National Museum of Women in the Arts
Downtown / Penn Quarter—sample rating
Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
About National Museum of Women in the Arts
The National Museum of Women in the Arts (NMWA) is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women artists across centuries and mediums. Its collection features works by artists including Frida Kahlo, Louise Bourgeois, Faith Ringgold, Amy Sherald, and Rosa Bonheur, housed in a former Masonic temple built in 1908. The museum completed a two-year, roughly $70 million renovation and reopened to the public on October 21, 2023, with expanded gallery space, improved accessibility, and modernized infrastructure; it is currently open and not undergoing renovation as of this writing, so travelers should note it has fully reopened after its 2021-2023 closure. Located a few blocks from the White House and Metro Center, the museum offers regular admission along with public programs, artist talks, and studio workshops.
Why visit
A one-of-a-kind museum spotlighting women artists' contributions to art history, newly renovated with expanded galleries.
Best time to visit
Visit on a weekday afternoon for a quieter experience, and check for free admission community days.
Recommended duration
Allow about 1.3 hours (75 minutes).
Opening hours
- Friday
- 10:00-17:00
- Monday
- Closed
- Saturday
- 10:00-17:00
- Sunday
- 12:00-17:00
- Thursday
- 10:00-17:00
- Tuesday
- 10:00-17:00
- Wednesday
- 10:00-17:00
Reopened October 2023 after a major renovation; check website for any current exhibition-related closures.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
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Nearby attractions
National Mall
A vast open-air national park stretching between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial, lined with iconic monuments and Smithsonian museums.
Washington Monument
A 555-foot marble obelisk honoring George Washington, offering sweeping views of DC from its observation level.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed neoclassical monument on the Tidal Basin honoring Thomas Jefferson, surrounded by famous cherry blossom trees.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
A granite memorial on the Tidal Basin featuring a colossal carved likeness of Dr. King emerging from a 'Stone of Hope.'
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
A sprawling outdoor memorial along the Tidal Basin divided into four outdoor 'rooms' representing FDR's four terms in office.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A stark black granite wall inscribed with the names of more than 58,000 U.S. service members who died or went missing in the Vietnam War.
Nearby restaurants
Zaytinya
Mediterranean · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Ben's Chili Bowl
American / Comfort Food · $ · U Street
Mi Vida
Mexican · $$ · Navy Yard / Waterfront
Ambar Capitol Hill
Balkan · $$ · Capitol Hill
Centrolina
Italian · $$$ · Downtown / Penn Quarter
Maketto
Cambodian / Taiwanese · $$ · Capitol Hill
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Stay near Downtown / Penn Quarter
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