One of the 19 free museums that make up the Smithsonian Institute, flanked by the
National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History is an essential destination for local and visiting history buffs. Spanning 300,000 square feet (28,000 square meters) of exhibition and public space across its East and West Wings, the museum’s wide-ranging temporary and permanent exhibitions showcase artifacts and topics that span the length of American history.
From Abraham Lincoln’s top hat to the red shoes Judy Garland wore in The Wizard of Oz, the multilayered collection is worth lingering over. The museum is featured on a number of hop-on hop-off bus tours and Segway tours, while private and small-group collection tours make exploring personal.