Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
National Mall—sample rating
AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
The Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as 'The Castle,' was completed in 1855 as the first Smithsonian building, designed by architect James Renwick Jr. in a distinctive Norman Revival style with turrets and red sandstone that stands out among the Mall's neoclassical museums. Today the building functions primarily as the Smithsonian's visitor center, offering orientation exhibits, information desks, and maps to help visitors plan trips to the Institution's many museums. It also contains the crypt of James Smithson, the British scientist whose bequest founded the Smithsonian. The Castle's South Yard connects to the Enid A. Haupt Garden, a formal Victorian-style garden that is a pleasant, free spot to rest between museum visits. Admission is free, and no tickets are required.
Why visit
It's the historic, photogenic anchor of the Smithsonian Institution and a helpful first stop for trip planning.
Best time to visit
Stop by early in your Mall visit to pick up maps and orient yourself before heading to individual museums.
Recommended duration
Allow about 0.3 hours (20 minutes).
Opening hours
- Every day
- 08:30-17:30
Free; no tickets needed; closed December 25.
Information may change — verify details before visiting.
Location
1000 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC 20560
Load Google Maps content — this may set cookies.
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
Flights to New York
Live round-trip fares from Travelpayouts partners.
Partner links — our site's partners are Expedia, GetYourGuide, Go City, Big Bus Tours, Hotellook, Kiwitaxi and Localrent; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Stay near National Mall
Browse stays in New York by budget and style — prices and availability open on our booking partner's site.
Partner links — we're partnered with Expedia and Hotellook; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.