The Smithsonian Castle is one of the many Smithsonian buildings located on the Mall. It is fun to view with its unique architecture and the beautiful garden that surround the Castle. Often times tourists are more focused on the other Smithsonian Museums but this is a great one to relax or to eat outside nearby.

The Smithsonian threw out the kids with pro life hats on ! They don’t believe in free speech! They are Communists! Fact

This is an amazing museum. You can spend the whole day here. The indoor rain forest is impressive. There are butterflies surrounding you and it's just like you're in a real rain forest. There're also many other sections. You can see different types of animals, like jelly fish, various types of butterflies. This is also a white crocodile. In the ocean section, you get to touch sea cucumbers. There's also a cafeteria. You're not supposed to bring outside food in, so you can get food there if you want to eat. The prices are okay, but it's very crowded. It's a good place for adults and kids.

The fact that we ALL have access to this is mind-blowing. The best place to go. The work done by so many scientists and professionals is a gift to the future generations. Best experience. The world need to know more. The American embassies in the world should promote this experience. Unlimited resources to learn and grow.

The Smithsonian Museums are great. I've been to Natural History, American History, African American History & Culture, African Art, Freer, Sackler, Hirshhorn (they just completed some renovations a few months ago), Air & Space (can't wait until they finish renovations in 2025) and American Indian (gotta try the Bison Burgers). Now, I am getting away from the main topic. I live in the area, and I don't suggest eating from the food trucks. Think about this where do they go to use the bathroom? You have to have a free timed pass to get into the Air & Space and African American History & Culture. I know plenty of people who have gotten sick after eating from the food trucks. Last weekend, the health department did a random license inspection. The majority of the food trucks were evacuated and towed away because they didn't produce the proper licensing. Now, if they don't care about your health & they only care about taking your money. Do you really think it's a good idea to take a risk with your health, spend your hard earned money, and possibly jeopardize the time you want to spend enjoying yourself exploring the museums?

What an excellent adventure it was to visit the Smithsonian Museums! My only problem, was 5 days was not enough time for me. I stayed in a nice hostel walking distance to the museums. A healthy walking distance. Did take a bus a few times. Grateful to everyone that works in all parts of each museum. The hostel offered evening outings in DC, but walking all day I needed to rest when back to the hostel. Favorites were the art museums and the New African American Museum.

A very good place to visit.

Open up and let us in our buildings.

I brought my kids here for the first time. They loved it. We marveled at the gems and minerals. They also loved the dinosaur exhibits. I liked the astronomy exhibits, especially the information about the moon and the earth. Of course, every kid has to see the gift shop. FYI: an Astronaut ice cream sandwich (freeze dried) will cost you $6. Is there Parking? Not close to the museum. In Washington D.C,, expect to do a lot of walking. This museum is very popular. Get there early to avoid the long lines.

Free for kids under 2! Took our baby godson here and he loved it! There was even a nice area for children under 2 to play in. It had a boat and little jungle themed play area! We explored the whole place and the people there were very informative. They showed even us a lion and leopard! I took off a star because the rainforest walk through closed off their canopy area for renovations this time we went. Perfect way to spend a couple hours on a rainy day! P.S. The earthquake exhibit and recreation was awesome and informative!

World class museums but extremely subpar mismanagement and handling of reopening. Don’t even waste your time trying to get a “timed” ticket for entry as they are impossible to get for most museums. First only a handful are released for each day a month prior. They offer “limited” tickets each day online at 11am but they are next to impossible to get. My wife and I have tried for several days during our stay in DC to get one. The technology behind their allocation system is broke. Two days in a row my wife and I simultaneously tried to follow the cumbersome instructions to get a ticket and we were both met with web page error codes and glitches that prevented our completing the ticket process. We were able to get tickets to the Air and Space museum with a last minute timed ticket and the museum was great however the reasoning behind the time tickets is fundamentally flawed and does little if anything to protect the patrons or employees from anything COVID related. They need to reopen completely and get rid of this timed ticket nonsense. For an institution staffed with the words best academics I would have expected a much better handling of this!

This place is phenomenal, one of the best museums I’ve ever been to. Everything is very well taken care of, it’s FREE to go in and even the gift shop and food are reasonable and great quality. Wonderful day spent here.

More than half the air and space museum remains closed and inaccessible,even though the new space galleries have reopened. New exhibits are very tightly packed together ..font size on the displays make it very hard to read them and the place despite hourly advance acquired timed entry tickets is packed. Packed like can't move,packed like you will be waiting in queues to see displays. Not what I expected or hoped after the multi year renovation. Bait and switch.

Definitely something that everyone deserves the chance to visit more than once!

I had the wonderful serendipity to be able to visit the nation's capitol when I was a little boy. This is one of the places I was fortunate enough to visit. The only larger repository of history and knowledge I know of is in Rome and Vatican city. The massive amount of artifacts, demonstrations, replicas, examples and information here would take you a life time to see all of. I suggest anyone going near DC to take the time to visit this place.

We had a great time at this museum. Clean and modern!

Absolutely hands down the best museum I've ever been to. I feel like this is the sanctuary for world history, there is just so much to see!!

A great first stop for touring the museums. There is a small info exhibit, gift shop, restrooms, and the staff are centralized to help guide and answer questions.

I went at this museum in 2009, in a trip with my job friends of Brazilian Air Force. That's a Very interesting place to visit. If you like the aviation and space vericles...

I visited the Botanical Gardens, the Native American and African American Museums in July 2022 and loved every moment. Surprised, informed, intrigued, saddened and inspired from viewing the various collections and exhibits.

