The Smithsonian Institution

Lockheed Martin IMAX at the National Air & Space Museum

Lockheed Martin IMAX at the National Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world and includes many different and unique museums and the National Zoo in the DC area as well as two museums in New York City, with a combined collection 42 million objects. Admission is free to all Smithsonian museums with only one museum in New York City charging admission for those 12 and up.

In 1846, British scientist James Smithson wrote his last will and testament. In it, he made his nephew sole beneficiary of his estate and stipulated that if his nephew was to die without an heir, then his estate would go to the United States and establish the Smithsonian Institution: "an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." His nephew died without an heir in 1835. It is still a mystery as to why Smithson would give such a generous gift worth $500,000. He isn't known to have had any relationship with anyone in America and in fact never visited the country.

• African Art Museum
• Air and Space Museum and Udvar-Hazy Center 
• American Art Museum
• American History Museum
• American Indian Museum
• Anacostia Museum
• Freer and Sackler Galleries
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• National Zoo
• National History Museum
• Portrait Gallery
• Renwick Gallery
• Smithsonian Information Center (The Castle)

• American Indian Museum, Heye Center
• Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum

• National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Smithsonian Institution is the ultimate museum experience. With millions of objects on display--along with educational programs, activities, and research--it continues to be an important place of learning as well as an exciting attraction in the Washington, DC, area.