MAP IT
As the sun sets and the city slows, DC’s museums take on an atmosphere that’s uniquely fun. Access exhibits and galleries after 5 p.m. to discover art and history in a whole new light.
The world’s largest library presents new programming each week. Join the Library of Congress every Thursday from 5-8 p.m. for a variety of performances, workshops, discussions and more. Enjoy happy hour drinks and food while exploring the Library’s exhibits and collections during these extended hours.
Both popular museums are open until 7 p.m. giving visitors the chance to see the collections of art from the colonial period to the present at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). Enjoy talks and family events, plus free performances in the Kogod Courtyard with the Take 5: Jazz at SAAM monthly series.
Locals love the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden’s Jazz in the Garden series, a free jazz concert series that runs all summer on Fridays from 5-8:30 p.m. Get there early to stake out your spot in the grass, lay out some snacks and enjoy pitchers of sangria, local beers and other refreshments. To snag a ticket, enter the ticket lottery that opens the week prior on Monday at 10 a.m. and closes that Friday at noon.
Explore the O Museum in The Mansion for one of the most idiosyncratic experiences in DC. The locale features more than 100 rooms and 80 secret doors, leading to themed areas filled with fine art, antiques and furnishings. Each item on display has been donated and is now for sale, with some being signed by presidents or freedom fighters. Step into a different world by taking a themed tour or experiencing an event. Visit the museum until 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday or until 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday.
On the second Thursday of each month throughout the year, guests at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building Gallery can enjoy works of art, live music, dance performances and pop-up talks from educators from 6-9 p.m. Admission is free but registration is through a lottery system that opens Monday at 10:00 a.m. the week of the event. Light bites and drinks are available for purchase. For more information on the series, visit the NGA website.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
The National Museum of Women in the Arts’ popular evening series spans museum-wide scavenger hunts to dueling DJs to crafty activities. Two drink tickets are included with purchased admission. Visit the events calendar to find this month's date and theme, plus other after-hours lectures and events.
The first Wednesday of the month, Planet Word invites the puzzle-minded for an evening for wordplay challenges and access to all three floors of museum exhibits – including karaoke. From 5-8 p.m., entrance is pay-what-you-can with food and drinks available for purchase from Immigrant Foods. Tickets to the museum's signature immersive puzzle-solving experience Lexicon Lane are available for $40.
On the first Thursday of every month, the Phillips Collection welcomes visitors to Phillips After 5, a ticketed curated experience infused with art, history and live music. A true staple of Dupont Circle culture and architecture, the museum has the intimate feel of a private art collection, with each After 5 iteration's distinct theme celebrating subjects from the beginning of spring to German techno music. On third Thursdays, the museum stays open until 8 p.m. with free admission.
National Museum of Asian Art
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art hosts an abundance of after-hour programming from outdoor celebrations in the Freer Courtyard to live performances of poetry, comedy and shows in the Freer Gallery. For a more relaxed evening, catch a book talk or film screening after five.
Educational and Historical
Discover Georgetown's Tudor Place after hours at a Landmark Lecture series or a Tudor Nights event. The once home to descendants of Martha Washington allows guests to engage in historical and educational discussions with experts at its lectures or offers exclusive looks at archived artifacts and art, accompanied by cocktails and bites.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Hear from scholars, artists and guest speakers at the Folger Shakespeare Library for free evening events. Sip a drink from the Quill and Crumb while listening to a guest speaker share knowledge about their field of expertise at Cocktails and Conversation or join the Folger Book Club for a monthly discussion. Step into The Folger Salon for conversations between Folger Institute scholars and attendees about the library's current research.
Any ticket to a Ford’s Theatre performance grants visitors an after-hours look at the museum. Sneak a glance at the pistol John Wilkes Booth used to assassinate Lincoln and learn more about the 16th president’s life before and during office. The museum opens an hour before each show begins.
Heurich House Museum
The once home of German-American Christian Heurich has turned into a lively after-hours spot. Take a guided tour of the Heurich House on select days at 5 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. Then grab a drink at the House’s 1921, a Biergarten, which serves local craft beer from DC breweries, craft cocktails and regional wine. The museum also hosts craft nights, workshops and pop-up exhibits for visitors to enjoy.
Learn more about the nation's founding through lectures at the Anderson House. Held after hours, the talks and book signings allow attendees to gain insights on the American Revolution for free and in the nation’s capital.
Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum hosts after-hours lecture series from March to June focusing on different subjects each year. Arrive early to explore the first floor of the galleries and stay late for pop-up stargazing outside Independence Avenue.
For more after-hours DC experiences check out this piece.
