Newseum

Created by an act of Congress in 1980, the National Building Museum is America's premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning.

Explore the rich heritage of Washington's Jewish community at this museum housed in an 1876 historic synagogue. Through engaging exhibits, archival collections, and educational programs, you'll uncover compelling stories that shaped the nation's capital.

Opened to the public in April 2004, the new Marian Koshland Science Museum uses engaging, interactive exhibits to bring to life the numerous reports conducted by the prestigious National Academies every year.

Meet the faces that shaped America—from presidents and artists to activists and cultural icons. Explore powerful portraits and stories that connect us to our nation's remarkable past and present.

Explore one of Washington's most overlooked treasures: an exceptional collection of pre-Industrial American artifacts, textiles, and decorative arts, many with fascinating family histories and connections to women's contributions throughout early American life.

Step into this beautifully preserved Federal townhouse where Commodore Stephen Decatur and other influential figures shaped early American history. Designed by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1818, the home offers an intimate glimpse into the lives and decisions of Washington's most powerful leaders.

The Textile Museum expands public knowledge and appreciation – locally, nationally and internationally – of the artistic merits and cultural importance of the world’s textiles.

The Textile Museum is dedicated to furthering the understanding of mankind's creative achievements in the textile arts. As a museum, it is committed to its role as a center of excellence in the scholarly research, conservation, interpretation and exhibition of textiles, with particular concern for the artistic, technical and cultural significance of its collections.

The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage in an engaging manner and to provide a dynamic context that fosters understanding of its important role in and impact on current and historic events. The Museum focuses on human intelligence and reveals the role spies have played in world events throughout history.

The National Museum of Crime & Punishment features over 100 interactive exhibits, spread over 3 floors, for a total of 25,000 square feet.

The evening of April 14, 1865, has forever been marked with tragedy. On that night, our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated in Ford’s Theatre by actor John Wilkes Booth. Just days after General Lee’s Confederate troops surrendered at Appomattox, VA, a time of hope and peace in Washington and around the country turned to a period of mourning that America had never seen before.

A Harvard-affiliated research center showcasing Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art, rare manuscripts, and antiquities within an elegant Georgetown mansion. Explore the beautifully landscaped gardens while the historic house undergoes renovation.