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National Building Museum
Rating Details »
401 F St NW
(between N 4th St & N 5th St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 272-2448
(between N 4th St & N 5th St)
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 272-2448
- Nearest Transit:
-
Judiciary Sq (Red)
Gallery Pl-Chinatown (Red, Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
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46 reviews for National Building Museum
I would never have thought that the National Building Museum could generate such a vast array of impressions - I see ratings from 2 to 5 stars. I suppose its beauty (and significance) is in the eye of the beholder.
Most everyone will agree that the building's interior is beautiful. But to truly appreciate the structure, the visitor should be curious about history, architecture, politics or even international headlines.
Even in 2008, the National Building Museum has set the backdrop for international headlines such as Hillary Clinton's concession speech, and the historic gathering of the G20 leaders to address the international economic crisis. It's also served as one of the premier venues for the most prestigious presidential inauguration balls over the last hundred years - and will likely serve that role again in January 2009.
If you have an interest in all the secrets of the structure, I recommend taking the guided tour. My tour guide, John, was a really charming old fellow who actually worked in the building, and now serves as a volunteer. He led my companion and I in a fascinating discussion. In fact, we probably talked for about an hour and a half. John was an excellent guide.
4 stars: If you choose to walk in the footsteps of history and international politics, and would like to dig deeper than photographing the monuments or walking the mall - it's well worth a visit here.
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As museums go, the National Building Museum is pretty good. The overall building is large, HUGE and feels like you're in some huge cathedral or giant airplane hanger. The exhibits left a little bit to be desired however the DC exhibit is awesome. Lots of really cool tidbits and history about how the district came together. Everything from how the beltway and metro got built to how part of Georgetown used to be a swamp. That one is definately worth a visit.
Other highlight is that it's literally across the street from the Judiciary Square metro stop.
The National Building Museum is exactly as exciting as you would expect a museum about buildings to be. I enjoyed their permanent exhibit about the history of DC's buildings, but the rest was a snoozefest.
The building itself is really pretty, but most of the space is used for offices and classrooms rather than for the museum itself. I would recommend the DC exhibit if you live in the city and have an hour or two to kill, but I wouldn't make a special trip for it.
I was really disappointed by the museum's gift shop. They won some kind of award for having the city's best museum store, but it was nothing special. There were a lot of purses and jewelry made from recycled garbage and priced at $100 or more, which I find really tacky. And I'm not using the word "garbage" in a snobby way; I mean garbage as in used and discarded soda cans, newspapers, juice boxes, etc. I still think the National Gallery has the best museum store by far.
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This structure is beautiful. The exhibitions in the rooms seem a bit awkward in relation to the big space under the atrium but that's how it is. They have great programs and talk that exploit the space. I've learned a lot about DC history from the exhibits. Do come check it out. I need to follow their schedule more closely.
My mom and I stopped here today. I saw this building for the first time on TV when Hillary Clinton gave her concession speech to Barack Obama. It looked like a very impressive building, one that I would have to check out sometime if I have downtime in the city. Enter today.
Yes it is very impressive and imposing. Big columns, check. But what was this glorious and grand space being used for? To sell tennis shoes, socks, and t-shirts. I kid you not. There was some sort of makeshift flea market going on there today. I never heard of a federal museum renting out its space for private retail purposes. It would be like buying a Dyson vacuum at the National Portrait Gallery. It just doesn't make sense. Well sort of. I can understand that there sure is not a whole lot to see beyond those columns, so they need to add something to the decor. And the museum store had the weirdest selection of goods I had ever seen. I would definitely pass over visiting this place unless you are a classic architecture geek or are harboring deep feelings for Hillary.
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Oh come on, 5 stars for a museum that is essentially one step up from a giant empty building? Obviously it's a gorgeous building, and has an amazing view when you first enter, but there isn't much here! Lots of closed off rooms for classes, and a couple areas that looked like they were being prepped for displays. It really felt unfinished, or like a work in progress. Heck, most of the people here were sitting at the tables by the cafe eating, or were kids in the children section making buildings out of trash.
I foolishly took the 45 minute building tour, during which time I gathered maybe 5 minutes worth of information. It was nice that the tour took us to the 4th floor (you can only go up there with a tour group) and into the completely empty "Commisioner's Suite" but besides that there wasn't much to it.
There were a couple exhibits that took maybe 20 minutes to browse through. The Washington: Symbol and City exhibit was definitely the most interesting, showing information about city planning and pictures from the origins of the Metro and Capital Beltway. Some interesting stuff, but nothing I couldn't find on the internet.
