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    The People’s House

    4.7 (44 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Heather B.

    In November 2025, I headed to DC for a quick day trip with our special needs classroom. It was the perfect spot for our kiddos. This museum covered a lot from our curriculum, so it was the perfect fit. You reserve your ticket online and they are free. If you can, make a donation to keep this amazing museum alive. When you walk in you will have to go through security and a metal detector. The security officers were kind and engaging. Once through you have the bathrooms to the right. The bathrooms were great as well. They were very clean. You will also get your tickets scanned. From there you are all set to go inside. The attention to detail and the interactive portions were great. We had one student who was asking to see certain areas. The staff were through out the museum. They were helpful and guided us to certain areas and explained things. Parking is street or public garages. Be sure to read the signs if you are parking on the street. I loved this museum! They did a wonderful job putting this together. I plan to return.

    Replica Miniature House
    Julia P.

    Review: The People's House - A Must-See White House Experience in Washington, D.C. If you're exploring Washington, D.C. and looking for an unforgettable, free experience, make sure The People's House is on your list. This new White House Visitors Center offers a fascinating and highly interactive way to learn about America's most iconic home -- and it's completely free to enter (though donations are appreciated). From the moment you step inside, you'll be greeted by a beautifully produced multimedia introduction that blends storytelling, history, and technology across multiple screens -- setting the tone for what's to come. The heart of the exhibit features a detailed miniature model of the White House, where visitors can explore each room through an interactive touchscreen. Whether you're curious about the Red Room, Map Room, or State Dining Room, each selection offers rich historical context and visuals showing how presidents and first families have used these spaces over the years. One of the highlights is the replica Oval Office, complete with the famous Resolute Desk, a gift from Queen Victoria made from the timbers of the HMS Resolute. Standing at the desk that so many presidents have used -- from Kennedy to Reagan to Obama -- is a surreal and inspiring experience. Visitors can also step into several immersive spaces: * The Cabinet Room Experience - Engage with holographic recreations of key presidential moments, such as Lincoln's wartime decisions or JFK's Cuban Missile Crisis. You even get to "vote" on what you would have done. * The State Dinner Experience - Sit at an elegant table setting and see a 360° projection of a presidential dinner unfold around you, giving you a true sense of the grandeur and diplomacy that take place here. * Presidential Trivia Challenge - Test your knowledge of history, traditions, and fun facts about the White House. * Behind the Scenes - Learn about the people who keep the White House running day to day, from chefs to groundskeepers, through personal stories and photos. You could easily spend two hours or more exploring, learning, and taking photos. Every part of the experience reflects deep attention to detail -- perfect for history buffs, families, educators, or anyone who loves discovering America's story in a fresh, interactive way. Insider Tips: * Admission: Free (donations accepted), you can reserve a timed ticket on-line, but I walked in on a Sunday morning and was able to go right in * Security: Standard screening (metal detector) * Accessibility: Fully accessible with clear signage * Gift Shop: Excellent selection of White House-themed items * Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for smaller crowds, I stumbled upon it on a Sunday morning and it wasn't very crowded. The People's House truly lives up to its name -- a space that invites everyone to experience the presidency, the history, and the heart of our nation's home. Plan your visit: https://whitehousehistory.org/visit/the-peoples-house The People's House (White House Visitors Center) 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. Photos by Stinger Media, LLC Visited: October 2025 ________________________________________ #Travel #Reviews #WashingtonDC #ThePeoplesHouse #WhiteHouse #ResoluteDesk #OvalOffice #WhiteHouseHistory #TravelReview #DCMuseums #FamilyTravel #HistoryLovers #PresidentialHistory #InteractiveMuseum

    Amy Lauren S.

    The five star reviews are spot on. The People's House museum was one of the highlights of my trip to Washington DC. This self-guided museum opened in Fall 2024 and is free, but you must reserve your spot online. I went at 9:15 AM on a Sunday, which was PERFECT! No crowds or waits in line. If you like photos, you'll enjoy taking pictures in the Oval Office replica and in the photo booth, where you can style your photo in different areas of the White House or presidential/press roles. Those photos are emailed to you, so no need to ask others or take selfies. You don't just walk around and read in The People's House. The exhibits let you be a part of the action, including the White House movie theatre, the cabinet, and a state dinner. The final room has White House objects that tell a story or play a short video about history. Like most museums, you finish in the gift shop. This is one of the better gift shops in Washington DC with lots of authentic, well-made merchandise from the White House Historical Association, including Christmas ornaments. It's a great place to buy a souvenir for your trip or a gift for someone back home. The People's House is an easy online registration, FREE (donations accepted), and takes a little over an hour to explore. I recommend this over trying to do an official White House tour or the White House Visitor's Center, especially if your time in DC is limited like mine was.

    Kim A.

    Super fun and interesting! Went with a group of 4( 2 kids and 2 adults) we all learned new things.

    The actual White House
    Alan A.

