Best Museums in Bull Run

"This gallery was created by Andrew Mellon in 1937 when he offered up his own personal collection and finances to Franklin D. Roosevelt to build this place. There are two different buildings and a sculpture garden filled with some of the world's most treasured pieces of art that donors have given to the museum over the years. It is free to enter and any history buff with an appreciation for creative thinking will jump at the opportunity to visit."

"Kid-friendly exhibits: In the West building, check out Degas's Little Dancer, Cassat's mothers and babies, or the only Da Vinci on display in the Americas. The newly renovated East building has modern art and is more kid-friendly, with large sculptures, Alexander Calder mobiles, and pop art exhibits. In nice weather, head west to check out the Sculpture Garden full of art, a cafe, a huge fountain in summer and ice skating in winter!"

"Visitors can wander the gallery on their own, taking in such pieces as Leonardo da Vinci's "Ginevra de' Benci," or take a free tour with one of the gallery's many docents. Guides can assist young families with games and highlights aimed at children 4 and older."

"The most popular are the Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, and American History Museum. Choose the museum that interests you most and spend a few hours exploring. At the National Air and Space Museum, see the original Wright 1903 Flyer, the "Spirit of St. Louis," and the Apollo 11 command module. At the National Museum of Natural History, take a look at the Hope Diamond and other gems and minerals, examine the massive fossil collection, visit the 23,000-square-foot Ocean Hall, see a life-size replica of a North Atlantic whale and a 1,800-gallon-tank display of coral reef."

"Smithsonian Air and Space Museum is one of the best Smithsonian museums for children in D.C. This is a delight for all kids and grown-ups who love reading and knowing everything about space. The first thing that grabs the attention entering the museum is the huge aircraft hanging from the ceiling."

"If you’re interested in learning about aviation history, then this is your spot. The National Air and Space Museum boasts the world’s most extensive collection of historic air and spacecraft. You can expect to find actual astronaut suits and moon rocks."

"The most visited natural history museum in the world, the National Museum of Natural History boasts an incredible rotating collection of 127 million items including dinosaur bones, the Hope Diamond, ancient Egyptian mummies and so much more. Prepare to be amazed, engaged, dazzled and more when you experience the museum's 31,000-square-foot Deep Time exhibit, where you can journey back millions of years and see dinosaur fossils, learn about past mass extinctions and their resounding effects and witness the evolution of life from the oceans to ashore. The museum reopens on June 18, so make sure to check its website for info regarding timed passes, health precautions and more."

"The National Museum of Natural History is another museum that belongs to the Smithsonian family in Washington DC, but it deserves a spot in this list all of its own.The museum is free to enter and is open 364 days of the year (closed on Christmas Day), so no matter when you visit DC, you can rest assured that you can visit!. The National Museum of Natural History is a place that you’ll want to take the whole family as..."

"Featuring the Hope Diamond and the Hall of Mammals, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is an educational stop for kids curious about the world around them."

"The National Portrait Gallery is an art museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution. It first opened in 1968."

"The African American Civil War Memorial Museum preserves and shares the largely ignored stories of enormous contributions made by the 209,145 members of the United States Colored Troops to the American Civil War. The Museum's collection includes artifacts, documents, primary sources, and technology."

"More than 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors fought in the Civil War. At the African American Civil War Museum, these individuals are remembered through photography, newspaper articles, replicas of uniforms, and a memorial. The museum is currently being redeveloped."

"The African American Civil War Memorial, along with the African American Civil War Museum across the street, memorializes nearly 220,000 members of the United States Colored Troops involvement in the American Civil War."

"A relative newcomer to the National Mall, the NMAAHC was officially opened by President Barack Obama in 2016, to become the first and only national museum documenting the lives, history and culture of African Americans. First off, the building by David Adjaye, an inverted step pyramid wrapped in a bronze architectural scrim, is a real wonder, within a few steps of the Washington Monument. That lattice facade harks back to the masterful ironwork produced by 19th-century slaves, still in place on New Orleans’ gates, fences and balconies."

