As D.C. continues to reopen after coronavirus brought daily life to a halt, museums across the city are slowly welcoming visitors back in person. But like many businesses and organizations across the District, the pandemic has forced many major cultural institutions to alter their operations, implementing new health and safety measures.
Most are operating with limited capacity, reduced hours, and various visitor requirements in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. We’ve rounded up the museums that have reopened so far, or will do so in the coming weeks. This list will be updated.
American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery
The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m., and requiring timed passes for its main building, which visitors can reserve online or over the phone. Masks are mandatory for visitors over 6 years old, and strongly recommended for those ages 2 to 6, and social distancing measures will be in place, along with other safety precautions.
Timed-entry passes are not required for the Renwick Gallery, which will be open Wednesday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
The immersive art and technology museum is open Monday-Thursday from noon-8 p.m. and Friday-Sunday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Visitors are required to wear masks and are asked to purchase tickets online in advance, as capacity is being limited. No cash will be accepted. Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the space and guests are asked to follow directional signage. The AR Bar remains closed.
The museum and theater are open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 2 to 4 p.m. The Petersen House and Aftermath Exhibits will remain closed for now, as will the on-site box office. Visitors must reserve timed-entry tickets online or by phone in advance, undergo a temperature screening, and maintain social distance. Guests over the age of 3 must also wear a face mask.
Glenstone is operating at limited capacity from Thursday to Sunday between 10 a.m.-5 p.m, and will admit groups no larger than five people. Walk-ups will not be permitted. The museum is requiring visitors wear face masks, implementing social distancing measures, and keeping its gallery, café, and some other spaces temporarily closed.
Water fountains will also be closed, and visitors are permitted to bring water bottles, though they will have to store them in lockers when entering The Pavilions.
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Garden
Hillwood is requiring visitors to Marjorie Merriweather Post’s former home to make reservations in advance. No reservations will be taken on site.
Guests must wear masks in both indoor and outdoor spaces, and follow social distancing guidelines. Operating hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The museum will be requiring social distancing and limiting capacity. Visitors are encouraged to buy their timed tickets online to ensure contactless entry and minimize wait times. Masks are required for visitors 3 years old and up, and styluses will be provided for interactive exhibits. Visitors are also welcome to wear gloves to “leave absolutely no trace,” like any good spy.
Bottled water is encouraged, as water fountains will be closed. The museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and asks that attendees limit visits to no more than two hours.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with “Covid Commandments” in place: Visitors over 3 years old are required to wear masks, practice social distancing, and follow recommended flow paths.
The museum will be conducting temperature screenings at the door, and implementing capacity restrictions and staggered entry in galleries and attractions. Visitors will also be provided with styluses to use on the museum’s touch screens.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and on Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Face masks are required, and visitors are asked to purchase timed tickets in advance.
The museum will also be implementing social distancing measures, restricting elevator capacity to one person or household, and suspending bag- and-coat-check services, among other steps.
National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
The Udvar-Hazy Center is open to visitors, who must reserve a timed-entry pass. Face masks are required for those older than 6 and strongly encouraged for children between 2 and 6. All visitors under 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.
Open daily from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., guests are being asked to follow social distancing guidelines and wash hands often, and parts of the space will remain closed. The National Air and Space Museum in D.C., meanwhile, remains closed.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors must reserve timed passes, which they can reserve online or by phone, and those over the age of 6 must wear masks (they are strongly recommended for kids between 2 and 6).
Capacity restrictions and social distancing measures are also in place, and some exhibits and attractions remain closed, including the museum’s store and Sweet Home Café.
National Museum of American History
The museum is open Friday through Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Timed-entry passes are required, social distancing measures will be in place, and visitors over the age of 6 must wear face coverings. They are also highly encouraged for those ages 2 to 6.
Some parts of the museum may be partially open or closed, including the Eat at America’s Table Café and the Jazz Cafe.
National Museum of the American Indian
The museum is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Timed entry passes are required, which visitors can reserve online. The museum will only admit 100 people per hour.
Face masks are required for visitors 6 years old and up, and strongly recommended for children between 2 and 6 years old, and parts of the museum will remain temporarily closed, including the cafes. The museum is also implementing social distancing measures and placing hand-sanitizing stations through the space, among other steps.
National Museum of the U.S. Army
After its original June opening date was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic, the museum will open to the public on Veterans Day, November 11. Free timed-entry tickets are required, and visitors are asked to follow social distancing guidelines. Guests over 2 years old must also wear masks.
The museum will also be providing free stylus pens for its interactive features – though some of those features may not be available – and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The portrait gallery is implementing social distancing measures and requiring masks for visitors over 6 years old (and strongly encouraging them for children between 2 and 6).
Operating hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors must have timed-entry passes, which are available online or by phone. Some exhibits or other indoor spaces may be closed or operating at limited capacity.
The Phillips in Dupont Circle is open. Its Goh Annex and Sant Building will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with tickets available the Monday prior. All visitors will be required to reserve timed tickets and follow by safety guidelines.
After its original spring opening was delayed due to the health crisis, the museum dedicated to language is now open. General admission is free, with a suggested donation of $15 per person, but visitors must register for timed tickets.
The museum has a limited number of passes available for walk-ups, but recommends reserving them ahead of time. Masks are required for visitors over 2 years old, and visitors must keep a safe distance from other households or groups.
For safety reasons, water fountains are closed — though bottled water is allowed in galleries — cash is not accepted, and the museum will provide stylus pens for interactive exhibits, if visitors prefer not to touch surfaces, along with other precautions. The museum is open Thursday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum will reopen on October 26, with a number of safety measures in place. Visitors are asked maintain social distance and complete temperature screening and health questions.
Face masks are also required for guests over 2 years old, and visitors must reserve timed-entry tickets. Some parts of the museum will remain closed for now, including the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit, the resource center, and the library and reading rooms. The museum will be open every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Wednesdays.
