National Building Museum

A Washington museum focused on architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning.

401 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 · Washington, DC

About National Building Museum

The National Building Museum sits in Northwest Washington and explores how people shape the built world. Its galleries host rotating exhibitions that surround the museum's large central hall. Visitors can explore themes of design, construction, and city life, and the museum also runs programs, tours, and family-oriented events throughout the year.

#architecture
#design
#engineering
#urban planning
#museum

What's around here?

The closest stops to National Building Museum, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Sightseeing
History Buff
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
No admission fee
Walk the tree-lined paths of Judiciary Square past marble walls carved with the names of U.S. officers who died in the line of duty.
Right next doorSwitch it up: Sightseeing
Attractions
Family Favorite
Capital One Arena
$50+
Catch Capitals hockey, Wizards basketball, Georgetown games and big concert tours at this downtown arena in Chinatown.
Transit: reachable by public transit
Steps awaySwitch it up: Attractions
Museums
Lillian & Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum
No admission fee
Downtown Washington museum that tells the story of Jewish life in the capital region, with free general admission.
Steps awayMore like this
Museums
History Buff
National Portrait Gallery
No admission fee
Meet the people who shaped the country through paintings, photographs and sculpture, including a full gallery of presidential portraits.
Transit: reachable by public transit
0.3 mi awayMore like this
Museums
Rainy-Day Pick
Smithsonian American Art Museum
No admission fee
Browse American art from the colonial era to today, watch conservators at work, and wander thousands of objects in open storage.
Transit: reachable by public transit
0.3 mi awayMore like this
Sightseeing
Victims of Communism Memorial
Check prices
A Washington, D.C. statue honoring the many millions of people killed under communist regimes.
0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing