Museum and Museum Shop Hours of Operation: Thursday through Monday, 10 am to 4 pm
Museum Cafe Hours of Operation: Thursday through Sunday 10 am to 4 pm
Holiday Closures: Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Visits to the Great Hall, the Museum Shop, the Museum Cafe, and the special exhibition A Better Way Home: The Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge are FREE.
Advance-purchase tickets are suggested, but not required. Same-day, walk-up tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Center whenever you choose to visit us during operating hours.
The Museum Cafe is operated by SakuSaku Flakerie, a French bakery with a Japanese twist offering signature croissants, Kouign Amann, quiches, and more.
Visitor Guide
Complimentary Admissions:
Museums for All is a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. The Museum offers free general admission to individuals and families presenting a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. One person per group needs to present the identifying information, and that will cover up to 3 additional individuals.
Blue Star Museums is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, in collaboration with the Department of Defense and museums across America, offering free general admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. The 2023 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 20 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023. To gain free general admission, one person per group needs to present the identifying information (military or dependent identification card), and that will cover up to five additional individuals.
Visiting the Museum from out of town?
We are pleased to provide our out of town visitors with a room discount thanks to a partnership with the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill. Use the code Cr180064 when booking your stay.
Architect and exhibition designer Wendy Evans Joseph provides an early look at the Museum’s new Visitor Center. The three-gallery space includes a ticketing desk and information room, which features a wall of artifacts from our permanent collection, as well as two installations that showcase the importance of the built environment. Recorded December 2020.
COVID SAFETY RULES
Safety procedures and guidelines are in place to provide a safe and pleasant experience for visitors and for Museum staff.
Face Covering/Mask. Masks are encouraged.
Maintain a Safe Social Distance. Please keep a safe distance of 6 feet or more from other people. There will be social-distancing signage and directions throughout the Museum and the Shop.
Wash or Sanitize Hands. Hand-sanitizing stations are available throughout the building, including the Museum Shop.
Do Not Enter If Ill. We are asking all visitors who are sick or feel unwell to please stay home.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Address
401 F Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Directions
Metro: The Museum is located across the street from the Judiciary Square (Red Line) station’s F Street NW entrance. Alternatively, you can take the Yellow/Green/Red lines to the Gallery Place-Chinatown station and walk two blocks east to the Museum.
Metrobus: Three Metrobus routes have stops located near the Museum: D6, 80, and X2.
Capital Bikeshare: The closest bike stations are located at 5th and F Streets NW; 7th and F Streets NW; and 4th and D Streets NW.
Driving and Parking
Parking is challenging near the Museum, and we recommend using public transportation whenever possible. For those who plan to drive, we have partnered with SpotHero to help visitors find and purchase guaranteed parking at many convenient locations in the area.
To reserve your parking spot, visit the National Building Museum SpotHero Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.
Once purchased, parking for the National Building Museum is 100% guaranteed even if the location otherwise fills up, often at exclusive discounts. Simply present your purchase confirmation at the selected location, and this serves as your payment with no additional payments or fees ever.
Additionally, metered parking is located on 5th, F, and G Streets NW (please check meters carefully for hours of operation).