DC Art Museums Reopen To Visitors After Year Of COVID-19

WASHINGTON, DC — Washington has a plethora of art museums that local residents are notorious for taking for granted. Washingtonians may visit them when family and friends travel to D.C. and want to see the city but ignore them the rest of the year.

The closure of D.C.'s museums during the COVID-19 pandemic created a greater appreciation of these gems. For more than a year, the museums weren’t available. Residents were unable, on a whim, to drive or take the Metro to visit their favorite museum.

Many of the art museums in D.C. are coming back to life. With their reopening, though, additional planning is still required. For example, the west wing of the National Gallery of Art, one of the jewels of American art museums, is open again, but visitors must reserve a free pass.

Starting Friday, the D.C. government will lift capacity limits on all museums and galleries, although some museums will maintain their own capacity limits and restrictions.

Locals should no longer take D.C.’s amazing art museums for granted. With the COVID-19 pandemic numbers rapidly improving, residents and visitors can take advantage of the many museums that are reopening.

Here are the D.C. art museums that are open now:

• The National Gallery of Art has reopened its West Building. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website. The Sculpture Garden is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily with limited capacity, while the East Building remains closed.
• The National Portrait Gallery is now open. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website.
• The National Museum of Women in the Arts is now open. Visit the museum's website for more information.
• The Phillips Collection has reopened with its new centennial exhibition, Seeing Differently: The Phillips Collects for a New Century.
• The Smithsonian American Art Museum and its Renwick Gallery have both reopened. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website.
• The National Archives has reopened. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website.
• The National Museum of African American History and Culture has reopened. For more information regarding hours, timed entry and safety protocols, visit the museum's website.
• ARTECHOUSE is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Read its safety protocols before planning a trip.
• Kreeger Museum on Foxhall Road is open. Visitors must get advance reservation tickets.
• Dumbarton House has reopened. Hours are Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit Dumbarton House's website.
• The National Building Museum is now open Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit the museum's website.
• The Washington National Cathedral is open for ticketed entry to the Les Colombes exhibit and special events. Visit the Cathedral’s website for ticket information.

Popular art museums like the Hirshhorn, Freer and Sackler remain closed but are expected to reopen soon.