Catch These Limited-Time America 250 Events & Experiences in Washington, DC

Arena Stage

The Fruits of Our Labor – Sept. 10 – Nov. 1
Legendary DC dance company Step Afrika! honors America’s 250th anniversary with a new show set to premiere at Arena Stage. The Fruits of Our Labor uses percussion, stepping, moving visual imagery and a bold red, white and blue color palette to explore the American experience.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
 

U.S. Botanic Garden

America’s State Flowers: An America250 Celebration – Through Oct. 12
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the U.S. Botanic Garden showcases the official flowers of every U.S. state and territory. Varieties on display include fragrant magnolias, roses, orchids, bluebonnets, saguaro cactus flowers and many more; all of them symbolize the natural beauty of America.
Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
 

National Museum of Women in the Arts

Ms. Americana – Through Oct. 31
The National Museum of Women in the Arts' (NMWA) take on nostalgia, Ms. Americana invites viewers to consider 250 years of the American experience through ten works of art by nine American women artists from the 18th through the 20th centuries. The paintings, which include still-lifes, portraits and landscapes, are curated from NMWA’s collection and were created by women who also owned businesses, traveled the world and engaged in politics. The scope here is broad and tender.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
 

©Jasper Johns and ULAE, National Gallery of Art

American Icon: The US Flag in Art – Through Dec. 6
The exhibition spotlights more than 30 works from the late-1800s to today, each illustrating the changing uses and interpretations of the American flag. Paintings, prints and photographs from seminal artists such as Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, Jasper Johns and Faith Ringgold examine the ever-evolving symbolism of the Stars and Stripes.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
 

National Portrait Gallery

The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees – Through June 6, 2027
Timed with the U.S. semiquincentennial, the National Portrait Gallery commemorates the founding of its historic home with The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees. The exhibition sketches the early history of the Patent Office – the third oldest building in DC – through works in the museum’s collection. 
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, First Floor, East Galleries, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
 

Smithsonian Institution

Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design – Through June 2028
Running for two years beginning on June 12, this exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) takes a cerebral look at the way thoughtfully shaped furniture shapes our environments and our perspectives. Explore the ways that designers, much like visual artists, harness abstraction as both a technique and a source of inspiration.
Free Admission |  Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Smithsonian Institution

Revelation: A Journey Into Abstraction – Through June 2028
NMAAHC dives even deeper into abstraction with this installation which explores the profound range and depth of abstract art created by African American artists from the mid‑20th century to the present. The exhibit reintroduces key works from the museum's collection and debuts new acquisitions, offering fresh contexts and perspectives.
Free Admission |  Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Smithsonian Institution

From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage – Through 2029
As part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 programming, the National Museum of Natural History displays more than 600 artifacts that represent all 50 U.S. states, DC and an additional five U.S. territories. Items range from significant scientific discoveries to cultural keepsakes to ancient fossils like an American mastodon tooth.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Experience the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Just in time for America's 250th anniversary, the Lincoln Memorial invites visitors to experience its story in a whole new way. A century-old secret opens to the public – 15,000 square feet of immersive exhibits right beneath your feet. Exhibits will also trace the construction history of the memorial and explore how its meaning has evolved across generations. Also, for the first time, original signed copies of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment will be on display together, housed beneath the president who made them law. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to stand in the presence of the documents that reshaped America.
More Information
 

Visit the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration
The highly anticipated National Geographic Museum of Exploration invites visitors to immerse themselves in the excitement of exploration and discovery. Expect cutting-edge technology that uncovers wildlife, communities and cultures from all over the world as well as an immersive outdoor courtyard. Visit the museum's website for more details on what to expect and tickets.
National Geographic Museum of Exploration, 1600 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
 

Check out new galleries at the National Air and Space Museum
Perfectly timed with its own 50th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary, the National Air and Space Museum opens five new galleries. Returning favorites include the Hubble Space Telescope, Skylab, a North American P-51D Mustang and a Lockheed U-2. Several artifacts new to the building include the Ilyushin IL-2, Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket, Cessna Skyhawk and several artworks by Robert Rauschenberg in the temporary exhibition, The Ascent of Rauschenberg.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
 

The Declaration's Promise: A Revolutionary Idea
In honor of America's 250th birthday, the Library of Congress showcases a range of rare artifacts that illustrate the promise found in the nation's original Declaration of Independence. Featured treasures include Thomas Jefferson’s rough draft of the Declaration, Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Walt Whitman's writing pen and much, much more. Phrases from the Declaration are used to organize this dynamic exhibit.
Free Admission |  Hours
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540