Free Events: Museums
Check here for free museum after-hours events, films, music, talks and tours in the DC Metro area.
104 performances · 35 ongoing events
Performances
Exiled, America's Deported Veterans
Mt Pleasant LibraryFri. Oct 4
Curator's Talk: Civil Rights Activism and the Barry Farm/Hillsdale Community
Anacostia Neighborhood LibraryMon. Sep 9
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Aug 28
Gallery Talk: New York Ave Sculpture Project
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Aug 21
Architecture Tour
Dumbarton OaksSep. 6 – Nov. 1
Fall Plant Sale and Picnic
Tudor Place Historic House and GardenSun. Sep 29
Mi Casa, Su Casa: A Migration Celebration
College Park Aviation MuseumSat. Sep 21
Cultural Capital: Step Afrika!
National Museum of Women in the ArtsFri. Aug 30
Free Community Day: September
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Sep 1
Gallery Talk: More is More: Multiples
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Sep 4
Tour: Fierce Women 2.0
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Sep 1
Art All Night at the AU Museum
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSat. Sep 14
Early Fall Opening Reception
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSat. Sep 7
Family Day at the AU Museum
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSat. Oct 19
Free Parking: WD Printmaking
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterThu. Sep 26
Gallery Talk: Moves Like Walter
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSat. Sep 28
Gallery Talk: Topographies of Life
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSat. Sep 7
Interference concert
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterThu. Oct 3
REMIX: Soundtrack to Summer
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThu. Aug 22
Director’s Essay Prize Lecture and Prize Ceremony
Robert and Arlene Kogod CourtyardFri. Sep 6
In Focus: John Muir
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThu. Sep 5
Portrait Discovery Kits
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 7 – Nov. 30
Young Portrait Explorers: Celia Cruz
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 9 & 23
Art AfterWords: A Book Discussion
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryTue. Nov 19
Artist Talk—Portraits of the World: Korea
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryWed. Sep 11
Curator Tour – The Outwin 2019: American Portraiture Today
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySun. Oct 27
Curator Tour—Storied Women of the Civil War
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySun. Sep 29
Día de los Muertos
Robert and Arlene Kogod CourtyardSat. Nov 2
In Focus: Chief Joseph
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThu. Nov 7
In Focus: The Four Justices
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThu. Oct 3
March on Washington Film Festival: The Me I Want to Sing
Nan Tucker McEvoy AuditoriumSat. Sep 28
Morning with the Girl Scouts
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySat. Nov 23
Portrait InSight
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 21 & Nov. 16
Portrait Signs
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 24 – Nov. 23
Portrait Signs
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 26 – Nov. 23
Portraiture 101
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 1 & Nov. 5
¡Muévete! Hispanic Heritage Month Community Day
Robert and Arlene Kogod CourtyardSat. Sep 28
Young Portrait Explorers: Frida Kahlo
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 13 & 28
Young Portrait Explorers: American Indian Heritage Month
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 18 & 25
See Me at the Portrait Gallery
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 10 – Nov. 12
Women of Color: The Power of Protest Native American Women Activists: Resistance, Resilience, and Passing the Torch
Nan Tucker McEvoy AuditoriumThu. Oct 10
Women of Color: The Power of Protest But Some of Us Are Brave: Black Sisterhood and Solidarity Across, Cultures, Communities & Colorlines
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThu. Sep 12
Women of Color: The Power of Protest Ain’t I A Woman: Activism, Legacy and Our Quest for Justice
Nan Tucker McEvoy AuditoriumThu. Nov 14
Cultural Capital: Mujeres de Cine—Journey to a Mother’s Room
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Nov 6
Museum Day
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSat. Sep 21
Free Community Day: October
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Oct 6
Free Community Day: November
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Nov 3
Free Community Day: December
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Dec 1
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Sep 11
New York Ave Sculpture Project
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Sep 18
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Sep 25
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 2
Gallery Talk: Live Dangerously
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 9
Women Artists of the Dutch Golden Age
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 16
Gallery Talk: Judy Chicago—The End
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 23
Gallery Talk: Live Dangerously
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 30
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Nov 6
Gallery Talk: Judy Chicago—The End
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Nov 13
Gallery Talk: Women Artists of the Dutch Golden Age
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Nov 20
Gallery Talk: Live Dangerously
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Nov 27
Gallery Talk: Judy Chicago—The End
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Dec 4
Gallery Talk: Live Dangerously
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Dec 11
Gallery Talk: Women Artists of the Dutch Golden Age
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Dec 18
Gallery Talk: Live Dangerously
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Jan 8, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Jan 15, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Jan 22, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Jan 29, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Feb 19, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Feb 26, 2020
Gallery Talk: Collection Sampler
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Feb 12, 2020
Tour: Fierce Women 2.0
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Oct 6
Tour: Fierce Women 2.0
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Nov 3
Tour: Fierce Women 2.0