    Let's be honest with ourselves. We all came here because we couldn't get tix to the actual White House. It's ok. There's no shame in this room. After you get schmocked by your US Congress person for passes to the Big House, go on line and reserve tix and timed entry for the People's House. It's free. And, actually located right down the street from the actual White House. It's a cool, little experience. Lots of informative and interactive displays. A replica of the oval office which is cool. Lots of neat info about Presidents, First Ladies, Presidential families. Not a bad stop In DC.

    James L.

    A friend told us about this place. My 6 year old loved it so much. There's an interactive room that changes into a different room in the White House every few minutes. There are buttons you press and you get animation and information about those items. There's a replica of the Oval Office which is great for picture. Lots of interactive stuff upstairs as well. Highly recommended especially if you have kids.

    Stephanie G.

    This exhibit was a lot of fun and a very unique experience. It's free, but I recommend strongly tickets in advance. It is crowded, but if you linger, you can get a little more space without people all in your way. It starts with a model of the front of the White House, a video, then you go to the other side like a doll house and see models of the rooms. Then there is a large room with full scale projections where you can touch objects and learn more about them. You get about 5ish minutes in each room and there are like 5 of the public rooms. I stayed as long as it took to cycle around and touched and learned about so much. Then there is a model of the Oval Office where you can snap a pic at the Presidential desk, you can sit on a meeting to council various presidents on important events, and then sit on a dining reception, then sit in a replica of the movie theater. I thought it was all fun and different experiences per room. I ended up spending at least an hour here. The gift shop has a lot of good White House options. So highly recommend it! Fun for all ages, love the interactive elements. It's possibly more fun than the actual White House because you get to actually linger and touch stuff. Check it out!

    Jennifer R.

    The People's House is an awesome experience for all ages. I definitely recommend to visit whether local or visiting the DC area. The historic information of how the United States became a nation through the White House is an incredible experience.

    The Oval Office
    Heidi S.

    THe People's House is a great addition to the Washington DC museums. We visited late on a Sunday morning and it was awesome! Loved all of the displays and the media involved. We spent about an hour here and we enjoyed this more than the real White House, due to the displays, the history presented, and the ability to sit in the recreated rooms and touch so many things. Our favorite was of course the Oval Office, and we took many photos there sitting at the president's desk and also sitting in the chairs. We also loved the replica of the White House movie theatre and spent a while playing the White House Trivia game that was on the screen. I didn't know about this museum before our trip to DC, and we found out about it by walking by the museum. So glad we went - this was one of the highlights of our trip!

    Kathleen D.

    I enjoyed this exhibit and appreciated that it was free and in close proximity to many other historical and cultural sites in Washington DC. My friend and I spent about an hour in here wandering between the different immersive exhibits. I had the most fun in the Oval Office replica, and I also liked the theatre with trivia questions despite getting most of them wrong. It was clean, not overcrowded, and overall informative. I probably don't have a need to go back personally, but I'd recommend it for those who want to learn more about presidential history and facts. Only meh part is that they only have a couple unisex single-stall bathrooms. There was a line. That seemed like poor planning when they have such a huge space.

    Dining in the White House
    Joyce T.

    The immersion experience of the White House! This is a great opportunity to see and learn about the White House. The staffs are friendly and helpful. The overall experience is great, we visited twice to cover all aspects of the displays.

    Oval Office
    James K.

    Great experience and place to visit. Definitely worth the rezi and doing the self guided tour

    Austin G.

    Many tourists (and locals) miss out on the opportunity to tour The White House. Many who visit D.C. don't know that you can visit or don't plan ahead to reserve tickets from their Congress person or simply don't have a Representative if they come from outside the country. Inspired by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's goal to make The White House "The People's House," this immersive experience allows everyone experience the president's house. Here's my experience. 1) Admission: It's open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm. Tickets are free, but must be reserved online to help with flow. 2) Experience: Located right across the street from The White House, the experience takes about an hour to go through. It starts with a story narrated by Martin Sheen with the backdrop of The White House. Next, you'll see a what looks like a giant doll house where tablets explain what each room in The White House is for. Then, go to the immersive theater to dive deeper into rooms like The Green Room or The Red Room. Finally, you'll hit an exact replica of the current Oval Office where you can sit on the famous couches or even behind the president's desk. Go upstairs to learn about the people behind The White House. A library with books that come alive and tablets that tell the stories of some of The White House's staff. Here, there's a room where you can take a photo for yourself at The White House. On the same second floor are immersive experiences where you can be part of the president's cabinet or attend a State Dinner. There's an area where you can donate to WHHA in honor of some of the president's pets. Next, there's a room with all-white objects. Touch the objects like a sword to cut a wedding cake or a cheese cut to hear more about different aspects of The White House. Once you're done, go down the stairs into the White House Historical Association's gift shop where you can buy toys, books, and more about The White House. 3) Area: Once you're done, there are many places to visit nearby from the Renwick Gallery to the Octagon House to DAR. Limited street parking is nearby so plan to walk or Metro.

    Explanation of the Resolute Desk

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    9 months ago

    An interesting look into the behind the scenes of the White House. I wish we'd had more time to explore.

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    1 year ago

    Fantastic new interactive exhibit! Make sure you go when in DC. Very close to the White House! Fun place for both kids & adults!

