Ford’s Theatre and Lincoln Museum
Tours at Ford's Theatre, the Lincoln Museum, and The House Where Lincoln Died are self-guided and free of charge. Fifteen-minute historical talks are presented in the theater at fifteen past the hour. Because Ford's Theatre also functions as an active stage there are times when the theater will be closed to the public. Theatrical performances are charged admission. It is strongly recommended to call the theater one or two days before your visit to confirm that it will be open for touring.

(202) 426-6924
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
Closed Christmas.

National Geographic Explorers Hall
The centerpiece of the National Geographic Building features a giant rotating globe of the Earth, Jacque Cousteau’s diving saucer, Admiral Perry’s arctic sled and a special electronic map depicting many famous world expeditions. Admission is free.

(202) 857-7588 Recorded information
(202) 857-7689 Group tours
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and holidays.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Folger Shakespeare Library
The library houses the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, as well as an authentic Elizabethan Theatre.

(202) 544-4600
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Closed on federal holidays.

National Museum of Women in the Arts
This museum is dedicated to the artistic achievements of women. It features painting, sculpture, photography and graphic arts from the Renaissance period to the present.

(202) 783-5000
(202) 783-7996 Tour reservations, required four weeks in advance.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year ’s Day.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum tells the story of the Holocaust in its three-floor permanent exhibition; of special note are the Tower of Faces, an actual barracks from Auschwitz, videotaped testimony, and The Hall of Remembrance. Admission is free, but tickets are required and can be obtained at the museum box office.

(202) 488-0400
10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
10 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday April 6 to June 17.
Closed on Yom Kippur and Christmas.

National Building Museum
Highlighting urban planning, architecture, engineering, and design this museum houses some of the largest Corinthian columns in the world and has been the site of 15 presidential inaugural balls.

(202) 272-2448
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year ’s Day.

National Gallery of Art and East Wing
World masterpieces from medieval times to the present adorn the National Gallery of Art. The East Wing highlights contemporary art, beginning with the building designed by I.M. Pei.

(202) 737-4215
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Closed Christmas and New Year ’s Day.

B’nai B’rith Museum
A variety of Jewish ceremonial objects from antiquity to modern day are featured. Advance reservations must be made in order to visit the museum.

(202) 857-6583 or (202) 866-533-6249, or e-mail museum@bnaibrith.org.
Hours are Monday through Thursday, 12:00 noon -3:00 p.m.
Closed on Jewish and federal holidays.

Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran’s permanent collection includes examples of American art from colonial times to the present. Special exhibitions feature the major works of living American artists and explore such themes as black folk art, polaroid photography and other new artistic directions. Admission is charged.

(202) 639-1700
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Mondays & Tuesdays.
Extended hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year ’s Day.

Daughters of the American Revolution Museum
The Daughters of the American Revolution Museum has collected and preserved a remarkable array of period pieces from the Revolutionary War Era. A chest from the Boston Tea Party, Daniel Boone’s ladderback chair and replicas of home life in several states during the Revolution are among the exhibits.

(202) 628-1776
(202) 879-3229 for groups of five or more.
For the Library:
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For the Museum and Shop:
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
For Period Rooms (Call in advanced for tours):
10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The Textile Museum
The Textile Museum focuses exclusively on the collection, study, preservation and exhibition of historic, manmade textiles and carpets. The museum is known for its preeminent collection of pre-Columbian, Peruvian textiles, as well as its fine collections of textiles from the Middle and Far East.

(202) 667-0441
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Closed on federal holidays and Christmas Eve.

Phillips Collection
This museum is set in a townhouse off Dupont Circle and features the art of El Greco, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh.
Admission to permanent collection is free on weekdays. Other collections and weekend admission are charged.

(202) 387-2151
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Closed federal holidays.

Hillwood Museum
Hillwood displays varied works of 18th and 19th century Russian and French decorative art. Tours of the main house and gardens must be arranged in advance, but reservations are not needed to tour the auxiliary buildings. Admission is charged.

(202) 686-8500
(202) 686-5807 Tour reservations
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Closed federal holidays and the month of January.

Newseum
The Newseum will be an interactive museum featuring the production of news reporting and unique perspectives of some of history’s most memorable events. Visitors are welcome to visit the museum site to view the project’s progress, and see the day’s front pages of newspapers from around the world. Located at 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.

The Newseum is schedule to open sometime in 2007.

National Children’s Museum
Three main exhibits combined arts, sciences, humanities and new technologies. Now closed for reconstruction, a new museum located at L’Enfant Plaza will feature "Please Touch" signs everywhere to increase a child’s enjoyment and understanding of the exhibits.

(202) 675-4120
The Children's Museum is scheduled to reopen sometime in the summer of 2008.