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSun. Dec 1
Young Learners Tour: Animal Adventure
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSat. Oct 19
Young Learners Program: Read for the Record 2019
National Museum of Women in the ArtsThu. Nov 7
Young Learners Tour: Spotting Shapes and Looking for Lines
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSat. Dec 14
Young Learners Tour: Color-Full Fun
National Museum of Women in the ArtsSat. Feb 15, 2020
Shenson Chamber Music Concert: Jamie Bernstein and Spencer Myer
National Museum of Women in the ArtsWed. Oct 2
Model Airplane Demonstration Flights
College Park Aviation MuseumMon. Sep 2
Washington in the 2000’s
Smithsonian Anacostia Community MuseumThu. Nov 7
Celebration of Native American Veterans
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianSat. Sep 21
Hispanic Heritage Month Concert: New Inca Son
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianSat. Sep 14
Lakota Music Project with the South Dakota Symphony Chamber Ensemble
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianSat. Oct 19
Conversation Circles
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 6 – 27
Open Studio
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 6 – 27
Portrait Story Days: Marisol Escobar
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 7 & 8
Portrait Story Days: Sonia Sotomayor
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 14 & 15
Portrait Story Days: Celia Cruz
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 21 & 22
Portrait Story Days: José Limón
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySun. Sep 29
Conversation Circles
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 1 – 29
Conversation Circles
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySep. 6 – Nov. 29
Drawn to Figures: How to Draw Feet
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 13 & 16
Drawn to Figures: How to Draw Hands
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 6 & 9
Open Studio
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 1 – 29
Portrait Story Days: American Indian Heritage Month - Pocahontas
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 2 & 3
Portrait Story Days: American Indian Heritage Month - Sequoyah
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 9 & 10
Portrait Story Days: American Indian Heritage Month - Sitting Bull
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryNov. 23 & 24
Portrait Story Days: American Indian Heritage Month - Zitkala-Ša
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySat. Nov 30
Portrait Story Days: Dolores Huerta
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 5 & 6
Portrait Story Days: Frida Kahlo
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 12 & 13
Portrait Story Days: Pedro Martinez
Smithsonian National Portrait GallerySat. Oct 19
Strike A Prose: Writing for Justice (non-fiction)
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryTue. Oct 8
Strike a Prose: Write from Your Soul (cross-genre)
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 22 & 25
Strike a Prose: Crafting Dialogue (fiction)
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryOct. 15 & 18
Ongoing Events
New York Ave Sculpture Project
National Museum of Women in the ArtsThru Sep. 20, 2020
Portraits of the World: Korea Exhibition
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru Nov. 17
Americans
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Dec. 31, 2022
Nation to Nation
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Dec. 31, 2021
Our Universes
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Sep. 30, 2020
Return to a Native Place
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Jan. 1, 2022
The Great Inka Road
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Jun. 1, 2020
Gallery Tours
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Dec. 31
The Architecture of the Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Shakespeare LibraryThru Jan. 5, 2020
Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru Jan. 5, 2020
In Mid-Sentence
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru Mar. 29, 2020
One Life: Marian Anderson
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru May. 17, 2020
Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote
National ArchivesThru Jan. 3, 2021
Revolutionary Reflections: French Memories of the War for America
Anderson House & The American Revolution InstituteThru Oct. 27
Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote
Library of CongressThru Sep. 1, 2020
La Cascada by Luzinterruptus
Former Residence of the Ambassadors of SpainThru Sep. 27
Section 14: The Other Palm Springs
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianThru Jan. 1, 2020
Right to the City @Shaw Neighborhood Library
Shaw Neighborhood LibraryThru Apr. 20, 2020
Right to the City @Mt Pleasant Library
Mt Pleasant LibraryThru Apr. 20, 2020
Right to the City @Anacostia Neighborhood Library
Anacostia Neighborhood LibraryThru Apr. 20, 2020
Right to the City @Woodridge Neighborhood Library
Woodridge Neighborhood LibraryThru Apr. 20, 2020
Water: The Mirror of Life
Former Residence of the Ambassadors of SpainThru Sep. 27
Royal Philatelic Society London’s 150th Anniversary
Smithsonian National Postal MuseumOct. 18 – 19
Miniature Shakespeare Books from the Harner Collection
Folger Shakespeare LibraryThru Dec. 31
Grace Hartigan and Helene Herzbrun: Reframing Abstract Expressionism
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSep. 3 – Oct. 20
Moves Like Walter: New Curators Open the Corcoran Legacy Collection
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSep. 3 – Oct. 20
Our World Above: Monoprints and Glass by Annette Lerner
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSep. 3 – Oct. 20
Prints & Artists: WD Printmaking Workshop 1970-Present
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSep. 3 – Oct. 20
Topographies of Life: Pam Rogers, Lynn Sures, Mel Watkin
American University Museum at the Katzen Arts CenterSep. 3 – Oct. 20
America’s First Veterans
Anderson House & The American Revolution InstituteNov. 8, 2019 – Apr. 5, 2020
Women of Progress: Early Camera Portraits
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru May. 31, 2020
Storied Women of the Civil War Era
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru May. 8, 2022
Recent Acquisitions
Smithsonian National Portrait GalleryThru Nov. 3
Day of the Dead Festival
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianNov. 1 – 3
Installation of the Treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1784
Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianOct. 17, 2019 – Apr. 15, 2020
