The world we design & build.

Open Thursday - Monday, 10am - 4pm

401 F Street NW, Washington, DC

Metro: Judiciary Square

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On View

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Animation Still - Civic Center at Point Park Skyline Ink Animators + Illustrators, designers. Project for Civic Center at Point Park for the Allegheny Conference, 1947, digital illustration, 2021. This image was prepared with material kindly made available by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. All rights reserved.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania presents both realized and unrealized projects Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the region from the 1930s through the 1950s. The exhibition examines how his vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes.

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Capital Brutalism

On view through Monday, February 17, 2025 Amid the Cold War, urban renewal efforts ushered in a “Brutalist” phenomenon that reshaped the nation’s capital in the mid-20th century. Many high-profile…

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Building Stories

Ongoing Building Stories brings kids and adults alike on an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books. Geared toward an…

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Brick City

On view through Spring 2025 Brick City celebrates iconic architecture from cities around the world through carefully recreated constructions made from LEGO® bricks by U.K.-based artist Warren Elsmore. Visitors will take a…

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Mini Memories

Souvenir Buildings from the David Weingarten Collection: Ongoing When you think of a place you’ve visited, what comes to mind? Maybe it is a popular tourist attraction, historic event, or…

Fallingwater, Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright. Built: 1935. Model by Studios Eichbaum + Arnold, 2010. Photo by Museum staff.

House & Home

Ongoing The National Building Museum presents House & Home, a kaleidoscopic array of photographs, objects, models, and films that take us on a tour of houses both familiar and surprising, through…

Programs & Events

View Calendar
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Oct 03

Storytime

October 3 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am
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Oct 04

2024 Vincent Scully Prize: Walter Hood

October 4 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
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Oct 05

BrutalistDC Walking Tour

October 5 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Oct 06

Girl Scouts- Designing for Disaster

October 6 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
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Oct 10

Storytime

October 10 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am
1726863956 Theaster Gates Black Vessel For A Saint 2017 Diane Rhyu Taylor
Oct 10

Black Vessel: Theaster Gates

October 10 @ 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
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Oct 15

Tough Sites: Designing for Hard Histories

October 15 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
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Oct 17

Storytime

October 17 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am
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Oct 19

The Big Build

October 19 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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Oct 24

Storytime

October 24 @ 10:30 am - 11:00 am

Recent News

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Oakland Museum of California: The renovation of the gardens at the Oakland Museum of California serves as a remarkable illustration of how public spaces can be redesigned to become more inclusive, functional, and representative of the local culture. This renovation project achieved several goals, including promoting interaction within the city, reflecting the essence of the local culture, preserving historical elements, providing multifunctionality, creating communal spaces, and ensuring operational efficiency. Photo Credit: Caitlin Atkinson

The National Building Museum Announces Walter Hood as the 2024 Vincent Scully Prize Recipient

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Destination Domino: YouTube Sensation, Lily Hevesh, at the National Building Museum

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The National Building Museum’s Capital Brutalism Exhibition Explores the History and Potential of D.C.’s Prevalent and Controversial Architectural Style

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