The gift shop was one of the better gift shops, but with way too much random, unrelated stuff. Some of it seemed to exist just so squealing children would see it and get their parents to buy it for them.
It's worth your time to come in and see the magnificent architecture, and breathtaking view from inside. The exhibits are ok, but nothing overwhelming. I'd stay away from the tour though, unless you really want to go up to the 4th floor.
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I had no idea that this place even existed. After picking up some cherry blossom race packets here I wandered around the museum, only to be completely impressed. The building itself is very pretty and the exhibits are in rooms behind closed doors. What I was so particularly fond of were the design elements of this museum, which was heavily incorporated into the gift store items. Who doesn't need a $75 wavy looking tea pot. DROOL.
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The Building Museum is different from a lot of museums in the city. It's almost never crowded (maybe because people have no idea it's there) and I feel like locals are the ones who enjoy it most. Since the exhibitions are so few and relatively small, you wouldn't plan a whole day to visit, but stopping through once a year is completely worthwhile.
The exhibit about DC could teach you some pretty interesting stuff about the city and the new-ish Green Communities exhibit is really fascinating and full of interesting (sometimes inspiring) examples. I think the gift shop has a really good reputation for whatever reason - they have a lot of tempting books and random fun museum-shop-ish doodads. People really rave about the centerpiece of the building - the Great Hall. It's pretty enjoyable (umm huge, mostly) with its lovely marble and big fountain.
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Located in the former HQ of the US Pension Bureau, the National Building Museum is worth visiting just to see this gorgeous building from the 1880s and walk through the Great Hall. Unfortunately, as for the museum itself, the size and number of its exhibits are dwarfed by the size of the building that houses them.
When we arrived, we picked up a brochure at the information desk and saw that the NBM had five exhibits. Of those, two were done by students and one was only for ages two to six. So we only had four exhibits to see--disappointing. The "Washington: Symbol and City" exhibit was the standout and we spent most of our time here. There's a cool model of the National Mall landscape before it was constructed next to a model of the original plan for its design. Also, check out the time-line for the metro extensions for a laugh or two (I believe the goal was for it to be finished in the 1970s and extend pretty far out into VA). This exhibit also includes a lot of history of some of DC's neighborhoods, which, as a current resident, I found really interesting. The exhibit could use updating, though, to include some of the more recent history.
Despite the lack of exhibits, the NBM merits a quick visit and it's free so you have no excuse not to!
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Relatively uncelebrated museum in DC, but with really an excellent selection of exhibits coming and going; currently one on the history of DC with a very good tour by an older gentleman named Frank who had a great collection of city lore to share.
The great thing about living in DC, of course, is that you don't need 3 hours worth of interesting stuff here; it's easy enough to stop in for an hour, catch something new, and get out.
The lobby itself is a nice place to relax, with its eclectic architectural style and very high ceilings. They could do much more to make it an inviting space: why not open a faux outdoor restaurant in the lobby?
The neighborhood, on the southern end of Chinatown, is not the best. Not dangerous, but sitting outside at a nearby sidewalk cafe a friend and I were interrupted by people asking for money 4 times in 30 minutes. Kinda ruins the vibe.
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Not many people are familiar with the the National Building Museum- mention it to someone from the area and you'll probably get a "huh?" reaction. Regardless, it is truly one of DC's hidden gems. It features permanent and traveling exhibitions about all things architecture, construction and engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, and urban planning.
The building itself is simply stunning (fitting, I think, for a building museum). The massive central space has huge 4-story tall marble columns as well as a fountain in the center. The space is frequently used for special events, and has been used for multiple inaugural balls. Apart from exhibitions, they offer different lecture series. I attended a lecture from the "For a Greener Good" series, and best of all it was free for students! $20 for all others, I believe.
Very metro accessible. The Judiciary Square station literally deposits you on the sidewalk in front of the building. So you have no excuse not to go!
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In a word, the National Building Museum is underwhelming. This is a place that I wanted to love, but just found perplexing. The building that houses the museum --the old Pension Building-- is a beautiful venue that provides ample space for exhibits. When I visited this past weekend, there were 4 exhibits open, 2 of which had been produced by students. While it's wonderful that the museum engages students, 50% of what's on display should not be produced by local youth. After a quick check of their website, it looks like the National Building Museum keeps its space a blank canvas so that it can frequently rent out the venue for private events. It makes sense financially - but it's really a disappointment for museum visitors.
