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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

DesignArtClosed · Opens 10amFreeL'Enfant Plaza (Metro — Green, Yellow, Orange and Blue lines; 7th & Maryland Ave exit)

Opened in 1974 around industrialist Joseph H. Hirshhorn's gift of some 6,000 works, the Hirshhorn is the Smithsonian's museum of modern and contemporary art. Gordon Bunshaft's building is an open concrete cylinder 231 feet across, raised on four massive piers above a fountain courtyard, with three floors of galleries wrapped in concentric rings. The collection runs from Rodin, Brancusi, Matisse and Hopper through Pollock, Rothko and de Kooning to living artists, shown alongside ambitious temporary exhibitions and permanently installed commissions by Mark Bradford, Barbara Kruger and Laurie Anderson. The adjacent Sculpture Garden has been closed since 2023 for a Hiroshi Sugimoto-designed revitalization and is announced to reopen on 31 October 2026.

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Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

Independence Ave SW and 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States

Nearest station: L'Enfant Plaza (Metro — Green, Yellow, Orange and Blue lines; 7th & Maryland Ave exit), Smithsonian (Metro), Federal Center SW (Metro)

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Hours

Mon12:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
ThuToday10:00–17:30
Fri10:00–17:30
Sat10:00–17:30
Sun10:00–17:30

Admission

Free

Admission is walk-up and always free; passes are not required.

Accessibility

The Hirshhorn's campus, exhibitions and public programs are accessible. L'Enfant Plaza Metro has elevator access to street level at the 7th & Maryland Avenue exit.

Nearby

National Air and Space Museum

HistoryFree3 min walk

National Museum of Asian Art

DesignFree4 min walk

National Museum of Natural History

HistoryFree5 min walk

National Gallery of Art

ArtFree5 min walk

Visitor Information

Is Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden free to visit?
Yes, general admission to Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is free. Admission is walk-up and always free; passes are not required.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden?
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is open Monday noon–5:30pm; Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5:30pm. Closed 25 December. The Sculpture Garden is closed for revitalization and is announced to reopen 31 October 2026; the outdoor Plaza remains open daily 10am–5:30pm.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden?
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is located at Independence Ave SW and 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States, in the National Mall area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are L'Enfant Plaza (Metro — Green, Yellow, Orange and Blue lines; 7th & Maryland Ave exit), Smithsonian (Metro), Federal Center SW (Metro).
What can I see at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden?
The Smithsonian's modern and contemporary art museum — a hovering concrete drum on the National Mall, free to all. Current highlights include Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen, Barbara Kruger: Belief+Doubt, Big Things for Big Rooms.
Do I need to book Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in advance?
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is walk-up and always free; passes are not required.. 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 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden?
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.
Is Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden accessible?
The Hirshhorn's campus, exhibitions and public programs are accessible. L'Enfant Plaza Metro has elevator access to street level at the 7th & Maryland Avenue exit.

Gryffindor, via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

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