This museum is so magical!…read more Our group of nine had a blast weaving our way from room to room. The museum is equally fun for kids and adults with topics like language, reading, translation and karaoke to make a few. Everything was so well thought out and interactive. I couldn't get enough of the library room where books come to life with video-like illustrations building off the pages. It felt like we were transported into Belle's massive and dreamy library from Beauty and the Beast complete with a secret hidden room off the side (tucked behind a bookcase door). We had kids ages 2-5 and it was perfect for them. Note that you'll need to park strollers in the basement level. To top it all off, we had a fabulous lunch at Immigrant Food located on the lower level. Oh, how could I forget to mention that the museum is free? Amazing!

Funny story - I was looking for kid-friendly ideas of things to do in DC and asked ChatGPT for…read moreideas. One of the responses was the Planet Word museum, which I never heard of. I looked it up and decided to try it! They recommend you get timed passes online ahead of time; it's free but they do recommend a donation. This museum is SO COOL! As someone who loves different languages and words I loved everything about this place! My kids loved all of the interactivity. There is a room with an interactive word wall and you can interact and answer and request more info on the history of certain words. For example, I learned that "ketchup" was named after a Chinese sauce even though they are not similar. There is also a magical library room where you can pick a book off the shelf and place it on a book holder and the book is read to you. There are also mirror shadow boxes that come to life if you read the inscription. Finally, the kids loved the karaoke room - you select a song and as you sing along you see the types of parts of speech at play in the song. Great experience, would for sure recommend and go back!

Had a wonderful time here. This was the top museum we wanted to visit on our trip to DC. I could…read morehave stayed and wandered for hours, but I let my kids lead the way. Some of the things I thought for sure they would love, were not a hit as I had expected: namely dinosaur bones and the animal displays- but it was also very crowded and a lot to take in. Every where we turned there was more info, more interesting things to see- beautiful, fascinating, interesting- but I think it can be overwhelming- it is almost too much, if that is possible! We had to pace ourselves. A museum is designed for all ages in mind, so it is difficult to know what exhibits will appeal to whom. The part my kids loved the most was the live bug displays. So many species, and so fun to try to find each creature. We stayed here a long time. The exhbits are built with children in mind, many at eye level for little ones. The exhibits with glow in the dark species were so fun! I had to block the way at the end of the exhibit so they didn't move into the mummy section, as just seeing the hint of this display really scared them. I had a blast in the gems section, but my kids were not as excited about this section as I had hoped. We had to take breaks by going to the eatery on site, perusing the gift shop (I let them fill a bag of gems, which was incredibly exciting for them!), and chill out watching a documentary in a screening area.

What a great museum! How can you not love going here? I didn't have time to read a lot or explore…read moretoo many things in detail, but walking through, I could tell I wanted to come back. It has a decent layout and the maps guide you to the various areas nicely. Obviously dinosaurs are cool and prevalent in any Natural History museum. But they had lots of other cool things too. Probably the biggest draw is the Hope Diamond... It's big and beautiful diamond (BBD) and just something you should check out if you're here. This is one of the more popular of the museums straddling the National Mall, so plan accordingly if you want to get in and spend more time exploring. The crowds can get a little crazy. I got there at 3p and there was a line to get in.

