Here in Washington, D.C., we love our free museums, but there are still a select few that charge admission. 

These four museums are wonderful and filled with cool, relevant information! But with all the free museums available to us in this city, sometimes these admission-charging museums get ignored. 

Well, on Saturday, September 22, you can enjoy FREE admission to these fabulous museums for the Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live! event. 

The National Building Museum

401 F St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

This is one of the coolest museums that you (unfortunately) have to pay for in Washington, D.C. Its current installation is a fun house, which features incredibly innovative and interactive parts of a model home. According to Washingtonian, this free admission day will also allow you to experience cool exhibits like ...

“'Architecture of an Asylum' [which] tells the story of St. Elizabeths hospital, while 'Investigating Where We Live' [which] features artwork and photography by local teens.”

Usually, tickets to this museum will cost you around $16 per person. 

museums

Courtesy of nbm.org

National Museum of Women in the Arts

1250 New York Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20005

I love me a museum dedicated to women and their accomplishments, but paying for one kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it? When you get to go for free on September 22, make sure you check out the fourth floor to 

“see archival photographs, sketches, and magazines repping powerful women in the library’s temporary “Wonder Women!” exhibit.”

Tickets run around $10 per person to this museum, so you’ll be getting a nice deal. 

museum

Courtesy of nmwa.org

Dumbarton House

2715 Q St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20007

If you love historic homes, this is the free admission museum for you to attend. The Dumbarton House was built in the time that the country’s capital was being moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., so it’s a great opportunity to learn and appreciate not only American history, but also the architectural style of that time. As you take your tour through the house, you’ll notice 

“more than 1,000 pieces of antique furniture, paintings, and ceramics.”

When going on any other day, you would have to pay $10 per person. 

museum

Courtesy of dumbartonhouse.org

Marian Koshland Science Museum

525 E St. NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

This museum is smaller and lesser known amongst Washingtonians and tourists alike, but those who love science know it well. It’s not very expensive on a normal day (only $5 per person), but it’s still nice to not pay anything at all, isn’t it?

Don’t forget to ...

“play with the interactive exhibits to learn about climate change and infectious diseases. And don’t miss the sealed glass sphere that contains an entire ecosystem.”

If you’re looking to learn something different, this may be the museum for you. 

museum

Courtesy of test.koshlandscience.org

The Newseum

555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C., 20001

And to save the best for last, the Newseum, one of the most popular museums in Washington, D.C., will also be included in Museum Day Live! this year. The Newseum features all aspects of the history and current modern state of journalism through interesting and interactive exhibits. 

Adult tickets are usually $24.95, so you'll be taking advantage of a great bargain!

museum

Courtesy of wandering.world.com

What museum are you planning to visit on Museum Day Live!? Let us know in the comments below!

Check out the "Loop" interactive art exhibit at CityCenterDC -- also free!

Masha Berman
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