Washington DC is paradise for museum lovers. After all, the capital is home to a staggering seventeen Smithsonian Institutions alone, which are filled with art and historic artifacts, all for free. We’re pretty lucky to live here, are we not? But what many people—both visitors and longtime Washingtonians—might overlook, is that in addition to the cathedrals of art lining the National Mall, the city is teeming with unique smaller museums tucked away in quiet neighborhoods and on university campuses. From 19th-century paintings to contemporary sculptures and artifacts spanning thousands of years of world history, here are 10 of the DC’s smaller must-visit museums to explore.
Capitol Hill, Free
After a multi-year closure for a top-to-bottom, $80.5 million renovation, the Folger Shakespeare Library is back on the city’s museum scene. The landmark cultural institution, which first opened in 1932, is home to the largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works in the world, as well as other rare materials and literary artifacts. Two new exhibition halls allow you to get up close and personal with the artifacts including all 82 of the Folger’s original folios, as well as playbills and broadsides from historical productions. Other non-Shakespeare works including a first century BCE Egyptian Book of the Dead, an advanced press copy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, and page proofs of The Lord of the Rings with hand-written corrections by author J.R.R. Tolkien bring added intrigue to the unique collection.
Dupont Circle, $20 and pay-what-you-wish from 4 pm to closing
When the Phillips Collection first opened back in 1917, it was the first museum in the United States devoted solely to modern art. And it wasn’t just a museum—at the time of its founding it was part of the private home of Duncan and Marjorie Phillips who opened a portion of their Dupont Circle mansion to paying art enthusiasts eager to see their collection (and maybe their home, too). The Phillips were extremely influential collectors at that, and the pieces they amassed in the 1920s are considered some of the most significant works of European painting. Today, the museum continues to be a must-visit, and the intimate space is home to a much-loved Rothko room, a small room constructed entirely of beeswax, as well as landmark works from heavy hitters like Degas, Van Gogh, and Cézanne. It’s also home to a renowned concert series that sells out almost instantaneously. The museum continues to forge new ground today and the much-lauded current exhibition, Multiplicity: Blackness in Contemporary American Collage, is on view through September 22.
Georgetown, Free ($11 garden admission during peak season)
Dumbarton Oaks is an oasis in the city. The 53-acre property and Harvard University-operated research institute, museum, and library is located at the highest point in Georgetown and boasts grounds and views worthy of a day’s wander. Inside, the home-turned-museum boasts a rich collection of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art and artifacts, which were collected by Robert and Mildred Bliss, diplomats and philanthropists who bequeathed their estate to Harvard in the 1940s. Today, this spot is one of the city’s cornerstone small museums and we loved that it’s so tucked away in Georgetown, you might not even know it’s there. Perhaps more famous than its collection of art, is its music room which in 1937 was the site of a world premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s Dumbarton Oaks Concerto. Make time for the historic gardens which are meticulously cultivated to feature flowering trees and plants throughout the year. While the museum is free, visiting the garden during peak season (March 15 to October 31) requires an $11 ticket.
Berkeley, $15 and advance registration is suggested
Head to a well-heeled section of the city for one of DC’s museum gems. Located in a mid-century masterpiece of a house, the Kreeger is a petite museum that packs a punch. Constructed in 1963 by renowned architects Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, the structure was created as a private home for David and Carmen Kreeger, fixtures in the local political and social scene as well as consummate art collectors. The Kreegers curated a collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings of stalwarts like Pablo Picasso and Alexander Calder. Wandering through this institution has the feeling of walking through someone’s private home (albeit a mansion) with priceless art at your fingertips. European paintings are displayed alongside West African masks and the grounds of the home—all five acres—serve as an eclectic sculpture garden. The museum regularly hosts a variety of classes and workshops from painting to yoga, so watch the calendar for upcoming dates.
The National Mall, Free but donations are encouraged
Just off the National Mall, in a building that looks like it could grace the streets of Cartagena or Mexico City, is the Art Museum of the Americas. This compact museum is devoted to showcasing contemporary works from Latin American and Caribbean artists and is run by the Organization of American States. The museum itself was once the private home of the president of the OAS and today houses nearly 2,000 pieces of art, many of which were instrumental in catapulting the careers of Latin American and Caribbean artists in the United States. Their exhibitions are an amazing way to learn about artists you may not already be aware of. You won’t want to miss their current show of works by Juan Roberto Diago, a leading member of the new Afro-Cuban cultural movement.