I visited the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream last weekend with my husband, and it…read morewas interesting. So what is it? It's a new museum that opened in the fall of 2025, just steps from the White House and the U.S. Treasury. It touts itself as an interactive museum which highlights the successes of American capitalism, entrepreneurship, and financial and banking institutions. The museum's namesake is Michael Milken, who partly curated and controls the museum. Located in five historic buildings, rumor has it the museum cost $500 million. Exploring the museum, I was conflicted. I love museums, and I think you should keep an open mind and learn what you can everywhere, from anyone, for your whole life. I value curiosity and critical thinking above many other things. However, this is definitely a museum with a point of view, and it's probably good to know that going in. Michael Milken is an American financier mostly known for his role in the development of the market for high-yield bonds (junk bonds), leading to his reputation as the "Junk Bond King," and his conviction and sentence on felony charges for violating securities laws. He was sentenced to 10 years (he served 2) and fined $600 million. He was pardoned by President Trump in 2020 and is considered to be one of the wealthiest people in the world (with an estimated net worth of $6 billion). None of this is to say you can't enjoy or learn from or even love the Milken Center. I just think it's relevant information to know going in as the museum deals with American financial markets and capitalism. I certainly wouldn't recommend taking your most progressive or democratic socialist friends to this museum. The museum is free to visit, but you do need to make an reservation for a timed entry (I'm not sure why, because they were not busy at all on a Sunday afternoon when we visited). There is an add on experience (the Holodeck Experience) which has an associated cost of $15 per person. We probably spent an hour and a half at the museum. You can certainly see where they spent the alleged $500 million. It's shiny and new and has lots of interactive aspects and exhibits. If you're into historical artifacts, this is not the museum for you. (They did have an iron lung, and since I'd only ever seen one other, that was a pretty interesting artifact to see.) This museum is full of videos and holograms and signs (and some art as well) but light on artifacts for sure. We wandered around the museum, not really sure what the highlights were that we shouldn't miss (we ended up missing the hologram gallery that many other reviews mention). Most of the financial floors of the museum weren't of very much interest to me, although I could see how it would be interesting/educational for kids (for example, there was an interactive quiz where you choose how much a young person with their first job should save, spend on trips, etc., and then you see how well they're doing after a bit of time). The highlights of the museum for me were the building itself and the art. The Basil Kincaid quilts are massive and and jaw dropping where they hang over the Tree of Generations. And two art-related exhibits really caught my attention: "Celebrating 250 Years: A Journey Through America with Robert Freimark" (which showcased abstract prints the artist made, each representing one of the 50 states) and "Visualizing Impact" (an exhibit showcasing art made by young artists in grades 6-12 focus on unsung heroes in history). We also did the Holodeck Experience - the add on experience for $15 per person. From their website: "It's more than just a movie--it's an unforgettable multisensory adventure held in a unique 360-degree megapixel environment. You're invited to embark on a new journey in the Perpetual Story Machine by Moment Factory, a mind-bending fusion of technology and imagination. Dive into stories of perseverance, innovation, determination, and mentorship at the breathtaking Kenneth C. Griffin Holodeck Experience. Are you ready to take the leap?" That's vague, but it's a hard experience to describe. I actually think children might enjoy it more than adults, because we found it a little silly (especially the parts where you have to "help" the Machine before the more movie-like part begins). We were alone at the experience, so it there were two staff members for the two of us. I did learn about three very different and interesting American experiences, but ultimately I found it a bit cheesy. The Milken Center is free, so I encourage anyone with some spare time to check it out for themselves. But it's not the museum for me. Some of the smaller art exhibits caught my eye, but the majority of the museum felt a bit off to me. Maybe I'm just not into these newer "museums" without artifacts. More like immersive experiences with informational signs. I doubt I'll be back, but you might get more out of it or enjoy more than I did. Who knows?

Heart this museum that use to be the Riggs National Bank built in 1899 and is also known as the…read morepresidents bank of which over half of the U.S. presidents use to bank. It's steps from the White House and U.S. Treasury. Heart the interactive museum that celebrates the successes of entrepreneurs and the opportunities, innovation and statements and videos of personal achievements. The museum has photos, original documents from the past history of the bank, and two original bank vaults. The tree of generations greets you as you enter the main floor and is interactive, so you and your family can post instantly your digital pic. I recommend this museum to everyone and you'll feel inspired & motivated after visiting this new museum.

The Art Museum is a sight to behold, pun intended! Where else can you go to see all these amazing…read moreworks of art under one roof? I loved the comfortable seating areas offered all throughout the museum. This gave me the opportunity to really reflect on what message the artist was trying to convey. Can't wait to go back again!

They should call this the Butts, Boobs, Balls, and Bare Feet museum. With that being said, they…read morehave some other cool art here for sure... Some Da Vinci stuff, modern art (in the east building), statues, furniture, and paintings galore. Every piece is displayed in a way that brings out the colors and life of them. The lighting people here must keep busy. It's amazing how old they are and how good they look, with zero plastic surgery... although I'm sure there's some restoration happening. This sentence fits the "things you can say about art that you can't say about your partner" category. This was probably the most difficult museum to navigate though. There's no clear way to see every room as you'll be going different directions, through different doors, hitting dead ends, and at certain points, going the wrong way even though there's not logical order to exploring. I used the paper map to make sure I saw everything... and it was a lot of work to do so. One thing that was interesting that for people wearing backpacks, the staff made them wear them on the front like they were human kangaroos... which is brilliant as people are F'ing idiots swinging them around without any care in the world if they're going to hit something (they should do this on airplanes too, BTW). So my advice, leave the backpack in the car or the hotel unless you really need all that crap with you. I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this museum or not, but ended up really appreciating the beauty of some of the artwork. Moreso with the Oil Paintings on the 2nd floor of the middle building. And that Da Vinci painting in person... pics don't do it justice. Italians just do it better, I guess...

