National Building Museum

Save
National Building Museum

Photo: Daderot · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

🎨 Museum · Washington

2.5 hours · $ · Check website for reservations

age fit
0–1 yr
★ 4.0
1–3 yrs
★ 5.0
3–5 yrs
★ 5.0
5–10 yrs
★ 4.0
  • 🚗
    About 35 min drive
    From Rockville · Parking: Metro Red Line to Judiciary Square puts you at the door; admission about $10–12 adults, about $7 ages 3–17, free under 3 (check the website)
  • 🍼
    Stroller-friendly
    Flat surfaces — bring the stroller
  • 🌳
    Lots of shade
    Rain-OK · Fine on cold days · Handles heat
  • ⏱️
    Typical visit: 2.5 hours
    Best seasons: Winter · Spring · Summer · Fall

An 1880s red-brick building whose Great Hall has 75-foot columns and a fountain, where kids can run without bothering anyone; the Building Zone is a construction play room for ages 2–6 with big soft blocks, little houses, and toy excavators, and Play Work Build lets bigger kids build on a larger scale.

💡 Tips
The Building Zone has timed, limited-capacity sessions, so grab a slot as soon as you arrive on weekends. The Summer Block Party's giant interactive installation is the event DC parents wait for every year, with separate tickets. The cafe in the hall works for lunch.

What this place offers

✓great hall
✓Building Zone
✓blocks
✓toddler area
✓indoor
✓restrooms
✓summer installation
✓cafe

Featured in these guides

This weekend's weather in Washington

Forecast at the destination itself (coast and hills often differ from home)

☁️
Sat 10/17
Overcast · 46–61°F · 35% rain
☀️
Sun 10/18
Sunny · 41–60°F · 6% rain

Location

Washington, Washington, DC

More like this

Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Wegmans Wonderplace)
Kid favorite

Smithsonian National Museum of American History (Wegmans Wonderplace)

5.0

Washington · 35 min drive

2.5 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Metro to Smithsonian or Federal Triangle and a 5-minute walk; street parking is free on weekends but hard to find

Port Discovery Children's Museum
Kid favorite

Port Discovery Children's Museum

5.0

Baltimore · 60 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

$$ · Parking: Nearby garages about $15–20; admission about $23 per person, free under 2 (check the website)

College Park Aviation Museum
Kid favorite

College Park Aviation Museum

5.0

College Park · 30 min drive

1.5 h · stroller-friendly

$ · Parking: Free lot; admission about $5 adults, about $2 ages 2–17

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

4.0

Washington · 35 min drive

3 h · stroller-friendly

Free · Parking: Street parking around the Mall is free on weekends but nearly impossible; Metro to Smithsonian or Federal Triangle and a 5-minute walk