The government shutdown means all the Smithsonian museums are closed, but there are plenty of other A-plus museums in D.C. you can visit instead. Unfortunately, not all of them are free, but many are doing free admission for federal workers during the shutdown.
National Building Museum (Penn Quarter)
$10/Adult, $7/Youth and Seniors, free for federal workers
Housed in the former Pension Bureau building, the architecture of the museum alone is worth the price of admission. Discover all things architecture and construction then make sure to stop by the Brick City LEGO exhibit.
National Museum of Women in the Arts (Downtown)
$13/D.C. residents, free for federal workers
After its renovation a few years ago, this museum has become one of my favorites. It’s the perfect size, with creatively curated exhibits and plenty of space to rest and admire. The current exhibit “Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam” is a refreshing take on the artistic influences of the Low Countries in the 1600s.
Planet Word (Downtown)
Free, suggested $15 donation
This museum is packed full of interactive and immersive exhibits making it great for kids, or for feeding your childlike whimsy. Explore how language has evolved and how words and stories shape us.
The Phillips Collection (Dupont)
$20/Adults, $10 federal workers, Free/18 and under
One of the most expensive museums in D.C. but worth the price. (It’s also free after 4 p.m. and every third Thursday!) Master works by Renoir and Picasso sit beside contemporary local artists and immersive exhibitions. We especially love the beeswax room.
Quill and Crumb, the cafe inside the Folger Shakespeare Library. (The Washington Post/Getty Images)
Folger Shakespeare Library (Capitol Hill)
Free
View Shakespeare’s first folios, try ancient printing methods, and grab a coffee from the stunning Quill & Crumb cafe in the Great Hall. They also have a cool garden filled with plants mentioned in Shakespeare’s works.
Rubell Museum (Navy Yard)
Free for D.C. residents
Opened in a repurposed public school, this contemporary art museum is built around the Rubell family’s private collection, but also features rotating exhibits. Basil Kincaid’s current exhibition here is a must-see. His master quilts explore identity, ancestry, and place.
Textile Museum (Foggy Bottom)
Suggested $8 donation
A small but underrated museum located on George Washington’s campus includes global textiles and Washingtoniana. They have a great exhibit on responsible fashion and one exploring the history of D.C.’s transportation systems right now.
The Mansion On O Street (Dupont)
$33 for entrance/basic tour
Technically a museum, the Mansion on O Street is more like paying to get trapped in your hoarder aunt's house. Hundreds of rooms connected by secret doors are stuffed with odd eccentricities. It’s not for everyone (and wasn’t for me) but if you’re a freak like that, don’t skip the legitimately terrifying Halloween room.