What a beautiful and easily access Botanical garden. There are several areas for each of the plants…read morelike tropical, desert, Hawaii, etc. Great place to sit and enjoy the flowers and some shades after a long day of walking around the national mall or capitol hill.

Never having been to the botanical gardens in DC, I decided to venture there with a friend. I don't…read moreknow what I was expecting, but the vastness of the plants and climate regions were shocking--as well as the humidity of the inside. Overall, the gardens is something to visit. However, (and maybe it was just us) the way one ventures thru the different areas/rooms was confusing as it felt as though when we left one area for another, we missed out on other areas. It wasn't an easy "loop" to follow.

The Hirshhorn offers a distinct contrast to the National Gallery of Art, and its rotating exhibits…read morehelp keep each visit feeling fresh. Some of the outdoor sculptures were visible, though a few pieces were either being relocated or blocked off. There were not many, so it made for a quick walk around the circular exterior. Upon entering, we went through security, which led into the main lobby where there is also a café. The coffee was both expensive and underwhelming, so I would recommend grabbing a drink elsewhere. The museum has three floors, and I found it easiest to start at the top and work your way down. *Laurie Anderson Four Talks: one of my favorite exhibits. The installation was fully immersive, covering the entire room. The writing and drawings across all four walls really brought the concept together. *Adam Pendleton Love Queen: a visually striking exhibit that transitions into a black and white video. While the artwork itself did not resonate with me as much, the video left both me and other visitors in a quiet, reflective state. *Revolutions Art from the Hirshhorn Collection: more traditional in style and subject matter. I did wish there was more context provided for some of the pieces, especially the sculptures, as a few lacked historical explanation. *Basquiat x Banksy: a more modern collection that reflects themes of racial and class divide. The bold colors and strong perspectives made this one of the more engaging sections. *Big Things For Big Rooms: a bit too literal for my taste, as it largely consisted of oversized objects without much added depth. *Mark Bradford Pickett's Charge: an older but well maintained exhibit. The circular layout of the museum complemented the work nicely. The textures and use of color were particularly compelling. The gift shop offered a wide range of items, including pieces inspired by past exhibitions and collaborations. I especially liked the Basquiat and Banksy merchandise, though it was nice to see representation from other collections as well. Overall, this is an easy museum to explore in one visit. I wish I could have seen the updated sculpture garden, but the rotating exhibits alone make it worth coming back.

This is a pretty cool museum, but they REALLY overhyped the Basquiat x Banksy collaboration. There…read morewas one piece of Banksy art which was a take on a Basquiat piece. The Basquiat collection was also pretty sparse. Mr. Smithsonian should be ashamed. I hope he's looking up and reading this. The museum's upper floors are 2 concentric circles so I'd recommend doing 2 loops around to avoid missing anything. There were displays with videos, lights, paint, and other media. I enjoyed exploring. The sculpture garden was closed when I was there, so I was unable to see anything there. I also don't know what was on the ground floor besides the entrance and the cafe. Seemed like something else should have been there. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ It's worth a visit for sure and I enjoyed my time. But I was drawn in by the false hype.

I tend to forgot that we have these types of museums available to us for free in the area!…read more It's always a lovely experience to go to the National Portrait Gallery and such a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

I went all the way downtown in the 96 degree weather only to find that the two Edmonia Lewis pieces…read morewere not on display. Thank God I did not come from out of town. National Portrait Gallery should be well aware that Lewis's work and life's story have regained motion and interest from a new community of art enthusiasts. Mary Edmonia Lewis, also called "Wildfire", was an American sculptor. Born in Upstate New York of mixed African American and Native American heritage. Born a free woman, she still had a very challenging but rewarding life. Her brother struck gold and was able to provide for her. Edmonia's art secured her a place at Oberlin University, where she faced a lot of mistreatment and discrimination. They accused her of poisoning two female students, never proven, however, she was dragged into the woods by a group of men and brutally assaulted. She was tough, hanging in there at Oberlin for one additional year only to be accused of stealing art supplies. After this final accusation she finally left without finishing her degree. She is known for her Neoclassical marble sculptures and the two that were supposed to be on site at the National Portrait Gallery were "Young Octavian" and "Poor Cupid". No one could believe that Edomonia was making these amazing pieces, so often times she would sculpt in public to prove nay-sayers wrong. One of her most striking pieces, "The Death of Cleopatra" created in 1876, a massive work that portrayed the Egyptian Queen dead, slouched down with her mouth open on her throne. No one could deny that this work wasn't conversation worthy. Many of her contemporaries had created Cleopatra, but not like this! As a great artist never truly getting her just due, somehow, "Blind John" Condon, a gambler purchased this piece from a saloon to mark the grave of a racehorse named "Cleopatra". Located in the Chicago suburb of Forest Park, found muddy and smeared with graffiti, the piece remained there unknown for nearly a century. She lived and sculpted in Rome, Paris, and finished the last of her days in London. She died of chronic kidney failure (Bright's disease) in 1907. It's only in recent years that Edmonia has been given her flowers many years after her death, Oberlin College made the decision to award the trailblazing sculptor a posthumous diploma instead of an honorary degree. National Portrait Gallery I just want to see the pieces. I saw empty spaces on the 3rd floor of row section 20a and I knew that this is where Edmonia's works should have been. Highly disappointed; until then I'll be waiting.