The most interesting exhibit was "Cityscapes Revealed: Highlights from the Collection," a 3 room assemblage featuring "quintessentially American, 20th-century buildings." There were spotlights on building materials ranging from brick to aluminum, and photos and historical documents about how American, urban architecture has changed over time. The subject matter appealed to me, and it was very accessible; nonetheless, a little more context would have been appreciated.
If you're looking for a museum-light experience (30 minutes taking in the whole place, and another 30 minutes perusing the giftshop), visit the National Building Museum. As all the other reviewers have remarked, the giftshop itself is worth a visit . . . Just gauge your expectations appropriately.
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There are a few excellent things about this museum, and a few that make you go wtf?
Let's start with the good stuff:
1. The building itself is magnificent-- opened around 1880 it was the War Pension office, and it is one magnificent vast hall inside, there are even some photos of all the hundreds of cubicles of people who used to work there, which make you think - poor sad people, and then you realize you have spent most of your working life in a cubicle.
2. The are some great things for the kids - a huge play area with blocks in the open square, a closed off room for more running around, and a couple of other odds and sods - I dare you to try and build the arch with only one adult - I think it is impossible.
3. The Museum shop is fantastic.
4. There is an excellent exhibit on DC and the way the City was designed and how it grew. The Honey was very happy to see pictures of a 1980s Womens' Rights march that her mum took her on as a schoolkid.
5. Currently the last remaining model of the World Trade Center is on display, which is an impressive model, but it made me very sad.
Now the wtf things:
1. Not a whole lot of infornmation is available on the building itself- no-one was able to tell me about the magnificent freize that goes all the way around on the outside.
2. The vast internal space is not used for anything - there is a certain sense of peace and space it gives you, and at least two families had a full blown indoor soccer game going on, but they need to figure that out.
3. The sides rooms for the exhibits themslves are small and pokey, and a lot of the exhibits are not what I would call compelling.
4. Most the the volunteers were knew and didn't know very much - maybe that is something that will improve.
So, it's decent enough for a new museum, and I am sure it will improve.
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Maybe I just went at a bad time (July 2009) but I was very disappointed with the exhibits at the NBM. Showing at that time were: Green Design, some photo exhibit about gov't facilities the public is not allowed to access, some big 19th century city planning/construction exhibit, and the permanent exhibit about the design and building of the Capitol (as in the city of D.C.). The exhibit design was bad in all. I couldn't study the plans in the permanent exhibit because they were placed too high on the wall to read the captions. There was a miniature scale model of D.C. but there was no sign telling you why the urban design/ street layout was so unique or pointing out spots of interest which weren't as obvious as the capitol building and white house. The Green Design looked like it would be cool (I know! Let's use recycled and eco-friendly materials for the exhibit vitrines!) but it wasn't clear what the path of travel and sequence were supposed to be and the whole thing was more flash than function/information. The photo exhibit was kind of cool but I thought the Museum would have exhibits about design and architecture, not about how cool the photographer is for taking ironic black-and-whites of detention centers.
It seemed like the Museum caters to children-- from the writing on the placards, the daycare center and hands-on exhibits, to the tone of the tour guide. Maybe that's because Architecture and Construction are such appealing topics to children ;). It's kind of a waste, because the few children I saw lasted about 2 minutes before they ran for the giant balls in the daycare center or started screaming for the toy truck in the gift shop.
I topped this visit off with a pretty good iced coffee and a stale brownie. Unless I read that they have a good design/arch exhibit here, I will not be back.
This museum is a unique offering in a city of many museums, highlighting architecture and urban planning. I visited in large part for the Eero Saarinen exhibit, which is really terrific, and will change your perspective on modern architecture if you think it's antithetical to the human scale. Also I liked the part with the dragon on the gate. So, the Saarinen part is great, you should go see it!
The exhibit on Washington's evolution isn't quite as good. There's too much information, too little continuity in themes, and not enough emphasis placed on the significance of historic turning point's in the city's history. Perhaps one would expect that type of cheering for the "home town team," and it's by no means bad, but could have been better. Of special interest is the section at the very end about Metro's design and impact. The discarded station drawings are trippy, and were quite possibly used for the set design of Moonraker. One of the rare instances in which the result we got out of a works project was better than the proposed version.
Easy access from Gallery Place, clean bathrooms, and the staff was helpful. Well worth a visit.
