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Rubell Museum DC

ArtPhotographyClosed · Opens 11amFrom $15Navy Yard–Ballpark (Green line) — use the Ballpark exit at M & Half St SE

Mera, Don and Jason Rubell have been buying contemporary art since 1964, and in 2022 they brought a slice of that collection to Washington, opening 32,000 square feet of galleries in the Southwest neighbourhood. The building is the former Randall Junior High School, a historically Black public school built in 1906 and shuttered in 1978; the Rubells bought it from the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 2010 and had Beyer Blinder Belle strip the classrooms back to bare brick, steel and high windows. Marvin Gaye was a pupil here, and the inaugural show, What's Going On, took its title from him. The museum reinstalls itself almost entirely each year, so what hangs on the walls is rarely the same twice — and admission is free for anyone with a DC ID.

What's On

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Plan Your Visit

Getting there

65 I Street SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States

Nearest station: Navy Yard–Ballpark (Green line) — use the Ballpark exit at M & Half St SE, Waterfront (Green line), Federal Center SW (Blue, Orange, Silver lines)

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Hours

MonClosed
TueClosed
Wed11:00–17:00
ThuToday11:00–17:00
Fri11:00–18:00
Sat11:00–18:00
Sun11:00–17:00

Admission

From $15

Saturday and Sunday: adults $15, seniors $12, students and youth $10. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are pay-what-you-wish. Always free for DC residents with ID (individual only), military and veterans with ID (+3 guests), EBT card holders under Museum for All (+3 guests), and ADA visitors (+1 guest). Members free year-round.

Nearby

National Museum of the American Indian

HistoryFree13 min walk

Library of Congress

HistoryFree14 min walk

National Air and Space Museum

ScienceFree15 min walk

Folger Shakespeare Library

LiteratureFree16 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does Rubell Museum DC cost?
Standard adult admission to Rubell Museum DC is $15. Saturday and Sunday: adults $15, seniors $12, students and youth $10. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are pay-what-you-wish. Always free for DC residents with ID (individual only), military and veterans with ID (+3 guests), EBT card holders under Museum for All (+3 guests), and ADA visitors (+1 guest). Members free year-round.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Rubell Museum DC?
Rubell Museum DC is open Open Wednesday–Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday. Wed, Thu and Sun 11:00–17:00; Fri and Sat 11:00–18:00. Closed on New Year's Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Wednesday to Friday admission is pay-what-you-wish; DC residents with ID always get in free.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Rubell Museum DC?
Rubell Museum DC is located at 65 I Street SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States, in the Southwest Waterfront area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are Navy Yard–Ballpark (Green line) — use the Ballpark exit at M & Half St SE, Waterfront (Green line), Federal Center SW (Blue, Orange, Silver lines).
What can I see at Rubell Museum DC?
Blue-chip contemporary art inside a 1906 Black public school, a mile south of the National Mall — free for DC residents. Current highlights include Friends, Lovers, and Me: Recent Acquisitions, Thomas Houseago: Collages (for a world gone mad).
Do I need to book Rubell Museum DC 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 Rubell Museum DC?
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, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

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