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National Building Museum

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

Ospitato nell'imponente Pension Building del 1887 – un edificio in mattoni rossi progettato dal Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs in stile neorinascimentale ispirato ai palazzi romani –, il National Building Museum è la principale istituzione museale statunitense dedicata ad architettura, design, ingegneria, edilizia e pianificazione urbana. La sua monumentale Great Hall, che misura circa 96 metri per 35, è scandita da otto colossali colonne corinzie alte quasi 23 metri e larghe circa 2,4 metri, ciascuna costruita con circa 70.000 mattoni e dipinta per imitare il marmo di Siena. Dichiarato National Historic Landmark nel 1985, il museo è stato istituito con una legge del Congresso nel 1980 come organizzazione privata senza fini di lucro. Accanto a percorsi espositivi permanenti su edilizia abitativa, architetture LEGO e letteratura per l'infanzia, accoglie mostre temporanee e una celebre grande installazione estiva nella Great Hall.

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Plan Your Visit

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

MonClosed
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SatTodayClosed
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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?
Lo storico Pension Building del 1887, progettato da Montgomery Meigs, ospita nella sua monumentale Great Hall in mattoni mostre dedicate all'architettura, al design e all'evoluzione delle città. Current highlights include Insieme: reinventare i centri urbani d'America (Coming Together: Reimagining America's Downtowns), Una vita migliore per i loro figli: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington e le 4.978 scuole che hanno cambiato l'America (A Better Life for Their Children: Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that Changed America), 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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