The National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW in Washington, D.C. It is a museum of architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. It was created by an act of Congress in 1980, and is a private non-profit institution; it is adjacent to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and the Judiciary Square Metro station. The museum hosts various temporary exhibits in galleries around the spacious Great Hall.The building, completed in 1887, served as the Pension Building, housing the United States Pension Bureau, and hosted several presidential inaugural balls. It is an important early large-scale example of Renaissance Revival architecture, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.The building was used for federal government offices until the 1960s when it had fallen into a state of disrepair and was considered for demolition. After pressure from conservationists, the government commissioned a report by architect Chloethiel Woodard Smith of possible other uses for the building. Her 1967 report suggested a museum dedicated to the building arts. The building was then listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. At that time, the building was still in use as the local draft bureau office. In 1980, Congress created the National Building Museum as a private, non-profit institution. The building itself was formally renamed the National Building Museum in 1997.Every year, the annual Christmas in Washington program was filmed at the museum, with the President and First Lady until the shows cancellation in 2015.

Definitely not what I expected but I really enjoyed this museum. The lay out was a little weird and it wasnt super obvious where the exhibits where but the building itself has a lot of character. Some of the exhibits where a little weird and not terribly interesting, but I was very captivated by the rest. The hoops and house & home exhibits were great! The lawn was very fun and kid friendly as was a lot of the museum. The gift shop had a lot of fun things, but was a little pricey. We spent just over 3 hours here and I was very happy with my visit. Good vibes all around!

Great museum. Free great for everyone. Metro station in door steps . Make sure you have time the kids space are limited and you have to book them on the front desk . Sometimes you will have to wait for quite a while. Also their art installations aren’t free .But totally worthy.

This is my favorite building in d.c. Not only is it incredible to look at inside but its also infrequently visited on off days which makes it a great place to hang out and get out of the sun. If youre waiting for a table at Daikaya around the corner its perfect. One of the best gift shops ever filled with books dedicated to urban planning, architecture and related topics. Definitely worth a visit or more

I went for the history of the building. The architect was also the one behind seizing Arlington from Robert E Lee and turning it into a cemetery. The building is stunning. Entry is free and you can walk around the first 3 floors (the 4th is for current offices). The exhibits require paid admission.

This Museum was very interesting to me, I have always missed the ball pits but I was able to make it for the LAWN exhibit. The LAWN exhibit was very cool a manmade turf hill with a ton of hammocks to lounge in. Other exhibits were really cool as well, if youre into architecture. The secret cities and the Hoops exhibit were among my favorites. I recommend stopping by if youre in the area.

Enjoyed the Lawn and the exhibits. Was hoping the beach was still there but will be checking back over the next few seasons. Beautiful building. Great exhibits for hands on for kids.

I went to see the Evicted exhibit before it closed, it was really well put together. It added a new level to my understanding of the book, and brought home many of the concepts and made them more tangible. It was a small exhibit, so easy to see without much time. The museum itself is gorgeous, its an enormous, beautiful building with unusual bathrooms (clean! just unusual) and a café and museum shop.

The building museum has a great lawn exhibit in the summer. If it’s hot outside and you are willing to pay some money for an outdoor environment that’s allergy free, cool and has hammocks and a beautiful view, then this place is for you. It’s a wonderful place to bring the kids, honestly that’s the main reason I come here, children are well entertained and occupied while you relax on a hammock. No eating in the lawn exhibition. After you are done relaxing, if the kids still have energy then you can take them to the kids center, where there are kids-size buildings-like a house, hardware store, a few fun activities and lots of toys- please remember you have to replace all toys after the kids finish playing. There is also another section with foam blocks that the kids can be entertained in also. There is a place to purchase food, but there is not a large selection and it’s a little pricey. To avoid the crowds come early in the morning.

Great place to go on a hot summer DC day. I really liked the Hoops exhibit and the House&home exhibit. The main exhibit Lawn was interesting. It was pleasant to lay in the hammocks and play cornhole. It really mimicked being outside. Definitely great for children, but otherwise not that interesting. Very close to judiciary square metro and Chinatown.

