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Tips for Your Visit

The health and safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers are our highest priority. To help reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, the Museum is open with visitor requirements and safety measures in place.

Getting to the Museum

Public parking is limited around the National Mall. The easiest way to get to the Museum is via Metro’s Smithsonian stop.

Getting Through Security Quickly

When arriving at the museum, all visitors and their belongings must pass through security screening. To expedite the process, listen to our security staff and follow their instructions. Visitors are allowed to bring bottled water into the museum. If you do bring a water bottle, have it in your hand while passing through security and be ready to take a sip.

Review our building policies before your visit to find out which items you can’t bring inside with you.

Building Policies

Find out which items and activities are not allowed at the Museum before your visit

Remember to Pack

  • A face covering. 

  • Water in a capped bottle to drink during your visit.

  • Comfortable shoes, so you can take your time exploring the exhibits.

  • A sweater. Our spaces tend to be kept cold to preserve the artifacts.

  • Your patience. During our busiest times, it may take 15 minutes or longer to enter through security.

  • Your camera, but leave your selfie stick or tripod at home.

Exploring Our Exhibitions

The Museum contains multiple exhibitions. Our Permanent Exhibition, The Holocaust, presents a chronological history of the Holocaust through artifacts, photographs, films, and eyewitness testimonies. This exhibition is recommended for visitors 11 years and older. 

Finding the Restrooms

There are restrooms located on the Lower Level of the museum, outside the Rubinstein Auditorium. Additionally, restrooms and water fountains are located near the entrance to each floor of our Permanent Exhibition.