"The newest Smithsonian museum, this moving 400,000-square-foot chronicles the African American experience with more than 37,000 artifacts in its collection. That includes Nat Turner's bible, a WWII plane used by the Tuskegee Airmen, and a dress worn worn by Rosa Parks. Visiting Tips: More than 3.5 million visitors have walked through the doors since opening."

"The National Museum of African Art, located on the National Mall, is a Smithsonian Institution. The Museum currently has 11,861 objects from both Sub-Saharan and Arab North Africa in its collection, of which 10,746 are traditional and 1,115 contemporary. Its objects range from 15th-century sculptures and masks to multi-media contemporary art, and the photographs from photojournalists Eliot Elisofon and Constance Stuart Larrabee."

"Touted as one of the most important research facilities for African art in America, at this museum, you can expect to find over 9,000 pieces of ancient African art. There are exhibits dedicated to Egyptian carvings, sacred objects, and musical instruments. The National Museum of African Art reopened in July 2021, following renovations."

"The National Museum of African Art houses an extensive collection of traditional and contemporary African art. The collection includes over 300,000 photographs and 50,000 volumes of library. It is considered as the main venue for African art on an international platform."

"A shrine to our democracy, including the declaration that started it all Touring the National Archives can get a little wonky, as it’s primarily a library for historical documents and records. But the magnitude of its collection can’t be discounted -- visitors here can see the Declaration of Independence and the US Bill of Rights. Those alone are worth a quick glimpse."

"The National Archives Building, a little way north of the National Mall, holds more than three billion records. Among these are the three most crucial documents in the history of the United States: The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights."

"The National Archives Building is located north of the National Mall. It houses the original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. You'll find these documents and more in the main chamber of the National Archives, the Rotunda."

"The National Museum of American Jewish Military History was founded in 1958. The museum "documents and preserves the contributions of Jewish Americans to the peace and freedom of the United States, educates the public concerning the courage, heroism and sacrifices made by Jewish Americans who served in the armed forces, and works to combat anti-Semitism."

"Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office is a museum and historic site. It consists of the restored rooms where Clara Barton had lived and worked during the Civil War."

"The Alexandria Black History Museum actually has a fascinating history itself as this used to be a library that was only available for African-Americans in Alexandria. The museum will take patrons on a tour of African American history in this part of the United States and you will find period documents and photographs as part of the collections here. There is a permanent exhibition here named the Securing the Blessings of Liberty exhibit that will tell you all you want to know about the end of slavery in the Alexandria community."

"The Alexandria Black History Museum is the perfect setting for patrons interested in an intimate, historic setting with ethnic flair. Originally the segregated library for Alexandria's African-American residents, the museum documents the local and national history, culture and contributions of Alexandria's African-Americans."

"Paintings, photographs, books and other memorabilia documenting the African American experience in Alexandria, one of the nation’s major slave ports, are on display at this small resource center (enter from Wythe..."

"Through artifacts, personal stories, and videos, you can learn about the history and events that happened during this incredibly tragic time of world history. There is a permanent exhibition, as well as special exhibits that go deeper into personal stories that occurred during this time. While admission to the museum is free, entry into the permanent exhibition is conducted through a timed pass from March through August."

"Rated for ages eight and up accompanied by an adult, this museum is a very important piece of our nation’s history. Daniel’s Story is a permanent exhibit at the museum that tells the Holocaust experience from a child’s point of view. Children can write messages to other visitors at the end of the exhibit to explain what they learned and how it affected them."

"Since its dedication in 1993, the Holocaust Museum’s mission has been to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. More than 40 million total visitors have visited. The museum additionally provides online information and resources in more than a dozen languages."

"It’s one of the oldest restaurants in Old Town, so you can be sure their food and service are spot-on. It’s another family-owned business, which I absolutely love. Get your panini, pasta, crostini, and more right here!"

"Just like it sounds, Players Club is a one-stop hub for adults trying to take a break from day-to-day life and be a kid again. While the basement is sourced with old-school video games from the ’70s and ’80s—think skeeball and pinball—the fourth floor roof is a fun-filled space with views overlooking the bustling 14th Street neighborhood. Aligned with multicolored picnic tables, the setting is great for a big group of friends who want to hang out, sip on a drink and play games like Jenga and cornhole."