I purposely visited recently (winter season) because entrance to the gardens is free, otherwise…read moreit's $15. The gardens are interesting even in the cold months. The couple most closely associated with this Georgetown estate, Mildred and Robert Bliss, clearly loved and thought deeply about this parcel of land when they owned it (1920/30's). Their efforts to preserve and share the space with the public are to be commended. It must have been quite something in its heyday. There's a lot of research that's supported here, as well as other activities. The website explains all that. It's a low-key sightseeing spot; quiet, contemplative.

Most everyone in my office is off today due to the holiday, so I mad a plan to visit this museum…read more I also wanted to see the adjoining garden, but it doesn't open until much later in the afternoon. They have quite a few notable collections that I liked. The Byzantine Collection featured different artwork from the fifteenth cwntury. There were also several large sculptures that originated from the Byzantium empire which is known as Istanbul today. According to their information, the museum is continuously acquiring different works if art from this time period. There were also some pretty cool grave markers dating back to the 11th century. The museum is sort of hidden off of the main avenue in Georgetown so you will probably need to search for it. It is also free and open most days to the general public.

I enjoyed this museum. It's located in The National Mall of D.C. and has free admission. I believe…read moreit's open every day of the week. It was one of the museums open until 11 p.m. for the weekend of Juneteenth as part of the country's 250th national birthday celebration and summer solstice. I will definitely be back to explore the exhibits and all it has to offer because I only experienced one floor during my first visit June 2026. I was here under two hours and you need way more time to explore all floors of the museum. This museum is an eclectic mix of archives and info that represents different parts of the United States of America. I don't know if "history" is the right description or name for it. The museum seems to provide random factoids and capture iconic eras and everyday parts of life, even for modern times. Maybe National Museum of the American "Culture" or "Zeitgeist" would be a fitting title. There's a section dedicated to aquatic life, American automobile history, Latin America, food, and other exhibits I've yet to see. America's a mixture of cultures and people and influences that have contributed to its history, politics, and current way of being. The museum represents that interesting mix.

This was an interesting visit, and not the most successful of the museums we visited. My children…read moredidn't like this one at all. The one thing I wanted to see wasn't in rotation (Horn & Hardart restaurant). The displays were not excited to my kids in the least, and in the entertainment department they ended up wandering into the small rooms showing footage of racist clips- yikes! The museum was underwhelming- with vast empty spaces in between exhibits. Some of the formatting of the exhibits seemed designed to elicit a feeling or opinion and less about the audience making their own observations. I enjoyed seeing Julia Child's kitchen recreation and all of the information about her life- that was fun- but I went by myself. The kids did have fun in the innovation lab on the first floor, which had a lot of interesting hands on things for kids to do. They spent at least an hour here before tiring out. I would definitely take them back to the

I've been to the Museum of Illusions DC before, but this was my first time bringing my niece and…read morenephew. I realized afterward that there aren't many reviews mentioning how great it is for kids. I honestly thought we'd be there for about an hour. Instead, they spent nearly two and a half hours exploring and going back to their favorite exhibits over and over again. They loved the exhibit where it looks like your head is being served on a platter and kept taking turns with it because they thought it was hilarious. They also enjoyed the rooms that make people appear different sizes and the mirror exhibits. Their absolute favorite was the spinning tunnel. It makes me dizzy every time, but they thought it was the funniest thing ever and must have gone through it dozens of times. The only reason we left was because it was a school night. If you're looking for a fun indoor activity for kids, especially on a hot day, I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Not sure why this place is $30 for one floor of content??…read more The most underwhelming museum I've ever been to. Not worth the price at all. We got a few photos just because we paid, but I will not be back!!