The best museums in Washington, D.C. that aren't Smithsonian
The top 3 according to 55 votes from people: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum · The Phillips Collection · International Spy Museum. (Updated Mar 25, 2026.)
Beyond the Mall's free giants: the Phillips, the Holocaust Museum, Planet Word and more, according to locals and travel writers.
Top 13
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1
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The permanent exhibition, open since 1993.
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2
The Phillips Collection
America's first modern art museum, with Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.
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3
International Spy Museum
Gadgets and spycraft at L'Enfant Plaza.
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4
Planet Word
Interactive museum of language in the Franklin School.
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5
National Gallery of Art
Free, federal and not Smithsonian: Leonardo's Ginevra de' Benci.
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6
National Building Museum
Architecture shows in a vast columned hall.
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7
Dumbarton Oaks
Byzantine and pre-Columbian art and terraced gardens.
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8
Ford's Theatre
Where Lincoln was shot, with museum and Petersen House.
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9
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Marjorie Merriweather Post's Fabergé and gardens.
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10
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Art by women from the Renaissance on.
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11
Museum of the Bible
Six floors near the Mall with a rooftop garden.
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12
Folger Shakespeare Library
The world's largest Shakespeare collection.
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13
Kreeger Museum
Impressionists in a Philip Johnson house.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (1)
Planet Word is so much fun even for adults, we spent way longer there than planned.