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National Building Museum

National Building Museum

Museum and Historic and Protected Site
Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington
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National Building Museum
8.2/10
701
ratings
  • Stars
    Ranked #5 for exhibits in Washington
  • Tips
    Theresa D.
    "The architecture of the building alone is worth the walk!"(9 Tips)
    Elizabeth
    "mini golf closes at 3pm on the weekends"(3 Tips)
    Danika B.
    "hands down my favorite museum in DC or anywhere!"(2 Tips)
    Jonathan C.
    "History of Washington DC exhibit"(2 Tips)
Tips and Reviews icon108 Tips and reviews
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  • Peter H.
    Peter HillFebruary 17, 2013
    You gotta get some marble columns!
  • Joanie O.
    Joanie O'SullivanApril 5, 2014
    Make sure to check out the gift shop!
  • Katylou M.
    Katylou MJanuary 21, 2012
    Been here 10+ times
    If you have kids under 6 it's definitely worth becoming a Family Member
  • Joe P.
    Joe PopeJanuary 27, 2010
    Great place to take toddlers when the weather is bad. Huge indoor area to run around and a fantastic kids play area. Read more
  • Tani P.
    Tani PersonMay 29, 2019
    Been here 5+ times
    They have the biggest columns ever.
  • CJ N.
    CJ NicholsonAugust 12, 2010
    Great gift shop with a very interesting selection of. Architecture and Design books.
  • Kristin V.
    Kristin VisaggioFebruary 17, 2013
    You've gotta get yourself some marble columns!
  • Jeff A.heart icon on user image
    Jeff AmlinAugust 31, 2015
    Beach is overcrowded
  • Dora
    DoraJuly 21, 2010
    The Building Zone play area is open every day for mini-architects to come in and create.Powered by ParentsConnect.com
  • Nisa M.heart icon on user image
    Nisa MuhammadMarch 20, 2013
    Great place for a meeting. Culture and convenience.
  • Tamara
    TamaraAugust 10, 2013
    Has the largest columns in the world.
  • Sean H.heart icon on user image
    Sean HackbarthAugust 15, 2011
    Check out the LEGOs exhibit. Then be a kid and play with some LEGOs yourself. Read more
  • Tim F.
    Tim FJuly 1, 2012
    Fantastic views from up on the 2nd, 3rd floors.
  • Jeannette W.heart icon on user image
    Jeannette WiltFebruary 17, 2018
    Beautiful setting!
  • Martin C.
    Martin CuellarJuly 16, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    $3 per person for just the Building Zone. $8 per person for the whole place.
  • Theresa D.
    Theresa DreikeAugust 1, 2011
    The architecture of the building alone is worth the walk! Read more
  • Craig B.heart icon on user image
    Craig BarrittDecember 8, 2015
    Wonderful structure.
  • Pablo R.heart icon on user image
    Pablo RamosMay 11, 2015
    be prepared for a lot of vacant space
  • Jess
    JessSeptember 21, 2010
    Building Zone is free and a great place for 2-6 year olds to play. On 1st floor.
  • Jim M.
    Jim MaloneFebruary 1, 2010
    Been here 5+ times
    Best museum in DC. Check out the latest provocative exhibit about the world of design.
  • Chris R.
    Chris R (thechristophe)December 30, 2014
    Not free $8, interior hall is though. Terrible use of space, so much potential.
  • Lauren B.heart icon on user image
    Lauren BaconSeptember 23, 2015
    Ball pit is wayyyy too expensive and long. Exhibits are nice but scattered
  • Steve M.
    Steve MinardFebruary 12, 2012
    The Unbuilt Washington exhibit is amazing.
  • Najeema
    NajeemaApril 26, 2010
    Been here 5+ times
    This is a popular walking area for nearby employees who come to walk during their lunch hours on the upper floors.
  • National Building Museum
    National Building MuseumJuly 23, 2010
    After you visit the LEGO Architecture building, post your LEGO creations to the museum's Flickr group Read more
  • Katylou M.
    Katylou MOctober 30, 2011
    Been here 10+ times
    If you have children under 5 become a member!
  • Farrar, Straus & Giroux
    Farrar, Straus & GirouxAugust 10, 2011
    Meet journalist Greg Lindsay on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 6:30 PM as he talks about his book, Aerotropolis.
  • GoGayDC
    GoGayDCDecember 28, 2011
    The Twentieth Annual SLDN National Dinner is here on March 3, 2012. http://www.meetup.com/GoGayDC/events/45455652/
  • Darius J.heart icon on user image
    Darius JokubaitisJune 23, 2015
    Renovating
  • Oliver G.heart icon on user image
    Oliver GriswoldAugust 9, 2014
    Been here 5+ times
    Kids paradise. And coffee.
  • Danika B.
    Danika BrownNovember 12, 2010
    hands down my favorite museum in DC or anywhere!
  • Andrew M.heart icon on user image
    Andrew MMarch 22, 2014
    A few fun rooms for the little ones but that's about it.
  • Andrew W.
    Andrew WatsonFebruary 3, 2010
    Even the exhibition about parking garages is interesting. That said, the museum doesn't have a parking garage. Public transport a better option than trying to us spaces owned by the nearby FBI. Read more
  • Jerry J.heart icon on user image
    Jerry Jay👊🏾RocJanuary 21, 2013
    Been here 5+ times
    I absolutely love the bldg!
  • Ali V.
    Ali VillalobosApril 9, 2011
    Fun fact: this building was originally used for the first inaugural ball
  • CJ
    CJSeptember 6, 2010
    the marker on Google Maps above is incorrect... 2.5 blocks East on F St. definitely worth a visit!
  • Catherine V.
    Catherine VogelFebruary 12, 2010
    it is really awesome inside, really, and the exhibits are usually quite cool.
  • Joe H.
    Joe HAugust 9, 2014
    Cool Place!
  • Caroline S.
    Caroline S.August 1, 2011
    The Congressional Blues Fest was amazing...until I got my wallet stolen. Is nothing sacred anymore? Read more
  • Chris K.
    Chris KenngottJuly 26, 2011
    Take your kids, lots of things to do for toddlers.
  • DealChicken
    DealChickenNovember 7, 2011
    Great for family fun or school field trips!
  • Lori B.
    Lori BonicelliApril 22, 2012
    Take the free tour!
  • Tina T.
    Tina TerrellJanuary 28, 2012
    The lego room is so much fun
  • Jonathan C.
    Jonathan CoffmanJuly 27, 2009
    Check out the photo galleries, and History of Washington DC exhibit as well
  • R
    RApril 6, 2012
    Activities for kids!
  • Kay W.
    Kay WoodOctober 10, 2010
    An absolute must and few people would think so.
  • Belga C.
    Belga CaféOctober 8, 2011
    Stella Draft Masters!!
  • Andrew W.
    Andrew WhiteJuly 13, 2011
    DC'a most majestic structure
  • Sara D.
    Sara DavisJanuary 17, 2010
    Filled with young couples and their kids on Sunday afternoon.
  • Ashley S.
    Ashley SmithOctober 4, 2010
    Nice chai tea at the museum cafe
123
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National Building Museum
401 F St NW (at 5th St. NW)
Washington, D.C. 20001
United States
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The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution devoted to the history and impact of the built environment. We do this by telling the stories of architecture, engineering, and design.
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Closed until 10:00 AM tomorrow (Show more)
  • Mon–Sat
    • 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • Sun
    • 11:00 AM–5:00 PM
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(202) 272-2448
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@buildingmuseum
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United States » Washington » Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown

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