Washington DC by Smithsonian visits

Smithsonian Visit Scale

A visual ranking of the Smithsonian museums, zoo, and Washington-area sites with the highest 2025 visit totals. Each object is scaled by Smithsonian-reported 2025 visits. The source covers Smithsonian sites, so this page is a Washington-area Smithsonian ranking rather than a complete all-attractions city table.

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Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Round modern museum

Hirshhorn closes the top ten as the Smithsonian's compact modern-art cylinder, smaller in count but visually unmistakable.

Round modern museum
Rank #10: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Related:Manhattan Mosaic WorkshopContemporary Museums Tour
Curving limestone museum
Rank #9: National Museum of the American Indian Related:Anthropology + Teotihuacan Photo TourAncient Mosaic Workshop
Portrait gallery portico
Rank #8: National Portrait Gallery Related:Van Gogh Private TourDrawing at Musee d'Orsay
Aviation hangar
Rank #7: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Related:Private Desert VisitCopenhagen Architecture Masterclass
Historic art gallery facade
Rank #6: Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery Related:Urban Sketching WorkshopParis Watercolor Workshop
Bronze lattice museum
Rank #5: National Museum of African American History and Culture Related:Harlem and Central Park ContextRivera and Frida Legacy Tour
Columned history museum
Rank #4: National Museum of American History Related:Tower + Westminster HighlightsPrivate CDMX City Tour
Zoo entrance gate
Rank #3: National Zoo Related:Sentosa Afternoon TourPrivate Custom Walking Tour
Air and space museum facade
Rank #2: National Air and Space Museum Related:Brooklyn Bridge Photo TourPicture Perfect Singapore
Domed museum facade
Rank #1: National Museum of Natural History Related:Private British Museum TourAnthropology Museum Archaeologist

#10

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

484,175 visitors

#9

National Museum of the American Indian

620,455 visitors

#8

National Portrait Gallery

937,716 visitors

#7

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

1,000,000 visitors

#6

Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

1,100,000 visitors

#5

National Museum of African American History and Culture

1,400,000 visitors

#4

National Museum of American History

1,800,000 visitors

#3

National Zoo

1,900,000 visitors

#2

National Air and Space Museum

1,900,000 visitors

#1

National Museum of Natural History

3,300,000 visitors

Source: Smithsonian 2025