Visiting Tips & FAQs

• We’re providing hand-sanitizing stations for visitors throughout our facilities and conducting more frequent and enhanced cleaning. 

• We’re implementing safe social distancing, including one-way paths and directional guidance. 

• We’ve installed protective safety shields at bag-check screening stations and registers.  

• Our staff will stay home when sick, practice social distancing, and wash hands and practice good hygiene. 

• All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.  

No, all visitors will enter as walk-up visitors.

We are not offering group bookings at this time. Groups larger than six are strictly prohibited due to ongoing safety concerns related to the spread of COVID-19.

All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.  

Face coverings should fit properly, covering the nose, mouth, and chin with no large gaps on the outside of the face, and they should have at least two layers. Face shields are not permitted as a substitute for a face covering but may be worn over a face covering or mask. Face coverings or masks with an exhalation valve are not permitted. 

Please visit the Smithsonian's face mask policy for more information.

The store is open. The store is encouraging cashless payments at this time.

We’re asking all visitors who are sick or feel unwell to please stay home. If you are at increased risk of severe illness, you may also want to consider staying home.

All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask while visiting Smithsonian museums and indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status.  

Face coverings should fit properly, covering the nose, mouth, and chin with no large gaps on the outside of the face, and they should have at least two layers. Face shields are not permitted as a substitute for a face covering but may be worn over a face covering or mask. Face coverings or masks with an exhalation valve are not permitted. 

We encourage visitors to maintain a safe social distance of six feet or more between households or groups at all times.

Please wash and sanitize hands frequently during your visit and practice good hygiene. Hand-sanitizing stations will be available throughout our facilities.

We encourage you to limit the number of personal belongings and bags you bring into our facilities as they will be subject to a thorough search. Limiting the items you bring will increase your speed through security checkpoints, helping us all maintain a safe social distance. Please note that we do not offer coat or bag storage.

Give yourself ample time to visit the Museum. Lines to enter the Museum tend to be longest during peak season (March - August), holidays, and weekends.