Newseum
4.5
This location was reported permanently closed
About
Find out for yourself why everyone is calling the Newseum the best experience Washington, D.C. has to offer. Each of the seven levels in this magnificent building is packed with interactive exhibits that increase understanding of the importance of a free press and the First Amendment. Visitors experience the story of news, the role of a free press in major events in history, and how the core freedoms of the First Amendment — religion, speech, press, assembly and petition — apply to their lives. Whether you have just a few hours or want to spend all day, you'll find something for everyone in the family in the Newseum's 15 theaters and 15 galleries.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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Neighbourhood: Downtown
How to get there
- Archives • 4 min walk
- Judiciary Square • 6 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
8,737 reviews
Excellent
6,834
Very good
1,424
Average
328
Poor
108
Terrible
43
Shaina Leis Rightnour
Los Angeles, CA4 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
My husband and I still talk about this museum! We spent a full day and a half here, fully immersed in all the exhibits. I can't believe it's closed :(
Written 5 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ColinLauw
Singapore, Singapore24 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Sad to hear this gem of a place closed down.
It was a place to bring my kids to understand what media n freedom of speech meant in USA. Unfortunately for USA, todays media is such poor imitations of the past, belittling each other, bullying n bickering, never listening. Their journalists seemed to learn all the worst things to from their childhood “playground”.
It was a place to bring my kids to understand what media n freedom of speech meant in USA. Unfortunately for USA, todays media is such poor imitations of the past, belittling each other, bullying n bickering, never listening. Their journalists seemed to learn all the worst things to from their childhood “playground”.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy C
222 contributions
Jan 2021 • Friends
A good collection of interesting items. The two best items IMO were the antenna from the top of the World Trade Center and FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover’s desk. On this latest visit I couldn’t find the desk so it might have been moved to another museum. The antenna was recovered from the rubble at ground zero in NYC. It spans several floors and can be viewed in its entirety. Very nice addition.
Written 15 November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smiller324
Indianapolis, IN38 contributions
Dec 2019
I have been to the Newseum about 4 times and each time they continue to amaze me with their incredible artifacts, educational resources, and incredible work they put into their museum! They have a great gift shop, incredible exhibits, and it's a place for everyone! One of the times I went, they had Lady Gaga's meat dress and that made my entire trip, lol :)
Written 9 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kelseybundra
151 contributions
Aug 2019 • Friends
When I went to visit the Newseum, I was the news editor of my college newspaper. It was so important to learn about journalism, politics, and this country’s history. It was the best museum I have visited. It’s a shame it’s closing/closed.
Written 23 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CookseyMom
Prosper, TX250 contributions
Jan 2020
My husband, kids (14, 12, 10) and I thought this was one of the best stops in DC. Their exhibit about the Berlin Wall was incredible, as well as the 9/11 World Trade Center bombings. So sorry that it has closed, and hope it will reopen in a new space soon so others can see the great exhibits!
Written 3 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SDTravelMom
San Diego, CA346 contributions
Oct 2019
If you stop at every exhibit, you'll never finish in a day. Also, it might be wise to go later in the day. Place was packed with school kids, who were not being supervised. However, the content is amazing! I'm very, very glad I was able to make it here during this visit.
Written 27 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bill P
Atlanta, GA287 contributions
Dec 2019
Great architecture, but bad museum design. In radio, dead air is not good; in print, to much white space is not good; here there was too much space wasted. When I saw the previous version in Virginia, I was astounded. As a former journalist, war correspondent and crusading investigative reporter, this monument to the first amendment was an essential pilgrimage before they shuttered and relinquished the structure to Johns Hopkins. I was disappointed by the reliance on hi-tech and the limited space to display more items.
Written 16 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike J
20 contributions
Jul 2019
Ok the First Amendment is on the side of the building in stone.
Staff are very friendly. There's a viewing platform which gives you a good view of the Capitol Building down Pennsylvania Avenue. The museum covers issues relating to freedom of speech and their publications in America and their influence. The desk that Jon Stewart sat behind for the Daily Show was there and also the radio antennae thing from the top of one of the World Trade Center towers. Obviously looking a bit bent.
