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Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.

Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums . America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history,.

Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.

No wonder they attract nearly.

With over in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in Washington, D.C. on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.

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#30. The Kreeger Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (130 reviews)
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#29. The President Woodrow Wilson House

- Rating: 4.6/5 (230 reviews)
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#28. Rock Creek Park

- Rating: 4.5/5 (289 reviews)
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#27. DAR Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (234 reviews)
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5 / 30

#26. National Law Enforcement Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (170 reviews)
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6 / 30

#25. Anderson House

- Rating: 4.6/5 (167 reviews)
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#24. National Museum of Women in the Arts

- Rating: 4.5/5 (375 reviews)
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#23. National Building Museum

- Rating: 4.0/5 (678 reviews)
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#22. President Lincoln's Cottage

- Rating: 4.4/5 (576 reviews)
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#21. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

- Rating: 4.1/5 (930 reviews)
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11 / 30

#20. National Museum of the American Indian

- Rating: 3.9/5 (2,475 reviews)
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#19. Planet Word

- Rating: 4.8/5 (91 reviews)
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#18. Renwick Gallery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,156 reviews)
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#17. National Museum of Asian Art

- Rating: 4.6/5 (753 reviews)
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#16. Smithsonian American Art Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,585 reviews)
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16 / 30

#15. Smithsonian Institution Building

- Rating: 4.6/5 (3,553 reviews)
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#14. National Postal Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,170 reviews)
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#13. The Phillips Collection

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,443 reviews)
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#12. Museum Of The Bible

- Rating: 4.6/5 (1,262 reviews)
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20 / 30

#11. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens

- Rating: 4.8/5 (1,331 reviews)
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21 / 30

#10. The National Archives Museum

- Rating: 4.5/5 (3,617 reviews)
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#9. National Portrait Gallery

- Rating: 4.7/5 (3,621 reviews)
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#8. Ford's Theatre

- Rating: 4.6/5 (4,450 reviews)
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#7. American History Museum

- Rating: 4.4/5 (5,142 reviews)
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#6. International Spy Museum

- Rating: 4.0/5 (5,761 reviews)
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26 / 30

#5. National Museum of African American History and Culture

- Rating: 4.8/5 (3,818 reviews)
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#4. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

- Rating: 4.7/5 (11,394 reviews)
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#3. National Air and Space Museum

- Rating: 4.6/5 (23,671 reviews)
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#2. National Gallery of Art

- Rating: 4.8/5 (10,021 reviews)
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#1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

- Rating: 4.6/5 (12,643 reviews)
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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