These Are the DC-Area Museums and Cultural Institutions That Have Reopened So Far

After months of coronavirus closures, museums are inviting visitors back—but with plenty of new rules.

Written by Daniella Byck | Published on July 24, 2020

After months of coronavirus closures, DC museums are beginning to reopen to the public. Many institutions are requiring visitors to reserve timed-entry passes to aid social distancing measures, and masks are always a must. We recommend checking each spot’s safety protocols before visiting to ensure you’re prepared to follow the rules. Here’s a look at what’s currently open:

This list will be updated.

Glenstone

12100 Glen Rd., Potomac
Visitors must reserve tickets online for access to the modern art complex in Potomac. The indoor gallery at the Pavilions is open, and guests can explore the 230-acre campus’s bucolic outdoor spaces, which are full of trails, streams, and sculptures. The original exhibition building, the Gallery, remains closed. Restrooms are available. Open Thursday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Garden

4155 Linnean Avenue, NW
Advance reservations are required to visit Marjorie Merriweather Post’s luxurious manor. Bookings can be made online or by phone (call 202-686-5807). Restrooms are available. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

International Spy Museum

700 L’Enfant Plz, NW
Minimize wait times by purchasing a timed-entry ticket online (onsite tickets are also available in limited capacities). The museum is offering complimentary stylus pens for interactive activities. Restrooms are available. Open Monday to Friday and Sunday from 9 AM to 7 PM, and Saturday from 9 AM to 8 PM.

Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon
Spend a day at George Washington’s estate, which includes the outbuildings where enslaved men and women were forced to work as blacksmiths and weavers. Tickets are required to tour the inside of the mansion. Select spaces—such as the distillery and 4D theater—remain temporarily closed. Restrooms are available. Open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM.

Museum of the Bible

400 4th St., SW
Tickets can be purchased online and on site, and healthcare professionals with a valid employee ID receive free admission. In addition to regular security measures, thou shalt receive a temperature screening at the entrance. Restrooms are available. Open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.

National Arboretum

3501 New York Ave., NE
Explore flora and fauna in the fresh air—no tickets or reservations required. However, only 200 cars will be allowed on site at a time. All buildings are closed, including the National Bonsai & Penjing museum, as well as the Asian Collections, Fern Valley, National Herb Garden, and the Washington Youth Garden. Limited restrooms are available. Open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 PM to 5 PM.

National Gallery of Art

6th and Constitution Ave., NW
Reserve a timed entry pass to visit the West Building’s ground floor galleries. The requisite passes are released each Monday at 10 AM for the next week, and tickets are not required for access to the Sculpture Garden. Restrooms are available. Open daily from 11 AM to 4 PM.

National Museum of Women in the Arts

1250 New York Ave., NW
The museum is reopening on August 1, and encourages visitors to buy timed tickets to ensure entry while operating at limited capacity. Restrooms are available. Open Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday from 12 PM to 5 PM.

National Zoo

3001 Connecticut Ave., NW
Timed-entry passes are required to enter the zoo and 5,000 tickets will be released each day. Visitors can reserve six tickets at a time. The Small Mammal House, Reptile Discovery Center, and the Giant Panda House are closed, but you can still catch a glimpse of the pandas on the upper outdoor viewing path. Restrooms and outdoor concessions are available. Open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM.

President Lincoln’s Cottage

140 Rock Creek Church Rd., NW
While the Cottage’s indoor area is currently off-limits, visitors can tour the property’s South Lawn and the neighboring US Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery. Tickets must be reserved in advance. Open Friday through Monday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM.

Udvar-Hazy Center

14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy, Chantilly
If this year’s events make you ache for a trip off this planet, we recommend visiting nearby space shuttles instead. Just make sure you reserve a ticket in advance (the museum will release 1,500 passes each day). Restrooms are available. The National Air and Space Museum in DC remains closed. Open daily from 10 AM to 5:30 PM.