Southwest Waterfront,$15 and free for DC residents and veterans (pay-what you-wish on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays)
As one of the city’s newest museums, the Rubell showcases bold, modern, and contemporary works from the private collection of Don and Mera Rubell, a couple who began collecting art in the 1960s. Since then, their collection has grown to more than 7,000 pieces by about 1,000 artists. It also traces how artists have responded to their respective political and social movements from the AIDS crisis, climate activism, and Black Lives Matter. Previously a school, the museum has been extensively renovated into 32,000 square feet of light-filled galleries for shows like Singular View, which highlights 25 contemporary artists including hometown names like John Waters, Patricia Ayres, February James, and Simphiwe Ndzube.
Downtown, $16 and $13 for DC residents (free on the first Sunday and second Wednesday of each month)
After a multi-year renovation, the National Museum of Women in the Arts reopened in 2023 with a top-to-bottom refresh of its 1908 Classical Revival building.Highlights of the reimagined museum include a new curatorial vision, expanded gallery space, and a reaffirmed commitment to asserting and advocating for the role of women and nonbinary artists. When it originally opened in 1987, the museum was the first in the world solely dedicated to sharing the work of women in the arts. And to this day, it continues to hold gender and equity in the arts as essential to its work with a collection of more than 6,000 pieces spanning from 17th century art to contemporary works. Remix, the museum’s core permanent collection, rotates periodically with a strong consideration for overlooked artists throughout history. The museum’s event calendar is one to watch, with innovative programs like a transcribing event to digitize letters of Frida Kahlo (the event sold out instantly) to gallery nights.
| Photo Credit: DuHon Photography, photo courtesy of Planet Word
Downtown, Free but advanced reservations are required
Possibly the most fun museum in the city, you definitely do not have to be a kid to experience some of the child-like joy Planet Words inspires. Similarly to the Rubell Museum, Planet Word is also located in one of DC’s former public-school buildings, and this one is quite a grand brick structure in the middle of downtown DC. Today the building—which was constructed in 1869 as the Franklin School—has a similar education mission as its original purpose. Planet Word’s three floors are dedicated to the wonder of language and how we communicate and interact with the world and each other. Highly interactive, the space makes use of clever technology and artistry to teach how language has evolved, the different language distinguishers work around the world, and the power of language in storytelling and in our shared humanity. A fun language-themed gift shop, as well as an on-site Immigrant Food, are both must-stops after checking out the exhibits.
Foggy Bottom, $8 suggested donation
Tucked away on the campus of George Washington University, this pair of museums might make you want to be a student again. The Textile Museum has what is considered to be one of the world’s best collections of textiles, tapestries, and rugs, with artifacts that span a time period of more than 5,000 years. In total, the museum has more than 21,000 objects with highlights including Native American weavings from 900 BCE, 19th-century Japanese kimonos, and 15h-century Egyptian carpets. The museum’s fascinating and colorfully rich exhibition, Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat is on view through December 21. In the same complex, you’ll find the GWU Museum with a collection of artifacts tracing DC’s history from colonial days to the present.
Penn Quarter, Free (special exhibitions are ticketed)
As another of DC’s newest museums, the Capital Jewish Museum opened its doors in 2023, nearly 150 years after the historical event on June 9, 1876, when Ulysses S. Grant became the first president to attend synagogue services. The museum explores the Jewish experience throughout DC’s history and tells the story of Jewish people who were influential in shaping the capital, from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to a Confederate spy, and many people in between through interactive storytelling and more than 24,000 photographs and 1,000 objects. Their delightful exhibit, I’ll Have What She’s Having: The Jewish Deli is not to be missed and runs through September 1.
Penn Quarter, $9.50
In the hustle and bustle of DC’s Penn Quarter is a small storefront with a big history. Right on 7th Street, between José Andrés restaurants, are the rooms where Clara Barton—the founder of the American Red Cross—lived and worked. It was here that Barton set up shop after the Civil War, taking on the immense task of providing services to track down missing Union soldiers. President Abraham Lincoln himself gave Barton his blessing to set up the office and it was here, on the third floor of a boarding house, that Barton worked tirelessly with a team of clerks to compile lists of missing soldiers that were published daily in newspapers around the country. In 1996, the building was slated for demolition but saved last-minute after the dramatic discovery of over a thousand important letters and documents in the attic. Today it’s one of three buildings that make up the National Museum of Civil War Medicine (the other two are in Maryland).