There was also an exhibition showing loads of Pullitzer Prize winning photos. These range from the what's that about and why did it win to very moving photos, some documenting man's inhumanity to man. I can't remember if there were any Nazi concentration camp pictures but one from central America and another from South Africa brought tears to the eyes - how could people do that? The South African picture related to a man who had had a tyre filled with petrol put around his neck and lit. The picture was taken a few minutes later when he'd tried, in flames, running away and someone put a machete through his skull. He was still kneeling, presumably alive at this point with the machete still in his skull. Yeah - right, okay. You get the idea. But well worth a look.
Staff are very friendly. There's a viewing platform which gives you a good view of the Capitol Building down Pennsylvania Avenue. The museum covers issues relating to freedom of speech and their publications in America and their influence. The desk that Jon Stewart sat behind for the Daily Show was there and also the radio antennae thing from the top of one of the World Trade Center towers. Obviously looking a bit bent.
There was also an exhibition showing loads of Pullitzer Prize winning photos. These range from the what's that about and why did it win to very moving photos, some documenting man's inhumanity to man. I can't remember if there were any Nazi concentration camp pictures but one from central America and another from South Africa brought tears to the eyes - how could people do that? The South African picture related to a man who had had a tyre filled with petrol put around his neck and lit. The picture was taken a few minutes later when he'd tried, in flames, running away and someone put a machete through his skull. He was still kneeling, presumably alive at this point with the machete still in his skull. Yeah - right, okay. You get the idea. But well worth a look.
Written 8 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob_613
Ottawa, Canada9 contributions
Dec 2019
I have been to many museums in the US and abroad but this is probably the best I have ever visited. It is also doing an important educational service around the first amendment and importance and evolution of a free press. Heard it was closing after my visit and could not believe this sad news!
Written 6 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Queensgirl55
New York City, NY109 contributions
Is this museum handicapped accessible? Are there wheelchairs for rent?
LHpyFace
Jacksonville, FL75 contributions
Yes, I had my own wheelchair. Don't know if they rent them
Kirsty S
Buffalo, MN70 contributions
What are the closest decent, not out of this world expensive hotels within a short walking distance available for the week after Christmas 2018. I'm unable to walk a long distance and up and down metro stairs isn't Ideal either. Thanks in advance for suggestions!
Jonathan R
Washington DC, DC981 contributions
Chris K is correct about the general proximity of the Monaco and Hotel Harrington, but the Monaco usually isn’t modestly priced because it’s definitely more upscale and the Harrington is modestly priced because it’s not - sometimes you really do get what you pay for. In any event, the Grand Hyatt or Hyatt Capitol Hill are a bit closer to the Newseum than the Harrington if mobility’s a concern. There’s also an Embassy Suites near City Center that would require a short taxi or Lyft ride from the Newseum, but that might have a decent rate.
que puedo ver?
Carlosgreen
Panama City, Panama201 contributions
Es un recorrido de las noticias más importantes, cubiertas por los grandes medios.
Hay excelentes fotografías y vídeos.
Si sos curioso y te gusta la historia reflejada a través de las noticias, vale la pena.
No hay traductores simultáneos y todo está en inglés
professormrdua
Bloomington, IL
how many language newspapers are exhibited?
in how many languages?
how many languages from india?
full names of COO
and CEO,
THANKS A LOT INDEED.
NessieLeilani
Elk Grove, CA22 contributions
The only foreign language papers that I recall seeing are part of the World Trade Center display, which was fascinating to see the headlines from a round the world on that day. For more in-depth answers, I would suggest, as others before me have already done, checking the website.
texastraveler122009
Allen, TX71 contributions
What is it like during an inauguration? Can you see the parade well?
Laura C
Washington DC, DC
Thanks very much for your question. The Inaugural Parade will pass directly in front of the Newseum along Pennsylvania Avenue. On Inauguration Day, the Newseum will host an all-inclusive event from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets must be purchased in advance. For more details, please see our website.
What is the best day of the week and hours to visit the New
juliewynter
Stafford, UK168 contributions
We went on a showery day so expected people may have been looking for an indoor attraction and there were some school trips but we didn't find it overcrowded at all and it is so spread out with some visitors reading everything there is to read. I would say it is a favourite of ours now and would highly recommend it on any day.
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