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National Building Museum

ArchitectureDesignHistoryClosed todayFrom $10Judiciary Square (Metro Red Line, directly across the street)

Das National Building Museum ist in dem monumentalen Backsteinbau des Pension Building von 1887 untergebracht – entworfen von Generalquartiermeister Montgomery C. Meigs im Stil der Neorenaissance nach dem Vorbild römischer Palazzi. Als US-amerikanisches Museum für Architektur, Design, Ingenieurwesen, Bau- und Stadtplanung beeindruckt es vor allem durch seine Great Hall: Der rund 96 mal 35 Meter große Raum wird von acht kolossalen korinthischen Säulen getragen, die bei einer Höhe von fast 23 Metern und einem Durchmesser von zweieinhalb Metern aus jeweils etwa 70.000 Backsteinen gemauert und als sieneser Marmor bemalt sind. Das Gebäude wurde 1985 zum National Historic Landmark ernannt; das Museum selbst entstand 1980 durch einen Beschluss des Kongresses als private gemeinnützige Institution. Neben langjährigen Dauerausstellungen zu Wohnungsbau, LEGO-Architektur und Kinderbüchern präsentiert das Haus wechselnde Sonderausstellungen sowie eine viel beachtete sommerliche Großinstallation in der Great Hall.

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Getting there

401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States

Nearest station: Judiciary Square (Metro Red Line, directly across the street), Gallery Place–Chinatown (Metro Red/Yellow/Green lines, two blocks west)

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Hours

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Admission

From $10

Youth and seniors $7; members free. The Great Hall and Museum Shop can be visited free of charge. Free admission via Museums for All (SNAP/EBT) and Blue Star Museums for active-duty military families.

Nearby

National Portrait Gallery

ArtFree5 min walk

Smithsonian American Art Museum

ArtFree5 min walk

National Archives Museum

ArchitectureFree8 min walk

National Gallery of Art

ArtFree8 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does National Building Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to National Building Museum is $10. Youth and seniors $7; members free. The Great Hall and Museum Shop can be visited free of charge. Free admission via Museums for All (SNAP/EBT) and Blue Star Museums for active-duty military families.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of National Building Museum?
National Building Museum is open Thursday to Monday 10:00-17:00; closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Also closed on Thanksgiving (26 November 2026) and Christmas Day (25 December 2026). The Great Hall and Museum Shop are free to enter.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is National Building Museum?
National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001, United States, in the Judiciary Square area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Judiciary Square (Metro Red Line, directly across the street), Gallery Place–Chinatown (Metro Red/Yellow/Green lines, two blocks west).
What can I see at National Building Museum?
Montgomery Meigs’ Pension Building von 1887, dessen kolossale Great Hall aus Backstein den Rahmen für Ausstellungen über Architektur, Design und die Entstehung von Städten bildet. Current highlights include Gemeinsam Zukunft gestalten: Amerikas Innenstädte neu denken (Coming Together: Reimagining America's Downtowns), Ein besseres Leben für ihre Kinder: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington und die 4.978 Schulen, die Amerika veränderten (A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America), Miniatur-Erinnerungen (Mini Memories).
Do I need to book National Building Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit National Building Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

APK, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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