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I've heard great things about the gift shop here, and you know what? They're all true. I probably spent more time in the gift shop (where I scored a blue duct tape wallet) than any of the three not-for-kids exhibits currently running. That said, the three exhibits I looked at were very, very interesting. One was about an architect I can't remember the name of, but did some really neat stuff (including our very own Dulles International Airport), which is a short-term exhibit. The two long-term exhibits were on building materials and designs, including some of the Museum's collection of over 1800 unique bricks, and one about the District itself. They were both very interesting for an engineer nerd such as myself.
The Museum's a bit out of the way, being on 4th and F, but it's a quick walk from the Portrait Gallery if you're there, and a little further walk from the Mall. I probably won't go back until there's a new exhibit, but it was definitely worth seeing once.
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I toss my hat in the rings with others...this is among the best buildings in DC, perhaps one of the coolest historic public buildings in the entire nation! It is truly a one of a kind place. Even if you don't get into architecture or the urban environment, go in for a cup o' joe, sit in the loggia and soak it all in.
I've seen several iterations of their exhibit on the district. Their current version is the most disappointing. Currently, two fab exhibits...one on Eero Saarinen and the other highlighting the museum's permanent collection. Their bookstore/gift shop is my favorite in the city! If you have even the slightest shred of interest in design, urbanism or architecture, you MUST check out their store!
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Let's keep things in perspective here. I wouldn't come to DC on this museum alone. But it's free, close to China Town, and SUPER IMPRESSIVE! Sure, that fades after about five minutes or so, but its not like you paid to get in anyway.
Now, to dig a little deeper, the exhibits I've seen there have been remarkably interesting. One on concrete actually had me talking about it for days afterwards.
Also, as a photographer, this building has given me so many cool interesting shots.
Go ahead block out 45 minutes of your day and take a peak inside.
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Another hidden gem among DC tourist attractions that few tourists go to! My friend brought me here just to check out the main hall which is absolutely beautiful. There's a fountain in the center of it all and it was fun just to walk around and admire the enormity of the hall and the columns.
My friend had checked out exhibits in the past and was underwhelmed so we skipped the exhibits.
Library of Congress is still my favorite spot but this is tied with the Grand Salon at the Renwick Gallery.
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Awesome museum. Went here most recently for the Marcel Breuer show and was very impressed with the exhibit. The space is really incredible and the exhibits are always really well thought out. My boyfriend is in architecture school so we love to pop in when we're in the area to see whats new...or even to just enjoy the vast space.
In the center atrium area (ok, its not an atrium, but it is a giant open space) they have an awesome interactive arch building blocks set that is totally rad. Building an arch, even when its numbered, is quite the challenge. We had between us 2 engineers, an interior designer, and a communications person to help direct...and 2 seconds after we snapped a picture proudly in front of our arch, it collapsed. its all about that keystone...
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This is an amazing building, and yes it really does have the BEST MUSEUM STORE! Such a beautiful space, it's too bad they don't have more things to display. With more money, and more things to display this could really be a 5 star museum. The exhibits they have as of good quality, but not changed out often enough. I find myself there 2 or 3 times a year.
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A must if you're interested in urban planning and architecture. I've enjoyed past exhibits on DC and on concrete (I had no idea concrete could be so translucent or thin or curvy...)
We recently came with friends and their five-year-old twins. There's a playroom (with building-block type toys, of course). A docent also led a hands-on kids' lecture on the physics of architecture (material types and strength, arches, tension, etc.). Even though he was aiming at kids, we old folks learned something too!
I also love the building itself. I once took a building tour; they explained how this old pension office was designed to stay cool in the heat, and how the stairs were less steep than usual, which helped accessibility by injured Civil War pensioners. Really interesting.
Lots of public programs (not always free, sadly)
http://www.nbm.org/Eve...
The grand hall is huge and beautiful. Used for inaugural balls, etc.
Ranked 112 on AIA's Favorite Architecture list http://favoritearchite...
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My curiosity finally got the best of me and after 9 months of living in DC I finally went here. To my surprise, this museum is a lot more interesting than I ever could have thought possible.
The decor of the actual museum is sort of an interesting concept that was never fully realized - basically, they tried to mix all kinds of architectural and artistic styles within one building but somehow it all feels kind of disjointed - but points for effort nonetheless.
Some of the exhibits are pretty cool, especially the one showing the TWA Terminal at JFK and the Athens Airport -- all those mini models are always pretty cool.
The Washington, Symbol and City exhibit is interesting, but only to a certain point before it becomes boring and redundant.
