National Museum of American History
Photo: Own work — CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The National Museum of American History showcases over 1.7 million artifacts, including the Star-Spangled Banner and Dorothy’s ruby slippers, tracing the nation’s development from colonial times to the present.
Planning your visit
The National Museum of American History holds 1.7 million objects and takes an unusual approach: rather than a chronological national narrative, it works through themes and through the specific objects Americans recognise. The Star-Spangled Banner — the actual flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and prompted the anthem, enormous, fragile and displayed in a darkened climate-controlled chamber — is the centrepiece.
Around it sit Dorothy's ruby slippers, Julia Child's kitchen relocated whole, Lincoln's hat, Muhammad Ali's gloves, the Greensboro lunch counter where four students sat down in 1960, and the first ladies' gowns. The mixture of the solemn and the popular is deliberate and characteristic.
Sections cover American democracy, innovation, immigration, business, war, culture and food, with the treatment more critical and inclusive than it was decades ago.
Admission is free, no timed entry required, and it sits on the National Mall next to the Natural History Museum.
Bookable options include semi-private guided tours capped around eight people and family scavenger hunt formats, which work well for children in a museum that otherwise sprawls. Current availability is shown below.
Before you book
Where is National Museum of American History?
National Museum of American History is in Washington, United States. The map on this page marks its exact location.
Do I need to book National Museum of American History in advance?
Private tours are arranged for a set date and time, so they need booking in advance.
