Sight guide · Washington, D.C. · United States
Visiting United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum's permanent exhibition tells the history of the Holocaust over three floors, through personal artefacts, film and testimony, starting with an identification card of a real person whose fate you follow.
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Quick answer
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a museum in National Mall, Washington, D.C.. Allow 2–3 hours; it is free. Free timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition in the busier spring and summer months; reserve online.
Key facts
- Type
- Museum
- Area
- National Mall
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Recommended
- Good for
- history, free and rainy day
- Best months
- March–May
About United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
The museum's permanent exhibition tells the history of the Holocaust over three floors, through personal artefacts, film and testimony, starting with an identification card of a real person whose fate you follow. It is intense and recommended for visitors aged 11 and over; a separate exhibition, Remember the Children: Daniel's Story, is aimed at younger visitors.
Tip: Leave time afterwards in the quiet Hall of Remembrance before heading back out onto the Mall.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: Free timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition in the busier spring and summer months; reserve online.
- Where: National Mall.
Best time to visit United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is indoors, which makes it a good plan for the wettest months:
- March: 14°C (57°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- May: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- April: 20°C (68°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, very busy crowds.
When to visit Washington, D.C. has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen National Mall and Lincoln Memorial.
- No. 12 of the 20 sights in our Washington, D.C. things-to-do list.
- Day 3 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 7 of the 7-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Washington, D.C..
- One of the picks in museums in Washington, D.C..
- One of the picks in washington, D.C. on a rainy day.
- One of the picks in historic sites in Washington, D.C..
Near United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Also in National Mall, so you can walk between them:
- National Museum of American History — 2–3 hours, free
- National Gallery of Art — 2–3 hours, free
- National Museum of African American History and Culture — 4–5 hours, free
If you like United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- United States Capitol — Capitol Hill, 1.5–2 hours
- Library of Congress (Jefferson Building) — Capitol Hill, 1–1.5 hours
- Arlington National Cemetery — Arlington, Virginia, 2–3 hours
- Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center — Chantilly, Virginia, 2–3 hours
Staying near United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Where to stay in Washington, D.C. compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at United States Holocaust Memorial Museum?
Plan 2–3 hours. With National Museum of American History nearby, it fits a half-day in National Mall.
+Is United States Holocaust Memorial Museum free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit United States Holocaust Memorial Museum?
March–May, the wettest months, when an indoor sight is most welcome. Leave time afterwards in the quiet Hall of Remembrance before heading back out onto the Mall.
+Do I need to book United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in advance?
Free timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition in the busier spring and summer months; reserve online.