In the end though, its a free museum close to Chinatown with some interesting models of cool buildings so if you're in Chinatown or Penn Quarter there's really no reason NOT to go.
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Become a true Washingtonian visit one of the coolest museums that nobody knows about.
Located a stone's throw away from the MCI center lies the National Buidling Museum. The museum is a large building that is mostly a gorgeous hall with enormous columns along the inside and a fountain in the middle. It's a perfect spot for chilling out, reading a book or taking part in many of the activities that the museum holds. A must for parents as I've been there several times when they have activities for kids that are really cool such as building model planes to drop from the balconies above to see how they fly.
The exhibits are also engaging. I've seen how Disneyland was planned out and built, the evolution of the escalator, how the workplace evolved and birth of the cube.
If you get the opportunity show off your DC knowledge and take a date or out of town guests to a cool no-name museum.
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This is one of my favorite buildings in D.C. The first time I walked in and stood and starred for a few minutes. It's a beautiful, historic building. The museum has well-done exhibitions about a variety of areas such as architecture, design, and urban planning. There's a room just for kids and a really great gift shop. I love to sit against the base of one of the huge columns, people-watch, and listen to the fountain that's in the center of the great hall. Even if you're not interested in the content of the museum's exhibitions, the building itself is worth a visit.
This place is really cool. It is not something I would have ever thought I wanted to see.
The carvings on the outside of the building are incredible. The interior of the building is magnificent. It is one huge open space with grand columns.
If you are slightly interested in architecture or history, they usually have at least one good exhibit here besides the permanent DC exhibit.
Be sure to check out there gift shop. It is probably one of the coolest museum gift shops in the DC area.
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I first discovered this place when I attended an awards ceremony that was held in its main hall. The person next to me at dinner was singing its praises all night, so I decided to make a trip back and check it out on a more formal level. The Building Museum takes up a block near the Judiciary Square metro stop, and is quite impressive in sight and size.
The interior is very beautiful as well, with large columns and ornate balconies. There are several permanent exhibits in the museum and you can do the tour yourself. I've never even heard of a building museum before, let alone visited another one, so I found each exhibit informational.
It didn't knock my socks off or anything, but it was nice to do something different. I think the museum also hosts lectures and films, in addition to the permanent exhibits. There is a little cafe in the museum and also a pretty good book/card store.
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This museum has some really great architectural exhibits...to peruse and enjoy.
Hands down, they HAVE THE BEST MUSEUM GIFT SHOP! Seriously, I challenge you to not find a gift for anyone on your list here. It's a fabulous and fun(!) palceto check out.
This place has the best museum store in all of DC. Also, it's a great place for kids to run around on the inside. (Probably not supposed to, but it's a great space). Check out the special events which are held here (example pottery exhibits, model airplane flying).
Everyone's already said it, but it's true. The building is beautiful. Huge columns, an indoor fountain, beautiful carpets. This place is gorgeous.
We checked out a couple of exhibits, which were informative but on the dull-side for those of us who are not in the construction business. But the Washington DC exhibit was great! It was really informative and gave me a good sense of how the city developed / is developing. As a newbie to the city, I think I got a lot out of the exhibit -- should be required viewing! :)
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If you are in the Chinatown/Judiciary Square area, it's worth spending 30 mins to an hour checking out this building. The relief carvings on the outside are very detailed, and when you walk in you will be blown away by the scale of the space and the massive, ornate pillars holding up the ceiling.
The building is often host to awards ceremonies for various organizations and agency competitions. There is usually at least one exhibit going on, currently "The Green House" which shows off some sustainable building practices. The coffee and sandwich shop here (firehook) isn't bad either if you want to stick around and enjoy looking at the space.
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Hmm... I am very disappointed about this museum. When I got there, the main hall was having a construction for Christmas event. So the photos didn't come out good. All the exhibition rooms were either closed or super boring. There are many other museums worth going. Don't waste time here,
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I'm surprised to see so many 4 and 5 star reviews of this place. A friend of mine used to work here and I never went in because I didn't really get the point of it. This weekend, a friend of mine wanted to go into it to see the "largest corinthian columns in the city," which I thought was an exhibit, but rather just some cool support structures that I'll admit, add a nice touch to the place.
