

There was also a recreation of what it would have looked like for individuals to arrive at the concentration camp who were to be taken directly into the gas chambers and then where their bodies were disposed.

It was a very moving experience. The hardest part was listening to some of the stories at the Nuremberg Trials. Families watching loved ones murdered in front of them, parents separated from their children and the way they had to live to try and survive.

Tips: You need a reservation to enter the museum and you will have to go through a metal detector. To get a reservation confirmation go here: Tickets

2. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

The National Museum of Natural History was another top museum that I wanted to see in Washington DC. This museum is huge and it is okay if you can’t see if everything in a day or you want to only see a few and then come back as there are no reservations needed. You can walk in through a metal detector during their open hours.

There are multiple exhibits: African Bush Elephant, African Voices, Barro Colorado Island 100 Years of Discoveries and Wonder, Bone Hall, Butterly Pavilion, Cellphone: Unseen Connections, Hall of Fossils – Deep Time, Hall of Human Origins, Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt, Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals, Hall of Mammals, Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky, Mega-Toothed Shark and Nature of the Book.

We chose three areas to check out.

Hall of Fossils – Deep Time (First Floor)

I have always been fascinated with dinosaurs. From a child, I always wanted to be an Archeologist. Although, I think every kid might have a short time that they wanted to be one. It is incredible to me that these animals walked the same land we live on today.

It was a large exhibit with replicas, videos and stories

Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals

This is your chance to see the Hope Diamond. A 45.52 carats diamond.

Their collections of gems, minerals, rocks, etc. is incredible. From all over the world. Rocks we had never seen before and minerals we didn’t know existed. The third picture is crazy. It is the oldest material you can see. It is older than the solar system we live in.

“The milky liquid in this vial contains tiny diamonds forged in the explosion of a dying star. Blasted across space, they were incorporated in the cloud that gave birth to our solar system and were preserved inside a meteorite that fell to Earth in 1969.”

This almost felt like 3 exhibits in one. It will take some time!

Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky

We are, at a very slow rate, blinding ourselves to the night sky. Light pollution affects many different things. Our ability to see the stars and planets, bird flight patterns and connecting with the night are all things that are affected by light.

3. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

This was a fun museum. Talk about something that you learn a little about in school but I wasn’t interested in at the time. It starts from the beginning of flight. The trials and tribulations that the Wright Brothers went through. Then seeing how quickly we went from learning to fly to reaching outer space. Can you guess how long it took? It was only 66 years!

There are two floors of exploring to do. You can see replicas of some of the first commercial flights. They had the same look as trains did. Spacious seating, sections and luggage compartments. The third picture is a sample of the Wright Flyer wood and fabric. It was brought to space on the Apollo 11 in 1969.

4. National Portrait Gallery in the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Two in one. We wanted to see the National Portrait Gallery and we were pleasantly surprised to see that it was in the same building and mixed within the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Just like the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History there is no reservation or tickets required to enter. Enter at any time. It is one of the most beautiful buildings inside.

Our favorite exhibit was the presidents, civil rights, American history and modern times.

Where are we adventuring next? Subscribe to not miss a destination!

Love to pin, use this one!