United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The museum’s main permanent exhibition,The Holocaust, spreads across three floors and is designed to be self-guided. From March through August, timed tickets are required for this moving exhibition. Obtain tickets online in advance or on the day, or in person on the day. The museum begins giving out same-day tickets at 9:45am for timed entry slots throughout the day. From September through February, no ticket is required.

The museum also has a special exhibition titledRemember the Children: Daniel’s Story, which is specifically aimed at families with children over 8 years old. Tickets are not required to enter this or any of the museum’s other exhibitions, nor are they required for the Hall of Remembrance, the library, or the Survivors and Victims Resource Center, where visitors can research their family history.

• The museum’s main exhibition is not recommended for children under 11 years old.

• Bring a sweater, as some of the exhibition rooms are kept cool to help preserve the artifacts on display.

• The museum is wheelchair-accessible.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum is situated on Raoul Wallenberg Place on Washington DC’s National Mall, just south of Independence Avenue. It’s about a 5-minute walk from the Smithsonian metro station.

The museum is open every day except for Yom Kippur and Christmas. It is busiest from March through August (as is all of DC). During this time, security-line waits can be 15 minutes or even longer. The museum is quietest on early weekend mornings and late weekday afternoons.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is one of many Smithsonian and other museums situated along the National Mall. If you want to continue museum-hopping, consider visiting the National Gallery of Art, whose collection includes works by da Vinci, Degas, and Calder; the National Air and Space Museum, which features flight simulators and noteworthy aircraft; the National Museum of Natural History, home to the fabled Hope Diamond; or the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which provides a comprehensive overview of the African American experience.

You should reserve your museum tickets as early in advance as possible to ensure you can visit on your preferred day. Ticket reservations open a few months in advance. A limited number of same-day tickets are available starting at 7am. Tickets, which are free, are only required for permanent exhibits.

To avoid the biggest crowds, visit the museum as early in the day as possible (it opens at 10am) or toward the end of the day (it closes at 5:30pm). This museum is popular with school groups, so visiting before they arrive or after they leave may be preferred.

It’s free to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum but prebooked, timed-entry tickets are required for the permanent exhibits. To guarantee entry, book in advance, as only limited same-day tickets are available. Online bookings incur a $1 booking fee. Tickets aren’t required for the special exhibits.

No, the museum doesn’t have its own parking facilities. A paid parking garage is located across the street on D Street SW, and there is some metered parking nearby. Those with disabilities can find a small number of accessible parking spaces around the Washington Monument, which is near the museum.

Yes, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is worth visiting. It’s a moving reminder of a dark part of 20th-century history and an educational experience. Anyone interested in history and Judaism, and Jewish visitors themselves, may find it especially relevant. Aspects of the museum are sobering, though worthwhile.

The museum's permanent exhibit is designed to take between 90 minutes and several hours to experience. The time it takes to tour depends on how much you engage with the information and resources presented. Guided tours are not available. Visitors can take their time and reflect on what they encounter.