The nation’s capital has to be a must visit location on everyone’s bucket list. Not only is Washington, D.C. home to some incredible sights and food, it is a destination that provides a bunch of free attractions as well.
Some of the most incredible attractions have to be all of the museums that Washington, D.C. offers. You can learn so much from the amazing history of the United States to wonderful art and natural sciences.
But, one of the absolute best parts of visiting D.C. to tour the museums is the fact that so many of them are free! Perfect for touring the city during the summer to escape the heat for a few hours, right?
Take a look at our favorite free museums in Washington, D.C.:
Old Post Office Museum — Some consider this museum one of the best kept secrets in all of D.C. Celebrating the history of the post office from the times of the Pony Express all the way to current day, it’s a must see. As an added bonus it offers incredible views of the city from the building’s tower.
The National Zoo — As a part of the Smithsonian group of museums, the National Zoo is also free for visitors. With areas celebrating the animals of Asia, Africa, South America and the United States, there will be plenty of furry friends to meet, and a few others as well. The National Zoo is also home to some of the few Giant Pandas in captivity as well, something you won’t want to miss!
The Air and Space Museum — For those who love anything having to do with space and aviation the Air and Space Museum is the place for you. Once in the museum you will be able to find exhibits that feature the original Apollo launches, Charles Lindbergh’s plane, The Spirit of St. Louis and much more.
National Museum of the American Indian — At not even ten years old, this museum is one of the newer kids on the block for the Smithsonian Institute. Featuring over 800,000 objects, photographs and artifacts the museum is dedicated to educating visitors on the American Indians from the plains to the Arctic, a must see.
National Archives – Admission to all of the exhibits at the National Archives is free, so you can view some of the most important documents in U.S. history. See the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence and more.
Museum of Natural History – Explore exhibits from many periods of Earth’s natural history, from the age of the Dinosaurs to exhibits on new scientific and historic discoveries. Don’t miss the Hope diamond, dinosaurs and much more at the Museum of Natural History.
National Gallery of Art – From early renaissance pieces to recent works of art, you can view thousands of paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photos and more for free at National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
National Museum of American History – There’s no better place to discover our nation’s history than at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. From important inventions and old technologies to American icons like Kermit the Frog and the ruby slippers, you’ll love this treasure trove!
Smithsonian American Art Museum – This is the first museum of American art created, and houses works by more than 7,000 American artists. Enter for free and view paintings, sculptures, photography and more by some of our nation’s most renowned artists, like Georgia O’Keefe, John Singer Sargent, Andy Warhol and more.
Let us know what some of your favorite places to are to visit in Washington, D.C.!
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