Mordern, Free, Best Art Museums in Washington DC

"We have all seen paper copies of fine works of art hanging in homes and businesses. Once, you step inside the National Gallery of Art, you get to see the real pieces for your own eyes. The west building features early European and American works and boasts the only painting by Leonardo Da Vinci in the Americas."

"The free museum and sculpture garden, National Gallery of Art, is home to one of the best fine art collection in the world. The Italian Renaissance collection is widely known as the strongest collection at the National Gallery of Art. The only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas is shown at the museum."

"With two massive buildings filled with contemporary and classical art, what’s not to love about this gallery?. The National Gallery of Art also features a six-acre sculpture garden. In the permanent art collection, you can expect to find artworks from the likes of da Vinci and Calder."

"The National Portrait Gallery is located north of the National Mall and shares its home at the Old Patent Office Building with the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Like the name suggests, the National Portrait Gallery houses historic and culturally-significant portraits and photographs. Famous exhibits at the National Portrait Gallery include the Hall of Presidents, Time magazine covers, a Frederick Douglass daguerreotype, and more."

"It houses tens of thousands of pieces, seen by over 2 million visitors a year, within a Greek Revival frame. The gallery’s indoor courtyard is also one of D.C.’s most beautiful interiors."

"DC’s Hirshhorn Museum is undoubtedly among the top contemporary art spaces in the United States. Founded in the 1960s from art collector Joseph Hirshhorn’s private collection, the museum exhibits artworks by some of the modern and contemporary art world’s greatest masters, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Francis Bacon, and Edward Hopper. Temporary exhibitions have showcased the iconic works of Andy Warhol, Yves Klein, and Ai Weiwei."

"The great Gordon Bunshaft conceived the landmark cylindrical building for this modern art museum established by collector Joseph H. Hirshhorn. Set halfway between the Washington Monument and the Capitol, the Hirshhorn was ready in 1974 and houses one of America’s best collections of modern and contemporary art. Think Picasso, Matisse, Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Jackson Pollock, Edward Hopper and Franz Kline, just by way of introduction."

"The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is an art museum dedicated to contemporary culture and art. Located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., the museum offers tours, a cafe, exhibits, monthly events, and a museum shop for people of all ages and all interests. They also have a storytime event for children (ages 6 and younger) that features book readings, arts, and crafts."

"With an astounding collection of over 3,000 artworks, The Phillips Collection was the first museum of modern art to open in the United States. This impressive space is home to works by classic masters such as Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, alongside Modern marvels Paul Klee, Georgia O’Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, and Ellsworth Kelly. One of the space’s most renowned features is the ‘Rothko Room’ – a separate space designed in collaboration with the artist himself in which visitors may observe four of Rothko’s hypnotic paintings."

"Duncan Phillips (1886-1996), the founder of this fantastic art museum in the Dupont Circle, is credited with introducing modern art to American audiences. When the Phillips Collection was established in 1921 its raft of Impressionist paintings and works by Fauvists, Cubists and Expressionists was provocative and daring. At first the gallery was in a purpose built room attached to the family home, but the Phillips family moved out when the collection grew to more than 600 pieces, and the gallery took over the entire building."

"Unbeatable for mind-bending, immersive art Since opening in June 2017, Artechouse has become a favorite for its blend of digital imagery, art, music, film, theater, and technology. The current exhibit, "Sakura Yume Cherry Blossom Dream," runs through May 6, 2018. Features of the exhibit include an interactive 3D koi pond sculpture and a lantern-lit street."

"Duration: 1 hour. ARTECHOUSE, the nation’s first innovative digital art space with locations in Washington, DC, New York, and..."

"A post shared by AJ Washington (@alfredjw_) on Nov 5, 2017 at 12:11pm PST. The expansive Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post in Upper Northwest is perfect for snuggling up with your sweetie as you stroll the gardens and take in the museum’s lavish treasures."

"Hillwood Estate is a heritage and decorative arts museum which opened in 1973. It was the former residence of Marjorie Merriweather Post."

"Hours: Currently closed for renovationsLocation:900 Jefferson Drive SW. The Arts and Industries Building is the original home of the National Museum. It’s currently closed due to renovation."

"The Reynolds Center is one of DC's finest museums. This Smithsonian venue combines the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum into one whopping collection of American art that's unmatched anywhere in the world. Keep an eye out for famed works by Edward Hopper, Georgia O’Keeffe, Andy Warhol, Winslow Homer and loads more celebrated artists."

"This Smithsonian venue combines the National Portrait Gallery and the American Art Museum into one whopping collection of American art that's unmatched anywhere... Monument in National Mall"

"A historic estate in Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks has delightful gardens and a house going back to the early 19th century, enriched with collections of Byzantine, Pre-Columbian and European art. These many works were gathered by former resident, the diplomat Robert Woods Bliss (1875-1962) and his wife Mildred (1879-1969). Most compelling are the Aztec, Mayan, Olmec, Veracruz, Teotihuacan carvings in stone and jade, ceramics from the Wari, Moche and Nasca culture and splendid gold, silverware and textiles from the Inca, Chimú and Lambayeque cultures."