Loved the new FUN House exhibit. This place is spotless with plenty of fun exhibitions

Free events are the best events. Even so a small fee to go in and see the exhibits is not too bad. They have many events throughout the year so check out the website. This was a great event for the kids.To note, it is right off a metro station and other museums as well. The sides and up stairs are workshops or exhibits. Again it always changing inside.

It is good to see buildings arts over here.

I havent been here for businessb but for the running expo for the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. This place was convenient to navigate and the layout made it easy to enjoy the expo. Good pick Blossom coordinators.

Amazing architecture and building! First time there attending an industry event. The columns and windows created some great photo opps. Cool spot!

One of my fave places in DC. The housing exhibit (free, but ended) was one of my favorites. It’s location and cost associated for some exhibits, makes it less busy then most DC museums. The architecture is incredible and doesn’t deserve to be overlooked. Took the following photos from the PARK exhibit:

Interesting exhibits in a unique, soaring space. Limited on-street parking, garages nearby. A short walk from Verizon Center. The gifte shoppe is one of the citys best. Small snack bar. Rumor has it that the Museum will be closed for renovations for 5 months starting 12/2/19, so, hurry.

I loved it! My kids had a lot of fun.

Went to the National Building Museum with my niece and nephews and they really enjoyed it! The funhouse was very hands on and interactive and the plastic ball “pools” were a neat area for both kids and adults alike. Plenty of activities to keep the little ones entertained and lots of neat facts to learn about architecture. Can easily spend 2-3 hours here with kids.

Great building to walk through. It’s free to go in, but must pay for some exhibits.

There is a display on the hidden cities during World War II, those cities involved in the development of the atomic bomb. It is rich in history with details and it tells an interesting and highly informative story. This display alone is worth the admission to the museum which is actually quite inexpensive at $10. As a physicist, I highly recommend that display.

Beautiful but not very clear. I had to talk to many people and walk in circles before I was able to get any answers. To do any tours or fun kid activities you have to pay. $10/adult $7/ages 3-17, students with ID and 60+

I hope the pics I uploaded say more than a thousand word. This was my second visit to the museum and my first to see an installation of this kind. Hive installation by Studio Gang of the National Building Museum. My time there was well spent. The building itself is elegant and pristine.You should visit the next time you visit DC.

We were disappointed with the museum. There were a few photography exhibits and one exhibition with actual architecture. We thought there would be more and actually about building(s) or architecture. When there are so many other museums in the area we felt this was a waste of time and money ($34 for our family of 4). But it was beautiful to walk into, which is free. It should be noted that we visited in November.

One of my favorite museums in DC. The exhibitions are always done well and showcase often not well part known of history

Great indoor space to walk around. Free to enter but there is a admission fee for the exhibits.

What a great museum! So much to see here, and a lot more informative and relatable than I imagined. Exhibits were definitely more about the people in buildings than the buildings themselves. And, lesser known fact, its actually a not a bad place for young children and toddlers.

What an AMAZING place to visit and spend time at! Breathtakingly beautiful inside and out, this location has something for everyone. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Visited the opening day of Open House - Making Room An eye opening view of how our housing needs have dramatically changed and how our antiquated government is way behind the curve.Experience a home that demonstrates multifunctional uses for the every changing family needs. From the good ole Murphy bed of the past to todays modern Murphy bed. Sound absorbing moveable walls. Pocket doors that double as an ironing table.Great exhibit for the forward thinking developers, policy makers and regular people who will benefit dramatically from better home design solutions.

Very good place to enjoy with kids

This museum always has awesome things for kids and adults to do together. It’s a must if you come to DC

I was able to get a free historical building tour and access to the exhibits because I am a furloughed Fed. It is a beautiful building that has served many purposes including National Pension Office, predecessor to GAO, and hosts events such as Inaugural balls.

First time visiting this museum. It was terrific for the kids and is in a Beautiful historical building.

Absolutely beautiful building with 75ft tall columns inside! The exhibits werent as exciting, but being able to walk around the building, learn some history of it, and shop at the museum shop was well worth it!Would highly recommend!

