National Building Museum - Washington, DC

Address:401 F St., NW
Washington, District of Columbia
Tel: (202) 272-2448

If ancient architectural feats and marvels of modern design are what get your blood racing, then check out the National Building Museum on Capitol Hill, an exploration and celebration of architecture, design, engineering, construction and urban planning.

The National Building Museum's permanent collection illuminates the building process and documents changing architectural styles and construction techniques. The current collections contain approximately 40,000 photographic images, 68,000 architectural prints and drawings, 100 linear feet of documents and 2,100 objects, including material samples and architectural fragments. The museum focuses on the concrete (no pun intended) as well as the abstract, addressing issues relevant to today's society such as managing suburban growth, preserving landmarks and communities, and revitalizing urban centers.

Docent-led tours through the museum are available, and youth education activities include rentable Family Tool Kits. The Tool Kits are to be used with adult supervision by children age three to 10 and contain items such as binoculars, a measuring tape and puzzles to make the museum experience more engaging. There is also the Building Zone, where kids aged two to six can play with building blocks and construction trucks, explore the playhouse, and dress up in hats and goggles (the museum requires all children in the Building Zone to be supervised by an adult). And don't forget to stop by what the "Washington Post" has called "the best museum store in Washington D.C."

The museum itself is a testimonial to the beauty of deliberate design. Designed in 1881 by civil engineer and U.S. Army General Montgomery C. Meigs, the windows, vents and open archways in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum allows it to function as a reservoir of light and air. It is also among the tallest interior columns in the world. Even if you aren't interested in exploring the museum itself, the Great Hall is a great place to rest your legs and take in the view. The building is also notable for a frieze sculpted by Caspar Buberl. Stretching around the exterior of the building, the frieze depicts Civil War soldiers in scenes reminiscent of those on Trajan's Column in Rome as well as the Horsemen Frieze of the Parthenon in Athens.

The National Building Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, between 4th and 5th Streets, across the street from the Judiciary Square Metro (Red Line). Wheelchair access is available through the G Street entrance. Metered parking is located on 5th, F, and G Streets. Nearby parking lots/garages are located at the Verizon Center's 6th Street entrance and at the corner of 7th and H Streets.

Created by an act of Congress in 1980, the National Building Museum is America's premier cultural institution dedicated to exploring and celebrating architecture, design, engineering, construction, and urban planning. Since opening its doors in 1985, the Museum has become a vital forum for exchanging ideas and information about such topical issues as managing suburban growth, preserving landmarks and communities, and revitalizing urban centers.