"A post shared by Bojana Andrejevic (@boyannaalexander) on Aug 20, 2017 at 8:02pm PDT. The beautiful, serene and quiet gardens at Dumbarton Oaks are just a few minutes stroll from the hustle and bustle of Georgetown proper. Chart a course through the European designed garden to locate the ornaments and inscriptions."

"This 1801 Federal-style estate in Georgetown serves as a house museum. It boasts Byzantine and pre-Columbian collections, and features a variety of tapestries, furniture, and artwork. It also supports scholarly research."

"Want to take a trip around the world? Stroll northwest along Massachusetts Ave from Dupont Circle (the actual traffic circle) and you pass more than 40 embassies housed in mansions that range from elegant to imposing to discreet. Tunisia, Chile, Turkmenistan, Togo, Haiti – flags flutter above heavy doors and mark the nations inside, while dark-windowed sedans ease out of driveways ferrying diplomats to and fro. The district has another 130 embassies sprinkled throughout, but this is the main vein."

"Between 1937 and 1959, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed a series of small-scale houses that he called 'Usonian.' Modest in scale but rich in innovation and detail, these site-specific single-story dwellings were constructed using native materials, had flat roofs and clerestory windows, and made the most of natural light, air and the surrounding landscape. This example dates from 1940. Young guides (often architects) conduct guided tours and impart lots of information about the house and its architect."

"Kid spaces: The Building Zone - a playspace for ages birth through 5 years, timed tickets; Play Work Build - a construction play area for elementary aged kids. Smaller children can enjoy building with the big blocks, too, but note that some toys in this area are small enough to be choking hazards. Kid-friendly exhibits: The above exhibits are likely to take up all of your visit, but other exhibits can be accessible to kids as well, especially special/temporary exhibits."

"401 F St., NW Washington, DC. Housed in the former Pension Bureau building, this historic structure is recognized as a marvel of architectural engineering. The Great Hall is impressive with its Corinthian columns and ​a four-story atrium. The museum in downtown Washington, DC examines America's architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning."

"Formerly known as the Pension Building, this immense Italian Renaissance–style structure is home to more than 200 exhibits showcasing the construction, architecture, and engineering heritage of the U.S. and Washington, D.C. A favorite is the..."

"Museums are everywhere at the National Mall, including the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Gallery of Art, the Smithsonian Institution Building, and the National Museum of African Art. Visitors can spend days exploring these historical sites and learning about the country’s past. Few cities in the world can rival the stunning collection of landmarks that D.C."

"The National Mall stretches two miles from the steps of the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. The National Mall encompasses the original mall, Washington Monument Grounds, the Tidal Basin area, and West Potomac River behind the Lincoln Memorial. There are more than 26 miles of pedestrian sidewalks and 8 miles of trails for biking within the National Mall."

"There are 24 national park service sites in Washington DC. You can learn more about each of these sites below:. Washington DC NPS Sites"

"A short distance south of the White House is the Washington Monument, a structure built in the mid-1800s to honor the United States’ first president, George Washington. The monument is the world’s tallest stone structure and, at one point from 1884 to 1889, was the tallest structure on the planet. Visitors can go inside the Washington Monument with a ticket."

"The 555-foot white shaft of the Washington Monument is a familiar icon of the National Mall, and a beautiful sight, especially when mirrored in the long Reflecting Pool at its foot. Construction of the obelisk to honor the nation's first president did not proceed smoothly. The plan was approved by Congress in 1783, but ground wasn't broken until 1848."

"Peaking at 555ft (and 5in) and composed of 36,000 blocks of stone, the Washington Monument is the district's tallest structure. Political shenanigans followed by the Civil War interrupted its construction."

"restaurateur Ashok Bajaj (Rasika, Bindaas, Sababa) introduced this modern French replacement to the Oval Room with a fresh backdrop of pop art, mirrored tiles, and a bigger bar where customers can sample a strong wine list. Tyler Stout, formerly executive chef at Troquet on South in Boston, says he’s shooting for a Michelin star with creative first courses like kanpachi crudo featuring green strawberry, lime, and rhubarb consomme. Traditional French fare includes a beef tartare topped with foraged greens and salmon coulibiac in puff pastry."

"(between N. Q and N. Corcoran streets) in Logan Circle, the brasserie and cafe is the most popular French restaurant in Washington, boasting four stars out of 2,373 reviews on Yelp. Paying homage to French cafe culture, Le Diplomate aims to offer an authentic Parisian feel, inside and out. But you’ll find far more than flaky croissants and cafe au lait."

"This classic restaurant pays tribute to the chefs of France and makes diners feel transported to a classic Parisian brasserie with both the cuisine and the ambiance."