What a cool space. There is a lot of history in this building. Its not big in terms of exhibit space, but allot at least 2 hours so you dont feel rushed. The central exhibit requires a timed ticket. If you plan to see the rest of the museum and you buy the last ticket, consider coming in an hour before to see everything else. Exhibits are a mixture of whimsical and very educational. We liked seeing the Fun House exhibit which included a giant ball pit.

The large, open space inside the museum is magnificant with tremdous columns and beautiful arches. The building itself is a wonderful work of art with beautifully tiled floors, very nice staircases, and a large fountain in the middle of the main hall. The well done exhibits include home construction methods, numerous architectural models of noteworthy homes and buildings, an example of a compact yet highly functional urban home design, and paper models of many buildings from around the world. The atmosphere was very tranquil and enjoyable. The location is very convenient.

I am glad I went. When I first heard about it, I was skeptical. How could a museum about buildings be any good? But it was fantastic! The exhibits were fascinating and they had this awesome canned food art display.

Lots of great exhibits; you can definitely learn a lot.

Very cool museum. Unusual displays, gorgeous gorgeous building! Quite a few things for young children to enjoy as well. We would definitely return.

The inside of the building itself is spectacular! Huge open space with towering pillars. The Museum exhibits, however, where not worth the $10 entrance fee that they charge. For being such a big Museum, they only had several exhibit rooms open. Two dedicated to children, which we werent. There are too many free museums that are more worth your time.

I live the art work being display there now.

This is a hidden gem and I took my architecture loving 5 yr old here. He had a ball in the kids building area and also running around the magnificent courtyard inside. This is a neat place and has a royal feel to it while is usually not found in United States.

Very informative and educational great experience for the wife and I .

Admittedly, I was only there to pick up a packet for the Cherry Blossom ten miler, but the building was gorgeous and the bathrooms were clean...so five stars!

Great place for kids, note for parents: the Building Zone kids area which you need timed tickets to get into is not near as fun as the Play Work Build exhibition upstairs. So don’t wait for the kids area go upstairs!

I was a volunteer demonstrator at the National Building Museum Big Build 2019 and the staff were some of the most amazing and helpful people Ive ever had the pleasure to work with.

I have only been here for a couple of their free family programs, but my family had a great time! Well-organized, albeit too crowded if you dont get there close to opening.

One of the coolest buildings in DC. There are always a bunch of events here and they rent it out for holiday parties. I can only imagine the cost to do that but it is a great place for a party. Parking as always is a pain. We ended up finding a garage five blocks away but it is DC so it was $40 bucks for the evening.

One of DCs best museums. Entrance fee is worth it. Well crafted exhibits that change frequently, lots of focus on not just the buildings /architecture but the stories and histories that shaped them. Best gift store in town.

No... Just no. The central hall was beautiful. Exhibits were not anything we expected. Maybe ok for a child. We went because our son finished his engineering degree.

Great place to while away an afternoon, always some oddball display with appeal to children and some very educational special exhibit. You can blow through the place in an hour or less, depending on your interests, or profitably engage for hours at a time. A gem with a lot of local subscribers and few tourists, and an interesting take on architecture. Cool gift shop too.

The National Building Museum is great for families of all ages. Ive been a number of times to this museum from private events (weddings and galas) to special exhibitions (Fun House and STEM events) and there seems always something to discover. It is a gorgeous building with lots of space and different things to do. There is no entry fee to the building itself but some exhibits require admission or a pass to multiple exhibits.

The kids really enjoyed the building zone, the lawn and Play work build. Clever museum for keeping kids engaged and interested. Good on the cafe was great (pastries), but coffee not so. You have to book for Building zone. If you need the deadline for buying day tickets you can get through Google partners.

Wonderful to visit, great activities for children thanks to PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP. REELECT PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP IN 2020. I am voting for PRESIDENT DONALD JOHN TRUMP IN 2020.

Beautiful! enjoyed a private event here

Fun House was amazing and the various rooms of activities are engaging and educational and stimulating. Definitely new hang out for My Sun.

Amazing museum. When you enter the museum and see the most comfortable and beautiful atrium area, there is a lot to be learned here and see things that many dont think about. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

This is such a wonderful and serene space. Exhibits were interesting for children and adults alike. The only downside was that all exhibits are paid exhibits instead of free, but if you wander around you can usually see a few for free as there are no attendants.

