Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens

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Busy Bliss: A Collector's Passion

A vivid portrait of Robert Woods Bliss as an early twentieth-century collector, drawn from the estate's own holdings. Special Exhibitions Gallery.

Now showing1 Apr – 28 Feb 2027Free

Permanent Collections

Byzantine Collection

Over twelve hundred objects from the fourth to fifteenth centuries: gold and silver Eucharistic vessels, cloisonne enamels, ivory icons, Antioch mosaics. Byzantine and Courtyard Galleries.

Permanent collectionFree

Pre-Columbian Collection

Over seven hundred works from Mesoamerica, the Andes and the Intermediate Area — Olmec jade, Maya relief panels, Aztec stone, Andean gold — in Philip Johnson's 1963 glass pavilion.

Permanent collectionFree

The Music Room and House Collection

Renaissance-inspired room of Tournai tapestries, El Greco's Visitation, sculpture and furniture, under a painted Rateau ceiling. Stravinsky's "Dumbarton Oaks" Concerto premiered here in 1938.

Permanent collectionFree

The Gardens

Sixteen acres by Beatrix Farrand, designed 1921–47: formal terraces stepping down from the house into orchards, kitchen gardens and a wooded wilderness of meadows and paths.

Permanent collection$15

Nearby

IA&A at Hillyer

IA&A at Hillyer

ArtFree17 min walk

i

The Phillips Collection

Art18 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens free to visit?

Yes, general admission to Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens is free. Admission to the Museum and the Rare Book Library is free and unticketed. The Gardens are separately ticketed: $15 per ticket in the Regular Season (March 1–October 31), free but requiring advance reservation in the Winter Season (November 1–December 31). Free for children 2 and under. Season passes: $75 individual, $95 double, $110 family. Garden tickets are sold online via Eventbrite only — no on-site point of sale — and are limited to 10 per household per day.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.

What are the opening hours of Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens?

Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens is open Museum: Tuesday–Sunday 11:30am–5:30pm, closed Mondays and federal holidays; free and unticketed. The Rare Book Library opens 11:30am–5:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, and the Museum Shop 1–5pm Tuesday–Sunday. The Gardens keep separate seasonal hours and charge admission: March 1–October 31, Tuesday–Sunday 2–6pm ($15, last entry 5:30pm); November 1–December 31, Tuesday–Sunday 2–5pm (free, advance reservation required; last entry 4:30pm). From 2027 the Gardens close for January and February. Remaining 2026 closures for both Museum and Gardens: Wednesday 11 November (Veterans' Day), Thursday 26 November (Thanksgiving), Friday 25 December (Christmas Day), and Friday 1 January 2027 (New Year's Day). The Gardens also close 8–10 October 2026 for internal events, and may close in hazardous conditions.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.

Where is Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens?

Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens is located at 1703 32nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States, in the Georgetown area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Wisconsin Avenue & R Street NW — Metrobus D80, Q & 31st Streets NW — Metrobus C91, D94, D96, Dupont Circle Metro (Red Line) — nearest Metro station, about 1.8 km east; walk, or transfer to Metrobus C91, D94 or D96 and Foggy Bottom–GWU Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver lines) — about 1.9 km south; walk, or transfer to Metrobus D80, D94 or D96.

What can I see at Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens?

Byzantine gold and Olmec jade in a Georgetown estate, wrapped in sixteen acres of Beatrix Farrand's terraced gardens. Current highlights include Busy Bliss: A Collector's Passion, Byzantine Collection and Pre-Columbian Collection.

Do I need to book Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens in advance?

Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission to the Museum and the Rare Book Library is free and unticketed. The Gardens are separately ticketed: $15 per ticket in the Regular Season (March 1–October 31), free but requiring advance reservation in the Winter Season (November 1–December 31). Free for children 2 and under. Season passes: $75 individual, $95 double, $110 family. Garden tickets are sold online via Eventbrite only — no on-site point of sale — and are limited to 10 per household per day.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.

When is the best time to visit Dumbarton Oaks Museum & Gardens?

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.