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    Review Highlights - The People’s House

    Your next stop will be the Oval Office where you can sit behind the Resolute Desk and have someone take your picture.

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    Planet Word Museum - Magical library - super cool!

    Planet Word Museum

    4.8(220 reviews)
    0.6 miDowntown

    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!

    Planet Word is a fun pit stop geared mostly toward children, though adults will still find plenty…read moreto enjoy. The space feels very modern, with clean and well maintained exhibits throughout. I appreciated the free coat rack and lockers available to all visitors. One thing to note is that the stairs are unidirectional, so moving between floors requires walking across the entire level each time. We were advised to start on the third floor and work our way down. The third floor featured a massive globe surrounded by multilingual iPads. Each one offered different languages along with cultural and linguistic context. The video and audio quality stood out as especially clear. There was also an interactive show exploring the history and cultural influences behind everyday words. While museum shows can sometimes feel skippable, this one held attention for the full fifteen minutes with clever use of visuals, lighting, and a dynamic word driven backdrop. On the second floor, the free photobooth stood out as a highlight. Individuals or pairs pose based on randomly assigned words. The photo quality is not the best, but it still makes for a fun and memorable souvenir. There is also a sing along room where groups of children gather to perform songs. I had to laugh when Eminem came on, though I was genuinely impressed by how the lyrics were broken down and analyzed on screen. A small library space is also available, stocked mostly with children's books for casual reading. I also tried the Lexicon Lane experience, which cost forty dollars and is designed for groups of up to four. It is set up similarly to an escape room, but with a stronger focus on wordplay and language based puzzles. Since we were the first group of the day, we had full choice of the cases, while later groups had to pick from what remained. Each case offers a normal or expert level, though both were fairly challenging. Some puzzles rely heavily on familiarity with American idioms and cultural references, which could make them tougher for some players. That said, the staff were very accommodating and offered helpful nudges when groups got stuck. I would especially recommend this for puzzle lovers, as it is a unique add on and actually more affordable than a typical escape room. One of the standout aspects of Planet Word is the staff. They were consistently friendly, approachable, and clearly invested in making the experience enjoyable. Overall, it is a great museum to visit if you are looking to be entertained for an hour or so.

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    Word wall!

    Planet Word Museum - Lexicon lane

    Lexicon lane

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    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - Word cloud

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream

    4.8(29 reviews)
    0.3 miDowntown

    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.

    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?

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    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - So pretty!

    So pretty!

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream - Holodeck

    Holodeck

    Milken Center for the Advancement of the American Dream

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    National Gallery of Art - Mother and child

    National Gallery of Art

    4.6(889 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Step into the National Gallery of Art, and suddenly you're strolling through a palace of culture…read moreright on the National Mall. The gallery opened in 1941 thanks to financier and art lover Andrew W. Mellon, who believed the American people deserved a museum every bit as grand as those in Europe. Built in gleaming marble by architect John Russell Pope, the place feels less like a museum and more like walking through a royal treasury of creativity. One room might greet you with the grace of Raphael, while another lets you stare straight into the swirling brilliance of Vincent van Gogh. And here's the delicious little detail: this world-class collection began with just over a hundred paintings and a few dozen sculptures from Mellon's personal stash ehis gift to the nation. Today the gallery holds well over 150,000 works, spanning centuries of human imagination. It's the kind of place where you wander in for a quick look and suddenly find yourself rubbing elbows with masterpieces that usually live in textbooks. No velvet ropes, no fancy invitation required just walk in and enjoy the riches. Now that's what I call art with a little champagne sparkle.

    Came here after seeing it on tiktok. The East gallery didn't have as much, but I was also able to…read morecheck out the outdoor sculpture garden. I came specifically to see a few pieces (Degas' Little Dancer), but the layout was a little confusing. The best part was the gelato selection in the Cascade Cafe. I bought a small pumpkin gelato for about $7 and the flavor was perfect. The security guards are a little strict with the fact that you cannot exit the museum until you've finished all your food at the cafe first. 2026 #20

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    National Gallery of Art - "The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer"
    -Ken Kesey

    "The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer" -Ken Kesey

    National Gallery of Art - Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal.
          --Voltaire

    Ices-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal. --Voltaire

    National Gallery of Art - The Gibbs-Coolidge paintings by Gilbert Stuart (first five presidents, three picture here):

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    The Gibbs-Coolidge paintings by Gilbert Stuart (first five presidents, three picture here):

    Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden - Fernand Leger

    Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden

    4.3(547 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $

    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.

    Photos
    Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden - Henry Moore

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    Dumbarton Oaks - Cherry blossom tree (and engagement ring!)

    Dumbarton Oaks

    4.5(141 reviews)
    1.7 miGeorgetown

    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 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.

    Photos
    Dumbarton Oaks - Wisteria in bloom 4/12/26

    Wisteria in bloom 4/12/26

    Dumbarton Oaks - Music room

    Music room

    Dumbarton Oaks - "Child at a window", 1901 by Edouard Vuillard

    See all

    "Child at a window", 1901 by Edouard Vuillard

    The People’s House - museums - Updated May 2026

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