Advance-purchase tickets are suggested, but not required. Same-day, walk-up tickets may be purchased at the Visitor Center.
Brick City Temporary Closure
Brick City will be closed to the public beginning Thursday, October 22 while the exhibition undergoes a refresh, reopening on Friday, November 27. Planning a visit before the closure? Brick City will be open to visitors through the end of the day on Monday, October 19.
Beginning Monday, October 26, visitors can also experience Building Together, a temporary LEGO® brick activation in the City Action Hall, running through Friday, November 20.
Historic Building Tours
Made possible by the generous support of
The Museum offers guided tours of its historic space, highlighting its architectural features, construction history, and the journey of how it became home to the Museum. Tours include historic photographs and access to extra areas of the building.
Group Tours
Bring your students for a day of hands-on discovery at the National Building Museum! With a self-guided visit, classes can explore our exhibitions at their own pace, sparking curiosity, creativity, and plenty of great conversations along the way.
Field trip requests are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to plan ahead and reserve your spot early!
Getting Here
We recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero.
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).
Hotel Discount
We are pleased to provide our out-of-town visitors with a room discount thanks to a partnership with the Arlo Washington DC. Use the code “nbm” under Promo Code on their website to access this discount.
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 2026 Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 16 and ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. 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.