5 under-the-radar Washington, DC, museums to visit this summer

USA Today

09-05-2025

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International Spy Museum – Photo courtesy of Albert Vecerka / International Spy Museum
Washington, DC, is known for its museums, and figuring out which ones to visit while in the nation's capital can be daunting. Instead of hitting the tried-and-true institutions on the National Mall, why not seek out the more unusual museums? DC has a treasure trove of under-the-radar museums highlighting everything from French decorative arts to one of the world's rarest stamp collections. Here are five lesser-known museums in Washington, DC, worth visiting the next time you're in town. The International Spy Museum
International Spy Museum – Photo courtesy of Taylor Mickal / International Spy Museum
Be prepared to go undercover at The International Spy Museum, an immersive museum dedicated to the history of espionage. Start off your visit at the museum's briefing room, where you'll be asked to adopt an alias, before being tested on your skills as an undercover agent. The Spy museum's interactive exhibits celebrate the world's top spymasters, gadget makers, scientists, and engineers and their contributions to the world of intelligence.
Explore interactive exhibits about the Cold War, code-breaking, and the art of disguise. Visitors can learn how spying has shaped history, from the American Revolution to modern-day cyber warfare. Collection highlights include James Bond's 1964 Aston Martin and a lipstick pistol.
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Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens
Hillwood Estate Museum and Gardens – Photo courtesy of Erik Kvalsvik
A visit to the Washington, DC, estate of heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post is like stepping back in time. At the heart of Hillwood is a 1920s Georgian-style mansion, which served as Post's home from 1955 until 1977, when it was opened to the public as a museum. As one of DC's most legendary hostesses, Merriweather Post cultivated a refined estate filled with antiques and 18th-century French decorative arts. Post was a serious collector of Russian art; Hillwood boasts the most comprehensive collection outside of Russia. In addition to the museum, you can explore more than 25 acres of gardens. National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame – Photo courtesy of National Inventors Hall of Fame
Located south of DC in Alexandria, Virginia, is the National Inventors Hall of Fame, a free museum celebrating the innovation of America's creators and entrepreneurs. Start your visit in the Gallery of Icons, a stunning visual display of more than 600 inventors inducted since the museum's founding in 1973. The Women in Innovation exhibit honors female leaders in science, engineering, and technology. Other permanent exhibits include one dedicated to automotive design and technology, and a trademark exhibit that explains the importance of intellectual property and includes artifacts from brands like Hershey and Major League Baseball. Planet Word
Planet Word – Photo courtesy of Duhon Photography / Planet Word
Opened in 2020, Planet Word is an immersive experience dedicated to the language arts. The world's first voice-activated museum, Planet Word offers interactive exhibits suitable for all ages. It's an entertainment and educational destination ideal for anyone who's ever wondered about the origins of language or the power of the written and spoken word.
Go on a word-sleuthing adventure in Lexicon Lane, where you'll solve puzzles, follow clues, and take apart riddles to solve a themed mystery. To learn more about foreign languages, explore The Spoken Word exhibit, which examines the origins and diversity of world languages.
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Smithsonian National Postal Museum
National Postal Museum – Photo courtesy of National Postal Museum
OK, technically this is part of the Smithsonian, but it's a Washington, DC, museum that's often overlooked. Ever wonder what happens to a letter once you drop it in a mailbox? The National Postal Museum answers this question and so much more. Dedicated to celebrating the mission of the United States Postal Service, the Smithsonian National Postal Museum explores the history of the mail service, from colonial times to present day through a series of interactive exhibits that tell the story of how our nation communicates through mail.
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Learn about how the U.S. Postal Inspection Service prevents fraud and catches drug traffickers. Step inside the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery to see the world's largest stamp collection dedicated to philately, the study of postage stamps. The impressive collection brings to life the stories behind some of the world's most rare and collectible stamps. The museum's fascinating array of artifacts includes mail reclaimed from the wreckage of the Hindenburg disaster and a flight suit once worn by pilot and philatelist Amelia Earhart. Pop culture enthusiasts also will enjoy seeing the postal uniform worn by the fictional mail carrier Cliff Clavin from the television show, "Cheers."