Description:

Our mission is to advance the quality of the built environment by educating people about its impact on their lives.

The National Building Museum is America’s leading cultural institution devoted to the history and impact of the built environment. We do this by telling the stories of architecture, engineering, and design. As one of the most family-friendly, awe-inspiring spots in Washington, D.C., we welcome visitors from around the world to our exhibitions, public programs, and festivals. Located just four blocks from the National Mall, the Museum occupies a magnificent building with a soaring Great Hall, colossal 75-foot-tall Corinthian columns, and a 1,200-foot terra cotta frieze.

Exhibitions

Since 1985, the Museum has presented more than 200 exhibitions to critical acclaim, including:

Liquid Stone: New Architecture in Concrete “These technological advances deserve to be bragged about… so does the show itself.”—The Washington Post

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture and Design “[A] Must See”—Newsweek

Designing Tomorrow: America’s World’s Fairs of the 1930s “…never-before-seen artifacts, photographs, and models”—BBC