Such a fun place! We loved the Hive exhibit and the Timber City exhibit. It was the perfect place for both our 15mo and our 8yo. Highly recommend for anyone visiting DC with kids.

Ive been to well over 70 museums and this one managed to be the worst. The columns are *painted* to look like theyre made of stone. The bright side of it is theres a notion of consistency: everything is consistently dull!!

The building museum has a great lawn exhibit in the summer. If it’s hot outside and you are willing to pay some money for an outdoor environment that’s allergy free, cool and has hammocks and a beautiful view, then this place is for you. It’s a wonderful place to bring the kids, honestly that’s the main reason I come here, children are well entertained and occupied while you relax on a hammock. No eating in the lawn exhibition. After you are done relaxing, if the kids still have energy then you can take them to the kids center, where there are kids-size buildings-like a house, hardware store, a few fun activities and lots of toys- please remember you have to replace all toys after the kids finish playing. There is also another section with foam blocks that the kids can be entertained in also. There is a place to purchase food, but there is not a large selection and it’s a little pricey. To avoid the crowds come early in the morning.

Wonderful museum with constantly changing and culturally relevant exhibits. Knowledgeable staff, well worth the price of admission. However there is usually a new free exhibit if you dont have much time you can look inside the beautiful buildingx get a guided tour and see something. Right now the free exhibit is on the eviction crisis in America.

Worth a peak just to see the inside of this buildings magnificent atrium.

The National Building Museum is a hidden gem in DC! It is always on my list of must see places whenever I am in town. They always have a free exhibit or two and a couple that have an entrance fee. The building itself is worth taking the daily tour. When the weather is inclement you can hang out inside, get someing to eat from the cafe and feel like you are sitting in a courtyard. It also houses the 2nd presidential seal ... when it isnt covered by carpet like it was the day we visited because of a craft show.

Phenomenal museum. Off the beaten path, incredible exhibits. Amazing gift shop. As a DC tour guide, cant recommend it enough.

I liked the temporal exhibit Fun House, other exhibitions were not so impressive. The whole atmosphere was extremely kids friendly.

Great museum for the price. Exhibits are interesting. Maker sure you go there when you have a chance to take a guided tour of the building.

The summer exhibits are always so much fun and so interactive. I really recommend it to people of all ages, also the other parts of the museum are wonderful for kids because they encourage them to use their imagination and stimulate their minds by subtly introducing architecture to them.

One of the most beautiful buildings in DC. And really interesting exhibits :)

Beautiful place that is not that crowded. However when we went it looked like it was under construction. Still had a nice time

This place has great events and gift shop

My daughter Amelia loved it️ The Lawn was amazing and fun. It was over all really good. Great museum for kids. Lots of activities. By the Metro.

Went for the Snarachteciture exhibit. It was cool but rather limited. I wouldve liked to see something a bit more involved. Plus, there were a million people per time slot, so the lines were outrageous at times.

A fun place for kids that enjoy climbing, building and creating. Every Summer they have a main exhibit and so far our favorite exhibit is the beach theme. However, this years theme is the Fun House and they have a pool that resembles the beach theme which is a huge hit. The Fun House is creative and a nice walk through but the main attraction is the pool like balls pin that everyone loves jumping in. The unique thing about this museum is that every exhibit cost but there is one price you can pay that includes all exhibits plus the main attraction. So it can be a little costly for a family. Very different from how the Smithsonian museums work. My boys had a ball, so it is hard to put a price on the amount of fun they had. Save in cost by taking a break and enjoying a packed lunch. Have a nice boxed lunch outside and then go back in and explore the rest of the museum. The playzone and building zone are equally big hits for the kids. Get your moneys worth and make sure you go to those exhibits along with the main attraction.#fallynsfoodieexcursions#funhouse#nationalbuildingmuseum

An absolute disappointment of a museum. It is a waste of space and 90% of it is a childrens playground. They already charge $10 per adult, and they charge an additional $6 for the pointless lawn. Its just a big field that is smack in the middle of the building. More than half of the exhibits are basically kids playrooms. I was done with everything the museum had to offer after only an hour. The gift shop was more interesting than the whole museum combined. If you are an adult, even if you have children, dont come here. You can go to a nearby park or playground. If you are an adult looking for interesting artifacts from history, dont come here.