After paying for these places my whole life, I am finally in DC and can't even visit. The passes are a joke and sold out instantly. Free passes are being sold online. They don't answer any of the phone numbers ever, and don't call back when you enter your number. What a joke, I hope these places get their funding taken away asap. Pandemic is over in most of the country except here in DC.

A landmark with so much history. I love it. One of my favorite places in all of Washington DC.

The scope of objects in Smithsonian collections is staggering—from ancient Chinese bronzes to the Star-Spangled Banner; from a 3.5 billion-year-old fossil to the Apollo lunar landing module; from the ruby slippers featured in The Wizard of Oz to presidential memorabilia.

Great for the kids!Just recommend to come early and bring plenty of water!

Great place great staff

One of the best and nicest museum I’ve ever been. Very interesting expositions and very educative.

The staff here, if you can't love animals or pandas, please take a break from work, don't torture the children anymore 😡

This is the first time our sons have visited DC (both LOVE history). Would've loved to visit the museums. Unfortunately all museums are limited attendance and no tickets were available. Not a good first time visit. :(

This museum is someplace I remember going on field trips for the day. The overall size is quite large to do in one session unless you stay on course. I love all the information they have available, and some interactive areas. The food is expensive, but what do you expect on dc. I find it’s more of an experience to get food outside from one of the local trucks(falafels are good). As many people have commented you may need to buy tickets ahead of time during the covid era.

Animal abuse is so cruel, this zoo should be bankrupt, I support the request to bring the pandas Tian Tian, ​​Meixiang and Xiaoqiji back to China.

What a wonderful place to visit for people of all ages.. It's just the same now as it was years ago..With the addition of some new attractions and restaurants and jewelry shop's its MAGNIFICENT!!! The Cafe is VERY VERY EXSPENSIVE!!! 🤯

I love it, free admission to museum lots of exhibitions, butterfly section Tuesdays are free admission and so much fun for adults and kids. Museum has little bit everything you can ask for.

The castle is worth a quick stop. Good overview and map of all museums on the Mall. Clean bathrooms. Coffee is way overpriced... But it's DC, so no big surprise.

This is pretty cool but all of the exibits are from the old times, I didnt come hear for a social studies lesson, who do you think I am, a social studies student LOL. get newer exibits like fortnite exhibits plz. - :)

You know da law for state 2 state I'd is in effect todues...

Wow! Flash back when I was a boy.

Get free tickets in advance online. Natural history takes a whole day. The others don't.

Just like I remember as a kid!

is identical to how we see it in the movies, I love the construction, we did not have access to the vaults as pernsamos but it is incredible

Who knows which museum houses the famous "swamp" tent from the M*A*S*H series?

Hsbc of this communication including attachments to do that with my resume to you on your site

This place is actually a hell for animals. Consider thoroughly to go to this

Absolutely gem of an institution. The place is an asset for whole of humanity - past and present. One could spend ages down here and barely scratch the surface. Thank you .

Nice place

So much traffic and noparking........turned around and left without seeing any places of interest!!! SUPER DISAPPOINTING

I just love the Smithsonian so much. As a kid , with the excitement of going on a field trip with your friends, you don't get to appreciate the museums for what they are until you're older. Coming back as an adult I was just amazing with all the history, documents, machinery, trinkets, art, and etc. that helped this country evolve. And to be able to visit each museum along the national mall for free was even better haha. ***If you're handicap note that the entrance is usually in a different location than the main, usually off to the side.

From tiny tots to teens - will find something of interest at this eclectic museum. In fact, almost too much, but better more than less! I Loved it!

great piece of history you can enjoy with friends and family

I have been here a very few amount of times, but I reccomend going. Sometimes I wish I could go there more because everything there is fun and interactive The Rosa Parks bus is ours- The Henry Ford Museum

just love the Smithsonian so much. As a kid , with the excitement of going on a field trip with your friends, you don't get to appreciate the museums for what they are until you're older. Coming back as an adult I was just amazing with all the history, documents, machinery, trinkets, art, and etc. that helped this country evolve. And to be able to visit each museum along the national mall for free was even better haha. ***If you're handicap note that the entrance is usually in a different location than the main, usually off to the side.

identical to how we see it in the movies, I love the construction, we did not have access to the vaults as pernsamos but it is incredible

Incredible. So many exhibits. Be prepared with plan so you know what you want to see but wandering from one area to next is good too.

I just like the interesting exhibits.

Amazing

(Translated by Google) Of the things to visit in Washington, D.C. It is undoubtedly the museums, why besides having a pleasant time, filling you up culturally and enjoying beautiful places, they are free. There will always be something new to enjoy. Historic places, with beautiful facilities, clean, very friendly staff. (Original) De las cosas que se deben visitar en Washington, D.C. es sin duda los museos, por qué además de pasar un rato agradable, llenándote culturalmente y disfrutando de hermosos lugares son gratuitos. Siempre habrá algo nuevo para disfrutar. Lugares históricos, con bellas instalaciones, limpias, personal muy amable.

Very nice

We would do there all the time if only we lived a little closer. We can’t get enough of it!

I mean, you need like a month to see everything, there is just so much and it is all good and educational. Plan on at least a week here.

This place is very fun and educational for the kids (and adults). It's well spread out and a great amount of exhibitions of all sort of animals.

A very good place to visit

The coolest muesum

Shame you have to get a pass for this, it looks a lot prettier than the white house though!

always worth a visit when i am in DC

I have been receiving mail from National Air and Space for my late father who passed away on 26th February 2018, I have called 7x to have this issue stopped but NO-ONE wants to help Me out with this Issue at all, the National Air and Space only care about the Ol' Mighty Dollars($$$) and Not their Families!!!