Washington D.C. is just one of those places that every American should at least visit once unfortunately you will not be able to get see everything in just one visit. Washington D.C. has over 30 museums dozens of memorials, gardens, a world class zoo, government buildings and offices, and many more things just right outside the city. Narrowing down choices can be a difficult task especially with so many options so hopefully our Top 10 Museums in Washington D.C. list will make your decision a little easier. Of course choosing a museum to visit and actually enjoy comes down to do things your interests and your life experience but hopefully our list will give you a good place to start.

Top 10 Museums in Washington D.C.

10. National Museum of Natural History

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With free admission and over a million square feet of exhibition space to house their 100 plus million specimens this museum begs to be seen over and over again. Dinosaurs, Hall of Mammals, an insect zoo, the wonders of the ocean and many more things await your visit to the National Museum o f Natural History. For more information about the National Museum of Natural History visit their website at http://www.mnh.si.edu/

9. International Spy Museum

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The International Spy Museum is a privately run museum that tells the story of spies, their equipment, and the operations that shaped history. It cost to enter but where else can you see a KGB lipstick pistol or what motivates a person to become a spy. This museum covers the compete history of espionage from the Greeks and the Romans to modern day. For more information about the International Spy Museum visit their website at http://www.spymuseum.org/

8. Newseum

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Newseum is a 6 story fully interactive museum that helps people and the news media understand each other. It is one of the best rated museums in Washington D.C. but since the admission is a bit steep around $20 for a two day ticket it is number 8 on our list. For more information about the Newseum visit their website at http://www.newseum.org/

7. National Museum of American History

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The National Museum of American History has over 3 million artifacts in its collection to show off the social, political, cultural, scientific, and military history of the United States. Americana at its best can be seen here from the original Star Spangled Banner Flag to Dorothy’s ruby slippers. For more information about the National Museum of American History visit their website at http://americanhistory.si.edu/

6. National Gallery of Art

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The National Gallery of Art is one of the greatest art museums in the world with over 100,000 pieces of art including a great Italian Renaissance collection with work from Leonardo da Vinci, Titian, and Raphael. There are thousands of paintings as well as sculptures to gaze upon. For more information about the National Gallery of Art visit their website at http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb.html

5. U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

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U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is the official memorial and museum to the Holocaust one of the darkest deeds of mankind. This museum tells the story of the Holocaust through the lives of those that lived it and why we as the human race must pledge never to let it happen again. For more information about the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum visit their website at http://www.ushmm.org/

4. Museum of Crime and Punishment

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Museum of Crime and Punishment tells the history of crime to those that fight it this museum has anybody interested in law enforcement and those they chase covered. With the popularity of television shows about crime always popular I feel like this museum will also be a hit for your Washington D.C. visit. For more information about the Museum of Crime and Punishment visit their website at http://www.crimemuseum.org/

3. American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

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This art museum is all about America and its artists with over 7,000 artists represented from the colonial period to the present. A visit to this museum will give you a deeper understanding of American culture as expressed through different forms of art. Also located in the same building is the National Portrait Gallery which focuses in on the individuals that created American Culture. For information about these two art museums visit their websites at http://americanart.si.edu/ and http://www.npg.org.uk/

2. National Air and Space Museum

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The National Air and Space Museum is home to one of the best collections of historic aviation and space artifacts. Where else in the world can you see the original Wright brother’s airplane, the command module of Apollo 11, and the Spirit of St. Louis the first plane to cross the Atlantic. For more information about the National Air and Space Museum visit their website at http://airandspace.si.edu/

1. National Archives

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While the National Archives is not the most flashy or interactive museum in Washington D.C. but this is where it all started. The historical documents housed in this building are the basis on what made the United States the greatest country in the world, and should be visited by every American at least once in their life. For more information about the National Archives visit their website at http://www.archives.gov/

We hope you enjoyed our list of the top 10 museums in Washington D.C. Like any top 10 list they are subject to opinion so please give us yours and let us know what you think of our list, is there anything that you think we should not have put on our list and what would you replace it with by leaving a comment. To find out more about the other things the Washington D.C. area has to offer visit http://washington.org/

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