I went on Free Museum Day. The building itself is beautiful, the exhibits are phenomenal, but it really lacks in scale. Quick museum goers can do this museum in 2 hours or less - only about four exhibits or so. Great for kids!

Such a beautiful space. Have attended Savor for several years here and enjoy it every time.

Visited the Lawn exhibit. Tons of fun for everyone!

I love the gift shop they have a lot of interesting stuff, only thing that to go to the exhibits you have to pay $10, is not that much, but compare that to a bunch of free museums around the city that have a much better activities and exhibits

Beautiful place! Good enviroment and great space

We went for Engineer day...it was blast....kids had to much fun..

The building that houses the Builders Museum is amazing. The building tour is the only way to see the total building. The museum is average but the tour is outstanding. The tour includes both the history of the building and its,s consternation..

I have always enjoyed visiting the National Building Museum: its a great space, Ive never seen it as crowded as the museums on the Mall, and its had some very interesting and unique shows in the past.But the $16 ticket fee just too high in a town packed with free museums that have so much more to see, comparatively. The gift shop, (pricey as all museum gift shops), has some really cool stuff, focusing on well and unusual design items for home and office as well as a fascinating array of architectural and design books.It is convenient, just one stop from Union Station and an easy walk to either the Mall or Chinatown area.

You can enter the building and see the atrium area for free, which is a cool thing to see. If you pay the general admission fee you can enter all of the exhibits. The couple we took time to see were very interesting and expertly curated. The shop is good because it has some different and unique items, and theres a cafe inside for some coffee and snacks.

Awesome exhibits and very fun interactive spaces. Lots of opportunities to learn, for all ages. Great for kids especially. Definitely worth the visit if youre museum hopping in DC

Beautiful building. Great for kids during the day. Also attended a formal dinner which was also very nice.

Enjoyed it had lunch there overlooking the water fountain even had some birds singing for me

Great place. Free. Exhibits are always changing. Always something for kids. Food. Quiet place to talk. History of the building is amazing. Designed to keep workers cool long before A/C.

I was expecting more. The main exibit is cool but was under construction when we were there. The interior building is quite a view.

It’s a good place for families with children, beside that there is not much to do or see.

Amazing building and full of interesting Things and child friendly too,nice cafe also!

This place is very cool they have camps and lots of exhibits. They have activities for kids. But parking is not the best, I recommend to take the metro.

While much of the building is undergoing renovation, I was able to visit two exhibits: Secret Cities and one on the rise and decline of theater culture in Baltimore.What the museum lacks in quantity, it makes up in quantity. The balance between technical, aesthetic, cultural, and statistical details captivated me enough to spend a couple hours here.Museum also contains a cafe, gift shop, childrens area, and offers free admission for active duty military until Labor Day.

Lots to see and learn. If you arent interested in architecture before this, you will be after. Seeing all the cool histories behind the art of buildings will have you looking at them differently once you leave the museum.

One of the most missed landmarks in DC by tourists. Amazing building with wonderful history. The stairs built to be traversed by horses is the most unique feature in this grand building.

Small amount of exhibits but excellently curated. Gift shop is a must if youre into architecture and urban design.

This museum differs from most of the other Smithsonian museums, being a huge event space in the center with enormous columns and a fountain. The current exhibition is the Smithsonian Craft Show, which I also give 5 stars. But the building itself has a great history, worth looking up. They change shows regularly and have lots of other cool shows and exhibits. Totally worth checking out

Who knew that all this creativity lived in one place?

Loved it. We were able to access one gallery for free. It was on eviction. Some cool themed shows that come here. The interior space is very impressive given the high ceilings. There was an interesting event taking place when we were there. This seemed common on weekends. Didnt visit the upper galleries (not free) but sure they would have been good. Highly recommend.

Beautiful inside and very spacious..perfect venue for a foodie eventor concert..