The building itself definitely looks cool - it kinda looks like a factory in the middle of Washington, DC. And while the space inside is ideal for a presidential inauguration (as mentioned in another review), and somewhat cool looking w/ the corinthian pillars, it's not much of a museum. I mean, with all the great museums in this city, this one has the most "hot air," if you will. After all, there's a crap load of open space in this building, but not much in the way of exhibits. Friends and I went in this weekend, and each of us walked out thinking "that was extremely disappointing."
Given its location, tucked away in Gallery Place/Chinatown, I wouldn't waste time going out of your way to find it. Stick around the Smithsonian, where more worthwhile museums are, or check out he portrait museum nearby instead.
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If you're into Architecture, buildings and/or design, this is the place for you! This awesome brick structure is one of the most unique in the city.
This federal building houses the National Building Museum, which showcases design related exhibits about DC as well as American architectural design.
In addition to its permanent and rotating exhibits, the museum offers various lectures, book signings and construction watch tours throughout the year. Be sure to check out their website, http://www.nbm.org for the latest offerings.
If the exhibits aren't your thing, the museum shop is probably the best of any in DC! You'll find some cool and unique gifts for anyone in this place. It's the goto shop for all books architecture and design. You'll find helpful and friendly staff there too!
Admission is free, donations are accepted, and membership has its rewards at the National Building Museum!
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This is a very cool building. I went to an inaugural ball there and the building really served well for that kind of event.
My event planning sources; however, tell me it costs a fortune to rent--the number I was given was $30,000. I assume that's just for the rental and set up time. So add a few bucks and few people and you're next birthday bash could be here.
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My favorite building in Washington, hands down. Spend time looking at the frieze wrapping around the outside of the building that depicts a parade of Civil War military units. Stand in awe of the great hall and the amazing columns. Find serenity seated next to the beautiful indoor fountain. And then go to one of the most eclectic museum stores in the city.
Exhibits can be hit and miss, although as a DC history, planning and architecture nerd I find I enjoy them more often than not. The real star, however, is the building.
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I stopped in here on the Veteran's Day holiday to check out the new Green Communities exhibit. It was very quiet on this Tuesday holiday, a perfect time to check it out.
The building itself is pretty cool inside, with the airy, vaulted ceilings and the large columns dividing the interior pavilion. I thought the little head sculptures bordering the ceiling were particularly interesting. Take a wide-angle camera if you're into architectural photography!
I spent maybe an hour in the one-room Green exhibit alone. Typically, I am not the kind of museum-goer who has the patience to read all the little informational blurbs. But this exhibit was really well done. Although it takes up a relatively small space, there was a vast amount of information presented in a manageable way - the central focus is placed on several spotlighted cities from around the world and how they have developed ways to use the resources available in their local environments to support sustainable living. I learned a great deal in a short amount of time without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information presented. Don't miss the interactive floor graphic in the hallway outside the exhibit - you choose your mode of transportation (bike, car, or bus) and as you walk along, it moves with you, giving you little tidbits of info along the way. Pretty cool, in a brings-out-the-inner-kid sort of way! =) This exhibit will be open until October 2009.
I also went through the exhibit on Washington, D.C., which offers a colorful look into the history and people behind some of the District's most well-known buildings, monuments, and neighborhoods (as well as a look at some you might not have seen before!). Pretty interesting stuff.
I highly recommend this for a quiet afternoon! It offers free admission, just like the Smithsonian museums, but I'm guessing that it doesn't get the big crowds that some of the more well-known museums do. The museum shop is quite extensive and worth checking out - great for fun gifts for all ages!
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Definitely one of the 'hidden' gems of DC. Written down in quotes because it's one of the largest buildings in DC. In fact, whenever there is an presidential inaugural ball, one of them is always held here because of the mammoth indoor space.
In addition to the great exhibits on architecture, urban planning, and other aspects of the built environment, the museum store sells all sorts of books and other gifts that complement what is currently on exhibit.
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So I randomly walked to this museum during my first adult visit to DC because it was the closest one to my location. Even though it wasn't a more prominent museum, I decided to check it out anyways. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. I learned a lot about the foundations and make up of DC through the mock city display and apt description of its history. The tour was very thorough and took you through what felt like the entire building! The special exhibit being shown at the time was on "Concrete" and its many uses. How it changed the way we build things and examples of how its' been used in many different ways. Everything was free and would definitely recommend it if you have an hour or two to spare.
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Great museum. They have excellent exhibits (some recent ones I've liked: Jewish Washington and Green Houses). But the REAL draw is the beautiful architecture and bright open feeling of the building, which makes it worth a visit even if there was no exhibit!
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