Museum · Washington · District of Columbia

Arts and Industries Building

Photo: en:lorax, CC BY-SA 3.0

Nearest place to stay

0.2 mi

Canopy By Hilton Washington Dc The Wharf

Open since

2016

Wikipedia readers

9.5K

a year · #2,243 of 7,770

In brief

A museum inside Washington

Places to stay next door

Canopy By Hilton Washington Dc The Wharf is 0.2 miles away; Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf (0.3 mi) and Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall (0.3 mi) are close too. 276 places to stay are within 4 miles. Hotels nearby ↓

A day trip from Baltimore

Baltimore is about 36 miles northeast (straight-line). Hotels nearby ↓

Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct

April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 67–80°. When to go ↓

An airport 3 miles away

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA) has airline service, about 3 miles from Arts and Industries Building.

Established in 2016

Arts and Industries Building dates from 2016. About ↓

Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.

When to go

The weather by month

Every month near Arts and Industries Building is set out below.

Jan44° / 27°

Feb47° / 28°

Mar56° / 35°

Apr67° / 45°

May76° / 55°

Jun84° / 64°

Jul89° / 69°

Aug87° / 67°

Sep80° / 60°

Oct69° / 48°

Nov57° / 38°

Dec48° / 31°

Typical highs and lows in Washington. Green months are the mild ones. Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 normals for Washington. Washington’s full climate →

About

Arts and Industries Building

The Arts and Industries Building is the second oldest (after The Castle) of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Initially named the National Museum, it was built to provide the Smithsonian with its first proper facility for public display of its growing collections. The building, designed by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze, opened in 1881, hosting an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. After being closed since 2004 for repair and renovation, the building reopened in 2021 with a special exhibition, Futures. In August of 2026, the Smithsonian Board of Regents voted to set the building as the permanent site of the National Museum of the American Latino.

Type: Museum
Established: 2016
Listed: National Historic Landmark (1971) · National Register of Historic Places (1971) · America's Most Endangered Historic Places
Wikipedia readers: 9.5K a year

From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Facts: Wikidata.

Where to stay

Places to stay by Arts and Industries Building

Inside 4 miles you will find 276 places to stay. You can stay at Canopy By Hilton Washington Dc The Wharf, 0.2 miles away.

Arts and Industries BuildingWater1Places to stay (the list)Places to eat

Closest places to stay

1Canopy By Hilton Washington Dc The Wharfhotel · 0.2 mi southeastDirections
2Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharfhotel · 0.3 mi southDirections
3Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mallhotel · 0.3 mi southeastDirections
4Trump Presidential Palacehotel · 0.4 mi northwestDirections
5Waldorf Astoria Washington DChotel · 0.4 mi northwestDirections
6Global Luxury Suites at the National Mallhotel · 0.4 mi northeastDirections
7The Renwick Hotelhotel · 0.4 mi southwestDirections
8Salamander Washington DChotel · 0.5 mi southwestDirections
9Opo Hotel Manager Llc.hotel · 0.5 mi northDirections
10Washington Monument Lodgelodge or cabins · 0.5 mi westDirections

Places to eat nearby

1,794 restaurants, cafés and bars within 1½ miles

226 coffee & cafés175 bars & pubs158 Asian & Indian132 subs & sandwiches77 Mexican & Latin55 ice cream & sweets53 pizza

Compare 8 towns to stay in

Town	From Arts and Industries Building	Drive	Places to stay	People	Typical home	Safety
Washington	in town	—	247 201 hotels · 2 motels · 24 inns & B&Bs · 6 lodges & cabins · 12 hostels · 2 campgrounds	693,645	$737K	D⁻
Arlington	4 mi west	5 min	58 54 hotels · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins	236,254	$895K	—
Alexandria	6 mi southwest	10 min	44 41 hotels · 2 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins	160,662	$735K	C
Bethesda	9 mi northwest	15 min	26 23 hotels · 1 inn or B&B · 2 lodges & cabins	69,397	$1,170K	—
Tysons	11 mi west	15 min	25 25 hotels	28,936	$640K	—
College Park	9 mi northeast	15 min	17 16 hotels · 1 motel	35,418	$438K	—
National Harbor	7 mi south	10 min	10 9 hotels · 1 inn or B&B	4,454	$473K	—
Lake Arbor	10 mi east	15 min	13 13 hotels	14,335	$461K	—

Day trip from

Straight-line miles.

Baltimore36 mi northeast Richmond97 mi south

Getting there

Nearest airports with airline service

DCARonald Reagan Washington National · major hub3 mi

IADWashington Dulles · major hub24 mi

BWIBaltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall · major hub28 mi

Places to stay and eat: Overture Maps (hotels, motels, inns, lodges, campgrounds, RV parks; not vacation rentals) · streets, water and the site outline: Overture Maps / OpenStreetMap contributors · town figures: U.S. Census ACS · Safety: TownRatings Safety grade · airports: OurAirports. Distances are from Arts and Industries Building’s main visitor area; drive times are estimates.

Make a day of it

Places to add to Arts and Industries Building

Pair a visit with these, within 3 miles.

Big drawin town National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year

Big drawin town National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year

Big drawin town MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year

Big draw2 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch

Big draw2 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery

Big drawin town National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a year

Big drawin town National park siteNational Mall

Big drawin town National Historic SiteFord's Theatre National Historic Site394K visitors a year

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons

Photo credits

White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain · National Mall: Raul654 at en.wikipedia. Later version(s) were uploaded by Michael Shields at e, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Ford's Theatre National Historic Site: Ingfbruno, CC BY-SA 3.0

Common questions

Quick answers on Arts and Industries Building

Is Arts and Industries Building in Washington?

Yes. It’s inside Washington, DC.

When is the best time to visit Arts and Industries Building?

April, May, September and October, with highs of 67–80°.

How far is Arts and Industries Building from Baltimore?

About 36 miles northeast of Baltimore, as the crow flies.

What is the closest airport to Arts and Industries Building?

Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA), about 3 miles away.

What hotels are near Arts and Industries Building?

Canopy By Hilton Washington Dc The Wharf (0.2 mi), Hilton Washington DC National Mall The Wharf (0.3 mi) and Holiday Inn Washington Capitol - National Mall (0.3 mi). 276 places to stay are within 4 miles.

From locals

Ask people in Washington

Tips will appear here once someone posts in Washington’s Town Square.

When do you go to beat the crowds at Arts and Industries Building? Where do you eat after a visit to Arts and Industries Building? Is Arts and Industries Building worth it with small kids? What do visitors to Arts and Industries Building usually miss?

Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.